Overview

Johnstone Strait off Vancouver Island, BC is the ideal location to go kayaking with orca whales and observe and photograph one of nature's truly magnificent mammals.

Highlights

Orca whales
Vancouver Island
Island Highway
Johnstone Strait

The sleek, beautiful ebony and ivory orcas congregate in Johnstone Strait during the summer to feed, socialize and rub themselves on pebble beaches. On this kayaking with orca whales trip you will be on the lookout for orca pods while exploring the strait. Although there can be no guarantees, our dates represent the most opportune time to sea kayak and have an encounter of the orca kind.

Combine the exhilaration of kayaking beside these breaching, spouting, power swimming orcas, with rugged coastal scenery, magnificent west coast rainforest, and you have the ultimate personal and coastal kayaking experience.

Personal Experience
Trusted Tour Operator
Local Guides
Small group

Availability July - Sept

Duration 6 days

Departs From NANAIMO, BC

Difficulty Moderate

Group maximum 10

Minimum age 10

Meet on Location Yes

Pick Up Yes

From

1,973

Per

Adult

Best Price Guarantee
International number: +1 778 348 1676

Availability (2026):

6-day version:
July 20-25, 2026
August 2-7, 2026
August 16-21, 2026
August 26-31, 2026

Price:
$2794 CAD per person

4-day version:
July 2-5, 2026
July 14-17, 2026
July 26-29, 2026
August 9-12, 2026
August 22-25, 2026

Price:
$2,199 CAD per person

All prices + 3% booking fee + 5% tax

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watching orcas on kayaking tour in canada

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What's Included

Find out what is included and what to bring.

Included

Meals/snacks/beverages
Sea kayaks
Paddles
PFDs [life jacket]
Spray skirts
Dry bags
National or provincial park user fees unless otherwise stated
Camping fees
Cooking gear
Camp stoves
Tents
Meal preparations
Tarps
Major first aid supplies
Emergency radio or satellite phone
Accommodation in tent campsites on the beach

Suggested Clothing

Clothing suited to a variety of temperatures and weather conditions
Rain gear
Hat
Warm socks
Hiking boots
Sneakers
Swim suit
Towel

What to bring

Warm sleeping bag (required)
Sleeping pad (required)
Camera
Binoculars
Daypack
Water bottle
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Sunglasses

Contact us for more Information about this tour

Contact Us Now

INTERNATIONAL NUMBER: +1 833 968 0719

You can also send an email to info@adventures.com, or use the contact form here below.

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Itinerary

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Information

Guide information: All tours meet or exceed the industry standard for guides to client ratios. Tours with 5 or more guests will have two guides. Tours with fewer guests will typically have a single guide and may have a second guide. All guides are certified in wilderness first aid and guiding experience and certifications relative to the tour type.

Restrictions: Moderate level of fitness is recommended. No kayaking experience is required. Ocean kayaking is easy to learn. The kayaks have a rudder system controlled by foot pedals allowing easy maneuvering. Your guides will give you instruction basic paddling techniques to enable you to paddle with confidence and ease.

Transportation: Trips originate and end in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Transportation to and from the kayaking area in Johnstone Strait is included.

Weather: Summer temperatures average between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Day 0: Arrival in Nanaimo

This denotes the day or days spent on Vancouver Island before the listed start date of the trip.)

colorful view of vancouver city at sunset

This denotes the day or days spent on Vancouver Island before the listed start date of the trip.

Day 1: Pick up and travel to our put-in location in Alder Bay

We will pick you up from your accommodation in Nanaimo (near downtown). Next, we will start the journey northwards on the Island towards our destination at Alder Bay. We should arrive there in the late afternoon/early evening. )

We will pick you up from your accommodation in Nanaimo (near downtown). Next, we will start the journey northwards on the Island towards our destination at Alder Bay. We should arrive there in the late afternoon/early evening.

Day 2-5: Paddling Journey

Several factors, such as weather, tides, current, group ability, group goals, and the distribution of pods will ultimately decide our campsites, paddling time, and route, and as such, a day-by-day, precise itinerary, is undesirable and impractical. W...)

Several factors, such as weather, tides, current, group ability, group goals, and the distribution of pods will ultimately decide our campsites, paddling time, and route, and as such, a day-by-day, precise itinerary, is undesirable and impractical. We have developed an itinerary that focuses on the areas in Johnstone Strait and which present the best chance of viewing orcas. By so doing, we hope to avoid the busier marine traffic around Telegraph Cove and the islands in that area. Along the way, there will be opportunities to explore the many coves, beaches, and marine life that characterize the strait. Different campsites are planned throughout our paddle. We plan to be back at Alder Bay on Day 5 for the night.

Day 6: Return to Nanaimo

We may go for a morning paddle north of Alder Bay on this last morning. After any morning activity, we will clean up the kayaks and gear, and return to Nanaimo sometime in the evening.)

We may go for a morning paddle north of Alder Bay on this last morning. After any morning activity, we will clean up the kayaks and gear, and return to Nanaimo sometime in the evening.

Payment Details

Deposit and Taxes

Pricing does not include: 5.00% GST and 3% booking fee.
A 30% deposit is required to hold your reservation.
Balance of payment is due 75 days before trip commencement.

CANCELLATION POLICY & DETAILS

The 30% deposit on your tour holds your tour space and guarantees your spot on the tour. Your deposit is non-refundable in most circumstances. If you pay the balance before the 75-day due date, the balance, less the non-refundable deposit, is refundable except under the circumstances outlined in the Cancellation Policy (provided upon booking). Your final balance payment is due 75 days before departure and becomes non-refundable 60 days before departure. If you fail to pay the balance by the 75-day due date, you forfeit your deposit and lose your reservation. If you cancel within 60 days before the tour departure date, you forfeit your entire trip cost. This is necessary to guarantee that tours run when there are insufficient bookings after cancellations, and to cover the significant costs and commitments to run a tour.

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Sea kayaking tours on Vancouver Island to view orcas

Paddle with the orcas on this kayaking adventure in Johnstone Strait