Vancouver Island Photo Tours
Vancouver Island Photo Tours
Vancouver Island Photo Tours
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Boat ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursPhotography Tours
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About
My individual custom tours are visiting the most beautiful scenic places around Northern Vancouver Island while having a chance to photograph and watch grizzly bears, black bears, killer whales, humpback whales, dolphins, bald eagles and other wildlife. All tours are lead by professional (35+ years) wildlife and nature photographer Rolf Hicker. A maximum of 4 guests per tour makes them ideal for families, photographers of all levels, special needs as well as couples.
Port McNeill, British Columbia, Canada
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Travellers' Choice
2024
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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.
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5.0
75 reviews
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Greg K
Ottawa, Canada4 contributions
Sept 2020
I recently had the pleasure of spending two days & nights with renowned nature photographer Rolf Hicker. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing!
Upon arrival, Rolf and his crew (Amira & Andrew) welcomed me to The Artists Point B&B with open arms. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable, and I was made to feel right at home.
That evening, we embarked on a 4-hour private sunset whale watching & marine wildlife tour around Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago. It's hard to describe just how magical an experience this really was; seeing humpback whales, transient orcas, sea lions, porpoises, and other beautiful marine life in their natural habitat was absolutely incredible.
Rolf is extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife, and his passion and respect for the animals and the environment they live in is undeniable. Amira & Andrew prepared a wonderful meal for us to enjoy on the boat, which also added to the overall enjoyment of the tour.
The next day, I was once again in complete awe of my surroundings. While on the boat, Rolf took special care to showcase animals we hadn't spotted the previous evening and explore more of the majestic beauty of the area. The consistent attention to detail was impressive and very much appreciated.
In short, the tour experience that Rolf Hicker provides is truly unique, and it is one that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Upon arrival, Rolf and his crew (Amira & Andrew) welcomed me to The Artists Point B&B with open arms. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable, and I was made to feel right at home.
That evening, we embarked on a 4-hour private sunset whale watching & marine wildlife tour around Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago. It's hard to describe just how magical an experience this really was; seeing humpback whales, transient orcas, sea lions, porpoises, and other beautiful marine life in their natural habitat was absolutely incredible.
Rolf is extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife, and his passion and respect for the animals and the environment they live in is undeniable. Amira & Andrew prepared a wonderful meal for us to enjoy on the boat, which also added to the overall enjoyment of the tour.
The next day, I was once again in complete awe of my surroundings. While on the boat, Rolf took special care to showcase animals we hadn't spotted the previous evening and explore more of the majestic beauty of the area. The consistent attention to detail was impressive and very much appreciated.
In short, the tour experience that Rolf Hicker provides is truly unique, and it is one that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Written September 11, 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 taking the time to write this review G.
I'm, we are happy that you had such a great time here at The Artists Point and on the boat. As you know I always do everything possible and I'm glad everything worked out so great while you were here.
Hope to see you again.
Thanks
Rolf
Written September 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mike F
Parksville, Canada83 contributions
Jul 2021
Having for many years wanted to go on a BC whale and bear watching tour I began doing some research about a year ago. In the process I became aware of Rolf Hicker/Vancouver Island Photo Tours on Instagram. On surface, both he and the services he provided seemed ideal – not only is he an experienced guide in Knight Inlet/Johnstone Strait, he is also a professional photographer. The latter was key for me as I wanted to catch some images during the trip. During the day my initial positive impression was confirmed.
The two of us met Rolf at his boat early in the AM and headed off for Knight Inlet, leaving from Telegraph Cove. The coffee was both hot and delicious and, from the beginning, the conversation was wide ranging and light. We quickly became ‘shipmates’. When it came to talking about the day ahead, the wildlife and the sea & wind conditions, it very quickly became apparent that Rolf knew his stuff.
