New for 2008!

Hearing the blow of a Killer Whale (Orca) and watching a dorsal fin slide back into the water from the seat of a kayak is an exhilerating experience.  Johnstone Strait is home to the highest concentration of Killer Whales (Orca) in the world and we are pleased to be offering this west coast classic for 2008. The area is defined by its deep and narrow glacier carved passage that runs down the east coast of Vancouver Island, flanked by the Vancouver Island Mountain Range on one side and  the Broughton Archipelago and the peaks of the mainland's Coast Range on the other. Marine life is rich and  black bears, otters, seals, Stellar sea lions, humpback and minke whales, porpoises, dolphins, eagles and a wide variety of bird life are all common. Our route takes us down the Vancouver Island shoreline towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve where Orca go to socialize and rub on pebble beaches. While paddlers are not allowed in the reserve, our route and  campsites along the way are situated in one of the most likely areas  in North America to view killer whales in the wild. This trip was designed with wildlife viewing in mind and will appeal to anybody looking for a pleasant  balance between kayaking, wildlife viewing and beach life :)

KAYAKING

No experience is required, although we do insist that you know how to swim, have a good fitness level and a good sense of adventure. All kayaking and safety equipment is provided, including dry bags. We take along 6 to 8 single kayaks and 2 or 3 double kayaks, and take turns in a variety of boats - TESLA's, SOLSTICE GT's, ARLUK III-IV's, and NIMBUS TELKWA's. Our maximum group size is 12, including guides, often group size is smaller. We paddle approximately 2-4 hours each day, leaving plenty of time for exploring the shoreline, or just relaxing on the beach. We will generally paddle and camp along the Vancouver Island side of Johnstone Strait and weather and sea conditions will ultimately determine our route.   For those interested in developing or improving their kayaking skills, our guides are always happy to provide paddling tips, practice rescues, or discuss the art of navigation. Please come prepared to share campsites with others.

*Whales are wild animals. We cannot guarantee their presence, however our route and campsites  take us to one of the most likely spots in North America to view Killer Whales in the wild.

**Whale watching guidelines require us to remain 100 metres away from the animals we are viewing.

***Kayakers are not allowed in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

Agenda

We rendezvous early on day one of your trip at ALDER BAY - approximately 5 hours or 200 miles north of Nanaimo. People are responsible for getting themselves to ALDER BAY the night before (e.g., to join July 15th trip, arrive in ALDER BAY on the 14th). We can help arrange car pooling. There is a campground here where you can spend the night, or we can recommend lodgings. We head out early the first morning. We plan to arrive back in ALDER BAY around noonish on the final day, in time for people to catch ferries out of Nanaimo returning to Vancouver.

Meals

We have found from past experience that the most economical, fun, and greatest variety of meals comes from when the food effort is shared (this also keeps our guides fresh!). Each person is responsible for the purchase and preparation of a share of group meals (typically two or three meals depending on group size).  We organize the meal schedule and can forward you some suggestions about what keeps and packs well if you wish. Please check out  Meal ideas and The Paddling Chef facebook group

How to Reserve

A $200 non-refundable deposit reserves a space. Full payment due 60 days before trip start. We aren't able to process credit cards. In order to minimize your costs , please pay by cheque. Thanks. If you cancel, you'll get your balance back unless it is 14 or fewer days before trip start, in which case we'll refund you 50%.

To make your reservation,

Please email us at info@kayaktoursbc.com

Or give us a call at (250)-247-0189 

Payments can be sent to Gabriola Sea Kayaking, 363 Hemlock Ave, Gabriola BC, Canada, V0R 1X1.

Please make cheques out to Gabriola Sea Kayaking.

Price Includes 

• All kayaking equipment
• Cooking equipment
• Two guides
• Dry bags (one 20 litre bag per person)
• LOTS OF FUN

Does Not Include

• Transportation to and from Alder Bay
• We share meal purchase & preparation (meals from lunch day 1 to breakfast day 4 or 5 depending on thet rip)
• Accommodations the night before trip start
• Tents (rentals available for $45 if you reserve well in advance)
• Sleeping bag & Camping mat 

Your guides will be using nautical chart  #3--- for the Johnstone Strait, available for roughly C$20. Please visit  the Canadian Hydrographic Service website to find a location near you to purchase your chart if you would like to bring one along.

Philosophy

GABRIOLA SEA KAYAKING are ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS. We wish to attract healthy, self-sufficient, fun-loving adventurers. Participants take part in all aspects of the adventure, including meal preparation and daily trip planning. Our primary role is to look after navigation, reduce risk, and outfit your trip. Our guides ore outdoor professionals  from an eclectic variety of backgrounds and have spent many seasons exploring the wilderness. We have been leading kayak adventures since 1995.

Hope to paddle with you this summer!