Overview

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.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 |  Arrival in Vancouver, BC

Arrive at Vancouver International Airport, transfer independently to your downtown hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to create your own urban adventure amid the stores, parks, restaurants, theatres and other attractions of downtown Vancouver.

Overnight in Vancouver.

Day 2 | Vancouver to Port McNeill

Arrive independently at your Port McNeill accommodation, Black Bear Resort. In the evening you meet with your Kingfisher representative at 20:00 at Kingfisher’s office for an orientation and a preview of your itinerary for the next 4 days.

Overnight in Port McNeill.

Day 3 | Port McNeill to Kingfisher's Base Camp

Meet at 08:30 at the Kingfisher office and depart on the 50-minute water taxi transfer to Kingfisher’s base camp. Upon arrival at Kingfisher’s base camp your guides provide a site orientation, plus a kayak and safety briefing.

The camp features a camp kitchen, dining structure, outhouses, on-demand hot water shower, and roomy canvas tents. After lunch, the afternoon is spent kayaking, giving you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the kayaks and the surrounding area and view the diverse wildlife.

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.

Lunch and dinner included.

Overnight at Kingfisher’s base camp.

Day 4 & 5 | Kingfisher's Base Camp

Kingfisher’s base camp is located on killer whale travel routes and adjacent to humpback whale feeding area, many of them often feeding within sight of camp. The islands and small islets close to the camp are home to numerous sea birds, bald eagles, and seals.

Your kayak guides plan each day according to weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and guest interests. Lunches are usually spent on a secluded beach, returning late each afternoon to the comforts of Kingfisher’s base camp.

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.

The next two days are spent exploring, kayaking, whale watching, wildlife viewing, and enjoying the scenery. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Overnight at Kingfisher’s base camp.

Day 6 | End of Package / Kingfisher's Base Camp to Port McNeill

Early in the 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.

Breakfast and lunch included.

Return to Port McNeill around 17:00.

Overnight Port McNeill.

Day 7 | Port McNeill to Vancouver

This morning return to Vancouver International Airport in time to check-in for your departure flight.

Why we love it

Bear Viewing

Kayaking

Stunning Scenery

Whale Watching

Gallery

All images courtesy of ©Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures