Multi-Day Kayaking Camping Expeditions
From May through September the San Juan Islands become a kayaker’s paradise! Located in the calm blue waters of the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands offer miles and miles of coastline, safe bays for exploring invertebrates living on rocky coastal walls, deep cold water channels for salmon migration which draw three pods of orca whales to the area to feed and mate; and for the abundance bald eagles, sea birds and land mammals such as fox and deer.
Length: These tours range from 2-6 days in length.
Our kayak camping tours allow our guests to totally unplug as we paddle to remote islands only accessible by small boat, hike to scenic points to watch the sun melt behind snowcapped mountains, indulge in food and wine, and then wake up the next day to paddle another coastline. Wildlife encounters are always the highlight of every trip so we make it our mission to give you the best opportunity to see wildlife.
No experience is necessary.
Recommended to bring:
- T-Shirt + sweatshirt + windbreaker
- Personal clothing & toiletries
- Water resistant camera
- Comfortable footwear
- Pants or shorts
- Sunglasses
- Sun block
- Lip balm
- Hat
- Bald Eagles
- Shorelines
- Sea Stars
- Seals
- Dall's Porpoise
- Lighthouses
- Orca Whales
- Beaches
- Sunsets
- Madronas
- Blue Herons
- Bull Kelp
- Vineyards
- Cattle Point
- Lavender Farm
- Moran State Park
- Sculpture Park
- Deer
- Alpaca
- Mona the Camel
- Fox
Times & Distances:
Each day we kayak 8-9 miles and take a lunch break along a quite remote beach. In total, we paddle about 4-5 hours each day. The tour begins at 9 AM in downtown Friday Harbor where our guide will pick you up and then take you to Snug Harbor where we will load our kayaks, give you a safety/wildlife encounter lesson and then head out. On the last day of your tour, we will have you back to Friday Harbor by 4 PM. We are happy to accommodate you if you have special dietary needs or need alterations to the time schedule.
We provide Gourmet meals:
We take great pride in our high level of culinary hospitality. Before your trip begins, we will send each guest a food and health questionnaire so that we can tailor the meals around you! We offer fresh locally caught seafood, San Juan Island Farmers Market produce and wine made with grapes grown right here on San Juan Island. We can also cater to dietary restrictions and vegans.
-Ginger soy glazed king salmon served over basmati rice and topped with a fresh mango papaya salsa.
-Provincial butternut squash sweet potato soup seasoned with red pepper and herbs de provance, and served with garlic dipping bread and sun-dried tomato chicken sausage.
-Ginger Thai peanut sauce blended with fresh broccoli, zucchini, carrots, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and your choice of beef chicken or tofu, served over basmati rice, and garnished with fresh cilantro, bean sprouts, and a squirt of fresh lime.
In addition we work with local farmers and buy organic whenever possible
Our excellent knowledgeable and friendly nature/multi-sport guides...
We are known as being the locals company. Most of our guides are local or regional to San Juan Island and come back year after year. We seek out guides who are experts in kayaking as well as science but also individuals who are safe, interesting and fun. Their adventurous spirit is infectious and many of our guests remain in contact with their guides after the trip has ended.
Small personal groups…
We believe that small groups enhance the overall experience of your vacation. We keep our group sizes to 10 people or less on our standard tours. We also provide custom tours for families or groups who want a private tour or for groups of 10 or more.
Camping at it's finest…Our guests are just that; our guests. So we want to you to leave with your cameras full of pictures, stomachs full of food, and thoughts full of memories to last a lifetime! In addition to providing gourmet camping meals, and taking you along beautiful kayaking routes, we provide top of the line, two person MSR tents on all of our camping tours as well as sleeping pads and pillows. * We can provide warm sleeping bags for those who wish to leave theirs at home for a small cleaning fee.
San Juan Islands Multi-Day Kayaking Camping Tour Schedule:
2-Day/1-Night - $499 per person
In Prime Orca Whale Territory.
Day 1:Our tour begins on San Juan Island, paddling North through an area known for viewing the resident orca whale pods J, K and L. We will set up our camp at Stuart Island State Park. Here you can hike among old growth Western Cedar trees and Douglas firs following a trail to a historic lighthouse. Here you can relax along the cliffs of Lovers Leap while watching the sunset. Hike down to the shore where you can see osprey, eagles, seals, blue heron and kingfishers, feeding in the Bay's shallow waters. While you are away, your guide will be preparing appetizers, dinner and wine to serve you around a warm campfire.
Day 2: Your guide will have hot coffee and tea ready for you when you wake and prepare you a delicious breakfast. We will then pack up camp and head back towards San Juan Island. We will paddle along the rocky shoreline in search of harbor seals, eagles, and keep our eyes peeled for orca whales along the route. Enjoy lunch on a pebble stone beach to refuel for our paddle home. Our tour comes to a close on San Juan Island by 4:00 pm at the ferry terminal.