The early part of the day was a bit of a slog. Knight Inlet is very long, and Rolf wanted us to be in place at low tide when the brown bears/grizzlies come down to the shore to feed. We were not disappointed. Over the next several hours we saw several sows with cubs. While enjoying the sightings Rolf positioned the boat to best advantage while at the same time respecting the bears. Some of the natural light was both breath-taking and photographically challenging. I appreciated Rolf offering photography tips to insure my best result.
Lunch was a wonderful mix of salads and sandwiches tied up to a government dock that gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and recount the amazing morning/early afternoon.
We wrapped up the day in Johnstone Strait watching humpback whale ‘Argonaut’ (BCY0Z29) put on a tail slapping performance we will remember for a lifetime.
Having sailed for many years I give Rolf highest marks for seamanship and boat handling. As a ‘still learning’ photographer I thank him to his advice.
For those seeking a small group tour (we were the only two on board as passengers on this trip) I can’t imagine making a better choice.
I hope that we can be Rolf’s guests again during another trip.
The two of us met Rolf at his boat early in the AM and headed off for Knight Inlet, leaving from Telegraph Cove. The coffee was both hot and delicious and, from the beginning, the conversation was wide ranging and light. We quickly became ‘shipmates’. When it came to talking about the day ahead, the wildlife and the sea & wind conditions, it very quickly became apparent that Rolf knew his stuff.
The early part of the day was a bit of a slog. Knight Inlet is very long, and Rolf wanted us to be in place at low tide when the brown bears/grizzlies come down to the shore to feed. We were not disappointed. Over the next several hours we saw several sows with cubs. While enjoying the sightings Rolf positioned the boat to best advantage while at the same time respecting the bears. Some of the natural light was both breath-taking and photographically challenging. I appreciated Rolf offering photography tips to insure my best result.
Lunch was a wonderful mix of salads and sandwiches tied up to a government dock that gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and recount the amazing morning/early afternoon.
We wrapped up the day in Johnstone Strait watching humpback whale ‘Argonaut’ (BCY0Z29) put on a tail slapping performance we will remember for a lifetime.
Having sailed for many years I give Rolf highest marks for seamanship and boat handling. As a ‘still learning’ photographer I thank him to his advice.
For those seeking a small group tour (we were the only two on board as passengers on this trip) I can’t imagine making a better choice.
I hope that we can be Rolf’s guests again during another trip.
Written August 1, 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.
Hello Mike,
thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I'm so happy that we were able to share this adventurous day together and that you have the "pics to prove it". And a special thank you for your seamanship remarks, that means a lot to me coming from you.
Hope to see you soon again
Rolf
Written August 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lucy A
Nelson, Canada1 contribution
Jul 2020
I don't even know where to begin with our day with Rolf!
Due to the pandemic and there being nowhere near as many tourists as a typical Canadian summer would see, my partner and I had a private tour which enhanced the special day we had.
The boat set up is beyond what we expected. Having been on whale tours down the South of the island which were open, exposed, extremely windy and cold, Rolf's custom made boat provides next level comfort for the 12 hour day. The cabin is all enclosed and makes it feel like a much more personal tour.
Rolf's passion for wildlife and the surrounding environment is inspiring, educational and makes you think about your own lifestyle choices that can unknowingly impact them.
We saw grizzly bears, humpback whales and a huge pod of dolphins which surrounded our boat while we had lunch which was supplied.
As hobby photographers we were very challenged in taking pictures as it was a windy day and the boat was very rocky but it was out of our control. Rolf gave us some great tips to counteract this and we got some stunning pictures!
As a customer you might like at the tour prices and think it's a lot. By no means are my partner and I well off financially but we went with our gut instincts and booked the tour with absolutely no regrets and it was beyond our expectations. It was definitely a highlight of our whole 2 years of living in Canada. You get what you pay for and it is a day of memories that you will undoubtedly remember for the rest of your life!
