WHALES AND GRIZZLY BEARS – BASE CAMP KAYAKING
Seeing a humpback whale lunging through a school of bait fish, a grizzly bear chasing salmon in a shallow river, or a pod of killer whale, also known as orcas, surfacing in unison are often considered once in a lifetime experiences and all three are possible on Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures’ “Whales and Grizzly Bear” base camp tour.
There is no better place in the world than the Johnstone Strait to kayak with orcas and humpback whales while having convenient access to one of BC’s most impressive land mammals—the grizzly bear. This area is recognized as one of the most predictable places in the world to see these great marine mammals, and Kingfisher’s base camps are located on an island covered in old-growth rainforest in the heart of these wildlife-rich waters.
We spend the first three days of this tour viewing diverse marine life by kayak, taking our lunches on secluded beaches, and returning in the late afternoon to the comforts of our base camp. Since our camps are located along routes frequently used by our local cetaceans, it’s not unusual to see orcas and humpback whales pass the camp, often during the morning’s first cup of French-press coffee or dinner. Don’t worry; we’re always ready to take our plates to the perfect spot to admire our local wildlife at camp! These waters are also home to harbour seals, porpoises, minke whales, and rich intertidal life. A number of bald eagle nests and Steller sea lion haulouts are all within easily paddling distance of camp, and it isn’t uncommon to see humpback whales lunging through schools of small fish as they fatten up for their winter migration south.
Kingfisher’s guides are well acquainted with the natural history, whales, and other wildlife of British Columbia’s coast, knowledge which they eagerly share. While it’s hard to miss an orca’s six-foot dorsal fin as it passes your kayak, your guides also help you spot the less obvious whales, seals, porpoises, and dolphins, as well as share their knowledge about the other creatures that inhabit these waters, such as sea stars, urchins, anemones, and other spectacular intertidal life.
Early on the fourth morning, a boat will arrive at camp to take you farther up Knight Inlet for a day of grizzly bear viewing. As you travel on the way to some of Western Canada’s best grizzly hot-spots, you’ll be looking out for whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and bald eagles. Along the way, you’ll hear your First Nations guides’ interpretations and stories of the local landscapes and ancient villages once occupied by the Musg̱a̱makw Dzawada̱’enux̱w people.
This intimate, immersive wildlife experience in traditional territories is primarily boat based, as the grizzlies will be foraging on sedge grass and overturning rocks on the beaches looking crabs and mussels. Later in the season, when the salmon return to the rivers, we may have opportunities to view these magnificent animals from land.
Price: $2295 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST). *additional charges for some dietary restrictions
Dates: This tour runs every Saturday to Tuesday from early-July to mid September. See the calendar below for availability.
Group Size: Maximum of ten guests and three guides.
Participants: This tour is adult-oriented but participants as young as 15 may be accepted.
Suitability: This tour is suitable for a wide range of abilities.
Departs: Port McNeill, Vancouver Island.
Searching Availability…
A note on early July departures: Early July is a great time to be kayaking in Johnstone Strait and there is an unbelievable assortment of wildlife. The resident (fish-eating) orcas, however, are not reliably seen until mid-July. They may be intermittently seen during early July along with the transient (mammal-eating) orcas but are not as consistent as later in the summer. You can be assured that an early season tour provides a great kayaking experience and a wide variety of wildlife is present without all the extra people that visit mid-summer.
With each of Kingfisher’s Base Camp tours, you can expect:
- Convenient booking for accommodation before and after your tour*
- A smooth start—meet your guides at our office in Port McNeill the evening before departure for an orientation and handing out gear
- A fully equipped tour: we provide spacious canvas tents, wooden beds and thick sleeping pads and bags, drybags and duffels for your gear, splash-proof paddling jackets, and all other essential kayaking, camping, and safety gear
- A fully catered menu and plenty of snacks. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Contact us to discuss how we can meet your dietary needs.