Custom dates are available...just ask us.
Every Saturday-Sunday from April through October
3-Day/2-Night - $799 per person
Days 1 & 2 in Prime Orca Whale Territory
Day 1:Meet your guide and other guests in Friday Harbor. Shuttle to our launching site for packing the kayaks and a safety/wildlife encounter lesson. Paddle along the coastline of Henry Island past a cormorant rookery in search of orca whales and harbor seals. Lunch will be served on a remote island beach. Kayak across Speiden Channel to Stuart Island. Set up camp and then enjoy appetizers, dinner and wine.
Day 2: The scent of breakfast being prepared will more than likely get you out of your sleeping bag this morning. We will spend today circumnavigating Stuart Island; which leads us along the U.S.-Canadian border; (no passport is needed because we stay in the U.S.). We will kayak the tranquil waters along Reid Harbor, and observe abundant wildlife as well as view the Canadian Rockies today.
Day 3: After breakfast we will pack up camp and then kayak across Spieden Channel back to San Juan Island. We will stop for lunch on a remote island where we will enjoy our final lunch and then paddle back to San Juan island to our landing beach.
Custom dates are available...just ask us.
Every Friday-Sunday and Saturday-Monday from April-October
4-Day/3-Night - $1099 per person
Day 2 in Prime Orca Whale Territory
Day 1:Our group will take off from San Juan Island, then head north along Henry Island. Your guide will point out a large Bald Eagles nest along the way, Harbor Seals warming up on the rocks and nesting cormorants. We will cross the Speiden channel after lunch and then continue to Stuart Island. Here we set up our camp site for two nights.
Day 2: You can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then prepare to circumnavigate Stuart Island. We will hug the shoreline for a majority of the day, giving you great photo opportunities of the lighthouse, bordering Canadian Islands and wildlife. You can also use the day to improve your paddling skills
Day 3: After we pack up camp, we we will island hop to our next campsite. This route will take us along the coastline of Spieden Island, where you can view exotic game grazing along the grassy hillside. Next we will paddle along the Cactus Islands where we stop for lunch. We end our day on Jones Island and then set up camp.
Day 4: Take an early morning hike to watch the sunrise or sit on the beach with a cup of coffee and then get ready for our departure back to San Juan Island. We will journey across San Juan Channel, to San Juan Island where we will drop you off at the ferry landing
Custom dates are available...just ask us.
Every Monday-Thursday and Tuesday-Friday from April-October
5-Day/4-Night - $1399 per person
Days 3 & 5 in Prime Orca Whale Territory
Day 1:Meet your guide and other guests in Friday Harbor. Shuttle to our launching site for packing the kayaks and a safety/wildlife encounter lesson. Paddle along the coastline of Henry Island past a cormorant rookery in search of orca whales and harbor seals. Lunch will be served on a remote island beach. Kayak across Speiden Channel to Stuart Island. Set up camp and then enjoy appetizers, dinner and wine.
Day 2: Today we will circumnavigate Stuart Island and keep our eyed peeled for boald eagles and orca whales. This evening your guide will serve you local organic wine with dinner and share entertaining stories around the campfire.
Day 3: Share an early morning hike with your travel partners or go alone along one of the numerous trails, and then pack up camp as we head out to our next site; Jones Island. This island is renowned for its safe and quiet bays and close up deer encounters. Enjoy a spectacular sunset as the sun melts the day into night.
Day 4: Today we will leasurly kayak throughout the Wasp Islands where we will try to spot harbor seals and bald eagles. We will break for lunch on Little McConnell and then show you an eleven acre island owned by the Nature Conservancy, Yellow Island. Tonight we will serve you another amazing gourmet campsite dinner and then you can take a dip in the cold waters of the bay if you dare
Day 5: After breakfast we will pack up and cross San Juan Channel to Shaw Island, until we reach the rocky shores of San Juan Island. We will enjoy lunch on Turn Island and then our shuttle will pick you up and take your group back to Friday Harbor in the afternoon.
Custom dates are available...just ask us.
Every Monday-Friday from April-October
6-Day/5-Night - $1699 per person
6-Day/5-Night - $1699 per person
Our 6 Day Kayak Expedition is for kayakers with specific desires, skill levels and an above average outdoor endurance level. Six days gives you time to refine your skills and for additional exploration. We will adjust our itinerary from one of our shorter tours or create a new route specific for your group. Please contact us for more information.
Custom dates are available...just ask us.
Prices, times and tour location subject to change. Prices per person in US$.
Please contact us for custom dates and trip lengths.
Photo credits:audreyjm529, kckellner, Daily Photo Blog.
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