Experience of a lifetime! Kayaking with the whales with Kingfisher was the experience of a lifetime. It was humbling and inspiring to spend time in a thriving marine environment amongst some of the giants of the ocean. Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures were exceptional hosts and with a very genuine love of nature. They were knowledgeable about the wildlife, local culture and the local waters. We were in good hands paddling with Jen and Ben and had some amazing wildlife encounters. Great days on the water were topped off by good food, good humour and good company. Take a trip with Kingfisher - it will be awesome!

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.

I did the 4 day family base camp whale watching tour with my husband and 2 kids (6 yrs and 9 yrs) and it is one of the best things we've ever done. The guides were amazing, the food was delicious and we were lucky enough to see humpbacks and orcas.
Andrew the owner was super accommodating of all our needs and was so passionate and knowledgeable about the local wildlife and the local area, and we loved our guides who made the whole experience so smooth and fun.
Definitely book a family tour with Kingfisher if you want a unique experience with your kids that they'll always remember.

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 👍❤️

Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is the best. My wife and I did the 4-day Base Camp Whale and Bear Adventure. The base camp accommodations with the tent cabins were super comfortable and located on a strategic point where we could see so much just from camp. Brenda and Ben, our guides, were kind, fabulous and shared SO much valuable information about the water, sea and animal life we were immersed in. We woke up every morning to laughter, hot coffee and breakfast. Our days were filled with great kayaking and animal sightings. We saw everything we were hop[ing to see and more - dolphins, sea lions, bears (mama and cub), orcas, humpbacks, sea otters, eagles, and a lot of underwater life. I would recommend these guys to anybody without hesitation.

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.

Incredible experience and trip! Wow! This was such an amazing trip. Our guides, Liz and Renee, were so incredible. They were welcoming, funny, knowledgeable, and great cooks. I learned a lot about marine wildlife and how to kayak better (I had some prior experience but not a ton). Renee prepared a detailed kayaking plan each day that felt safe, the right amount of exercise, and ensured we saw some cool nature.

The base camp was great, beds were comfortable, tents were nice, and the food was delicious. The camp is situated right between the Orca/Humpback “highway” so we sat and watched whales all evening after finishing kayaking and could hear them breathing all night long. Truly magical.

The kayaking was fun, safe, and we saw some amazing wildlife from the kayaks, the boat tour, and camp. My guess is 100 orcas, 50 humpbacks, hundreds of porpoises, 3 grizzlies, some otters, + tons of seals, sea lions, and eagles! We also lucked out with a really fun tour group that loved playing games and hanging out together! I would love to go again at some point!

I'd definitely go again I went on the 3 night 4 day Whales and Grizzly Bears trip. The guides were superb, very friendly and professional. They shared their knowledge about the environment and the First Nation people, went out of their way to ensure everyone in the group (6 of us) were feeling comfortable about the paddling and prepared some excellent meals. I hadn't really thought about the food to be honest, but it was excellent! Overall it was a magical experience.

Great experience overall on the 4 day kayak with whales trip! Ample information offered in terms of preparing what to bring, how to get there, etc. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Food was tasty too. Only tip I would offer is to consider bringing your own pillow. Will definitely book another trip with Kingfisher!

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.