ORCA CAMP - Johnstone Strait
Few camping experiences will match the fascination and beauty of this sea kayaking adventure with the Orcas in Johnstone Strait.
Trip Details
This itinerary is a sample only - the exact itinerary of your trip will be dictated by factors such as weather, tides, and group interest, with the guides working within the parameters of safety, time, and the highlights of the area.
Day 0
Arrive in Port McNeill by vehicle/bus or via Port Hardy by air and taxi. Overnight in Port McNeill (not included). Reservations for accommodation as well as flight reservations to and from Port Hardy can be made through our office at no extra cost. Please contact us for the available options and our friendly staff will gladly assist you. We can, for instance, book the Inside Passage for you or a bear viewing trip from Telegraph Cove or accommodation in Vancouver or complete travel itineraries throughout Western Canada. To find current accommodation rates in Port McNeill and/or airline schedules from/to Vancouver we invite you to click here.Day 1
At 9:00 am you will meet with your trip companions in the lobby of the Haida Way Motor Inn and be picked up by the local taxicab that takes you to the government dock, where the watertaxi is waiting. This comfortable, covered boat will transfer you to Ecosummer’s Orca Camp in approx. 40 minutes, depending on the weather conditions. We do recommend that you wear clothes that can get wet and shoes that protect your feet when leaving the boat to get ashore at the base camp. After getting accustomed to the camp environment, the guides will give a warm welcome and introduction to the days ahead, followed by the obligatory “safety-talk” and practical instructions for sea kayaking and whale watching before heading out for a first, exploratory paddle. With a little luck, you will be paddling with the whales already on your first day at Orca Camp. There is also an opportunity for an evening paddle after dinner or even a short night paddle under a starlit sky and during cycles of bright moonlight. Sometimes, the Orcas even decide to overnight right in front of our camp; it is very special listening to their blows while you’re slumbering away or making yourself comfortable around the crackling campfire.Meals: lunch / dinner
Day 2 & 3 and / or Day 2 - 6
These days will be spent exploring the core territory frequented by the Orcas of Johnstone Strait; the main activity will be sea kayaking but we’ll also take you for short hikes and interpretive walks. Some of the popular kayaking routes are paddling west along the Vancouver Island shoreline, or across the Strait to Blackney Passage or even around or part way around Hanson Island. You may also paddle east to get a full view of Robson Bight. The guides will make those decisions and take all factors such as overall group ability, weather forecast, currents and tides, the Orcas’ most recent travel patterns etc. into consideration. Your safety is their top priority, followed by maximizing your wildlife viewing opportunities. The guides will inform you about their daily plans during “chart-talks” in the mornings. One of the most popular hikes is the one up to the Eagle Eye whale monitoring and research station. To visit and talk to the researchers is always a highlight. After exciting days of discovery, filled with lots of unforgettable memories, you return to the coziness and hospitality of our base camp. Enjoy well balanced, nutritious and great tasting meals and barbeques - they taste best while watching wildlife right from the kitchen or from your folding chair on the beach, perhaps with a glass of BC red wine or a cup of coffee in your hand. Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 4 or Day 7
Conditions permitting, there is time after breakfast for a last, short morning paddle before the watertaxi arrives to take you back to Port McNeill. For many of our guests, the farewell isn’t easy because you will have bonded with this unique place and the incredible animals … but - you can always return!Meals: breakfast
For those who have chosen the 7 day trip, please note that on day 4 of your trip you will most likely be welcoming some new guests in camp!
The Orcas
Orcas are most abundant between early July to mid September. They may not be seen regularly outside this period or they may only be spotted in the distance. We cannot guarantee that you will see whales, but we can assure you that based on all previous years, most trips during July, August and September have seen whales and almost always have they been numerous. In the unlikely event that there aren’t any whales around, Johnstone Strait unquestionably remains a spectacular place and wilderness worth being visited and kayaked nonetheless!Johnstone Strait, due to its concentration of whales, is considered one of the best places in the world to experience Orcas in the wild. Here, they feed on salmon, socialize, rest and rub their bodies on pebble beaches through the entire summer season; they are therefore referred to as residents. But also transients, feeding mainly on marine mammals, visit these waters occasionally. Possibly no other place on earth boasts such a large number of these beautiful animals and in such stunning scenery. These waters are also home to Minke Whales, White-sided Dolphins and Dall’s Porpoises. In the past few years, Johnstone Strait has also more and more emerged as a destination for Humpback Whales.
The Camp & the Gear
Ecosummer’s Orca Camp trip is highlighted by exceptional opportunities to view orcas both from shore and from a sea kayak. Our base camp is ideally located in the heart of the orcas’ territory: nestled into the Vancouver Island shore overlooking Johnstone Strait and directly adjacent to the protected rubbing beaches at Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve - the world’s only designated whale habitat. There are beaches all along the coastline for beachcombing and tidepooling, and great fishing holes right off the shore. A base camp in such a prime location as this offers many advantages over a moving camp or expedition style trip: It offers much more comfort, it allows much more time to sea kayak and whale watch and it makes it possible for anyone of normal health and fitness to partake. This trip is even suitable for families with children. Please inquire about our family departure dates and age restrictions.
Group activities will also include: hiking, interpretation of natural and native history and relaxation, camaraderie and fun by the campfire. To complete this exquisite coastal setting, you will be immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the boreal rainforest, and able to witness the natural rhythms of the ocean. Enjoy the bald eagles, ravens, seagulls and ducks, the seals, sea lions and the rare otters – a fascinating display of coastal life, often right in front of our camp! Occasionally, while out on one of the daily excursions, observe bears or get a glimpse of a cougar scouring the beaches.While Orca Camp is a wilderness tent base camp here is what you can expect:
- Spacious tents
- Therm-a-rest, sleeping bag, fresh liner and pillow case
- Paddling booties and gloves/pogies
- Composting toilets
- Simple camping-bag-shower (solar heated)
- Brand name fibreglass kayaks, paddles, sprayskirts and life jackets
- 25-L waterproof bag for each cockpit
- Hydrophone
- Large kitchen tent with tables & benches
- Camping chairs
- Small library
Meals
We start with fresh, healthy and wholesome ingredients that are skillfully prepared by your guides, often over a campfire. For breakfast there is usually a choice of different breads, yogurt, cereal, hot cereal, butter and jam, french toast and of course eggs, etc. For lunch our guides pack cold cuts with fresh vegetables and fruit and crackers and also bring a little stove along for those who would like a warm soup or tea/coffee. Dinners generally include a variety of different noodle and rice dishes, e.g. with prawns, chicken and vegetables, and we also BBQ fresh salmon for our guests; always delicious our dinners are also accompanied with a glass of wine. A fresh water source is available in camp. There is a sheltered dining area that has one of the most incredible views of the surrounding waters, another great opportunity to see the orcas!
PS... With enough advanced notice we are happy to accommodate a wide range of dietary requests including those from vegetarians and individuals with allergies.
