Sea Kayaking Johnstone Strait - Orca Waters Explorer Tour Details

Below is a sample itinerary and exact routes will vary depending on possible wildlife sightings, currents, tides and weather.

Day 0:

Plan to be in Port McNeil the night before the trip departs, as there is an 8:00 pm pre-trip meeting with your guides at our office, located at 1790A Campbell Way, across the street form the Haida Way Inn and next to the Black Bear Resort. We’ll provide you with an overview for your trip, distribute dry-bags to pack your gear in, and answer any questions you may have. Meals Included: None

Day 1:

We meet at 7:30 am to head down to the marina to load our water taxi. All your equipment can be transported by our van, and it’s just a short walk from the hotel. Vehicles and extra bags can often be left at your hotel while you’re on the trip – just ask at the front desk. Otherwise, let us know as we have limited free parking at our office.

The 45-minute water taxi ride takes us to our campsite, where we’ll settle in. The guides will provide a site orientation and paddle briefing. We will head out for a paddle before lunch giving you time to get used to the kayaks, the wilderness setting and each other. Meals Included: Lunch - Dinner

Days 2 to 5:

This tour is a roving, nomadic tour, and we do have distances to cover to return to civilization. We’ll generally break camp most days, but if we find a spectacular spot, we’ll try and spend a couple nights. Day tripping from one location can be a great way to see the area.

We try and camp on sites close to travel routes of orcas, humpback whales, and other wildlife, but actual spots will depend on weather, tides, and group objectives.

The trip generally starts up north in the Broughton Archipelago, a maze of small islets, and heads south into the Johnstone Strait proper, where the chances of seeing Orcas is greatest. Along the way, we may stop at the historic village site of Meem Quam Leese, visit “Grandmother Cedar” - an ancient cedar tree, hike up to a whale research station, and make many stops to explore beaches and rainforest.

Along the way, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for wildlife; sightings may dictate our itinerary for the day. We often see Orcas, Humpbacks, Eagles, Deer, Black Bears, Seals, Sea Lions, and fantastic intertidal life.

Each trip is different, and your guides will change the itinerary based on weather, tides, campsites, and group interests. Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

Day 6:

Our final day – a chance to revel in the beauty of the area for one last time, linger over coffee, snap a few more photographs, and turn towards home. We’ll break camp after breakfast and complete our journey by paddling into Telegraph Cove, a historic logging and fishing community. Here, we’ll have a chance to visit the ‘Bones Project” whale interpretive center and walk around one of the last boardwalk communities on eastern Vancouver Island. Our van will transport us back to the Haida Way Inn in Port McNeil – expect to be back between 3:30 and 4:00 pm. For those guests that aren’t rushing onwards that same evening, we often get together for a no-host farewell dinner. Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch

What to expect on our Orca Waters Explorer kayak tours:

On our Explorer trips we supply a mixed kayak fleet of singles and doubles, and each guest will have an opportunity to try both. Our groups are kept small; there is a maximum group size of 8 guests with 2 guides accompanying.

No paddling experience is necessary to join our trips but experienced paddlers will not be disappointed. We usually paddle for 4 – 5 hours per day, with breaks for lunch, snacks and shore exploration. If you’re looking to challenge yourself further, try our Gwaii Haanas or Great Bear Rainforest trips or simply ask one of the guides for some extra skills instruction.

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.