Sea Kayaking Tours in British Columbia
Small-group, multi-day guided kayak trips from Quadra Island and Campbell River, from a wood-fired sauna at Orca Camp to remote campsite-to-campsite expeditions. Choose your adventure.
Two ways to explore the wild coast
Every Wildcoast trip includes quality kayaking and camping gear, fresh local meals, small group sizes with at least one guide for every six guests, and certified guides who love sharing the stories of these waters. No previous kayaking experience is required. What changes is how you sleep, how far you travel and how much of the wilderness you want to take on.
Glamping Adventures
Settle into one remote oceanfront basecamp with safari tents, a wood-fired sauna, a hot tub and hot showers. Paddle as much or as little as you like. Our most beginner-friendly option.
Wilderness Expeditions
Paddle campsite to campsite through remote island chains, setting up a new camp along the way. Rugged, off-the-grid and deeply immersive, for active travellers.
Glamping Adventures
Wilderness by day. Wood-fired sauna by night.
Our glamping adventures are built around Orca Camp, a remote oceanfront basecamp in the rainforest beside the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve on Johnstone Strait. Unpack once and stay put: join as many or as few guided paddles as you like, then return to a wood-fired sauna, a hot tub and a chef-prepared dinner.
No paddling or camping experience is needed, and every kayaking session is optional. Orca Camp hosts a maximum of 18 guests in 9 safari tents and is ideal for first-time paddlers, couples, families with children aged 10 and up, and solo travellers. Wildlife is always viewed from respectful distances under a strict code of conduct.
Orca Camp Glamping
4 Days / 3 Nights | July – mid-September | Departs Campbell River
Our flagship getaway. Paddle in prime orca territory by day, then soak in the wood-fired hot tub and sauna by night. Gourmet meals, safari tents and up to three optional guided paddles a day.
The Ultimate Whale Experience
7 Days / 6 Nights | Late June – August | Departs Campbell River
Start with a 6-hour whale watching safari, then boat to Orca Camp for kayaking, hot tub evenings and chef-prepared meals. Three hotel nights in Campbell River are included.
Whales & Grizzly Bears Adventure
7 Days / 6 Nights | Late August – mid-September | Departs Campbell River
Watch grizzlies feed on salmon in Bute or Toba Inlet with Indigenous guides from the Homalco or Klahoose First Nations, then paddle orca waters from Orca Camp. Three hotel nights in Campbell River are included.
Wilderness Expeditions
New island. New campsite. Every night.
Wilderness expeditions trade creature comforts for distance. Launching from our home base on Quadra Island, you’ll paddle campsite to campsite through the Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound, camping on remote beaches and islands while your guides prepare fresh, locally inspired meals along the way.
Trips range from a 3-day introduction to 6-day expeditions, with up to five hours of paddling a day and routes tailored to the group’s skill level. No experience is required, but previous kayaking experience and a good level of fitness are recommended. Groups are small (6 to 10 guests), the minimum age is 12, and all tents, sleeping bags and dry bags are provided.
Whales, Wildlife & Wilderness Expedition
5 Days / 4 Nights | June – August | Departs Quadra Island
A 4-hour wildlife boat tour into remote waters beyond the reach of kayaks, then three days of guided paddling and island camping through the Discovery Islands. Includes a resort night on Quadra Island.
Discovery Islands Expedition
6 Days / 5 Nights | Late May – September | Departs Quadra Island
A true expedition through one of National Geographic Canada’s 50 Places of a Lifetime, with a new island camp each day. Best for curious, capable paddlers.
Desolation Sound Expedition
6 Days / 5 Nights | June & September | Departs Quadra Island
Calm, warm water, waterfalls and towering mountain backdrops, timed for the quiet shoulder season. A beautiful choice for newer paddlers ready to camp the coast.
Explorer Expedition
3 Days / 2 Nights | July – August | Departs Quadra Island
Short on time, big on adventure. The perfect introduction to sea kayaking and wilderness camping around Quadra Island, scanning the shoreline for seals and eagles.