Thankyou once again Rolf for having us during this crazy weird time. We feel very privileged to have been able to spend a day with you and will definitely be booking tours in the future when we come back to Canada :)
Also a big shoutout to Andrew, Rolf's assistant who was also on the tour who is ABSOLUTELY lovely and made the most delicious lunch along with his partner. He's got one of the best jobs in the world!
Due to the pandemic and there being nowhere near as many tourists as a typical Canadian summer would see, my partner and I had a private tour which enhanced the special day we had.
The boat set up is beyond what we expected. Having been on whale tours down the South of the island which were open, exposed, extremely windy and cold, Rolf's custom made boat provides next level comfort for the 12 hour day. The cabin is all enclosed and makes it feel like a much more personal tour.
Rolf's passion for wildlife and the surrounding environment is inspiring, educational and makes you think about your own lifestyle choices that can unknowingly impact them.
We saw grizzly bears, humpback whales and a huge pod of dolphins which surrounded our boat while we had lunch which was supplied.
As hobby photographers we were very challenged in taking pictures as it was a windy day and the boat was very rocky but it was out of our control. Rolf gave us some great tips to counteract this and we got some stunning pictures!
As a customer you might like at the tour prices and think it's a lot. By no means are my partner and I well off financially but we went with our gut instincts and booked the tour with absolutely no regrets and it was beyond our expectations. It was definitely a highlight of our whole 2 years of living in Canada. You get what you pay for and it is a day of memories that you will undoubtedly remember for the rest of your life!
Thankyou once again Rolf for having us during this crazy weird time. We feel very privileged to have been able to spend a day with you and will definitely be booking tours in the future when we come back to Canada :)
Also a big shoutout to Andrew, Rolf's assistant who was also on the tour who is ABSOLUTELY lovely and made the most delicious lunch along with his partner. He's got one of the best jobs in the world!
Written August 25, 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 taking the time to write this beautiful review. Such great feedback like yours keeps me going in these very challenging times. Hopefully soon we all can travel again as we want.
Stay safe and I hope to see you guys again one day.
Rolf
P.S. And "sorry" that you "had to" take so many pictures - lol
Written August 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tomshrub
Bath, UK18 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
There genuinely are not the words in the English language to express how amazing our time with Rolf was.
Visited Vancouver Island on our honeymoon, mainly to be able to see its amazing wildlife, especially the Whales. We booked with Rolf because we wanted a smaller more personal experience.
I am an amateur photographer so Rolf’s tours were perfect however they are so much more than photo tours, I would recommend to anyone, including families who want an incredible experience, you could not take an single photo and have the most amazing experience.
We did 3 tours with Rolf and saw so much! Lots of Humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, black bears, grizzly bears, bald eagles and Orcas.
The days start early, you are out on the water before sunrise, tea/coffee is ready and waiting for you aboard Rolf’s custom made boat, the Ambient Light. Rolf has incredible experience and knowledge of the area, he knows where the wildlife is likely to be given the weather conditions and the tide etc. It was important to us that we saw the animals for what they were: WILD animals. Rolf has so much respect for the wildlife and does not intrude on their activity or chase them. He gets you in a position to observe them from a respectful distance and allows the animals to come into your space. I never ever got the impression that the wildlife was bothered by our presence.
Whilst you are out on the water you are treated to a lovely breakfast and an amazing buffet style lunch, most of it grown/sourced by Rolf himself. Having lunch whilst watching a pod of killer whales is something I will never forget.
This place is somewhere that I have dreamed of coming, Rolf and his amazing team made that dream a reality.
Thank you Rolf and all the team for an experience I will never forget. I hope our paths will cross again.
Visited Vancouver Island on our honeymoon, mainly to be able to see its amazing wildlife, especially the Whales. We booked with Rolf because we wanted a smaller more personal experience.
I am an amateur photographer so Rolf’s tours were perfect however they are so much more than photo tours, I would recommend to anyone, including families who want an incredible experience, you could not take an single photo and have the most amazing experience.
