Island Joy Rides
Island Joy Rides
5
Multi-day Tours • Bike Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Wine Tours & Tastings
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
We are experience makers. Born out of a love for the outdoors and the sense of freedom that cycling and paddling brings, our boutique bicycle and kayak tours are dedicated to helping people connect with the locals, the culinary experiences, and the hidden secrets that make the Comox Valley, Campbell River, and the Discovery Islands so spectacular. A feast for the senses, our Joy Rides help people find JOY in their journey through boutique day, multi-day, guided and self-guided experiences.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
138 reviews
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Beth
Campbell River, Canada5 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Family
My daughter and I enjoyed a magical experience at the Paddle and Pedi night on Laurel and Richard’s riverfront oasis. It started with some relaxing gentle yoga with Lorna in their beautiful garden. Then we headed out in kayaks onto the river which winds into a serene estuary which is brimming with beauty and wildlife everywhere we looked. It was lovely and interesting to hear river stories told by Laurel as we paddled. The evening finished with pedicures overlooking the river complete with champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries. We could not have asked for a better Mother-Daughter date night! So many experiences all in one evening and so much joy felt by all.
Written February 17, 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.
Guillaume74
21 contributions
Aug. 2022
Our family of 6 had the pleasure to spend a few hours with Laurel and Richard from Island Joy Rides, first kayaking especially on their very own owl channel, and then having the pleasure of enjoying drinks and dinner from their garden, with an unforgettable view on the river and the nearby shores, with the fishermen in the background. A truly special evening with incredible hosts, and undoubtedly a highlight of our Canada trip this Summer. We could not have hoped for a better experience.
Written August 9, 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.
Nyree M
Campbell River, Canada7 contributions
Jun. 2021
My daughter and I loved the pedi\paddle event. Island Joy Rides took care of every small detail to make this an incredible evening. I highly recommend this event or any other Island Joy Ride event (I have done a cycle tour previously).
Written July 4, 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.
Megan C
5 contributions
Jul. 2021 • Friends
This was the perfect friends night out!
Beautiful place to enjoy some yoga tailored to our group, a pedicure while watching the river, eagles and seals.
The kayak was great for those of us who are less experienced and the tour included some history of the area, a moment to explore the senses and a lot of laughs and JOY.
It was so much more than I expected.
Beautiful place to enjoy some yoga tailored to our group, a pedicure while watching the river, eagles and seals.
The kayak was great for those of us who are less experienced and the tour included some history of the area, a moment to explore the senses and a lot of laughs and JOY.
It was so much more than I expected.
Written July 4, 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.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review, Megan. I'm so thrilled your enjoyed your Paddle & Pedi evening. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to share the estuary and intimate this experience with beautiful groups like yours. Thank you so much for joining us!
Written August 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sharon W
Vancouver Island, Canada1 contribution
Aug. 2020 • Couples
Due to Covid, we had a stay-cation in our beautiful town of Campbell River. One of the highlights of our time was kayaking the estuary with Laurel and Richard Cronk from Island Joy Rides. There love for the outdoors, coupled with their knowledge of the history of Campbell River made our evening paddle exceptional. The water was calm, the scenery was beautiful, and Richard and Laurel were so delightful. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting a relaxing, water experience.
Written September 26, 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.
Dave
Surrey, Canada1 contribution
Sep. 2020
My wife and I biked with another couple on the 6 day self guided tour (Courtney/Campbell River). We are moderately experienced cyclists, having biked internationally, (eg. Italy, France, ireland) and agreed that this trip, in our own back yards, was as enjoyable as many of our other excursions!.
All of us in our 60's, and we found the routes to be just challenging and varied enough to be interesting and satisfying without becoming disheartening on the one hand (eg. too much climbing) or boring on the other (too little climbing). The scenery was frequently forested and quiet, making for a pleasant journey each day. Bike routes were mostly dedicated bike paths or infrequently travelled rural roads, though when we had to follow the highways for periods, the traffic was respectful and road shoulders clean and wide.
