Arrive Campbell River and check in to hotel. Free time this evening to discover the area.

Morning van transportation from your accommodation in Campbell River; four to five hour scenic drive on northern Vancouver Island to remote Fair Harbour; chartered water taxi transportation to the Wilderness Retreat base camp on Spring Island - on the outer edge of Canada’s west coast! Early afternoon arrival with a light lunch, welcome orientation and tour of base camp facilities; time to settle into your waterfront tent accommodations. Relaxing introductory kayak outing or forest trail walk to spectacular and rugged exposed west coast shoreline and scenery - use your arms or legs and get your bearings! You’ve arrived! Dinner and evening activities, including preparation for next day’s kayaking. Possible evening paddle in sheltered bay.

Continued orientation/refresher to the kayaks, safety equipment, and paddling strokes; safety briefing appropriate to the individual experience and day’s activities. Day trip paddle through local islet clusters, abandoned First Nations Village site area, and sea otter viewing. Lunch break and shoreline intertidal life orientation on sandy shell beach. More exploring and wildlife viewing by kayak in the afternoon. Return to established camp comforts...and maybe enjoy a hot shower, nap, time on a stand up paddleboard, a good book, a relaxing beverage, wandering along the expansive beach,...! Your call! Evening appetizers, dinner, and opportunities for on-water kayak skill development with one-on-one coaching. Possible sunset paddle or walk...or just enjoy time around the fire visiting with others.

As per day 3, with additional day tripping destinations possibly including: estuary and river exploration, fossil finding, and “salmon forest” hike. One can also explore more exposed outer coastlines if sea conditions are appropriate, including sea arches and sea caves. Your day could include anything from: black bear viewing and possible wolf sightings; to a possible visit to the remote First Nations village of Kyuquot; to intertidal exploring and tide pool curiosities. If the seas are rough, no worries, there are plentiful shoreline hikes, beachcombing, and world-class photography opportunities. It’s endless!

Possible sunrise paddle before breakfast. Similar activities as days 2 - 4 during the morning, including the option of a morning paddle through nearby sea arches and islets, or short interpretive walk into ancient temperate old-growth rainforest...making sure you leave time to relax and reflect - fully absorbing the majesty around you. Packing of personal gear in preparation for an early afternoon water taxi departure after lunch. The challenge with a base camp, is that you can really “move in” quickly and spread your things everywhere! Return van transportation to Was to connect to transfer to your accommodation in Port McNeill.

There is a pre-trip meeting at 8:00 pm with your guides for the 3 nights Orca Base Camp kayaking trip. Your guides provide you with an overview for your trip, distribute dry bags to pack your clothing, and answer any questions you may have.

We meet at 8:30 am to head down to the marina to load our water taxi. It is just a short walk from the hotels, and all your bags are transported by van. Vehicles and extra luggage can be left at your hotel.

The 45 to 60 minute water taxi ride takes us to our base camp. Upon arrival at the base camp your guides provide a site orientation, plus a kayak and safety briefing. We kayak for a short time before lunch, giving you time to get used to the kayaks, the wilderness setting, and each other. The afternoon is spent kayaking and viewing the area’s diverse wildlife.

Each day brings a new journey; our base camp is ideally situated for exploring the area. The base camp is located on killer whale travel routes and humpback whales often feed within sight of camp. The Islands and small islets close to the camp are home to numerous sea birds, bald eagles, and seals. There is always plenty to see.

Both killer whales and humpback whales regularly pass by our camp, and we have enjoyed many dinner shows from the beach. When we encounter killer whales on the water, we often drop a hydrophone into the water so we can listen to their vocalizations.

Your kayak guides plan each day according to weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and guest interests. Lunches are usually spent on a secluded beach. We return late each afternoon to the comforts of the Orca Waters Base Camp. Every day is different, but rest assured, our goals are the same as yours – exploring, kayaking, whale watching, wildlife viewing, and enjoying the scenery.

Today is an early start. We are picked up around 7:00am by Sea Wolf Adventures for a boat ride to the bear viewing area. We hike moderate distances to intimate bear viewing sites, and sit quietly while waiting for the bears to appear. The guides are proud to share the amazing history, wildlife and beauty of their territory, and will sometimes adapt the locations to maximize bear viewing potential.Sea Wolf will then bring us back to Port McNeill to end this adventure. Overnight Port McNeill.

Today you can recount all of your experiences over the past days and transfer via motorcoach to Campbell River for your final overnight.

Time to end your journey on Vancouver Island.