Kayaking with Killer Whales, Expedition in Johnstone Strait. Departing from Telegraph cove, BC

One of the most popular tours of it's kind, this expedition is full of the excitement and rewards of nomadic travel by sea kayak on our majestic British Columbia coast.

Out For Adventures' Orca Encounters tour is the most exhilarating way to view Killer Whales. Paddling a sea kayak through Johnstone Strait is what many people feel is the ultimate means to see these magnificent mammals. The Orca, or Killer Whale is the largest member of the Dolphin family. An adult male can range between 8 and 10 meters (25 and 30 feet,) with a dorsal fin that stands up 6 feet tall from its back and the entire animal can weigh as much as 8 tons. Join out For Adventure as we journey safely into the home of the Orca and explore...

Our adventure begins as we meet early in the morning in Campbell River, British Columbia, load our gear into the shuttle van and head for the picturesque town of Telegraph Cove on the northern end of Vancouver Island.
 

Now a tourist attraction, Telegraph Cove was the terminus of the telegraph line on Vancouver Island. It has been a fishing and logging town. Now it serves as a launching point for a few whale watching boats and kayaking companies and also has facilities for RVs and campers. Here we will board a water taxi which will take us to our first campsite.

Our First Camp
After you are settled in, your guide will demonstrate paddling skills and safety instructions and before you know it you'll be on the water for a day paddle. The next day the guides will show you how to pack your personal gear and your kayak, giving the detailed industry secrets that only years of guiding will accomplish. Then you will set off on a nomadic journey experiencing native cultures and killer whales.

Out in Johnstone Strait we are in touch with the whale movement through VHF radio as we ply the rich coastal waters in search of the Killer Whale. As with all wild animals the Orca gives no guarantee on its appearance but in this area it passes so regularly that some people have mistakenly imagined that the Orca runs a schedule. Yet each summer, almost like clock work the resident Killer Whales of Vancouver Island show up and almost invariably swim a circuit, often twice each day, through the Strait. This regularity makes Johnstone Strait the best area to view Orcas in the wild. Through the next few days of our journey we usually run into them several times creating an incredible experience for those involved.

At our camp sites we are on a constant vigil for wild life sightings of all kinds. A guest will call from the beach to announce the approach of a whale or Dalls' porpoise and we all walk out to see and shoot pictures. We relax in the comfort of our snug camp and enjoy scrumptious meals carefully prepared by our guides. Sitting around a camp fire, we can hear the sounds of the ocean at night. The sounds of sea lions surfacing, the momentous sound of the Orcas' breath in the darkness. Moments of magic at each camp.

Traveling by sea kayak in a nomadic fashion inspires the soul
There is a feeling of true freedom and peace in living in the wilderness for this tour. You rise with the day, you move with the tides and the wind. The sun warms your body, and the wildlife warms your soul. By night you settle down for, what some say are the most relaxing and fulfilling rests they have ever had. A sleep surrounded by fresh air, stars and wilderness.

Morning coffee and breakfast
Our mornings are met with peace and tranquility, and for those coffee lovers, there is a slight aroma of fresh coffee brewing for your awakened spirit. Breakfast consists of creative, delicious hot meals and beverages such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate. We'll enjoy dishes such as French toast with fresh berries, again skillfully prepared by your experienced guide. Cooking in the wilderness is a mix of art and science and like wine, improves with the years.
 

As the whales go by, we are often rewarded with their calls over our hydrophone that we carry with us at all times. Your guide will have a complete book detailing all the Northern Resident Killer Whales in this area, complete with photos. Also, all of our tours are sent with a mini library featuring information on the whales and other plants and animals for your perusal.

Days spent paddling and hiking
Our days are spent exploring with our kayaks as we search out interesting places and wildlife. The magnificent Bald Eagles soar above or sit perched and watch us pass by, as if the eagle were as interested in seeing us as we are them. Rounding a bend you happen upon a Black Bear searching for some food under rocks on the beach. Ignoring our presence the bear grabs large boulders and rolls them down the beach as if they were weightless.
 

We meet people involved in researching the Killer Whale whales
One of our days will find us hiking through an incredible coastal rain forest on a trail that brings us out to a plateau overlooking the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve in Johnstone Strait, where researchers have an primitive outpost camp. The Robson Bight is an area along the Vancouver Island shore in which the Orcas frequent to rub their bellies and side on the pebbly beaches. It is protected from entry to all sight seekers but from this vantage point it can be viewed though binoculars perfectly as can the entire Strait for miles in either direction. This is our time to talk directly to people who are very much in the know on the daily events of the area as they are at that lookout every day from eight in the morning till eight at night recording information about whales and traffic in Johnstone Strait. Some guests say that this day is their best of the trip.

Each evening we nestle into our camp site, often changing sites each day, but other times remaining at one site for another day depending on the whales and the groups wants and needs. But no matter what part of the forest we call home for the evening we enjoy another delicious meal, and most nights enjoy a small campfire as new friends gather to reflect the sights and sounds of our journey.

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Orca Expedition Page

"This trip was amazing, truly a once in a life time adventure. I have recommended it to all my friends."   Jennifer S., Boulder CO

Whales we see while we Kayak with Whales

Itinerary Changes
As on any outdoor adventure vacation, the traveler needs to acknowledge and accept the fact that we are subject to the whims of nature and/or other circumstances, and as such may have to change details or routes of our itinerary to accommodate our dynamic environment.