Boat Tours
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
C$96
per adult
North Island Kayak
North Island Kayak
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Located in Telegraph Cove on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, BC, North Island Kayak has been providing travellers with the opportunity to kayak with whales and other marine wildlife in this spectacular, remote part of British Columbia since 1991.
Telegraph Cove, British Columbia, Canada
Tours and Tickets by North Island Kayak
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(220 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
1,209 reviews
Excellent
1,140
Very good
37
Average
14
Poor
8
Terrible
10
Brianna T
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Friends
Amazing trip!! Bree and Joe were amazing!! Def recommend to anyone looking for an adventure in the wilderness!!
Written October 15, 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.
dunkeltl
Baltimore, MD6 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Solo
If I could give 10 stars I would! This is an experience of a lifetime and North Island Kayak is a top notch company. I did the 5 day base camp trip and would highly recommend this trip length to everyone, it just adds to the list of amazing sights and wildlife you will see. And yes, we saw orca (day 3), humpback whales (day 2, 3 and 4 I believe), giant stellar sea lions, seals, porpoise, blue herring, eagles, salmon, lions main jelly fish……the list goes on! I am not an experienced kayaker but that didn’t matter one bit. Yes you’re on the water on average of at least 4 hours per day but it’s a chill pace and easy paddle. Connor and Brad were our guides and they were AMAZING! Knowledgeable, friendly and fun; they didn’t make us lift a finger! And the food! Seeing orca was of course the highlight of my trip but the food was a close second! You will not go hungry and you will ask for seconds and thirds! The base camps were perfectly comfortable as let me just say you are barely roughing it.
Written October 14, 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.
Bernie O
1 contribution
Jun. 2023 • Couples
My wife andI had an overnight Kayak trip booked for the end of July 2023 which we booked and payed for many months before.
This being one of our highlights of our Canadian trip from Australia we were shocked to find out 2 days out from our trip we were informed that the trip was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
I immediately called them, but they wouldn’t explain what the reason was and said we could just do a day trip or get a refund. As we had to hire a car booked from Nanaimo to drive 400km to Telegraph Cove we asked this company can they help us with some other tour? They were not very helpful.
We had accomodation booked for Telegraph Cove as well, so we tried to cancel our accommodation, but were informed that we would loose all our money for the accommodation as we didn’t give them 30 days notice.
I called this company again to see if they could bear some of the cancelation cost as it was their decision to cancel our trip.
They wouldn’t come to the party, just said you got your money back, you’re lucky to get that!
We decided to drive to Telegraph Cove anyway as we would only loose our accomodation cost if we didn’t and looked for some other tour to do whilst there.
I spoke to the staff at Telegraph Cove and they were far from friendly , sympathetic or caring of our situation, in fact one person was quite rude to me. She said “ do you want us to do? I said cover the cost of our accommodation as it was you guys that cancelled our trip at short notice, and this would be some sort of compensation. She said that’s not going to happen.
If we cancel without 30 days notice, we loose all our money, if they cancel there is no penalty on them!
They could have compensated us in some way, but they were not interested in helping us at all.
Very disappointed with the way this situation was handled by them.
So NO I would not recommend them based on our experience.
This being one of our highlights of our Canadian trip from Australia we were shocked to find out 2 days out from our trip we were informed that the trip was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
I immediately called them, but they wouldn’t explain what the reason was and said we could just do a day trip or get a refund. As we had to hire a car booked from Nanaimo to drive 400km to Telegraph Cove we asked this company can they help us with some other tour? They were not very helpful.
We had accomodation booked for Telegraph Cove as well, so we tried to cancel our accommodation, but were informed that we would loose all our money for the accommodation as we didn’t give them 30 days notice.
I called this company again to see if they could bear some of the cancelation cost as it was their decision to cancel our trip.
They wouldn’t come to the party, just said you got your money back, you’re lucky to get that!
We decided to drive to Telegraph Cove anyway as we would only loose our accomodation cost if we didn’t and looked for some other tour to do whilst there.
I spoke to the staff at Telegraph Cove and they were far from friendly , sympathetic or caring of our situation, in fact one person was quite rude to me. She said “ do you want us to do? I said cover the cost of our accommodation as it was you guys that cancelled our trip at short notice, and this would be some sort of compensation. She said that’s not going to happen.
If we cancel without 30 days notice, we loose all our money, if they cancel there is no penalty on them!
They could have compensated us in some way, but they were not interested in helping us at all.
Very disappointed with the way this situation was handled by them.
So NO I would not recommend them based on our experience.
Written October 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.
