Kelp Reef Adventures
Kelp Reef Adventures
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About
Kayaking is the best way to see Victoria. We specialize in safe, fun and educational kayak tours of Victoria's Harbour and waterfront. Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and 20 minutes from downtown on the scenic boardwalk. We are the closest kayak shop to the Juan de Fuca straight, so when conditions allow, we will paddle along the coast to the kelp forests and an island the harbour seals frequent. Along the way we may see different shore birds like eagles, osprey, oystercatchers, cormorants, and the great blue heron. Starfish, jelly fish and kelp crabs are usually hiding just below the surface. Kayaking is easy and we make it easier by offering paddling jackets, gloves and a bottle of water. Plus on our kayak launch you won't even get your feet wet!
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Travellers' Choice
2022
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Kelp Reef Adventures
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(130 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,159 reviews
Excellent
1,105
Very good
52
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
westender
Portland, OR20 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Couples
Austin made us feel safe, at ease and informed. We had a very pleasant two hours in and around the Inner Harbour and learned quite a bit about the local waters, wildlife and marine activities. Highly recommended.
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MMS866
Sydney, Australia23 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Couples
A great two hour kayak with guide Austin - we’re fairly experienced kayakers but Victoria Harbour is REALLY busy so don’t try this alone! Great to have a friendly well informed guide - saw otters, seals, seabirds, kelp crab - not to mention float planes all over the place, boats, oh and a hovercraft..well worth it.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alina
6 contributions
Sep. 2022 • Solo
I booked a three hour kayak tour in the morning. Mitch, our guide, explained a lot about the local wildlife. The group was very small.
Written September 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
grace4life
Calgary, Canada23 contributions
Aug. 2022
we had a lovely time visiting the harbour seal nursery with Mitch whose good humour and knowledge made for a relaxing, inspiring trip. Thank you!
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ben A
1 contribution
Aug. 2022 • Couples
Very well done. Mitch did an amazing job of keeping us safe and well informed. Mitch you are a very personable guide and you were excellent with the kids. For folks booking I would recommend checking for a very calm day. We were unable to venture out of the harbour because of the wind.
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
amanda7820
Shawnigan Lake, Canada4 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Couples
We had Brandon for the sunset tour and he was awesome. So easy to talk to and even though we are from Victoria was able to tell us some things we didn’t already know. We lucked out and had a private tour which was amazing as it was our wedding anniversary. We got to see otters, blue heron and lots of seals. Brandon even had us try a few bites if kelp (not bad). Overall we had a wonderful tour and a lot of fun. Thanks for the memories!
Written August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michaila I
3 contributions
Aug. 2022
My sister and I did an evening tour with Brandon and it was awesome! He was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. We saw lots of seals and some of them swam up to our kayaks. Would definitely recommend!
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dave Fox
Caversham, UK20 contributions
Aug. 2022
Our family (two adults, one teenager) thoroughly enjoyed a 2 hour kayak tour with the excellent Mitch. We were very much a mixed ability group, with one of our number a complete newcomer to kayaking, but a quick briefing and some practice close to shore and we were soon ready to venture out into the harbour. And what a treat it was, giving us an up close look at beautiful Victoria, life on and around the harbour and, best of all a visit to a seal colony where we were able to get close (but not too close) to the seals and their pups as they basked on the rocks and swam in the kelp forest.
Mitch was a hugely knowledgeable and interesting guide as well as being a lovely guy, who went to great lengths to ensure we enjoyed the trip.
In all a thoroughly enjoyable excursion and thanks to all at Kelp Reef Adventures for making it so much fun. Hugely recommended.
Mitch was a hugely knowledgeable and interesting guide as well as being a lovely guy, who went to great lengths to ensure we enjoyed the trip.
In all a thoroughly enjoyable excursion and thanks to all at Kelp Reef Adventures for making it so much fun. Hugely recommended.
Written August 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joel Madeira
Faro District, Portugal6 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Family
We decided to take the Kayak Tour in order to see the seals and explore a little more of Victoria and although it was our first time, it was all very fantastic. Small group of 6 people and a very well explained tour by our guide Brandon Willson. He was fantastic at setting up the equipment, explaining everything, and giving tips. I recommend it without a doubt!
