Fantastic way to spend a day - Family of 5 (all adults), we had an amazing full days kayaking with Janae leading the way. She was fantastic and shared so much local knowledge in a friendly and light hearted way. The weather turned a bit tasty on the return trip and Janae took the sensible decision to cut the trip short which was totally understood and appreciated. It's the second trip we have done with the company and would certainly do so again.

Fabulous trip!!! - What and amazing 4-day trip! Beautiful scenery, comfortable campsites, great food, and wildlife galore - Orcas, humpbacks, bear, deer, eagles, kingfishers, sea lions, porpoises, and more. Our guides were excellent and our traveling companions all fun and excited about the experience (with ages ranging from early 30s to early 70s!). The guides tailored each day to our capabilities and the wildlife opportunities. We had one very rainy day, but it was all part of the adventure... Highly, highly recommended.

Peaceful paddling out of Telegraph Cove on a sunny day - We paddled out of Telegraph Cove for the 6 hour tour on the most beautiful wind still and sunny morning in September - during the tour we saw a bachelor sea otter (called Fred), bald eagles, we encountered a curious a black bear during our lunch stop on the beach, and saw a pod of resident orcas, that passed exactly where we had paddled just an hour or so before. It was one of the highlights of our trip! Thanks also to our great guide Jan.

Five amazing days on the water - My 4 day experience in July 2023 was so wonderful, it compelled me to come back and paddle for 5 days this year! We paddled close to 80km over 5 days, and even though we had spent 4 days in these waters last year, our guides insured we had new experiences. And Mother Nature looked after the rest - putting on a spectacular show with Humpbacks, Orcas, Seals and Sea Lions, Eagles, and so many water birds! Trip highlights were watching humpbacks breach, hitting the water with the full force of their mass. Pods of orcas gliding by, so sleek and graceful. A group of dolphins charging through the water like a gaggle of kids at a family gathering, doing circles and showing off for the orcas. The sound of the whales breathing. Even for this girl from the Lower Mainland, this was unbelievable - like being in a nature documentary. Camps were so comfy with cots and thermarests, patio heaters - and the food!! So delicious!!! Our guides, Brad and Georgia, were so supportive and helpful, so knowledgeable. We were in the most beautiful environment, with excellent equipment, being given the most amazing experience by truly wonderful guides. 10/10!! This is the summer camp I'd like to visit for as long as I'm able. I'm 61 and see no reason not to plan to paddle for many years to come.

What a day! - Incredible day out on the water with guides Georgia and Connor. Super friendly, knowledgeable and funny and great local facts about the wildlife, geology and culture surrounding the Johnstone Strait. We saw otters, seals, eagles, sea stars and even ate kelp! No orcas on the trip but luckily we were treated to a pod cruising by in the evening back on the Telegraph Cove boardwalk! A perfect end to a super day in a beautiful place! Great recommendations by Connor to visit the Whale Interpretive Centre and U’mista Cultural Centre over in Alert Bay too 😊

Kayak Tour with Georgia - It was an amazing Kayak Tour with Georgia as our Tour Guide! We had so much fun with her. We had such a good day! Thank you for everything!

Stunning Adventure - We are a family of three who went on the overnight camping trip with northislandkayak in July 2024. The weather was changeable and rather cold. Luckily, we were well prepared by northislandkayak’s excellent packing list, so we were very comfortable. The supplied equipment is absolutely top-notch and scrupulously maintained. 
Our guides, Brett and Naomi were fantastic. Combining fascinating scientific facts on the delicate ecology with paddling techniques and tuition to those who needed it. But the biggest surprise was the quality of the food and the apparently endless storage capacity in the kayaks. Our guides took on all the work and effort to feed the group which seemed above and beyond their roles. I think the breakfast that Brett laid on (pancakes, sausage, bacon and all the trimmings) in that incredible setting was probably the most memorable breakfast of my lifetime! This really is an unforgettable experience in an incredible landscape and highly recommended. Yes, it is expensive but when you see the level of professionalism and equipment supplied then the cost becomes understandable. This is a real adventure in a real wilderness and cost-savings are a false economy. Tents are pre-pitched and contain cots and mattresses. There is a crude toilet on the island but it is really quite ok and should not put you off if the thought of it is bothering you.
 Some criticisms; hopefully constructive. 

We were a three and the sleeping arrangements were in tents of four. This was not catered for. There was a single female traveler in our group and that could have been very awkward. (As luck would have it; there was a hammock on the island and I am daft enough to choose that over a tent any day. I was bitten by mosquitoes but totally worth it). A single tent should be available for this situation. 

As a one-time kayak instructor for beginners, I would have preferred to see a guide in their canoe, in the water when the boats were launched. There is a lot of opportunity for things to go wrong at that moment and having a safety boat in the first few moments I think is important as you don’t know how capable or panicky your guests are. Some more time spent with the group to ensure that paddling technique and familiarisation is covered whilst in the water would probably have been a good idea. If a crew is struggling or doing something wrong, then it can get the trip off on the wrong foot. It all gets very real very fast and a little more familiarisation would have been good.

Spectacular 3 day tour - Just returned from a 3 day kayak tour with our guides Jesse and Georgia. Our guides were knowledgeable and friendly and went the extra mile bringing birthday decorations and special dessert for my daughter’s birthday which we celebrated on the second night of our tour. The food was outstanding and the wildlife was spectacular. This was our second trip with North Island kayak and I can’t recommend them highly enough. Many thanks for another magical trip

5 Star Experience with NIK and Guide Jesse - Took the three day tour (two nights) during the first week of July with guide Jesse. Incredible experience. We were fortunate with the weather and the group we travelled with, but everything in North Island Kayak's control was superb (kayaks, food, basecamps, kayaking itinerary, etc.). Our guide Jesse was caring, resourceful and extremely knowledgeable. 5 stars all the way.

Incredible experience 🐳🦭 - Thank you to Bree and Naomi for this exceptional kayaking day. We were able to see whales, orcas, seals, and various marine animals. We had an amazing day with dream conditions. Thank you again for all their advice, attentiveness, and kindness. I highly recommend them without hesitation.