Kingfisher Whales and Grizzlies trip September 13-16, 2025. As folks who have explored and appreciated many areas of the West Coast on land and by kayak for many years, we had high expectations for this trip, and every one of them was met.

The staff on the phone was welcoming and responsive. The pre-trip information was incredibly detailed – right down to ‘packing for a person who is always cold’ versus ‘packing for a person who runs warm’ videos! If you follow their guidelines, you will
arrive prepared for your adventure.

The gear provided was top-notch – dry bag systems for personal gear and bedding; paddling jackets for on the water to keep your personal rain gear dry at camp. Guests had the option of single or double kayaks. Camp on Hanson Island is glamping, to be sure – thick Therm-a-rests and cozy three-season sleeping bags with extra fuzzy blankets ensured everyone was comfortable. Most tents face the ocean, and we awoke each day to either humpbacks or Steller sea lions passing in front of our tent. As someone with food requirements, this was done seamlessly and without fuss. The meals and snacks were exceptional, varied, and devoured. We showed our appreciation by enthusiastically joining in the dishes routine for each meal.

From a wildlife perspective, it felt like we saw everything - transient and northern resident orcas, humpbacks, Dall's porpoise and harbour porpoise, Steller sea lions and harbour seals, grizzlies and black bear. We took time to explore the intertidal zone and talk about the importance of the many creatures that call this area home. During meal prep, the guides would call from the outdoor kitchen, 'whale', having heard a blow while preparing our meal, so guests could head to the beach for viewing.

But what made the trip just extra were the guides, Brenda and Babs. From ensuring everyone had the skills to safely launch and land, navigating changing weather conditions, to monitoring hydration and preparing meals, these women did it ALL with calm, grace, and good humour. We were a diverse group of nine guests – couples and singles, a 30-year age span, and different paddling backgrounds.

After our first afternoon exploration, Brenda and Babs facilitated an open and thoughtful conversation about what went well and what everyone thought they needed to feel good about a longer day on the water for the following days. Together, they navigated different needs respectfully and with tact, encouraging us to consider different paddling arrangements and sharing experiences from past trips. They were honest, kind, and encouraging. Brenda’s experience with group development and leadership ensured we got on track with a shared plan that was safe and successful for everyone. Babs generously shared her knowledge and experience as a volunteer with Orcalab and the work done there. Not only did they share what we saw, they also encouraged us to just take it all in and feel how amazing this environment truly is. Our group wrapped it up with a pub dinner back in town after the trip. Many laughs were shared, and Kingfisher’s owner, Andrew, popped in to say hello.

We came to Kingfisher through their generous donation of a gift certificate to the Marine Education and Research Society. Funds raised through their donation help support MERS work. In turn, the opportunity to come to the North Island in September resulted in our annual travel dollars – the balance of our paddling trips costs, hotel stays, restaurant meals, coffee and bakery stops, gas and groceries – all being spent at North Island retailers. Their excellent paddling offering, combined with their support of not only MERS, but also their North Island home and neighbours, is what would keep us coming back and 100% recommend others looking for a paddling adventure to choose to spend their time and pennies with Kingfisher.

Kingfisher and Johnstone Strait ROCK! The guides were thorough, friendly and safety-conscious. Base camp was fantastic, with roomy tents, comfy beds, terrific views Paddling distance increased each day to allow us to get used to the boats and improve our skills gradually. Guides made it possible to run the trip easily with everyone from non-paddlers to experienced ones. The amount of wildlife we saw was outstanding. We were able to view humpbacks, transient and resident orcas, dall's porpoises, pacific white-sided dolphins, seals, sea-lions, bald eagles, cormorants, ducks, auks and many species of invertebrates, many of them id'd by our guides. Each night at dinner we helped the guides enter all species seen on the day in a logbook.

Tausend Dank an Kelsie und das Team für die tolle Tour, die wir in den letzten 4 Tagen hatten. Ganz viel erlebt, viele Tierbeobachtungen, tolles Essen, super Betreuung und Anleitung, und dann auch noch sehr gutes Wetter - wenn wir nicht so eine weite Anreise aus Berlin hätten, würden wir immer wieder mit den Kingfishers fahren.