We did 3 tours with Rolf and saw so much! Lots of Humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, black bears, grizzly bears, bald eagles and Orcas.
The days start early, you are out on the water before sunrise, tea/coffee is ready and waiting for you aboard Rolf’s custom made boat, the Ambient Light. Rolf has incredible experience and knowledge of the area, he knows where the wildlife is likely to be given the weather conditions and the tide etc. It was important to us that we saw the animals for what they were: WILD animals. Rolf has so much respect for the wildlife and does not intrude on their activity or chase them. He gets you in a position to observe them from a respectful distance and allows the animals to come into your space. I never ever got the impression that the wildlife was bothered by our presence.
Whilst you are out on the water you are treated to a lovely breakfast and an amazing buffet style lunch, most of it grown/sourced by Rolf himself. Having lunch whilst watching a pod of killer whales is something I will never forget.
This place is somewhere that I have dreamed of coming, Rolf and his amazing team made that dream a reality.
Thank you Rolf and all the team for an experience I will never forget. I hope our paths will cross again.
Written August 20, 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 so much for the kind words Tom, your reaction to watching the whales and your enthusiasm throughout our tours were one of the highlights of my season. We are so glad that you enjoyed the hospitality and look forward to our paths hopefully crossing again in the future. All the best - Rolf
Written November 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevin
Edmonton, Canada2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Had the pleasure of 3 days of tours and B&B stay with Rolf. My wife is an avid amateur photographer and was looking for a photographic tour and experience while we were visiting Vancouver Island. We discovered Rolf and after reading the reviews decided to make the trek to Telegraph Cove to have what would turn out to be an amazing experience. We placed ourselves in Rolfs capable hands and he put together 3 days of tours after emailing back and forth with us to determine our likes, our wants, our willingness to try different things. He was open and honest on what we could expect, never over promising, yet he managed to over deliver for the three days. While my wife was engaged in photography and soaking up what ever tips and learning she could get from Rolf , I was amazed by the sights and sounds of both breathtaking animals and scenery. From whales and dolphins, to eagles, to majestic grizzlies and their cubs, to old growth forest, all was presented in a unique and respectful fashion …. Always with the animals and nature being first and foremost respected.
The interaction with Thomas from the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation and the visit to their lands was especially enjoyable.
Including The B&B made the trip that much more personal and offered opportunity to spend additional time with Rolf.
We would both highly recommend Rolf and the small intimate group (2-4 person) tours he puts together. We came away with a trip of a lifetime and made a new friend. Shout out to Sarah … had a great time on the boat with you and Rolf.
Thank you Rolf
The interaction with Thomas from the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation and the visit to their lands was especially enjoyable.
Including The B&B made the trip that much more personal and offered opportunity to spend additional time with Rolf.
We would both highly recommend Rolf and the small intimate group (2-4 person) tours he puts together. We came away with a trip of a lifetime and made a new friend. Shout out to Sarah … had a great time on the boat with you and Rolf.
Thank you Rolf
Written June 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 so much for taking the time to share your experience and even a bigger thank you for such a beautiful review. I really appreciate it and it makes me very happy to know that the memories of your trip will last a lifetime.
You guys have been awesome and fun guests too. Hope to see you again.
Cheers
Rolf
Written July 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maria & Christian
Austria6 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
One of the best highlights of our 100 days trip trough the west of Canada.
It was a great day, starting early with the sunrise. Rolf and Sarah picked us up
and we started the „trip of surpise“ with a humpback whale, 5 minutes later.😎
It was realy a great exclusive day, with respect for the wildlife and a lot of
experiencies. Rolf‘s and Sarah‘s hostpitality makes the day quiet comfortable, showing
more or less the complete programm, without any pressure of time.
Thanks to both of you, spending a day with us, we will never forget, comply with our desires.
For sure we will plan such a day again, when we visit the west of Canada next time.