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cait C
3 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Solo
Lovely experience! My tour guide, Mitch, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We saw tons of seals, would definitely recommend.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
casey wyatt
Brisbane Region, Australia137 contributions
Is the evening tour as good/ popular as the morning and do you generally see less wildlife on the evening tour?
james s
Victoria British Columbia22 contributions
I am no wildlife expert but I would guess the day is the best time as there is more movement than in the evening. They are busy finding food in the day and unless they are a night hunter, they are hunkered down for the night. If the seagulls who use our roof as a meeting place are anything to go by, there major screaming matches are all done by 6 pm and they shove off to wherever they nest (not our roof , thank goodness!)
what can you do here?
Sara M
Barcelona, Spain3 contributions
Hi Jenna, last summer we did some kayaking in the area of Victoria to see the seals (it was the breeding season so there were loads of seal cubs). Greetings.
Justin W
Dumfries, VA4 contributions
Where are you located? on the trip advisor website, it says you are 25 minutes out of downtown while your website says you can be found at fisherman's warf. Where do we meet you for tours at?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Thats right, our tours depart from fisherman's wharf, a floating community of float homes, restaurants and of course eco-tours. The address is 1 Dallas Rd., Victoria.
Sue N
2 contributions
Does the full day tour take you to more scenic or more wildlife-filled areas than the 3 hour tour? If the length of the tour is not considered, is one tour superior to the other?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Hello Sue
If you have the time to devote to a full day kayak tour it is worth going to Beecher Bay. We have the opportunity to see more variety of wildlife because there is the chance to see whales near Race Rocks. I don't want to say it is superior to our Victoria based kayak tours because near Victoria we have a harbour seal rookery and haul out. In Victoria during August we have many baby seal pups with their mothers.
Šárka Šabová
Vienna, Austria4 contributions
Hello :) how does it work around January? are there some exceptions and will we see everything we would during summer time?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Hello
Where we go on our tours depends on the ocean conditions. The outer harbour and kelp forests can only be reached on calm days but in January we have frequent storms. Of course it's still possible to see harbour seals, river otters and many types of shore birds within the protected harbour but it's June that the female seals have their young and we spend the warmer months in Victoria watching them grow up.
Are there lockers to store valuables at your location before going out to kayak?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
We have secure storage for valuables but they're not lockers, rather a staff member who keeps guard over everything from rings to passports! Of course we have dry bags if you would rather bring your wallet etc with you.
meisel100
Charlotte, NC73 contributions
Your 3 hour tour is $90, versus $75 for a competitor with similar reviews. Is there something that differentiates your tour from others? Also, what is the best clothing and footwear for kayaking?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Yes! We are currently ranked #2 on trip advisor out of tours in Victoria (eagle wing whale watching is #1). Our 3 hour tour includes a picnic lunch and we provide extras that other companies do not. Spray skirts, gloves, jackets, hats, sunglasses, drinking water and dry bags for cameras.... Also loading into kayaks on our Jet dock means you don't even get your feet wet.
Just layer your clothes lightly as we generate heat while kayaking and any footwear is fine on our Jet dock.
Heather H
England, UK
Hi I will be staying at the Oswego Hotel from 16 to 20 August. I am interested in the sunset kayak and the discovery island trips. So you do pick ups from the hotel? if not, what is the best way to get to you?
Thanks
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Hi Heather
Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is about a 5 min walk from the Oswego hotel to the end of Kingston St. Also we offer some great 1/2 price specials on our sunset tours Tuesday -Thursday, only $29.50 for a two hour kayak tour and we supply everything you need to kayak.
We don't kayak to Discovery island but we do have an island closer to our location that the female harbour seals visit and it's pupping season now. This means they are starting to have their babies and if the conditions allow we can paddle out to see them. When it's is windy we stay in the protected inner harbour.
we have a 4 year old son. Is he old enough to ride in a kayak for a tour?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Hello
Your son is still a little too young for our adventure sport. We have a minimum age of 7 years old for our tours and offer 1/2 price to children 7-12 on our 4pm kayak tour June-Sept.
Nancy A
Hamden, CT100 contributions
This looks fantastic! If we have a group of two boys, ages 9 and 12, and myself with companion, who has back issues and can't do paddling, would we be able to enjoy this tour? How would it work?
KelpReefAdventures
1 contribution
Hi Nancy
I have a couple scenarios that could allow your family to kayak with us depending on your condition. We have double kayaks that make kayaking a breeze when two do the work of one. If you can paddle a little you could share the double with your strongest child. However if you cannot paddle at all, I would suggest you share the double with your companion or our kayak guide and the kids go together. I recommend our Family Tour as the kids will be 1/2 price on the 2 hour tour at 4pm offered daily June thru Sept.