It was fantastic! We highly recommend the kayak and grizzly tour. We started our vacation with Kingfisher in late August and this tour set the benchmark very high for the rest of our trip through Canada.

Camping on an island close to nature and wildlife was an exceptional experience. The guides made it even better by taking care of us on land and on water, sharing their knowledge with us. Not only did we watch whales, but we also met more marine life and learned about currents and flora. Many thanks to Audrey, Jess and Kayleigh.

Environmentally friendly, with high respect for wildlife, far from mass tourism. Kayaking for beginners and advanced. Nice mix of people and good group size.

The grizzly tour with Sea Wolf Adventures on the last day was a great way to end the tour. Sherry and Brandon shared their indigenous knowledge of the wildlife and islands with us. We watched orcas on the way to see the grizzly bears. Visiting the cultural center in Alert Bay and hearing personal stories was also a highlight! Thank you so much.

Amazing experience with fantastic guides, Audrey, Alex & Brittney. The food was great and we saw whales, orcas, porpoise, eagles and more.

An incredible journey with our wonderful guides! Beautiful memories captured on land and water. Our guides were pros and 8 days on Haida Gwaii went by too fast, loved every moment 👍❤️

The 6-day kayaking tour exceeded our expectations. Declan and Babs were the best guides you could wish for for this experience. They gave us ALL THE INFO on camping and kayaking. We saw whales every day and learned a lot about life on and in the water.
We expected a lot or fun and a good time but surely didn't expect a trip this spectacular and full of so many interesting facts. The camps were chosen daily depending on the group and the weather, and we always felt included in the decision-making process. We were very comfortable with the group, especially given thé small size. The food was always delicious and varied. We definitely recommend this tour. Once in a lifetime experience.

We did the 4 day base camp kayaking and grizzly tour and it was fantastic. The base camp was well maintained, the food at camp was excellent. We saw lots of wildlife. The kayaking guides were very knowledgeable and courteous, Jeff was exceptional. The boat captain for the grizzly tour was lovely. All the guides were always delighted to share fun wildlife facts and never compromised our safety. Constant changing tides and mountain weather affects the waters around the island and the day to day itineraries, so you may not get to kayak every day. The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is that we are Australians and did the camp with a local Canadian family. At times, I felt like my partner and I were a bit of an afterthought to the two younger guides. They seemed much more focused on chatting with the Canadian family, and a lot of the conversation was content we couldn’t really join in on. It left me feeling kind of awkward and, honestly, a bit like a pest (like we were intruding just by being there). That said, I know this is just my personal take on the social dynamic. Aside from that, I’d still absolutely recommend the company and the experience. It’s clearly a well-run operation and overall was a great trip.

Our trip was the highlight of my entire stay in Canada – four perfect days! We saw so many animals: humpback whales, seals, deer, bald eagles, oystercatchers, salmon, starfish, jellyfish, and even orcas. Our guides Wendi, Kailey, and Emma made the experience unforgettable. They shared their vast knowledge about the ocean, tides, sea life, plants, and wildlife, and also gave us great paddling tips that made kayaking easier and more fun each day.

The camp on Hanson Island has several beaches where you can watch wildlife. The tents are well spaced out and very comfortable, and there’s an outdoor kitchen with a big table where meals are enjoyed together when at camp. In good weather, we also had meals on the beach or at a viewpoint on the rocks – simply magical.

The food was outstanding – fresh, creative, and delicious, with three meals a day plus snacks and desserts. As vegans, we were always provided with special dishes that were just as tasty and inventive as everyone else’s.

At night we could hear whales blowing near the camp – an incredible experience. Sea kayaking was new for us, especially with the pedal-operated rudder in addition to the paddles, and it was so much fun.

I would book this tour again without hesitation and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Michèle

Amazing Kayaking experience off Northern Vancouver Island The Whales and Wildlife Expedition trip with Kingfisher was the highlight of my summer. From the pre-departure videos guiding my packing list to the amazing guides, Claudio and George and the stunning environment - it was a fabulous experience. Kingfisher provided us with reliable camping equipment. The camp sites were wonderful and the kayaking itself was just challenging enough. Claudio and George took such good care of us - with humour and deep care and delicious food! I would highly recommend this trip !