- Smaller group sizes: at most, our groups consist of ten guests and 2–3 guides for a smoother, more intimate experience
- Wrap up your tour with an in-town dinner with your guides to review and reminisce on your wilderness experience**
All you need to bring is your personal clothing, toiletries, and a smile! A guest handbook will be provided with lists of suitable clothing and other items.
*Accommodation at the Black Bear Resort can be booked with your tour; if you prefer alternative accommodations, we can suggest some other local options.
**This meal is optional and not included in your tour package.
- Paddle a single and/or double kayak for 4-6 hours per day. We take numerous breaks and often go slow to view wildlife.
- The paddling can be a bit harder at times if we need to go against the wind or current.
- Expect to spend time in a double kayak during your tour. With advance notice we can often accommodate guests who want to spend their entire trip in a double kayak but we cannot accommodate guests who want to spend their entire trip in a single kayak.
- Climb down a ladder from the water taxi to the beach at our base camp.
- Assist with loading and offloading of gear and supplies from water taxi.
- If you have physical limitations that may make this difficult contact our office before booking to ensure this can be accommodated.
- Carry kayaks and gear up and down the beach (this is often the most physically demanding part of the trip)
- If you have physical limitations that may make this difficult contact our office before booking to ensure this can be accommodated.
- While the base camps have out-houses, when away from camp during the day we use the inter-tidal area for low impact toilet use.
- The base camp has a hot water shower but it is unlike your shower at home. Showers are usually limited to less than 20 litres of water which allows you to get wet, turn off the water as you lather, and then rinse off. We use a rain catchment system for shower water and during long spells of no rain we may have to further minimize the amount of water used.
- Please note that wildlife does not operate on our schedules. Our guides are very knowledgeable and attempt to provide as many wildlife viewings as possible. However, there are no guarantees when it comes to viewing specific species.
Recognize that there are certain realities in joining a public tour. The abilities of other tour participants may not be the same as yours. You may need to push yourself outside your comfort zone or need to scale back your expectations so the group can function in a productive manner.
- We pride ourselves on the wholesome hearty meals we provide on our tours. The effort that goes into planning, organizing, and executing our wilderness menus is quite extensive. We are happy to accommodate many dietary restrictions on our tours but each restriction adds to the complexity of this planning and adds additional costs. Below are some of the common restrictions we can accommodate on our base camp tours and any additional costs associated with it that you will be charged.
- No red meat – no additional cost
- No seafood – no additional cost
- Vegetarian – no additional cost
- Vegan +$75
- Gluten intolerant +$75
- Lactose intolerant +$75
- If you have dietary restrictions not listed above (for example, you hate onions and are unwilling to pick around them in a meal), or have allergies or medical conditions (like celiac disease, egg, soy or peanut allergies) that prevent certain foods from being enjoyed by other guests on the trip, please contact our office to discuss whether we can accommodate your needs.
- Some dietary needs that we cannot accommodate include nightshade allergies (potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers) or keto and paleo diets.
- View our guest handbook (currently being updated for 2024) for more information on preparing for this tour.
- If you wish to discuss your suitability for this or any of our other kayak tours contact us at info@kingfisher.ca or phone 1-866-546-4347 in North America or +1-250-856-4617 internationally.
Exact kayaking routes may vary depending on possible wildlife sightings, currents, tides and weather.
Day 0: Arrival and Pre-Trip Orientation
- Location: Kingfisher head office at 1790A Campbell Way in Port McNeill, next to the Black Bear Resort.
- Details: Plan to be in Port McNeill the evening before the kayak tour departs. There is a pre-trip meeting at 8:00 pm with your guides to cover essential details about the adventure ahead. This session includes a comprehensive overview of your trip, distribution of dry bags and other gear essentials, and answer any questions you may have.
- Meals Included: None*
*Please note that the grocery store and restaurants in Port McNeill will likely be closed after your orientation; you may want to get dinner beforehand.
