Spirit of the West Adventures
Spirit of the West Adventures
Spirit of the West Adventures
5
Multi-day ToursEco ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Spirit of the West kayaking Adventures has been offering sea kayaking tours and trips around Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, since 1996. Our most popular tours travel to the orca waters of Johnstone Strait, British Columbia to kayak in the realm of the whales. We also offer trips to Desolation Sound, the Broughton Archipelago, Nuchatlitz Marine Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Great Bear Rainforest on the Central Coast. We also offer tours to the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas and Chilean Patagonia during the North American winter.
Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada
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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
5.0
233 reviews
Excellent
222
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
1
L H
Burnaby, Canada20 contributions
Jul 2020
We loved this trip so much, it is hard to choose what to put into a review. We had booked before Covid closures but luckily were able to re-book a modified version as a private tour for two couples upon reopening. Staying in the camp was a dream. We had the joy of camping but with a comfortable bed, lovely meals and a hot tub. The humpback whales and orcas put on a good show for us right from shore. Covid changes meant that we did not have the whale watching tour nor the scenic boat ride up from Quadra but we did have more time in camp and more paddling time which was equally good. Through choice of routes, local knowledge and timing the guides made each paddling outing unique and wonderful. Anyone of any age would enjoy the beauty and solitude of this trip but it was especially good for mature campers or groups of mixed abilities as each person could do as much or as little paddling as they chose. We live in British Columbia and are a little bit accustomed to glorious scenery, but this trip is something special. Highly recommended!
Written August 28, 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.
This is so wonderful to hear! We are so glad you had such a great trip and were able to get out and enjoy especially in these stressful times. We are a little spoiled for sure with this incredible location, our super team who really do love what they do and guests such as yourselves who are up for fun, kind and up for adventure. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and review, we really appreciate it. We hope to have you join us again one day.
Written August 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew W
Lions Bay, Canada29 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We had an incredible experience. The staff were absolutely delightful and very professional and Spirit of the West did so much to make the trip special. Gifts and Prosecco to two people celebrating their joint 60th, lovely appetizer platters when we returned from our day of kayaking right down to hot water bottles to take to bed :) Aleah was a great cook and Alex and Thomas wonderful guides. Alex was up long before daylight with her flashlight on our last day to bring us a whole selection of marine life for a talk she gave over breakfast. There was not a detail left out. We would highly recommend Spirit of the West.
Written September 21, 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 kind words! We pride ourselves on personalizing aspects of our tours and ensuring no details are forgotten. It means the world to us hearing how special this experience was for you and hope to see you again in the future.
Written March 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
binderdundat
Vancouver299 contributions
Aug 2020
This was my third trip with Spirit of theWest and the experience once again exceeded my expectations. We had booked back in January, before COVID was on the radar. While our original trip was canceled, the team at Spirit of the West created an amazing 5-day custom expedition through the beautiful Discovery Islands for our group of 6 friends. Same outstanding service, guiding, paddling, scenery and food as on my previous trips, with the addition this year of well-thought out and executed COVID precautions. It was comforting to see that Spirit of the West have done everything possible to keep their guests, guides, staff and communities safe. Paddling in the Discovery Islands is lovely ...wild and beautiful and peaceful with eagles flying overhead and plenty of seals, otters and porpoises in the scenic channels. It was wonderful to get away during these challenging times. This trip has given me a whole new appreciation for the natural beauty of British Columbia. Thank you Rick, Breanne, Victoria, Rebecca, Brandon, Beverley and everyone behind the scenes who made this trip possible. I look forward to paddling with you again.
Written August 22, 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.
This is what makes all it all worth it! We are so thrilled to hear that you had another great trip (yeah for your 3rd trip with us!).
COVID sure threw some curveballs (to put it mildly) at us all and we are so thankful that you were able to join us and that you could relax knowing we were doing everything in our power to keep everyone safe.
We are so glad that you were able to get away, into nature, and relax and recharge.
We are so fortunate to have such a great team, wonderful guests, and an awesome place to adventure together in.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience with us and others. We look forward to our next adventure together.
Ps 10th trip is free ;) The 10th trip-free offer started as a bit of a joke and we have had a few people take us up on it now!
Written August 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer A
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Solo
This trip exceeded my expectations! Not only was our guide deeply knowledgeable about the ocean and its inhabitants, she was also a fantastic camp chef, an astute navigator, and a calmly motivating paddler. The orcas and humpbacks were also very obliging and were thrilling to observe. We travelled to different campsites each day and the camp set up each afternoon was easy because of the quality of the gear provided and the direction of the guide. I also was grateful for the company's environmentally conscious practises that ensured that our trip had minimal impact upon the areas through which we were fortunate to paddle.
Written July 28, 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.
