Each summer Johnstone Strait welcomes the return of the orcas (killer whales) as they come to feed on the abundant salmon. When you are fortunate enough to kayak in the presence of these spectacular creatures and see them swim freely in their natural environment, you sense the strength and dignity that is denied them in captivity.

But Johnstone Strait offers much more than orcas. Our days are spent kayaking the waterways and exploring the cluster of islands surrounding the strait (see map) . There is a wealth of Kwakiutl native history in this area. You can see the totem poles and houseposts at the abandoned village of Mamalilaculla (Mimkwamlis) on Village Island, which we visit during a daytrip. There are also the ancient cliff pictographs (rock paintings) left by a native artist of long ago.

You may also spot minke whales, river otters, Dall's and harbour porpoises, black bear, deer, and a wide variety of birdlife including rhinoceros auklets, western grebes, ancient murrelets, pelagic cormorants, phalaropes and loons. This kayak trip features a blend of choice wilderness sea kayaking, unusual wildlife, and rich cultural and natural history.

ITINERARY:
Our Johnstone Strait kayak trips rendezvous early Sunday morning in Port McNeill. We'll board a water taxi for our trip across Johnstone Strait to our kayak launching point in Blackfish Sound (so called after one of the old names for orcas). We'll get to our campsite that morning, where we base ourselves for a couple of days, daytripping to the abandoned village, the islets at the mouth of Knight Inlet, and to the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound for a fishing expedition. Weather permitting, we'll also visit the Vancouver Island