Day 1: Journey to Camp
- Pick-up: Between 7:30–8:00 AM from your accommodations. This time will be confirmed at your pre-trip meeting. Vehicles and extra luggage can be left at your hotel while you are on your kayak tour. If you are not staying at a hotel or B&B with parking, we have limited free parking and luggage storage available at our office.
- Journey: After a short drive to the dock, we’ll load up our water taxi and head across the gorgeous waters of the Johnstone Strait for an approximate 45-60-minute journey to our base camp.
- Camp Setup: After unloading the water taxi and bringing our gear into camp, we’ll have a quick camp orientation and some coffee, tea, and snacks. Afterwards, we’ll have our kayak and safety briefing before heading out on the water to find a gorgeous spot to have our lunch. The afternoon is spent getting used to the kayaks and each other, exploring this area’s beautiful coastlines and diverse wildlife.
- Meals Included: Lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Days 2 and 3: Exploring the Area
- Highlights: Each day brings a new journey; our base camp is ideally located on orca travel routes and humpback feeding grounds. The islands and small islets close to camp are home to numerous sea birds, bald eagles, and seals. There is always plenty to see, on the water and from camp! When we encounter orca on the water, we often drop a hydrophone into the water so we can listen to their vocalizations.
- Daily Routine: Your guides plan each day according to weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and guest interests. Lunches are usually taken on a secluded beach, and we return late each afternoon to the comforts of our base camp.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Day 4: Grizzlies and Return
- Morning: This morning starts early. After breakfast, you’ll be picked up by a boat from Sea Wolf Adventures between 7:30 and 8:00 AM to go up Knight Inlet.
- Return Journey: After a full day of grizzly-spotting and wildlife viewing, you will arrive back in Port McNeill between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.
- Last Evening and Farewell Dinner: We strongly suggest our guests spend the last night in Port McNeill to enjoy a hot shower and slowly transition out of vacation mode. Additionally, most guests choose to gather with their guides for a no-host farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch (provided by Sea Wolf Adventures)
Our Guest Handbook contains details on preparing for your kayak tour. Included in the handbook is travel and accommodation information, a list of what to bring, what you can expect while you are kayaking, wildlife viewing etiquette, participant detail form and waiver.
While the summer months in British Columbia are mostly warm and sunny, we still have a few cold and wet days. After all, the coast of British Columbia is the world’s largest temperate rainforest. For maximum enjoyment on your trip in all types of weather please bring the items listed in the guest handbook.
What to Bring
It is important that your clothing be made of synthetic materials or wool to retain their warmth when wet. Most synthetics also have the advantage of being quick drying. Avoid cotton clothing because they lack warmth if wet and take a very long time to dry.
All of the items listed below need to fit into four dry bags (which we supply). If you have any questions on what you need to bring please feel free to contact us.
Sleeping bag – fits into 40 litre dry bag
We supply sleeping bags, liners, and pillows to all guests but if you prefer to bring your own we recommend:
● A three season synthetic insulated bag
Clothing
Please bring everything listed. There is duplication and you may not need everything, but in the event of getting wet or cold you will be glad you have it. While many people consider long underwear to be a winter item it can make a world of difference on a cool summer evening and can double as leggings under shorts during the day. The biggest heat loss area is the head and a warm hat can add immensely to your comfort.
● 1 pairs of short
● 2 pair of pants
● 2 long sleeve shirts
● 2 short sleeve shirts
● 1 sweater or sweatshirt
● 3 to 4 pairs of socks
● 2 sets of long underwear
● 3 to 4 pairs of underwear
● 1 swimsuit
● 1 fleece jacket
● 1 baseball cap or sun hat
● 1 wool or fleece cap
Rain gear
We provide waterproof kayaking jackets but you still need rain gear for around camp. Rain gear does not need to be breathable but it should be be waterproof – not water-repellent.
