Wildlife Kayak Tours since 1983

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"Great fun! Great adventure! Great people! Great location! Great wildlife! We enjoyed every minute thanks to our fellow paddlers and our wonderful guides. Thank you."
Michael & Carol-Ann Fleming, Scotland

Inside Passage - Wildlife Discovery
Kayak Tours in British Columbia's Inside Passage

The astounding variety and abundance of wildlife in our area, combined with the vast possibilities of wonderful kayaking routes, set the stage for our Wildlife Discovery kayaking adventures. We strive to spend time in the proximity of all the whales in our area on these trips, but we also measure our “whale time” with the desire to fully experience the variety of wildlife that can be encountered.

For many, this is the perfect balance of pure sea kayaking pleasure with experiencing and learning about the entire area, from the smallest seashore creatures to the black bears and blacktail deer who casually stroll the shoreline in search of food during low tide periods. We may hear a pack of wolves howling in the distance or see signs of the presence of the mysterious and rarely sighted cougars. Our guides will help identify the area’s edible plants, trees, birds, deer, otters and seals.

Still, we all want to see the magnificent whales: orca, humpback and minke, who are more easily encountered in these waters than anywhere else. By our mere presence in these waters, searching for all the wildlife that lives here, our whale encounters should be a highlight for all.

Wildlife Discovery – Typical Itinerary

Day 0: Arrive in Port McNeill, British Columbia, on the northeastern shore of Vancouver Island, by air or road. Introductory evening meeting with your guides and fellow travelers after settling into your comfortable hotel or B&B.

(Note: Day 1 is the first day of your kayaking trip. If you are on a trip scheduled, for example, on August 10, then your Day 0 is August 9 and Days 1-6 are August 10-15.

Day 1: Early morning water taxi ride from Port McNeill to your first island campsite. After introductory camp and kayak orientation, an afternoon of exploring by kayak.
Days 2-3: Day trips from camp explore channels and islands, seashore intertidal life, search for eagles nests and forest wildlife on the low tide beaches. Great opportunities to see whales on some of the possible routes.
Day 4: Pack up and paddle to a new camp, passing across the waters of Blackfish Sound, home of the largest variety of marine mammal life in the region. Arrive at new camp. Afternoon paddling and drifting on the currents that bring small fish to the surface for the sea birds to feed on.
Day 5: Day trip from camp with a focus on searching for whales. After dark, a “night paddle” to experience the incredible glowing, bioluminescent waters of the Inside Passage.
Day 6: A final day of kayaking and searching for whales in the Johnstone Strait area, savoring the final moments of your incredible week. Whale watching during your afternoon water taxi arrival back in Port McNeill (arrival about 4:40). An evening get-together with your co-travelers and guides for dinner in town.

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Our Wildlife Discovery trips have all the first-class elements of our Inside Passage trips: gourmet meals, exceptional, knowledgeable guides, top quality kayaking and camping equipment, great support from our staff, help with your travel plans, all from North America’s most experienced sea kayaking outfitter.

Camping

Comfort in camp is a priority for our guests and they have come to expect our camps to be relaxing, forested sanctuaries in which to enjoy and feel part of the environment. The atmosphere we like to create on our trips is that of an independent band of travelers moving from one wilderness camp to another with the minimum of disturbance to the natural environment. Yet we supply each of the camps you will visit with all the amenities to make sure you’re comfortable, warm and dry. You won’t find a large, group dining structure at a Northern Lights camp. What you will enjoy are comfortable, ecologically sensitive bathroom facilities, hot showers, a renowned ‘Blackfish Café’ wilderness kitchen, and a circle of friends around the campfire. You’ll be helping to respect and maintain the land we use and supporting environmentally responsible use of the wilderness.

What's Included

All of your camping & kayaking gear is provided, you only need to bring your personal items. We will provide:
A 3-person tents for each two people; a 2-person tent for singles (each has two doors), sleeping bag, silk/cotton bag liner, soft air/foam sleeping pad, pillow.
Gore-Tex rain/paddling jackets & pants, water bottles & coffee mugs (for you to take home).

Meals

Each meal with Northern Lights, from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 6, is a delightfully tasty creation of your hard-working guides in what we call our “Blackfish Café.” Inspired by the finest foods both local and exotic, from the coast and far beyond, our guests are routinely awed by what our guides create. We use organic food whenever possible and also provide a glass of wine each evening before dinner. Click here to read comments from our guests about our meals.

Getting to our Departure Point (Port McNeill, BC)
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Orcas, Killer Whale Kayak Tours since 1983

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