Gijshertje
Amsterdam, The Netherlands2 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
The views and silence were amazing and we had dolphins and sealions swimming close to our kayak. We also saw seaotters. We just felt so one with nature in our kayak. Incredible!
Written October 8, 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.
Fanny D
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Great landscapes and peacefulness in kayaking in between islands.
Even if the weather wasn't so sunny and that the whales were playing far away, I would definitely recommend the experience.
Moreover, we had a super nice and competent guide who manage to cook amazing dishes. Great basecamp as well.
Even if the weather wasn't so sunny and that the whales were playing far away, I would definitely recommend the experience.
Moreover, we had a super nice and competent guide who manage to cook amazing dishes. Great basecamp as well.
Written October 3, 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.
Sarah Berry C
3 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Solo
I have been struggling to write this review. When I arrived at NIK for a 4-day kayaking tour, I was turned away because my hips were too wide to fit into any of their kayaks. The guide and the receptionist were very polite - they apologized profusely and I was given a full refund. But I have been on many other kayaking tours and my experience has always been that kayaking companies use a variety of kayaks in order to accommodate a diverse range of people, from tall to heavy. NIK only had kayaks with one size of cockpit, which is unusual from my previous experiences. I was extremely surprised and disappointed, but mostly humiliated. I never even considered to the possibility that I would not be able to fit in their kayaks because it has just never happened to me before in my many experiences kayaking. In my experience, kayaking (including sea kayaking) has been an activity that anyone can enjoy.
I am upset that I had no way of knowing that NIK doesn’t accommodate larger people before I arrived in Telegraph Cove. It is not easy or quick to get there, and I spent a lot of time and effort and money planning my whole trip around this 4-day kayaking tour, so it was devastating to get all the way there only to be turned away. NIK knows that they are remote - their website reads: “travelling to our location will typically require some advance planning” - so I have no clue why they don’t include information about the limits to who they are able to accommodate, so that people can make a proper assessment of their offerings before booking.
What their website does say is that you need to be fit enough to complete the paddling for your trip, but I am fit. I just happen to be both fit and fat. I hope they are not using fit to mean thin, because those are very much not the same thing. I also find it extremely hard to believe that I am the first plus-sized person to book with them, so I am very confused as to how this issue has not arisen before.
I highly encourage NIK to consider using kayaks with a wider variety of cockpit sizes to fit a more diverse array of people in the future. If NIK does not want to do this, I highly encourage them to include information on their website to give plus-sized folks pause before booking. This could be information such as: weight limits for NIK's kayaks; a warning that NIK does not use kayaks with wide cockpits; a warning to reach out to NIK before booking if you are a larger person, so that they can help you try to assess whether they can accommodate you before you arrive in Telegraph Cove.
The NIK employees reacted as best they could in the situation, but NIK as a company appears to be lacking inclusivity for large people. The responsible thing for them to do would be to either increase their inclusivity for large people, or to clearly inform folks of the limitations to who they can accommodate on their tours.
This was a horrible and humiliating experience that I hope no one else has to go through. I am certain that was not NIK's intention, but it was still the effect, and I hope with my whole heart that no one else has to go through this humiliation. I know that I am not the only plus-sized person who enjoys kayaking, so I truly hope NIK considers my comments and suggestions.
I am upset that I had no way of knowing that NIK doesn’t accommodate larger people before I arrived in Telegraph Cove. It is not easy or quick to get there, and I spent a lot of time and effort and money planning my whole trip around this 4-day kayaking tour, so it was devastating to get all the way there only to be turned away. NIK knows that they are remote - their website reads: “travelling to our location will typically require some advance planning” - so I have no clue why they don’t include information about the limits to who they are able to accommodate, so that people can make a proper assessment of their offerings before booking.
What their website does say is that you need to be fit enough to complete the paddling for your trip, but I am fit. I just happen to be both fit and fat. I hope they are not using fit to mean thin, because those are very much not the same thing. I also find it extremely hard to believe that I am the first plus-sized person to book with them, so I am very confused as to how this issue has not arisen before.
I highly encourage NIK to consider using kayaks with a wider variety of cockpit sizes to fit a more diverse array of people in the future. If NIK does not want to do this, I highly encourage them to include information on their website to give plus-sized folks pause before booking. This could be information such as: weight limits for NIK's kayaks; a warning that NIK does not use kayaks with wide cockpits; a warning to reach out to NIK before booking if you are a larger person, so that they can help you try to assess whether they can accommodate you before you arrive in Telegraph Cove.
The NIK employees reacted as best they could in the situation, but NIK as a company appears to be lacking inclusivity for large people. The responsible thing for them to do would be to either increase their inclusivity for large people, or to clearly inform folks of the limitations to who they can accommodate on their tours.