● 1 waterproof rain jacket with hood or rain hat
● 1 pair of waterproof rain pants
Personal items – fits into 10 litre dry bag
● Toiletries
● Sun screen
● Sunglasses with a retainer
● Prescription eyeglasses or contacts
● Spare eyeglasses or contacts
● Wet Wipes
● Synthetic camp towel
● Medication
● Spare medication
● Insect repellent
● Book
● Flashlight and batteries
● Camera
● Extra digital storage and batteries
Footwear – either worn or packed loose
● sandals or shoes you can get wet
● Walking or running shoes (preferably waterproofed)
Optional
● Rubber boots (some guests prefer these instead of wet shoes or sandals for kayaking. But, if you go too deep when entering or exiting your kayak the boots will be wet for the remainder of the trip).
● Wool or fleece gloves or mitts (if your hands easily get cold these are good to have for the evenings)
● Paddling or cycling gloves (we provide kayaking mitts for warmth, but if you are prone to blisters you may find cycling or paddling gloves to be beneficial).
● Farmer Jane/John wet suit to wear kayaking.
Suggested reading
Our base camp has a library of field guides and local history books, including many listed below. We recommend the below books if you want to learn a bit about the area before visiting. Each title is linked to Amazon.com and will open in a new window.
Operation Orca: Springer, Luna and the Struggle to Save West Coast Killer Whales
Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us
Full Moon, Flood Tide: Bill Proctor’s Raincoast
Heart of the Raincoast: A Life Story
Charts
Your guides have charts of the area and will review them with guests each day. If you wish to bring your own chart(s) they are listed below. Each chart is linked to the corresponding page on the Canadian Hydrographic Service’s website and you can search where to buy these charts locally (links will open in a new window).
The base camps offer a very comfortable camping experience and with Kingfisher’s knowledgeable kayak guides this tour is suitable for adventurous travellers even if they have little or no kayaking or camping experience. Roomy canvas tents, each raised off the ground on wooden platforms, are situated throughout the forest with views of the ocean. The tents provide ample room and are outfitted with wooden beds with the thickest and widest Therm-a-rest mattresses available. Sheets, fleece blankets, full-size pillows, warm barrel-style sleeping bags, and hot water bottles are all provided to ensure a good night’s sleep. A recharging station for digital cameras, an extensive library of natural history books, a hot water -on demand shower, and a large covered kitchen and dining area made from locally milled red cedar make for a very comfortable camping experience.
On the water we use stable single and double fibreglass kayaks and lightweight carbon/vinyl paddles. Waterproof kayaking jackets, personal floatation devices, and neoprene kayaking mitts are provided to keep you warm and dry while kayaking.
Includes: We provide you with all the necessary kayaking and camping equipment, including kayaks, paddling jackets, PFD (life jacket), group shelters, tents, sleeping pads, camp chairs and sleeping bags (you may bring your own). A comprehensive list of required personal items can be read by clicking on the “Preparation” tab above. All meals during the kayak trip are provided and prepared by your guides. Transportation is all-inclusive from Port McNeill by our network of vans and water taxis.
What is not included: We do not provide transport from your home to Port McNeill, nor do we provide airport transfers. Accommodation in Port McNeill is not included. 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.
When using our online booking from you can choose the below optional items to add to your kayak tour.
Black Bear Resort: (opens in a new tab) We can arrange your pre and/or post night accommodations in Port McNeill at the Black Bear Resort
Grizzly Bear Viewing Day Trips: (opens in a new tab) Many of our guests add a grizzly bear watching day trip before or after they join us kayaking.
Sea Otter Viewing Day Trips: (opens in a new tab) Add a sea otter viewing day trip before or after you join us kayaking.
This tour departs from Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. You can travel to Port McNeill by car, bus, or plane.
Driving
If driving from the Vancouver area on the Mainland of British Columbia to Port McNeill you need to sail on BC Ferries to either Nanaimo or Victoria on Vancouver Island. From Washington State, Coho Ferry sails between Port Angeles and Victoria. Drive time from Victoria to Port McNeill is approximately 5.5 hours, and from Nanaimo to Port McNeill is approximately 4 hours.