Thank you for the great review! We are so glad you had a great time on your trip. We hope to paddle with you again soon.
Written September 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrea J
Kelowna, Canada2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
The camp location and facilities were excellent. The staff was professional and engaging. The week was exciting and orientated to our goals. Even if the guides cant control the weather or the many wildlife sightings we did get; they made conditions as opportunistic as possible. The experience is inspirational and replenishing. You must go, this company is very respectful of the beauty and environment of the non humans who call this home.
Written July 14, 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.
We are so glad to hear you had a great trip! We look forward to paddling with you again soon.
Written September 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ananda Tremblay
Salt Spring Island, Canada14 contributions
Mar 2020
This was our 3rd trip with Spirit of the West Adventures. I'm so happy we did this trip, it so worthwhile. Such a rare opportunity to not only have the most unbelievable beaches all to yourself, but even to camp out on them, under the stars, and feel so warm, safe and comfortable.
The famous crystal clear turquoise waters are very shallow all throughout the Bahamas bank and in addition to being great for swimming, it is awesome for spotting interesting wildlife from the kayak or beach. for me this was an extremely relaxing holiday, with plenty of opportunity to kick back, but also an opportunity to be very active and challenged in the kayaks, within the safety net of our super knowledgeable guides. Who also happened to be excellent cooks! The food was delicious healthy and plentiful.
The famous crystal clear turquoise waters are very shallow all throughout the Bahamas bank and in addition to being great for swimming, it is awesome for spotting interesting wildlife from the kayak or beach. for me this was an extremely relaxing holiday, with plenty of opportunity to kick back, but also an opportunity to be very active and challenged in the kayaks, within the safety net of our super knowledgeable guides. Who also happened to be excellent cooks! The food was delicious healthy and plentiful.
Written March 10, 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.
We are so happy to hear that you had another great trip with us. We always enjoy traveling with you two! The Bahamas and in particular the Exuma Cays really is a special place and so different from where we paddle in Canada. We are delighted to hear that you found that perfect mix of relaxation and active vacation. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to the whole team that put these tours together. We look forward to adventuring with you again soon.
Written March 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fiona Heather
New Malden, UK17 contributions
Mar 2023
This was the most amazing kayaking adventure in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Bahamas.
Really well planned and expertly guided by Rick and Aleia, perfect conditions, great equipment and a wonderful group.
Kayaking, snorkeling and swimming.
Beautiful sunrises and stunning sunsets - a full moon and amazing starry skies.
We had it all.
If you like kayaking in warm waters I highly recommend this adventure.
Thank you Spirit of the West Adventures for this first trip with you - I can't wait to join you in the Johnstone Strait in the summer :)
Really well planned and expertly guided by Rick and Aleia, perfect conditions, great equipment and a wonderful group.
Kayaking, snorkeling and swimming.
Beautiful sunrises and stunning sunsets - a full moon and amazing starry skies.
We had it all.
If you like kayaking in warm waters I highly recommend this adventure.
Thank you Spirit of the West Adventures for this first trip with you - I can't wait to join you in the Johnstone Strait in the summer :)
Written March 23, 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.
Wow! Thank you for such an amazing review. We're so happy to hear you enjoyed your experience with us.
Written November 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stuart F
Ashford, UK2 contributions
Jul 2022
We took part in the Johnstone Strait Ultimate trip. it was amazing! The staff were so helpful and made you feel like friends immediately, they were informative and so warm and welcoming. The pre-trip arrangements were so smooth and the trip itself exceeded our expectations. We were lucky with the wildlife we saw but the camp site was amazing. We loved the trip and the ethos behind all the that team did to promote the care for the environment and a love and appreciation of the spectacular location and opportunity to share it with others.
Written July 26, 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 such a wonderful review! We are so happy to hear you felt well taken care of by both our office team and guides. It sounds like you had an incredible experience and we hope you can look back on this trip with fond memories. We hope to see you again in the future!
Written October 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matthias_Silke
Hamburg, Germany11 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
We, a couple in late 50s, joined the Whales and Wilderness Expedition (6days/5nights) in the Broughton National Park, paddling about 60 km from Bauza Cove (near Telegraph Cove) to Paddler‘s Inn, deep in the archipelago in north eastern Vancouver Island. It was a wonderfully designed (one-way back by boat) and well organized trip discovering new territory and views each day in ever changing weather (think foggy mornings brightening up by mid-day, mostly), which was magical. We spotted sea otters, seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoise and humpback whales, plus black bears on shore, with hearing whales blow at night while lying in a cosy tent maybe being the most magical nature experience for me. Our group of ten plus our two great guides Alana and Morgan, made this a very special and truly unforgettable trip, with our guides’ experience (from navigation, marine life to respect to Mother Nature) great cooking skills (from fresh fish to tacos and pancakes, with lots of fresh veggies and fruit) and above all wonderful humor making this happen. Thanks so much for all of this and so much more, we will be back!
