Enjoy spotting whales, orca and other marine mammals on this small group expedition, sailing the spectacular and wildlife-rich waters of British Columbia, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
This wildlife cruise visits a wild and remote archipelago that is quite possibly one of the best places in the world to watch orcas, with members of the resident 200-strong population congregating to forage for salmon and socialise. You’ll also have a chance to explore the beautiful beaches and virgin forests on foot as well as understand the heritage of the First Nations peoples, and see their extraordinary carved totem poles.
Led by experienced guides, this itinerary offers a unique opportunity to observe a variety of species including orca, humpback, sea lion, sea otter, dolphin and porpoises. There's also the exciting possibility of seeing grizzly bear or black bear foraging alone the shoreline. For those wishing to explore further, this trip can be extended to include cultural tours or additional wildlife experiences in areas such as Telegraph Cove or Campbell River, allowing you to discover more of Vancouver Island’s spectacular landscapes and rich biodiversity. Contact us to discuss your travel plans.
Read Amanda Madro's fascinating blog on her studies of orca pods on Vancouver Island.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Embark in Port McNeill
Today you board your vessel. Once aboard, you meet the crew, are allocated a cabin and have a safety briefing before you set sail on your wildlife adventure.
Accommodation: Island Roamer, 6-nights
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Days 2-4
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Explore Johnstone Strait and surrounding inlets
The main focus over the next few days is on the waters of Johnstone Strait, and part of each day is spent exploring for marine mammals. Not only is this rugged, remote area of outstanding natural beauty famous for its orcas, but it’s also home to other marine wildlife: humpback and minke whales are common, Dall’s porpoise often come to play in the boat’s bow wave, and Pacific white-sided dolphins, Steller sealions and river otters are frequently sighted. The range of the resident population of Orcinus orca (killer whales) includes the waters of the Johnstone and nearby Queen Charlotte Straits. Each year for a few summer months these awesome marine mammals (there are well over 200 individuals) spend time here hunting salmon, resting and socialising.
You also visit the abandoned Kwakwaka’wakw village of Mimquimlees. With permission from the local native band, you can explore the old village to discover its past and rich cultural heritage. The Johnstone Strait once supported many thousands of Kwakwaka'wakw (a.k.a. Kwakiutl) people, whose villages were everywhere. Nowadays, few remain inhabited, but native culture and traditions are intact and in old communities you can still find totem poles standing proudly erect. In Mimquimlees, you can see elaborately carved totem poles and the remains of native great-houses.
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Day 5:
Disembark at Port McNeill
The cruise ends with your arrival back at Port McNeill late this morning, when you’ll bid farewell to the crew and disembark.
Please note: The itinerary is left deliberately flexible to be able to take account of the interests of the group and the weather conditions, as well as to take full advantage of wildlife sightings.
EXPEDITION VESSEL