This was a horrible and humiliating experience that I hope no one else has to go through. I am certain that was not NIK's intention, but it was still the effect, and I hope with my whole heart that no one else has to go through this humiliation. I know that I am not the only plus-sized person who enjoys kayaking, so I truly hope NIK considers my comments and suggestions.
Written September 29, 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.
AR
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Solo
I had a great experience with North Island Kayak! There were only 3 of us in the group and our guide Luca was extremely knowledgeable about the area. I went right at the end of the season and the weather got a bit rough and windy. Luca was really great in creating a safe plan that the whole group was comfortable with and we ended up having a lovely paddle in Beaver Cove. I had such a fun time, would highly recommend and will make a point of coming back :).
Written September 29, 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.
susan m
Toronto, Canada5 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Family
My wife and I visited the Broughton Archipelago for the first time in early September. We had done a number of kayaking trips BC and Newfoundland, so have some experience by are by no means expert. We booked through North Island Kayaking and we couldn’t have been more impressed on so many levels. First the food that was packed for the trip was simply incredible. There were fresh spring rolls, cauliflower bites, and a full charcuterie board – and that was just for pre-dinner snacks! The staff at the main desk were helpful and courteous. What made our trip truly outstanding was our Kayak guide Brad Helmig…. He was incredibly up-beat, and very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and First Nations history. We saw humpback whales, Dall Porpoises, White sided Pacific dolphins, Orcas, hosts of sea lions and the magnificent Freddy the sea otter! While there is always some luck involved in what you see, Brad’s knowledge of the habits of these wonderful animals certainly tipped the odds in our favour. Once in a while you meet people who simply love what they do and you are struck by the thought that they were born to do exactly what they are doing – Brad is one of these lucky ones. He is incredibly helpful on the water, and more importantly on the transition from water to land - helping his guests land on some of the more difficult beaches. You can tell that he genuinely loves dealing with his guests and cares immensely about their trip. He made the trip a magical one, and we no sooner hit the unloading dock at Telegraph Cove when I was pleading with my wife Sue to book again for the same time next year, and to insist that we once again book with Brad!
Written September 29, 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.
Madlena K
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Friends
The day trip with our friendly guide Luka was definitely one highlight during our tour through Vancouver island specifically and BC in general.
The three of us were also lucky to have a private tour with Luka which was brilliant as Luka offered us to go on our own pace and interests (e.g. when we stopped for lunch, Luka offered to go for a hike along the shore or to paddle) we really appreciated Luka being so open minded for our needs and interests and also being so mindful of nature!
During our day trip, Luka explained the flora and fauna along the shore very well. We discovered a sea otter, dolphins, eagles, sea lion, a seal, jelly fish and many more and it was just so beautiful! To paddle along Johnstone Strait was just so calming and relaxing - we definitely recommend this day trip!
The three of us were also lucky to have a private tour with Luka which was brilliant as Luka offered us to go on our own pace and interests (e.g. when we stopped for lunch, Luka offered to go for a hike along the shore or to paddle) we really appreciated Luka being so open minded for our needs and interests and also being so mindful of nature!
During our day trip, Luka explained the flora and fauna along the shore very well. We discovered a sea otter, dolphins, eagles, sea lion, a seal, jelly fish and many more and it was just so beautiful! To paddle along Johnstone Strait was just so calming and relaxing - we definitely recommend this day trip!
Written September 27, 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.
Monica A
3 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
My hubby and I were scheduled for a half day kayak at 8am on September 13th. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we did not arrive a half hour ahead as we were supposed to so we thought our trip was out the window. The girl at the front desk and our guide, Luka were very understanding and luckily we were the only ones booked for that morning trip so we didn't delay a group. Hubby had been kayaking once or twice but not professionally and I had only ever operated a canoe. No experience needed here - Luka explained everything with ease and made us feel super comfortable right off the bat. This particular morning was VERY foggy which made for an extra special adventure. We couldn't see more than Luka in front of us, pretty much and it was surreal. About halfway through the adventure, it very slowly started to clear. We stopped at a little island for a bit then slowly made our way back. Luka showed us everything he could along the shores. Saw tonnes of birds, some sea creatures, quite a few eagles and somehow Luka managed to spot a sea otter for me which I had hoped for and mentioned to him at the beginning! It was so amazing :D Luka was very personable and we got along with him great - lots of fun and interesting conversations and he really made us feel comfortable on the water. He is a great guide! Would highly recommend this trip and maybe one day in future we will be back for a multi day orca adventure camp!!
Written September 26, 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.
No questions have been asked about this experience