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Broughton Archipelago

Day 1: The Columbia III will be awaiting your arrival in the sea-side town of Port McNeill. Here you will be greeted by a warm welcome from the Columbia's captain and crew as we prepare to cast off. Departure time aboard the Columbia III is 6 pm. The first night we will moor at the First Nations' village of Alert Bay; home to the renowned U'Mista Cultural Center.

Day 2: At 9 am sharp we will visit the U'Mista Cultural Center giving us an appreciation for the culture and history of the local Native people. Back onboard the Columbia III we will have a delicious lunch as we cruise towards the Broughton Archipelago keeping our eyes out for wildlife. When we reach our destination, we will review kayak orientation and safety procedures before setting off for an afternoon paddle.

Day 3-6: Each morning, after a hearty breakfast, we will launch our brightly coloured kayak flotilla and begin our day of exploring the beauty of the Broughton Archipelago. Every day will bring a new array of stunning sights and surprises.

Wildlife that we are likely to see include, orca, pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, harbour seals, sea-lions, black bears foraging on the beach and the majestic bald eagle perched in a tree. Lunches will be savored on one of the many beaches throughout the archipelago, each with a spectacular view and often on an ancient First Nations village site.

Afternoons will be spent paddling, snoozing on a sunny beach or relaxing aboard the cozy Columbia III. Walking in the rainforest, visiting a salmon river estuary, whale watching from the Columbia III or visiting a whale research station are all options on this tour.

Day 7: This is our last morning to enjoy the peaceful environment of the Broughton Archipelago. We will choose between a last paddle, or if the orca are in the area, we may spend some time whale watching from the Columbia III as we make our way back to Port McNeill. We will serve a last lunch along the way.

Our approximate return time is between 1pm and 3 pm but please note that this cannot always be guaranteed as the weather and wildlife will play a role in determining when we get back.