…..and hopefully, that will be soon……..😉
Maria & Christian
It was a great day, starting early with the sunrise. Rolf and Sarah picked us up
and we started the „trip of surpise“ with a humpback whale, 5 minutes later.😎
It was realy a great exclusive day, with respect for the wildlife and a lot of
experiencies. Rolf‘s and Sarah‘s hostpitality makes the day quiet comfortable, showing
more or less the complete programm, without any pressure of time.
Thanks to both of you, spending a day with us, we will never forget, comply with our desires.
For sure we will plan such a day again, when we visit the west of Canada next time.
…..and hopefully, that will be soon……..😉
Maria & Christian
Written November 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.
Maria & Christian thank you so much for the kind words and including us in your jam-packed big Canadian adventure. What am amazing journey you had and we loved hearing all about your travels. We would certainly love to do it all again if you ever find yourself back in Canada, till then enjoy looking through all those pictures. Rolf & Sarah 😊
Written November 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AShrubsole
Bath, UK26 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
I cannot recommend Rolf and his tours enough. We started our honeymoon with Rolf, staying 4 nights and having three amazing tours.
There’s always a risk when wanting to see animals in the wild that they’re not there or they’re having an off day. They’re only predictable to a certain point. Rolf was amazing in understanding the animals behaviours and helping us see as much as possible. One thing which was important to us, and the reason we wouldn’t go to sea world to see the orcas, was making sure we didn’t disturb the animals or upset them in any way. Again, Rolf was considerate of all the animals we saw, ensuring we weren’t distressing them or making an impact of their day. Even with all of that, sometimes the animals, particularly the whales chose to swim extremely close to us which was an amazing experience.
Rolf’s knowledge of the animals and the issues that they’re facing was second to none. We learnt so much and are more aware of the little things we can do to ensure we’re not contributing as much to the decline of these beautiful creatures.
We also stayed in the b&b. The rooms were lovely and the bed (the most important part when doing long boat tours) was huge and so comfy!
We had breakfast and lunch on the boat most days, and what was provided was more than we had imagined possible on the water. Absolutely delicious and Rolf and his team always went above and beyond.
If you’re considering any of the tours I would 100% recommend and if you can book a few days. It gave us more flexibility to see more depending on what the weather was doing and then which animals are likely to be doing what.
We cannot thank Rolf and the team enough for making our honeymoon a once in a lifetime experience!!
If we can manage to make it back we certainly will.
There’s always a risk when wanting to see animals in the wild that they’re not there or they’re having an off day. They’re only predictable to a certain point. Rolf was amazing in understanding the animals behaviours and helping us see as much as possible. One thing which was important to us, and the reason we wouldn’t go to sea world to see the orcas, was making sure we didn’t disturb the animals or upset them in any way. Again, Rolf was considerate of all the animals we saw, ensuring we weren’t distressing them or making an impact of their day. Even with all of that, sometimes the animals, particularly the whales chose to swim extremely close to us which was an amazing experience.
Rolf’s knowledge of the animals and the issues that they’re facing was second to none. We learnt so much and are more aware of the little things we can do to ensure we’re not contributing as much to the decline of these beautiful creatures.
We also stayed in the b&b. The rooms were lovely and the bed (the most important part when doing long boat tours) was huge and so comfy!
We had breakfast and lunch on the boat most days, and what was provided was more than we had imagined possible on the water. Absolutely delicious and Rolf and his team always went above and beyond.
If you’re considering any of the tours I would 100% recommend and if you can book a few days. It gave us more flexibility to see more depending on what the weather was doing and then which animals are likely to be doing what.
We cannot thank Rolf and the team enough for making our honeymoon a once in a lifetime experience!!
If we can manage to make it back we certainly will.
Written August 15, 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.
It was such an honour to have you both honeymoon with us - you brightened up our days to no end. When I have guests like you onboard with so much enthusiasm and hunger to learn its no wonder i spend almost every day on the water during the season. It was an absolute pleasure, thank you so much for sharing your experience and I do hope we will meet again sometime in the future. Till then wishing you happily ever after!
