Wildheart Adventures
Wildheart Adventures
4.9
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About
For over 32 years we have been exploring gorgeous Vancouver Island and mainland BC coastline by Kayak. From paddling with orca whales in Johnstone Strait and grey whales in Clayoquot Sound. To watching sea otters from camp in the Nuchatlitz archipligeo, and walking in the prints of wolves and bears on the remote beaches of Brookes Peninsula and the shores of the Central coast. Check out our website for your dream kayak trip in BC, if it isn't there, get in touch and we can help make the dream come true. Our tours feature gourmet camping cuisine, fun-loving certified guides, premium kayaking and safety equipment and we have offer both camping and lodge based tours. Check out our Daytrips options in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver island and in Nanaimo on the east coast for paddling the gorgeous waters Barkely Sound and the Northern Gulf Islands.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
148 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
4
Sabine und Micha
Hilden, Germany2 contributions
Jul 2022
We had a wonderful weekend with Kim and the second guide. My wife and I sat in a kayak for the first time on this tour. The guides took our fears away with their calm manner and we felt very safe in the kayak even in really bad weather with waves. All the equipment was really good and our wishes were taken care of in advance. I have a food allergy and Kim has been very thoughtful and hard working all weekend to present us great meals. The food was fantastic, fresh and really a lot. The whole group was just terrific and we all had a lot of fun, although or maybe because the weather wasn't always 1000% cooperating. It was a magnificent nature experience and we would like to repeat it - if so, ONLY with Wildheart Adventures!
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leah V
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Friends
Wildheart Adventures hosted my seventeen Grade 8 students and I on a tour through the Gulf Islands. The experience was incredible - the guides were friendly, knowledgeable and prepared. The meals were also fantastic. I would recommend Wildheart to anyone - small groups or big - if you are looking for an ocean adventure.
Written June 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie T
Seattle, WA15 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
My wife and I had a really great and very well planned and conducted 6 day Johnstone Strait kayak trip. This was my third trip with Jaime and as before, it totally organized, the food was excellent and Jaime’s knowledge of marine fauna, knowing where to lead us to see Orca and humpbacks, porpoise, dolphins and sea lions every day along with his telling engaging stories, his wonderful sense of humor and ability to adapt to weather and client needs made this a trip I’ll never forget.
I’ll be back for more
Thank you Jaime!!!!
I’ll be back for more
Thank you Jaime!!!!
Written September 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyage697053
11 contributions
Aug 2021
Very unhappy customer!
I have never written a review on a public forum before but I feel compelled to do so this time because this trip was an incredible disappointment.
Unsafe: The guide to client ratio was inadequate at 1:7 with 3 novice paddlers instead of 1:5 as outlined in the SKGABC trip classification guidelines.
Poorly resourced: This company does not provide you with tents, sleeping mats, dry bags or spray jackets and expects you to bring your own plates, cups and cutlery!
Did not provide what was promised: A few days before leaving, one of the ladies in our group confirmed with the owner that some single kayaks would be provided on this trip She was assured this would be the case (the flyer promised the same) but when we arrived in Tofino on the day of departure only doubles were provided.
Poor environmental stewards: There are no latrines on these islands therefore it is standard practice for the company to provide you with a "toilet bag" so you don't leave toilet paper in the bush after you've done your business. No toilet bag was provided. We also had to bring our own toilet paper!
Did not live up to the flyer promise: On this 4-day trip, we kayaked a total of 28km and spent our last day on a beach within sight of Tofino which was a far cry from the flyer promise of "four enchanted days paddling the inlets and waterways of the Clayoquot Sounds" and "gorgeous deserted beaches".
Inexperienced guide: The guide on this trip was inexperienced and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of leading a group this size.
Concerns unresolved. Kim Crosby, the owner of this company did not address our concerns in a satisfactory manner in fact everyone in our group contacted him after the trip to explain why we were so disappointed. Not only did he not address our concerns, but he also refused to give us any sort of a refund and told us he would have not further communication with us.
I have never written a review on a public forum before but I feel compelled to do so this time because this trip was an incredible disappointment.
Unsafe: The guide to client ratio was inadequate at 1:7 with 3 novice paddlers instead of 1:5 as outlined in the SKGABC trip classification guidelines.
Poorly resourced: This company does not provide you with tents, sleeping mats, dry bags or spray jackets and expects you to bring your own plates, cups and cutlery!
Did not provide what was promised: A few days before leaving, one of the ladies in our group confirmed with the owner that some single kayaks would be provided on this trip She was assured this would be the case (the flyer promised the same) but when we arrived in Tofino on the day of departure only doubles were provided.
Poor environmental stewards: There are no latrines on these islands therefore it is standard practice for the company to provide you with a "toilet bag" so you don't leave toilet paper in the bush after you've done your business. No toilet bag was provided. We also had to bring our own toilet paper!
Did not live up to the flyer promise: On this 4-day trip, we kayaked a total of 28km and spent our last day on a beach within sight of Tofino which was a far cry from the flyer promise of "four enchanted days paddling the inlets and waterways of the Clayoquot Sounds" and "gorgeous deserted beaches".
Inexperienced guide: The guide on this trip was inexperienced and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of leading a group this size.
Concerns unresolved. Kim Crosby, the owner of this company did not address our concerns in a satisfactory manner in fact everyone in our group contacted him after the trip to explain why we were so disappointed. Not only did he not address our concerns, but he also refused to give us any sort of a refund and told us he would have not further communication with us.
