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Sea Kayaking Queen Charlotte Strait - God's Pocket Tour Itinerary

Below is a sample itinerary and exact routes will vary depending on possible wildlife sightings, currents, tides and weather.

Day 0:

Plan to be in Port McNeil the night before the trip departs as there is an 8:00 pm pre-trip meeting with your guides at the Haida-Way Inn. We’ll provide you with an overview for your trip, distribute dry-bags to pack your gear in, and answer any questions you may have.

Meals Included: None

Day 1:

Meeting at 8:00 am in the lobby of the Haida-Way Inn, we’ll load up our van and head out to meet our water taxi.  Vehicles and extra bags can be left at the motel – just ask at the front desk.  The boat leaves promptly, so please ensure that you’ve checked out and had breakfast by this time. It’s a quick 25-minute drive up to Port Hardy, where we’ll board our water taxi for transport.

The 30-minute ride takes us to our first wilderness campsite, where we’ll settle in.  The guides will provide a site orientation and paddle briefing, and you’ll have time to set up your tents.  The first day is generally spent getting familiarized with the camp, practicing your strokes in sheltered waters, and heading out for a short half-day paddle.

Meals Included: Lunch - Dinner

Days 2 to 4:

During this nomadic trip, we generally camp at 2 or 3 different sites, depending on weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and group interests.  Our campsites consist of old homestead sites, First Nations middens, and beautiful pebble beaches. 

This is an area that allows us to see the greatest variety of sea life; the strong currents that move between the islands bring rich nutrients to the area.  In the past, we’ve seen Orcas, Minke whales, Humpback whales, Grey whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and seals all within this small area.  As well, the intertidal life is fantastic, and we’ll try to coordinate some paddles with the lowest tides for ideal viewing.

On Hurst and Bell Islands we can examine enormous shell middens from years of First Nations use and pictographs also exist in the area.  This is a quiet area for paddlers, and we rarely see other commercial groups here.

Each trip is different, and your guides will plan the day’s activities based on weather, tides, wildlife viewing, and group interests.

Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

Day 5:

Our voyage comes to an end; we linger over a leisurely breakfast, snap a few last photographs, and take a short paddle before packing up.    After lunch, we load up the water taxi and head back to civilization.  Arrival time at the Haida-Way Inn is approximately 4:00 PM.

We usually arrive back in Port McNeil in enough time for you to fly out of Port Hardy or catch a late ferry back to the mainland, but delays do happen.  We suggest that our guests spend the last night in Port McNeil, enjoy the hot showers, and slowly transition out of vacation mode.  Most guests choose this, and we often get together for a no-host farewell dinner at the Haida-Way Inn.

Meals Included: Breakfast - Lunch

What to expect on our God’s Pocket tours:

On our God’s Pocket trips we supply a mixed kayak fleet of singles and doubles, and each guest will have an opportunity to try both.  Our groups are kept small; there is a maximum group size of 8 guests with 2 guides accompanying.

No paddling experience is necessary to join our trips but experienced paddlers will not be disappointed. We usually paddle for 4 – 5 hours per day, with breaks for lunch, snacks and shore exploration.  If you’re looking to challenge yourself, try our ‘expedition style’ trips or simply ask one of the guides for some extra skills instruction.

What is provided on all of our tours:

We provide you will all the necessary kayaking and camping equipment, including: kayaks, paddling jacket, life jacket, group shelters, tents, sleeping pads, camp chairs and with enough notice, we can even provide sleeping bags, although most guests bring their own. A comprehensive list of required personal items can be viewed here. 

All meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day are provided and prepared.  We’re proud of our menu that includes abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, a wide variety of international dishes, and freshly baked treats.  Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated given sufficient prior notification.

Transportation is all-inclusive from the Haida-Way Motel in Port McNeil.  Our network of vans and water taxis will transport you to and from your journey in comfort.

What is not included on our tours:

We do not provide transport from your home to Port McNeil, nor do we provide airport transfers.  Any meals outside the kayak portion of the tour are your responsibility.  Travel insurance for accidents or emergency evacuation is not provided; we recommend you purchase a policy before leaving home.  The trip price does not include guide gratuities; should you feel that the service was exemplary, it is always appreciated.  We suggest 5 to 10% of the trip cost, based on the service and attention provided.