Sea Kayaking the Great Bear Rainforest Tour Details
Below is a sample itinerary and exact routes will vary depending on possible wildlife sightings, currents, tides and weather.
Day 1: June 26
We meet at 3:00 pm in the afternoon for a pre-trip meeting with the guides and other guests. You will be provided with dry bags to pack your personal gear. At 6:30 pm our van drives us to the Port Hardy ferry terminal to begin loading our gear and kayaks for the overnight trip to Klemtu on BC Ferries Discovery Coast Passage . We arrive in Klemtu at 3:00 pm on June 21. Meals Included: None
Days 2: June 27
Upon arrival in Klemtu we will check into our accommodations for the night and before dinner take a walking tour of the village with Sprit Bear Adventures guide Doug Neasloss who will share some of the history and culture of the local Kitasoo/Xaixais people. We may see Doug again later in the trip as we hope to visit First Nation's cultural sites in the area (weather and sea conditions permitting). Meals Included: Dinner
Days 3 to 13: June 28 to July 8
As this trip is run ‘expedition’ style, we leave our itinerary very open to ensure our flexibility. This is a beautiful area to paddle, but we must work with the conditions and remain open to adventure. Each day, your guides will assess the weather, tides, and sea state to determine the destination for the day. Flexibility is key.
We plan to begin the trip by heading north and west from Klemtu to explore a portion of Princess Royal Island. After a few day we begin heading south crossing both Laredo and Millbanke Sounds as we make our way toward Bella Bella where we will catch the ferry back to Port Hardy. We can expect a combination of exposed open coastline paddling and some of the more protected inner passage ways on this trip.
As this is a nomadic tour, camp is usually moved each night. We may have an opportunity to stay in place for two nights, conditions allowing. On these ‘expedition style’ trips, we generally paddle several hours more each day than on our regular tours. We also paddle in more challenging conditions. Swell, wind, and open water crossings are common. Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Day 14: July 9
We expect to arrive in Bella Bella early in the afternoon allowing us a short time to visit the village before we kayak the extra 30 minutes out of town to the ferry terminal. We prepare our kayaks and gear for loading around 6:00 pm for the overnight ferry back to Port Hardy. Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch
Day 15: July 10
The ferry is scheduled to arrive back in Port Hardy at 7:45am and after unloading, our van will be waiting to drive us back to Port McNeill. We should be back by 9:30am but delays may happen. Many of our guests spend the last night in Port McNeil, enjoy the hot showers, do some laundry, and slowly transition out of vacation mode. Most guests choose this, and we often get together for a no-host farewell dinner at the Haida-Way Inn. Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch
What to expect on our Great Bear Rainforest kayak tours:
On our Great Bear Rainforest trips we we supply a mixed kayak fleet of singles and doubles. On a full trip of 6 guests we will have one double kayak along and on less than full trips we may supply only singles if warranted. Due to the expedition style of this trip, our groups are kept small; there is a maximum group size of 6 guests with 2 guides accompanying.
Previous paddling experience is required; we usually paddle for 5 – 7 hours per day, with breaks for lunch, snacks and shore exploration. Participants on this trip should have a sense of adventure, as we may encounter adverse paddling conditions. Wetsuits are provided, and we will wear them for any challenging sections of the trip.
What is provided on all of our tours:
We provide you will all the necessary kayaking and camping equipment, including: kayaks, paddling jacket, life jacket, group shelters, tents, sleeping pads, camp chairs and with enough notice, we can even provide sleeping bags, although most guests prefer to bring their own. A comprehensive list of required personal items can be viewed here.
All meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day are provided and prepared. We’re proud of our menu that includes abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, a wide variety of international dishes, and freshly baked treats. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated given sufficient prior notification.
Transportation is all-inclusive from the Haida-Way Motel in Port McNeil. Our network of vans and water taxis will transport you to and from your journey in comfort.
What is not included on our tours:
We do not provide transport from your home to Port McNeil, nor do we provide airport transfers. Any meals outside the kayak portion of the tour are your responsibility. Travel insurance for accidents or emergency evacuation is not provided; we recommend you purchase a policy before leaving home. The trip price does not include guide gratuities; should you feel that the service was exemplary, it is always appreciated. We suggest 5 –10% of the trip cost, based on the service and attention provided.
