Your Orca Camp adventure starts in the early morning , so ideally you would spend this night in Telegraph Cove. The Cove is small and has very little inventory, so chances are, depending when you book, that you will need to overnight in nearby Port McNeill (approx. 25 min. away) or even Port Hardy (approx. 45 min. away). Please try to get as close to the Cove as you can. Please keep in mind that the water taxi to Orca Camp can’t wait for you in case you should be late and you would have to make your own way into camp at your expense.
This is the day you’ve been waiting for – Your first opportunity to sight Orcas in their natural wild habitat will take place aboard the water-taxi bound for Warden Beach, home to Orca Camp and your staging ground for adventure. It's a half-hour boat ride past the sparsely populated shores of northern Vancouver Island — eventually all signs of civilization fade away and wildlife sightings abound: sea lions sunning themselves on rocky outcrops, eagles fishing for salmon, Pacific Whitesided dolphins dancing on the ocean's surface, Humpback and Killer Whales — they all call this place home. The water taxi will depart at 9:00 am from Bauza Cove which is located in Telegraph Cove (follow our signs to our base in Telegraph Cove). Please arrive at 8:30 so you can unload your car with your gear and park. Parking is free at our base for our 4 night journey to Orca Camp.
Our guides are quick to welcome you to camp, helping you becoming oriented to life in the wild. Learn all about bear-proofing your gear, selecting your tent, and where the outhouse is located. Join the rest of the group gathering at the beach where talk of the first paddling session gets underway. Learn to enter and exit your kayak, the "right" way to paddle and steer and before you know it you're off! The remainder of the day is spent exploring the near shores, keeping a watchful eye out for whales. When you return to camp, tuck into a hearty dinner, prepared surfside and if weather and whales permit, explore the coastline by kayak after dinner, flexing your muscles in preparation for tomorrow’s adventures.
Days that are measured in wildlife sightings and the number of Orca shots on your camera begin and end at base camp. Off the grid, unplugged, disconnected from urban living, this is where you’ll reconnect with the natural world…and with each other. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast, spend your days kayaking and exploring the Johnstone Strait, and your nights reliving your adventures around the campfire at Orca Camp.
Spend your day paddling the Johnstone Strait, delighting in the encounters you’re sure to have along the way. Porpoises, sea-lions, jumping salmon, and eagles fishing from the shore.
Relax on the Warden Beach - Best Beach for Whale Watching
You will have the option in the morning to go for a sunrise paddle before breakfast. The Sunrise paddle starts at 6:30. This is optional. We will have breakfast ready for 7:30. After breakfast we will bid farewell to our newfound friends, and return by water taxi to Bauza Cove.
Activity
Meals
Meeting place at 0900 am morning of departure:
Kayaking day trip, afternoon return to camp