Lots to see too! A whale one day, then another day watching a group of 5 seals (right below us) fighting over a large salmon for lunch, and then on other days opportunities to speak with a dairy farmers or take a swim in a fresh water lake. Always something new around the corner.
The bikes were very good and well maintained for this trip --- good "Granny gears" for some of the uphill slogs. We had to make a couple of minor adjustments on the ride (eg noisy derailleur, raise a bike seat) but these minor inconvenience wouldn't have prevented our continued travel anyway, At any rate, any functionality issues were quickly and satisfactorily handled by Laurel and her crew.
Accommodation was first rate --- nice views from the balconies, good locations,comfortable beds, coffee makers and (bonus!) a refrigerator every night, this last being a real treat and necessity as each evening we typically prepared and stored a small lunch with deli meats, cheese fruit, etc for the following day. Unfortunately, COVID-19 limitations meant a slightly underwhelming bag breakfast instead of buffet at our final stop, but this is the way of the world in 2020....
Laurel regularly responded quickly and informatively to any questions we had as we prepared for this adventure. She had a very informative (though slightly overwhelming) orientation session on the night before our first ride, where she filled us in on some of the highlights/exclusions we needed to consider (eg. farmer's market on Hornby Is. but only on Saturday... we were there ! Certain ferries to avoid and which once to aim for instead. A review of some of the highlights noted in the professionally designed "Joy Book" we were given to help us along.
The routing was fairly easy, though I would strongly recommend you request that Laurel send you the files for the digital route maps she has available for download to your iPhone or Garmin device. ( I used on my Garmin GPS and my friend used an iPhone with "Bike with GPS" app mounted on his handle bars. The cue sheets provided by Island Joy rides were functional, but were more awkward to use on the trails than the much-easier option of following a colored line on a gps screen. Ptroviding a GPS to each group would be one improvement I would highly recommend to this company.... our French biking trip was made infinitely less worrisome because the company had provided a free gps (and printed cue sheets, which we didn't use) for the entire trip. Easier to enjoy the bike ride without having to worry about getting lost or off track!
All in all, a pleasant, satisfying trip that I highly recommend. Thank you Laurel
All of us in our 60's, and we found the routes to be just challenging and varied enough to be interesting and satisfying without becoming disheartening on the one hand (eg. too much climbing) or boring on the other (too little climbing). The scenery was frequently forested and quiet, making for a pleasant journey each day. Bike routes were mostly dedicated bike paths or infrequently travelled rural roads, though when we had to follow the highways for periods, the traffic was respectful and road shoulders clean and wide.
Lots to see too! A whale one day, then another day watching a group of 5 seals (right below us) fighting over a large salmon for lunch, and then on other days opportunities to speak with a dairy farmers or take a swim in a fresh water lake. Always something new around the corner.
The bikes were very good and well maintained for this trip --- good "Granny gears" for some of the uphill slogs. We had to make a couple of minor adjustments on the ride (eg noisy derailleur, raise a bike seat) but these minor inconvenience wouldn't have prevented our continued travel anyway, At any rate, any functionality issues were quickly and satisfactorily handled by Laurel and her crew.
Accommodation was first rate --- nice views from the balconies, good locations,comfortable beds, coffee makers and (bonus!) a refrigerator every night, this last being a real treat and necessity as each evening we typically prepared and stored a small lunch with deli meats, cheese fruit, etc for the following day. Unfortunately, COVID-19 limitations meant a slightly underwhelming bag breakfast instead of buffet at our final stop, but this is the way of the world in 2020....
Laurel regularly responded quickly and informatively to any questions we had as we prepared for this adventure. She had a very informative (though slightly overwhelming) orientation session on the night before our first ride, where she filled us in on some of the highlights/exclusions we needed to consider (eg. farmer's market on Hornby Is. but only on Saturday... we were there ! Certain ferries to avoid and which once to aim for instead. A review of some of the highlights noted in the professionally designed "Joy Book" we were given to help us along.
