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Johnstone Strait Ultimate
Johnstone Strait Expedition
The Mothership
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A kayaking vacation with Spirit of the West Adventures gets rave reviews from our guests. Read about them in our testimonials page.

To try a sea kayaking vacation to Vancouver Island's West Coast visit our kayaking British Columbia web site.



Our daily itinerary will be catered to each individual group where sea kayaking time will vary depending on the group's desires and weather conditions.



  • Day 1
    Arrive in Port McNeill by road or air. You will meet your guides at McNeils Cafe at 6:30 pm. From here we will transfer to the Songhee where you will meet the crew and get acquainted with your new floating home.


  • Day 2 & 6
    Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait: Once we leave homeport, we have an advantage over land based trips - the ship can go anywhere within a vast network of remote interconnected islands and channels.

    We will journey right into the heart of Killer Whale (Orca) country, where nearly 230 of the majestic creatures reside in family groups known as pods. A visit to a research station will help us learn more about the Killer Whales, Humpbacks and other resident whale species found in the region. The kayaks will allow us to get as close as possible without intruding or disrupting the natural surroundings.

    Each day of our voyage will result in new discoveries. As eagles track our passage, sea lions, dolphins, and seals frolic in the pristine waters. We will visit the remote abandoned First Nations village of Mamalilacula, where a local native historian will thrill us with the legends of his people, who traveled these waters in massive seagoing canoes carved from the towering cedars. Totems carved with eagles, bears, whales and the other creatures who shared the land and sea with the original peoples still stand, silent witnesses to the passage of time and the natural wonders that still define the area.

    Two experienced kayaking guides, plus a captain, engineer, and deckhand will share their years of knowledge and skills with their passengers, ensuring the trip exceeds expectations. With guests limited to 10, individual comfort and attention is emphasized.

    Spend the last night in a quite cove or in Alert Bay where we will view the graveyard totems and visit the renowned U'Mista Cultural Centre.


  • Day 7
    Return to Port McNeill dock in the afternoon.






For this tour you need to get to Port McNeil. Port McNeil is located on Hwy 19a 2.5 hrs drive north of Campbell River, 4 ½ hrs north of Nanaimo and 6 hours north of Victoria. To get to Port McNeil you can drive and ferry, bus and ferry, or fly from Seattle or Vancouver. If you are coming from the mainland, in order to get to Vancouver Island with your car, one must take a ferry. Please note that the ferries can get quite congested during the summer months, so we advise you to get an early start your "travel day" and enjoy the drive up. For car rentals contact Budget Rental at 1800 299 3199 / www.budgetvictoria.com or National Tilden at 1800 227 7368. See the back of our catalogue for more info.

If you are flying you have the option of flying right from Seattle to downtown Port McNeil by Kenmore Air floatplane. This is most costly but most direct. The other option is to fly with Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Port Hardy (a town near Port McNeil), and from here a 25 minute airport shuttle will take you to our meeting point in Port McNeil. You can have us arrange the transport shuttle or you can contact Port McNeil Airport Shuttle at 1 250 956-8294.

For detailed travel information, such as flights and car rentals you can contact our local travel agency, Uniglobe Travel if you need assistance with your travel arrangements. They can be reached in North America at 1-800-567-6511 or by email at wc.rivercity@uniglobe.com



Port McNeil
Meeting time: 6:30 pm

Where: McNeills Cafe

Getting there: McNeills Cafe is located on the waterfront in downtown Port McNeil across from the main docks.




We recommend staying in the town of Port McNeil on the night prior to tour. If you decide to stay in Campbell River or on our home island of Quadra Island, feel free to ask us for more recommendations.

We have included a list of places to stay for Port McNeil, if you need assistance with accommodations elsewhere, please contact us at 1-800-307-3982.

Ev's Bunkhouse on the Beach
website: www.pixsell.bc.ca/bb/125.htm.
Phone: 1 877 956 4993

Seaview B&B
website: www.portmcneill.net/seeview/
Phone: 1 250 956 4818

Broughton Manor B&B
website: www.broughtonmanor.com
Phone: 1 250 956 4202

Rosebury Manor B&B
website: www.pixsell.bc.ca/bb/150.htm
Phone: 1 888 956 7673

Tanquil Space B&B
website: www.portmcneill.net/tranquil
Phone: 1 250 956 2002

Haida - Way Motor Inn
website: www.portmcneillhotels.com
Phone: 1 800 956 3373




Kayak with the killer whales in British Columbia. Sea kayaking British Columbia.