 
Orcas & the Inside Passage
Explore the wildlife and natural history of the magical and awe-inspiring area of the Pacific Northwest!
Trip Overview
- Sail among orcas in their natural habitat, a place where they live in greater numbers than anywhere else on earth
- Cruise and stay aboard a 68-foot sailing ketch, and get close to shore by kayak
- Discover the inner sanctum of the temperate coastal rainforest, home to eagles and bears
Between the northern reaches of Vancouver Island’s crenellated coast and the British Columbia mainland lie the Johnstone and Queen Charlotte straits. These cold Pacific waters are home to the world’s greatest concentration of orcas, which gather here in large pods in summer to gorge on returning salmon. Commonly known as killer whales, orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family, gregarious and delightful. We get amazingly close to them on our expedition cruise aboard the Island Odyssey. In addition to watching for killer whales from our sailing ketch, short kayak excursions through the clear, protected waters further enhance our intimate experience of a marine environment of wild beauty.
Location of Adventure
Port McNeill, British Columbia
Group Size Limit: Approximately 12 Travelers
A very important feature of our expedition cruise in search of killer whales is the limited group size as nature expeditions are always best experienced in smaller groups.
Included
All accommodations, dinner on day 1 through breakfast on final day, all activities described in itinerary, all permits and park fees, all equipment, services of Natural Habitat Adventures' Expedition Leader, and gratuities for hotel staff, baggage handlers, and meals.
Not Included
Travel to and from Port McNeill, travel insurance, gratuities for Expedition Leader and boat crew, alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.)
Physical Requirements
Easy / Moderate / Flexible
Kayaking is easy to learn, and we expect that most of our guests have little or no experience. It does, however, take an adventurous spirit. Those travelers who are not particularly agile are welcome to watch for killer whales and enjoy the views from the ship.
Getting There & Getting Home
Please note: We have pre-booked spaces for our travelers on R/T flights from Vancouver to Port Hardy (the closest airport to Port McNeill). These flight times are not determined until late spring. We will notify you when these times are determined so you may book your arrival and departure flights in and out of Vancouver. You will be invoiced for these flights upon booking. Please call us with questions.
Proof of Citizenship
NOTE: BEGINNING JANUARY 8, 2007, ALL U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING VIA AIR OR SEA WILL REQUIRE A VALID PASSPORT TO ENTER CANADA. Please note that birth certificates and other government-issued photo I.D.’s will NO LONGER be accepted for entry.
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2008 Dates*
Aug 27 - Sep 1
* This departure can be combined with our Grizzlies & Wildlife of British Columbia trip. Please call our office for details: 1-800-543-8917.
2008 Fees
$3,395
Single Supp.: Available at Port McNeill only $95
Deposit: $500
Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Fees may increase for 2009.
Due to the very limited group size on this trip, we cannot book travelers into single accommodations on the ship - however, we are more than happy to book a single traveler who is interested in matching with a roommate. For those who would like us to arrange a match, we will make every effort to do so. If we cannot, one-half of the single supplement fee for the night in Port McNeill only will apply.
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