| Duration | Included | Dates | Group Size | Price |
| 8 Days |
5 days sea kayaking Half-day whale watching tour All equipment for kayaking and camping Hotel accommodation x3 Transfers Qualified guides All food during kayak days |
August | Max 9 | $3275 (usd) |
A sanctuary for wildlife and wild people alike, an untamed frontier for real adventurers, one of the most marine mammal rich coastlines on the planet… Vancouver Island. And specifically, the northern end.
This area is home to whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, bears, mountain lions and killer whales.
Of course, wild animals are unpredictable and there are no guarantees of what we may see. That’s why we focus on quality time amongst nature, enjoying the breathtaking scenery and an escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
The sea kayak is the ultimate way to connect with nature, as we move harmoniously with our surroundings, peacefully paddling from campsite to campsite. This is a full expedition style adventure, meaning all the food and camping gear is packed into the boats, allowing us freedom of movement and flexibility when it comes to campsites.
Chris has spent 2 full summer seasons guiding in this area, as well as paddled through it for a third time when kayaking 1,600km on the Inside Passage for 72 days. It’s a place he knows and loves, and can’t wait for you to see the magic of it for yourself!
This trip is suitable for beginner-intermediate kayakers with an adventurous spirit, and is a total of 8 days (airport to airport).
Why Choose Us for Your Vancouver Island Sea Kayak Expedition?
Global Shenanigans human form, Chris, has spent his entire adult life as an outdoor industry professional. His career has taken him from the Far East, Europe, Africa, and North & Central America.
Chris will handle your booking, answer your questions regarding the trip/preparation, meet you at the airport AND be with you every step of the way during your paddle. This unparalleled service can only be found with Global Shenanigans.
We partner with expert local guides in order to bring the expedition together. This adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to the trip. Our local partners shall be providing high-quality equipment, good wholesome food and expert guidance to help us safely through the expedition!
Safety is paramount, and although this area is known for its notoriously strong and powerful tides, when exploring with qualified guides brimming with local knowledge, it opens up a whole world of adventure.
All measures are taken to make this trip as comfortable as possible, allowing you to put your feet up, sit back and enjoy the adventure.
*PLEASE NOTE* As with all outdoor adventures, this plan is flexible and subject to change. We reserve the right to amend the plan at any moment based off of the weather, sea conditions, group ability and so forth.
| Included |
|
All equipment for paddling and camping All accommodation (x3 hotel) Transfer to Telegraph Cove & back to Comox Qualified guides All food during kayaking days Half-day whale watching tour |
Dates & Prices
2026
August 2 – 9 4 SPACES
2027
August 1 – 8
Vancouver Island Sea Kayak Expedition $3275 USD
A deposit of $500 is required to confirm your place, with final payment due 3 months prior to departure.
Ready to Say YES to the Trip of a Lifetime?
Reach out using WhatsApp in the bottom right corner, or the contact box below, to find out if this trip is for you:
Expedition Itinerary
The Vancouver Island Sea Kayak Expedition is 8 days in total, from airport to airport.
Day 1
We will meet in Comox. There are flights from Vancouver, or if you have more time, you could take the ferry and explore more of Vancouver Island on your way up.
You can arrive anytime on the 2nd, as we’ll be spending the night in a hotel there.
Day 2
We’ll drive 3.5 hours to reach the wild north end of Vancouver Island, to a beautiful community called Telegraph Cove. This is our launch point.
Once we arrive there we’ll grab some lunch and head out that afternoon on a whale watch tour!
If luck is on our side, we’ll have a taster for what the days ahead may bring us…
Following that, it’s back to Telegraph Cove for a trip meeting and gear check, dinner in the Cove, overnight at a hotel before the real adventure begins the following day.
Day 3 – 7
We’ll be out in the wilds for 5 days.
There will be a Plan A of where we end up, but that is dependent on the group, the weather, the tides and various other factors.
The only guarantee is an adventure.
We’ll arrive back to civilisation on the 8th, before a gear shuffle, saying goodbye to our local crew, and driving back to Comox that evening.
Day 8
The whole day is open as a travel day, so you are able to choose the most convenient transport options for onward journeys.
Useful Information
Group Size
There is a maximum group size of 9, due to the limited number of camping spaces.
Ability
This expedition is suitable for beginners with an adventurous spirit. Although you don’t need to have been in a kayak before, you do need to be able to perform physical activity for 5 days in a row.
Safety is paramount, and although this area is known for its notoriously strong and powerful tides, when exploring with qualified guides brimming with local knowledge, it opens up a whole world of adventure.
Distances
We’ll aim to cover approximately 10-15 km per day. This depends on weather, tides, group ability amongst other things.
We move at a slow, steady pace, focusing on enjoying the natural world around us.
Will We See Killer Whales?
Wild animals are unpredictable and free to roam where they please.
There’s no guarantee of what we may see, which is what makes it even more special if we do have the good fortune of animal encounters.
This is one of the best places in the world to see killer whales, but it’s important to keep an open mind, be curious and enjoy nature in all its shapes and sizes.
That being said… There are 3 types of killer whales (or orca) around this coast.
Offshore – we won’t see them, because they live offshore.
Transient killer whales (aka Biggs) – these are the marine mammal eaters, things such as seals, sea lions and dolphins. They live amongst these waters year round, although they do roam great distances, hence the name. They move more stealthily, as the animals they prey on are intelligent and wise to them. There is a possibility of seeing these.
Resident killer whales – these are the most likely. They are slightly more predictable in their movements as they are fish eaters and they are here for the salmon migration. As the salmon start running up the rivers to spawn, the resident killer whales hang out in the area for feeding.
The salmon runs start from late-July until mid-September. Now you see why we are going in August?
This is prime time. The odds are in our favour, and that’s the best we can do.
Submit your review | |
From pre trip planning to every detail while on our kayak expedition, Chris took care of all the small details that make a vacation enjoyable. When i book my next trip with Global Shenanigans I'll have the peace of mind of knowing that the logistics will be perfect and the expedition will be safe AND fun! As an aside, trip size has so far been in point, guide to participant ratio makes you feel like you have personalized support but also a big enough group to make it a party when appropriate!
This was my second trip with Global Shenanigans, and somehow it managed to exceed my expectations. Everything was incredibly well planned, communication was easy from start to finish, and Chris did an amazing job bringing together a pod of like minded people.
The experience was life changing. Every day felt like a new adventure, from kayaking alongside whales and orcas to watching playful sea lions, exploring kelp forests, and discovering the incredible intertidal life. Being surrounded by such breathtaking nature left me completely whale struck. When your biggest problem is hardly sleeping because whales are breaching, tail-slapping, and breathing right next to the campsite, you know you've had a whale of a week. Special mention to our local guide, Michelle, who was curious, interested, and interesting, as well as incredibly knowledgeable and a GREAT chef!
If you're thinking about joining a Global Shenanigans trip, don't fluke out and miss the opportunity. Chris creates something truly special!