Written November 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KJD
Renfrewshire, UK5 contributions
Aug 2023
We were mildly anxious about travelling from Scotland and staying with Rolf and Sarah and booking two all day boat trips as part of our Vancouver Island vacation based on internet research. However, they have consistent outstanding reviews so we took the plunge. We should not have been concerned my daughters have both said this was one of the highlights of our vacation.
We were welcomed by the lovely Tori who made us feel very welcome and showed us fantastic hospitality throughout our stay. The homemade granola was amazing as was Sarah's bread and my daughter now has a copy of the granola recipe. The rooms we had were spacious and comfortable. My daughter was enchanted by the hummingbirds around the house. We were photographing hummingbirds on the balcony one evening overlooking a sunset and saw two humpback whales surface in the distance - it doesn't get much better than that.
The reason I went for the two all day boat trips with Rolf was that I have learnt that to give yourself the best chance of seeing and photographing wildlife you need the expertise of a local guide and have enough time. Rolf is very knowledgable and respectful of his local wildlife he gave us great opportunities with sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, Dall's porpoise, Bald Eagles and great scenery. Sadly resident Orca were on vacation from the area but perhaps we need to visit again?
We were welcomed by the lovely Tori who made us feel very welcome and showed us fantastic hospitality throughout our stay. The homemade granola was amazing as was Sarah's bread and my daughter now has a copy of the granola recipe. The rooms we had were spacious and comfortable. My daughter was enchanted by the hummingbirds around the house. We were photographing hummingbirds on the balcony one evening overlooking a sunset and saw two humpback whales surface in the distance - it doesn't get much better than that.
The reason I went for the two all day boat trips with Rolf was that I have learnt that to give yourself the best chance of seeing and photographing wildlife you need the expertise of a local guide and have enough time. Rolf is very knowledgable and respectful of his local wildlife he gave us great opportunities with sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, Dall's porpoise, Bald Eagles and great scenery. Sadly resident Orca were on vacation from the area but perhaps we need to visit again?
Written August 9, 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.
David D
Toronto, Canada21 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We spent a full week in Vancouver Island but the big spot was definitely the tour organized by Rolf from Telegraph Cove. Simply wonderful. Rolf is a great guide, with a deep knowledge of people and animals living
there. Thanks again Rolf for your kindness and your inextensible enthusiasm.
there. Thanks again Rolf for your kindness and your inextensible enthusiasm.
Written November 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.
David thank you so much for the kind words and taking the time to share your experience. I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the day!
Written November 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
74gremlin
Toronto, Canada51 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Rolf has been doing this for years, so he knows where to find the best photo opportunities and he has tons of information about the area and the wildlife if you’re interested. We had lots of questions and he had all of the answers. He only takes small groups (there were three of us) unlike the boats we saw with lots of people on them, and he quietly got us nice and close without disturbing the wildlife. It’s a full day out on the water and I was recovering from a broken wrist, so when my wrist got tired he set me up with my camera on a pillow in a window of the boat — how kind! We saw grizzlies (even a mama and her coy - baby cub), humpbacks (again a mom and baby), eagles, a black bear, sea otters, porpoises, and a sea lion. But even if we hadn’t seen those it would have been a great day - spectacular scenery, great conversation, and a fun boat ride. Worth every penny!
Sidenote: I just talked to a friend who also went around the same time as us but with a different tour operator. She was very disappointed because all she saw was bear scat and a chipmunk.
Sidenote: I just talked to a friend who also went around the same time as us but with a different tour operator. She was very disappointed because all she saw was bear scat and a chipmunk.
Written July 18, 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.
kimhoff1
Gold Coast, Australia
Can anyone tell me the cost of this private tour? Thanks!
Written July 25, 2019
TheArtistsPoint
Port McNeill, Canada
My prices vary. Please inquire via my website or email.
Thanks
Rolf
Written July 26, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.