The routing was fairly easy, though I would strongly recommend you request that Laurel send you the files for the digital route maps she has available for download to your iPhone or Garmin device. ( I used on my Garmin GPS and my friend used an iPhone with "Bike with GPS" app mounted on his handle bars. The cue sheets provided by Island Joy rides were functional, but were more awkward to use on the trails than the much-easier option of following a colored line on a gps screen. Ptroviding a GPS to each group would be one improvement I would highly recommend to this company.... our French biking trip was made infinitely less worrisome because the company had provided a free gps (and printed cue sheets, which we didn't use) for the entire trip. Easier to enjoy the bike ride without having to worry about getting lost or off track!
All in all, a pleasant, satisfying trip that I highly recommend. Thank you Laurel
Written September 17, 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.
Kathryn M
Tsawwassen, Canada7 contributions
Aug. 2020 • Couples
How lucky we were to find Island Joy Rides online before we arrived in Campbell River! Laurel who runs Island Joy Rides was so knowledgeable about the beautiful estuary where she guided me on a sunset paddle and she is a lovely person to spend a couple hours with. I was thrilled to see the seals all around us! A delicious dessert was provided to enjoy on the water as well as a beverage.
After such a great experience paddling, my husband and I decided to rent e-bikes the next day from Island Joy Rides and spent the afternoon cycling via the self guided tour provided. It was varied terrain from narrow trails through the forest, gravel roads and paved streets. The e-bikes made all the steep hills easy, especially for someone (me) who hasn’t cycled for a few years. We highly recommend this company and the people who run it! 👍
After such a great experience paddling, my husband and I decided to rent e-bikes the next day from Island Joy Rides and spent the afternoon cycling via the self guided tour provided. It was varied terrain from narrow trails through the forest, gravel roads and paved streets. The e-bikes made all the steep hills easy, especially for someone (me) who hasn’t cycled for a few years. We highly recommend this company and the people who run it! 👍
Written August 30, 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.
I'm glad you found us, too! It was so fun paddling with you - and sharing stories! Glad you enjoyed cycling with the eBikes as well. Thanks so much for joining us - and for taking the time to write this review. Wishing you all the best!
Written September 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bev C
Courtenay15 contributions
Aug. 2020
A HIGHLIGHT of our summer!! Our daughter, granddaughters and myself participated in the Paddle and Pedi evening last night—soooo lovely!! A wonderful kayak experience on the estuary, pampering with pedicure, stretching, delicious treats— all in such an amazing setting. Laurel and her team were SO wonderful, indeed was a very great experience!! Thank you so much!!
Written August 27, 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.
So thrilled you and your beautiful family joined us. It was such a pleasure sharing the evening with you. Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Hope to see you again. :)
Written September 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Angela W
4 contributions
Aug. 2020
Island Joy Rides is an amazing company. There is no better way to see and experience Vancouver Island. Our family did the sip and savour multi-day tour. The attention to detail, care for the clients, beautiful routes, great bikes, excellent guides and overall experience was phenomenal. The local knowledge and contacts made it a one-of-a-kind experience. We will do it again! Thank you Laurel for creating such a great company to share the wonderful area you live in.
Written August 18, 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.
It is so lovely seeing families actively exploring together - and we are so thrilled you chose to spend some of that special time with us. As we said several times on out tour - you guys felt like family! Wishing you all the best. Hope to see you again. :)
Written August 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa H
6 contributions
Jul. 2020
My sisters and I went for our annual sister-trip and we had an awesome time with Island Joy Rides. I loved learning a bit about Campbell River and the conservation transformation and also the surprise dessert in the middle of our paddle was extra special. The right mix of 'tour' guiding and also ecological mindfulness - reminding us to take in the smells and the feeling of being on the water. Though I've been kayaking many times, this trip will be remembered quite fondly. Thank you for a wonderful time!
Written August 12, 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.
Thank you so much for joining us. We so enjoyed your beautiful sister energy that evening. We also really appreciate you taking the time to write a review. Wishing you all the best.
Written August 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience