Our Wildlife Discovery trips are journeys among the islands and waters of the Blackfish Archipelago at the edge of the Great Bear Wilderness. Hundreds of islands, secret channels, Native village sites, and wildlife surround you in this incredible area you'll call home. We will also spend half of our time at a camp overlooking Johnstone Strait where orcas often swim past. The British Columbia coastline measures only 500 miles in a straight line. Within those 500 miles are 12,000 miles of convoluted shoreline stretching from the northwestern US to Alaska. The Blackfish Archipelago offers the finest combination of paddling, weather and wildlife to be found along the entire route. Surrounded by the snowcapped Coast Range on the east and the rugged Vancouver Island Range to the west, the Wildlife Discovery paddling area offers unsurpassed scenery and wilderness. Between landing on the first beach and your return trip at the end of six days, you will explore areas once inhabited by Natives who found everything they needed to survive for thousands of years in the sea and the forest. Today, far fewer people venture into these waterways. Quiet beaches, native forests, myriad wildlife . . . this will be your habitat.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Your guides will pick up all your gear and drive it down to the dock; you'll take a short walk to where the water taxi and your guides await. A brief water taxi ride through the islands and waterways gives you a remarkable view of this part of British Columbia you will come to know intimately. You will be delivered right to your beach. After becoming familiar with camp and settling into a tent, you will be given an introduction to kayaking and will be ready for the water. The first day’s goal is to become familiar with your kayak. Included: (L) (D)
Day 2: We’ll start with a hearty breakfast and then get on the water. A few hours kayaking in the morning exploring islands, coves and inlets. After a relaxing lunch on a beach, we’ll hike through some of the most diverse forest found anywhere. Bald eagles soar overhead, and maybe we’ll spot a nest. An afternoon of kayaking and exploring and then back to camp for a game of beach bocce or a leisurely walk along the beach while the guides prepare dinner. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 3: This morning you may want to get up early to watch for bears feeding on a neighboring island. Once the kayaks are ready and breakfast is done, a cluster of islands is our goal. With a bit of planning we’ll be there at low tide, when some of the most amazing intertidal life is revealed: sea stars in a rainbow of colors, anemones, and spiky urchins are just a few. We’ll have lunch on a beach and then will be kayaking back to our camp. After settling in, one group heads out for some more kayaking, a few choose to do some fishing, and others doze off for a well-deserved nap. A relaxing dinner, jokes around the campfire, and perhaps a view of the northern lights in the beautiful British Columbia sky. Then, another quiet night’s sleep… Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 4: Today we'll pack-up the kayaks and head to our new camp. After breakfast, we’ll set out in the kayaks for a day of paddling among the archipelago's fascinating islands. We'll cross Blackfish Sound keeping our eyes open for the tell tale blows of orcas and humpback whales. Once across we'll take our time exploring a new group of islands. Whales and sea lions are both common here. When we're ready we'll continue on to our new camp where we'll enjoy a hearty lunch while getting our new home set-up. We'll take advantage of our great view to watch for whales swimming past our camp. Some may decide to take a short hike into the ancient forest to marvel at the massive cedar trees. We'll all come together for a delicious dinner, then a beachside campfire for s'mores. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: Today is all about the orcas. Depending on where the whales are we'll paddle in one direction or the other along Johnstone Strait. As we share the home of the resident orcas we're also likely to see bald eagles perched in the trees or fishing on salmon. Dolphins and porpoises also frequent these waters. We'll have one last dinner together at the beachside Blackfish Cafe, reminisce about the week, and talk about our plan for tomorrow morning – our last day as Wildlife Discoverers on the beautiful British Columbia coast. For those interested, we'll end the day with a night paddle. For many this is a highlight of the trip; the bioluminescence sparkles green in the water beside your kayak as you glide through the glassy, moonlit water. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 6: We’ll get an early start to make the most of our last day on the water. We’ll pack up our gear and then kayak for a few hours in the morning. When we return to camp, we’ll have lunch and then the water taxi will arrive to take us back to Port McNeill. To make the most of our evening in Port McNeill, we’ll have a chance to get together for a farewell dinner at the hotel, as your wonderful British Columbia kayaking adventure comes to a close. Included: (B), (L).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- Experienced guides;
- All meals from breakfast on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6;
- Kayaking gear (jacket, pants and lifejacket), roomy two-person tent, sleeping bag, Thermarest sleeping pad, pillow, all kayaking gear and waterproof bags to pack your gear.
Not included:
- Transportation to and from Port McNeill;
- Accommodations before or after your trip (though we have blocked space at a local hotel for you). Canadian sales tax (3% or 6% for those residing in Canada);
- Kayak with orcas, humpback and minke whales with British Columbia's most experienced and trusted outfitter.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Nature & Wildlife
Wildlife Viewing
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