All prices are per person for 2027 departures and subject to 5% GST.
Which style is right for you?
A side-by-side look at how the two styles compare.
| Glamping Adventures | Wilderness Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you sleep | Safari tents on raised platforms with real beds and duvets | Tents at remote island campsites, with all camping gear provided |
| Your base | One oceanfront basecamp, Orca Camp | A new campsite as you travel |
| Paddling | Easy; up to three optional guided sessions a day | Moderate to strenuous; up to five hours a day between campsites |
| Experience | None needed; best for first-timers | None required; experience and good fitness recommended |
| Comforts | Wood-fired sauna, hot tub, cold plunge creek, hot shower and a covered lounge | Simple, immersive wilderness camping, fully off the grid |
| Meals | Gourmet meals from an on-site camp chef | Fresh, locally inspired meals prepared by your guides |
| Group size | Up to 18 guests | 6 to 10 guests |
| Minimum age | 10 | 12 |
| Best for | First-time paddlers, couples, families and solo travellers | Active travellers, outdoor enthusiasts, solo travellers and small groups seeking backcountry adventure |
| Departs from | Campbell River | Quadra Island |
| Trip lengths | 4 to 7 days | 3 to 6 days |
| Price from | $2,807.25 CAD | $1,044.84 CAD |
Choosing your trip: common questions
Which kayak trip is best for beginners?
Orca Camp Glamping is our most beginner-friendly trip: no experience is needed, every paddle is optional and you return to a comfortable basecamp each night. If you’d like to try wilderness camping, the 3-day Explorer Expedition is the gentlest introduction, with a maximum of 6 guests.
Which trip gives me the best chance to see orcas?
Our three Orca Camp trips (Orca Camp Glamping, The Ultimate Whale Experience and the Whales & Grizzly Bears Adventure) paddle Johnstone Strait beside the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, one of the best places in the world to see orcas from a kayak, especially from July to early September. The Ultimate Whale Experience adds a 6-hour whale watching tour. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Can I see grizzly bears on a kayak trip?
Yes. The Whales & Grizzly Bears Adventure runs from late August to mid-September and includes a grizzly bear tour in Bute or Toba Inlet with Indigenous guides from the Homalco or Klahoose First Nations, timed to the fall salmon run, followed by three nights at Orca Camp.
Which trips are good for families?
Orca Camp trips welcome children aged 10 and up, and wilderness expeditions welcome children aged 12 and up. Guests aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Orca Camp is especially popular with families because paddles are optional and the camp has beds, a hot tub and a sauna.
I only have a few days. Which trip should I choose?
The Explorer Expedition is 3 days and 2 nights of kayaking and camping around Quadra Island, and Orca Camp Glamping is 4 days and 3 nights from Campbell River. Both are easy to combine with a visit to Vancouver Island.
Are hotel nights included?
The Ultimate Whale Experience and the Whales & Grizzly Bears Adventure include three hotel nights in Campbell River. The Whales, Wildlife & Wilderness, Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound expeditions include a resort night on Quadra Island before you launch. Orca Camp Glamping and the Explorer Expedition do not include hotel nights, and we recommend arriving the day before.
Is there a single supplement for solo travellers?
Not on wilderness expeditions: solo travellers get their own tent at no extra cost. On Orca Camp trips, a $600 single supplement applies in peak season for a private safari tent.
More ways to explore
Day Tours
Short on time? Join a guided wildlife day tour with our sister company, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Group Bookings
Traveling with family, friends or a team? We’ll help you plan a trip for your group.
Gift Certificates
Give the gift of adventure with a certificate for an amount or a trip.
Not sure which adventure is right for you?
Tell us what you’re dreaming of – whales, bears, mountains, a little luxury or a lot of solitude – and we’ll help you pick the perfect trip. Call us at 1-250-285-9453 (toll-free 1-855-485-9453), use the chat at the bottom of your screen, or email hello@wildcoastadventures.com.