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback on your trip.
WildHeart Adventures is now under new ownership and management, as of 2023, and will be striving to amend all operational standards and practices.
your input given here will help us strive to provide the best paddling experience possible in the coming year/s.
Regards
WildHeart Adventures
Written January 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
murrgp
1 contribution
Aug 2021
This had to be one of the worst paid vacation experiences that I have ever had. I travelled to Clayoquot Sound with four friends on a four-day kayaking experience this past August and as a fairly novice kayaker , I was told by our guide , Jeremy , that I actually "should not have come" , even though I had been told by Kim , the owner , that novice kayakers are welcome. Our guide was rude and arrogant, got us lost on the first day and seemed more interested in entertaining his girlfriend , who also came along in his kayak, than making it an enjoyable trip for the paying guests . He became quite agitated and upset on the Saturday night and I was starting to feel nervous for our safety and wanted to pack up and go back to shore . We contacted Kim and were told that this was not possible. A number of other events happened to make our trip far from enjoyable , such as very minimal daily kayaking , and when we explained our experiences to Kim , he basically told us it was our fault and would not provide us with any compensation. My advice to anyone thinking of using this company is don't ! In fairness , Kim's wife is quite the chef and provided us with some amazing salads and baking for the trip.
Written September 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback on your trip.
WildHeart Adventures is now under new ownership and management, as of 2023, and will be striving to amend all operational standards and practices.
your input given here will help us to provide the best paddling experience possible in the coming year/s.
Regards
WildHeart Adventures
Written January 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
fquinn921
Vancouver, Canada10 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Five friends and I did a four day customized trip with Jaime around Telegraph Cove. Jaime was brilliant as a guide and we also had great fun, he matched our enthusiasm. I couldn't fault the trip whatsoever. Within the first 24 hours we had seen and done everything we hoped to see/achieve over the whole trip. This was honestly one of, if not the best trip I have taken in Canada.
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Globetrotter1865
North Pole, AK17 contributions
Aug 2022
I just got off the phone with BC Rec Sites and Trails. They told me that this company is operating without permission on rec sites and that they have reported complaints regarding this from others in the past. Over the long weekend, this company brought a large group of clients and based their camp directly next to ours. It ruined our long-deserved holiday at Kaikash Creek Rec Site, Vancouver Island.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback.
I am sorry your experience was hindered by one of our groups.
WildHeart Adventures is now under new ownership and management, as of 2023, and will be striving to amend all operational standards and practices.
That being said, Kaikash Creek is a large multi group campsite, where licensed operators as well as private users with groups up to 15 are allowed to use the site (our commercial groups never exceed 14 at this site and are normally only 10 clients and 2 guides). Due to this, the location is a go to for bigger groups( 5-15), and there is often a steady flow of groups in and out of the site, leading to 15- 40 people regularly being based there for multiple nights. With the sites Capacity capability there is very little chance to not encounter other people here, nor can a group be turned away if there is space available.
Despite the large amount of people that end up using Kaikash I have never found that the sites beauty and joy is ruined, as long as you realize this is a site where you will be near and see other groups. There are a number of smaller sites available along the coast south of Kaikash. these would easily enable a very intimate camping experience for 1-5 people, that is not very often found at Kaikash Creek, due to the locations promised ability to facilitate multiple large groups.
Thank you again for your feed back.
Your input given here will help us to provide the best paddling experience possible in the coming year/s.
Regards
WildHeart Adventures
Written January 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charlotte D
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Friends
Just fantastic!! We did the 6 day Johnstone Strait tour. The guide, Jaime, was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and flexible. We saw dozens and dozens of orcas, as well as humpbacks, sea lions, seals and dolphins. The food was amazing! An unforgettable experience.
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natdabat
Canada67 contributions
Jul 2020
I heartily recommend this tour. We had a lovely half day adventure out of Nanaimo BC. We felt safe, learned a lot, had a great workout, enjoyed the taste of salt water on our faces, had a great lunch and learned lots of new information about nature (birds, mammal, starfish, rock patterns) and the few humans populating this particularly wild and beautiful part of the country. Kim was our guide, making every guest in the group feel interesting, capable and useful. Thanks for an unforgettable visit with our favourite nature i.e. canadian nature!
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate M
Tofino, Canada71 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Such a great affordable kayaking day trip. Kim is an excellent guide, his wife made lunch and it was very tasty. We had one lady in the group that was nervous on the water and she felt at ease quickly with Kim’s instruction and advice. Learn about the little islands off Nanaimo and experience beautiful seals and otters. Bald eagles soaring above and other shore birds enjoying little fish. We would definitely return to do another trip!
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Whoops, just saw this today so sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We offer our daytrips in early April...based on weather of course. Cheers.
Written March 2, 2019
Lynneart48
New York City, New York
Where do we gp to pick up kayaks - and what is the expense?
Written August 6, 2015
HI Lynn, If you are interested in our sea kayaking tours, I suggest you look at our website at Wildheart Adventures for a complete description of the various kayaking trips we offer on Vancouver Island and their cost. Should you require further clarification, you can call us toll free at 1-877-722-3683 or email us directly. I hope this assists you in your planning. Cheers
Written August 8, 2015
I have a family of 5 (3 small children) do you have a room that can accomodate us, or do we have to get two rooms? If two rooms, do you have ones that are connected?
Written July 18, 2015
Sorry but we operate sea kayak tours and not accommodation. Try Fiddicks B & B.
Cheers
Written July 18, 2015
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