Driving to Port McNeill is quite straightforward. From Victoria drive north on highway 1 to Nanaimo. From Nanaimo head north on Highway 19 until you see the sign for Port McNeill. Port McNeill is 1 minute off the main highway. The only other option to this route is north of Nanaimo just before you reach Parksville you can take the seaside route on Highway 19A. This route rejoins the main Highway 19 at Campbell River. The seaside route may add an extra hour to your trip.
Buses
Island Link offers a convenient daily bus service connecting Victoria and Port McNeill, making stops at various locations along the route.
Flying
Flights to Port Hardy (YZT), the closest airport to Port McNeill, depart from the south terminal of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and are approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. These flights are operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines. Port Hardy airport is a 30 minute taxi ride from Port McNeill.
If you are planning on renting a car on Vancouver Island (and not stopping in Vancouver), you can also fly with Air Canada to either Nanaimo (YCD), Victoria (YYJ) or Campbell River (YBL) on Vancouver Island. Another option is to fly with WestJet Airlines via Calgary (YYC) or Edmonton (YEG) to Comox (YQQ) on Vancouver Island. Comox is about 2 1/2 hour drive south of Port McNeill.
Kenmore Air operates float plane service to Port McNeill from Seattle, Washington.
Recommended Port McNeill Accommodations
Black Bear Resort – Can be booked with your kayak tour.
Additional Port McNeill Accommodations
I don’t have much kayaking experience. Can I still join a tour?
Even with little or no kayaking experience, you can join our Base Camp tours. Our Vancouver Island Explorer tours are suitable for beginners with a sense of adventure.
Due to the length of our Haida Gwaii tours and their remote location they are also best suited to people with some previous kayaking experience.
Our Great Bear Rainforest expedition is designed for kayakers with a moderate amount of previous kayaking experience and is our most challenging trip.
What are your best tours to see whales?
While whales are often viewed on all of our kayak tours, the Base Camp and Whales and Wildlife Explorer kayak tours have by far the most reliable sightings of both orcas and humpback whales.
Please keep in mind that while these tours offer great viewing opportunities we are still dealing with wildlife and we cannot guarantee any particular sightings.
When will I have the best chance of seeing orcas?
The northern resident (fish-eating) orcas are most reliably seen around northern Vancouver Island from mid-July through September. They may be seen in June and early July, along with the transient (mammal-eating) orcas, however, sightings become more consistent later in the summer. As they are wild, we cannot guarantee any particular sightings.
When is the best time for wildlife in general?
There is a lot of different wildlife along the British Columbia coast year round. However, we find that the greatest and most diverse wildlife is often found off northern Vancouver Island from mid-August through September.
What are the accommodations like on the base camp tours?
The Base Camps feature roomy canvas tents raised off the ground on wooden platforms, are situated throughout the forest with views of the ocean. The tents provide ample room and are outfitted with wooden beds with the thickest and widest Therm-a-rest mattresses available. Sheets, fleece blankets, full-size pillows, warm barrel-style sleeping bags, and hot water bottles are all provided. A recharging station for digital cameras, an extensive library of natural history books, a safari style bucket shower, and a large covered kitchen and dining area made from locally milled red cedar make for a very comfortable camping experience.
What are the toilets like?
For our base camp tours, the camps have two out-houses made from locally milled cedar. The outhouses incorporate a holding tank and cedar sawdust to cover the waste. The tank is replaced every few days. Guests often comment on the cleanliness of our system. We pack out all holding tanks to be properly disposed of at a sewage disposal station. When away from camp during the day we use the inter-tidal area for low impact toilet use.
How many guest and guides are on each tour?
We pride ourselves on small group sizes, allowing close personal attention and minimal impact on the environment and the wildlife we view from our kayaks. Our base camp tours have a maximum of ten guests and three guides, while our explorer tours have a maximum of eight guests with two guides.
In addition to minimizing our impact on the land we find the smaller group size allows us to better manage our groups around wildlife giving us better viewing opportunities.
For answers to more frequently asked question please visit our complete FAQs page.
