KAYAK SALT SPRING
Create your adventure!
Now offering tours to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve!
Customized, private kayak tours for 2 to 6 people, starting at $140 per group. Kayak Salt Spring's mission is to provide family-oriented, educational, and environmentally friendly kayaking adventures that promote the natural beauty and preservation of Salt Spring Island's wilderness. Your experienced guide, John, has degrees in biology and education. We use Canadian made Delta 14s and 20Ts on all of our tours.
Private Day Tours
We do one tour per day. Start times are range from 11am to 4pm depending on tides, weather and your preferences.
Juice, cookies, cheese and crackers are included on all tours (except Long Harbour). A Mediterranean light lunch/snacks can be added for $10/person.
WALKER HOOK TOUR 2 - 3 HRS.
(weather permitting)
2 nautical miles
Walker Hook Beach, accessible only by boat, is the largest sandy beach on Salt Spring Island. After a leisurely 30 to 45 minute paddle past eagles nests and picturesque shoreline, we stop for a break. We have plenty of time to wander the beach before returning. Depending on the weather, this can be a short easy, flat water paddle or an exciting adventure.
Private 2 person tour starting at $140 per group (additional people $50 per person, maximum group size 6 people)
ELEANOR POINT AND RUSSELL ISLAND TOURS
(weather and tides permitting)
ELEANOR POINT
Starting from Kingfisher Cove, we paddle past pretty bays before rounding Eleanor Point. From there the coastline changes to kelp beds and sandstone cliffs. After a 1 hour paddle we select one of several sandy bays to stop for a break. With spectacular shoreline, the return trip provides opportunities to explore nooks and crannies that were were missed on the way out. This is a good tour for anyone who likes geology.
RUSSELL ISLAND
For a little extra fun, walk the beautiful trails to the old Hawaiian homestead. Russell Island is part of Gulf Island National Park Reserve. During the walk, John teaches about native plants that live in the Coastal Douglas Fir Zone. This stop also adds some extra on-water scenery to the Eleanor short tour.
Private 2 person tours
Eleanor Point Short Tour - 3 hour, 4 nautical miles - $175 per group
Eleanor Point Short with Russell Island - 4 hour, 5 nautical miles - $225 per group
Eleanor Point Long Tour - 4 hour, 6 -8 nautical miles - $225 per group
Eleanor Point Long with Russell Island - 4.5 hour, 6 -8 nautical miles - $255 per group
(additional people $50 per person, maximum group size 6 people)
PREVOST ISLAND TOUR
(weather permitting)
4 to 5 HR, 6 - 8 nautical miles
Enjoy the rugged beauty of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve at James Bay on Prevost Island. After an easy paddle down Long Harbour, we reach the Captain Passage. A short crossing takes us Prevost Island. There are lots of trails and beaches to explore at James Bay, so minimum one hour stop is recommended. Back on the water, we explore more rugged coastline before the crossing back to Salt Spring. This tour can be done on any tide but it is best when the tide is low.
Private 2 person tour starting at $200 per group (additional people $50/person, maximum group size 6)
PORTLAND ISLAND TOUR
(weather permitting)
6-7 HR 8-10 nautical miles
Looking for an all day adventure? Consider doing a circumnavigation of Portland Island in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Starting at Kingfisher Cove or Isabella Point Rd, we paddle up Fulford Harbour, making a stop at Russell Island, before crossing to Portland. Once at Portland Island, we make stops at Arbutus Point and Shell Beach before crossing back. Washrooms are available at every stop. You can expect about 4 to 5 hours of paddling and 2 hours on land with 3 or more breaks. This tour is weather sensitive and will only be done under idea conditions.
Private 2 person tours
$300 per group
(additional people $60/person, maximum group size 6)
SANSUM NARROWS TOURS
(weather and road conditions permitting)
Situated between Maple Mountain and Mt. Maxwell, this tour offers beautiful scenery. The northern section of Sansum Narrows is somewhat protected from the southeast winds and is often our best option on windy days. The combination of non-turbulent currents up to 3 knots and wind can make this trip either a challenging paddle or an easy flat water tour. If we get the tides just right, we can paddle into a small cave (at your own risk).
Private 2 person tours
2.5 hour $150 per group
4 hour $200 per group
(additional people $50/person, maximum group size 6)
2.5 HR 3 nautical miles
or
4 HR 6 nautical miles
LONG HARBOUR PADDLE
2 HR 3.5 nautical miles
With great protection from strong winds, this beautiful trip can be done on almost any day no matter what the weather. Starting deep in the harbour, we head out past the ferry terminal and beautiful houses towards Nose Point. Coming back on the opposite side there are opportunities to check out little bays and islands including Clamshell Islet.
(this tour has no stops or snacks)
Private 2 person tours
$140 per group
(additional people $50/person, maximum group size 6)
TENT ISLAND TOUR 4 HRS.
(Weather and tides permitting)
5.5 nautical miles
Spend a day with John learning natural history while you circumnavigate this beautiful island. Wildlife sightings may include otters, nesting cormorants, seals and intertidal life. This trip requires us to do two crossing of just over one nautical mile each. Previous paddling experience is recommended. This must be done on low tide and only under ideal weather conditions.
Private 2 person tour starting at $225 per group (additional people $50/person, maximum group size 6)
Custom Tour
Have your own gear?
Looking for something different?
Consider hiring John as your guide.
Please request a quote
Cost is $75 for planning and weather analysis, plus $50 per hour for time with clients (negotiable).
Boat rentals at cost of labour ($25/hr), typically 50 to $75.
Day trips only, standard client to guide ratios apply.
MEET YOUR GUIDE & HOST
John and Caroline Topham are the owners of Kayak Salt Spring, a family based kayak guiding company with a focus on natural history and marine biology education.
Your Kayak Guide: John grew-up playing on the shores of the Salish Sea then earned degrees in biology and education from the University of Victoria. He is a cofounder of Oak and Orca Bioregional School in Victoria, where he worked for 8 years as Science Teacher and Field Trip Coordinator. He has previously qualified as a Paddle Canada instructor. John is certified by the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of B.C. and has logged over 100 commercial kayaking days.
Host & Co-ordinator: Caroline, who has a background in education and small business management, is coordinating the trips from home. We have a small fleet of kayaks that include Delta 14s for singles and Delta 20 Tandems for families and couples.
GET IN TOUCH
Now booking tours summer to Thanksgiving!
Please read "Before You Book"
(We do not sell or rent kayaks.)