Written October 2, 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.
Matthias, thank you for the kind words! We are glad to hear you enjoyed your time with Alana and Morgan. We hope to paddle with you both again soon.
Written October 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
154943Norm
Vancouver, Canada14 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Whales and Wilderness 6 Day Kayak Expedition. I went on this expedition as one of my bucket list items. One word describes this "magnificent" . A group of 10 people and 2 guides were taken some 60 kilometres into the wilderness of the Broughton Islands of Vancouver Island in BC. We then paddled back to our start point on Vancouver Island over 6 days. Our guides were "magnificent" our food was great. The guides skillfully navigated us through tides, currents, weather, and areas most have never seen or will see. They provided daily explanations and information on whales, dolphins, kelp, otters, sea lions and everything in between, what an education!! The scenery, the whales, the sea life were all so awe inspiring. I don't know if anything can prepare one for the unbelievable experience. I felt that mother nature wrapped her arms around us and took us into her heart. Spirit of the West you knock it out of the park. This tour was so well organized, equipped, supplied, and run. Thank you for taking me on a journey that will stay with me forever.
Written September 23, 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.
Thank you so much for your incredible review. We are so glad to hear your time with us made an impact. We hope to paddle with you again very soon!
Written October 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah K
Oshawa, Canada
Hi everyone, I’m trying to decide between the whales and wilderness glamping tour and the Johnston strait ultimate tour. Both are base camp style and I understand there are differences in accommodations… but any recommendations about which offer better views, whale watching, etc. would be appreciated. Also, I would be traveling solo if that makes any difference. Thank you!
Written November 1, 2021
Spirit of the West now only does multi-day trips. For day trips check out Quadra Island Kayaks Tours,
Coast Mountain Adventures and Wild Coast Adventures , all based on Quadra Island and running various daytrips in the surrounding waters. Watch for seals, dolphins.orcas and humpbacks!
Written August 26, 2016
Hello Beautiful people. My daughter and I will be travelling in July to do the Johnston Straight trip. I will be traveling from San Diego, Ca and she from Columbus Ohio. Can anyone give me any insight on travel arrangements and how it is that you got to Campbell River. There are so many options and I want to try to go the most affordable and logical way. Thank you for your time I look forward to hearing from you guys.
XO
Julie
Written March 3, 2016
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your question. The first place you land in British Columbia will likely be Vancouver, as the international airport is located there. There are 3 main options for getting to us from here. All can sound a little complicated at first, but no more so than lots of other places. The two main options that I would consider are flying or driving, but there are public transportation options as well. We're located in Heriot Bay on Quadra Island, and in all cases that would be your final destination.
By air:
Your international gateway is Vancouver, and from there you would fly to our nearest city, Campbell River (YBL), with Central Mountain Air. From the airport it's a short shuttle to the ferry terminal followed by a 12-minute ferry trip over to our island (sailings depart almost every hour on the half hour). A taxi can take you to your accommodation from there, and we'll pick you up on the morning your trip departs. The flight is about 40 minutes, and with transfers and ferries may take a couple of hours to get to your accommodation on Quadra.
By rental car (Vancouver-Nanaimo-Campbell River):
If hiring a car at the Vancouver airport, you would drive to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal (south side of Vancouver) for the 1hr 45min crossing to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. From Nanaimo it's about a 2hr drive to Campbell River and the ferry to Quadra. Taking ferry wait and loading/unloading times into consideration it's about a 5-6 hour trip. Vancouver-Nanaimo ferries depart about every two hours. (If you are already in downtown Vancouver, the somewhat faster trip is to go to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal on the northwest side of Vancouver.) One of the disadvantages of hiring a car is the expense of the days you're with us and not using it, though it offers the greatest flexibility.
By public transportation:
This route is less convenient, but also least expensive. From the bus terminal in central Vancouver you can book a trip with Greyhound Bus Lines that will take you on board the ferry and over to Nanaimo. You'll switch buses in Nanaimo and continue up to Campbell River. Schedules are limited (just 2 departures per day), so advance planning is required. Alternatively, you can reach the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal by city transit, walk on to the ferry, then meet one of the Island Link shuttles that travel directly up to Campbell River. This route requires getting through the city on your own, but has more flexibility because Island Link offers more departures per day.
Hope that helps. If you'd like email us (I'm not allowed to post our email address here) and I'd be happy to send you links to the websites of each transportation provider I mentioned above.
Looking forward to meeting you this summer,
Rick
Owner, Spirit of the West Adventures
Written March 4, 2016
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