Day
1: Arrive
in Port McNeill by road or air. You will meet your guides
at McNeils Cafe at 6:30 pm. From here we will transfer to
the Songhee where you will meet the crew and get acquainted
with your new floating home.
Day
2 - 5 Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait:
Once we leave homeport, we have an advantage over land based
trips - the ship can go anywhere within a vast network of
remote interconnected islands and channels.
We
will journey right into the heart of Killer Whale (Orca) country,
where nearly 230 of the majestic creatures reside in family
groups known as pods. A visit to a research station will help
us learn more about the Killer Whales, Humpbacks and other
resident whale species found in the region. The kayaks will
allow us to get as close as possible without intruding or
disrupting the natural surroundings.
Each day of our voyage
will result in new discoveries. As eagles track our passage, sea lions,
dolphins, and seals frolic in the pristine waters. We will visit the
remote abandoned First Nations village of Mamalilacula, where a local
native historian will thrill us with the legends of his people, who
traveled these waters in massive seagoing canoes carved from the
towering cedars. Totems carved with eagles, bears, whales and the other
creatures who shared the land and sea with the original peoples still
stand, silent witnesses to the passage of time and the natural wonders
that still define the area.
Two experienced
kayaking guides, plus a captain, engineer, and deckhand will share their
years of knowledge and skills with their passengers, ensuring the trip
exceeds expectations. With guests limited to 10, individual comfort and
attention is emphasized.
Spend
the last night in a quite cove or in Alert Bay where we will
view the graveyard totems and visit the renowned U'Mista Cultural
Centre.
day
6: Return
to Port McNeill dock in the afternoon.
About
the Songhee
- Your new floating home
The Songhee,
named after one of our coastal native tribes, is a 95 foot
World War II era supply ship specially designed for navigating
our maze of islands. Used as a supply vessel for the Royal
Canadian Air Force, she serviced army bases scattered throughout
the coast. She has now been extensively refitted to carry
11 guests and 6 crew in comfort and style, and at 95ft has
more than enough space for everyone to enjoy some privacy.
There is plenty of outside deck space for roaming or soaking
in our hot tub, and inside, our cedar wood finished lounge
has ample room to read, play games, or just relax. The bedrooms
(staterooms) are bright and cheery, and each have a sink and
comfortable bunks. We have 5 staterooms with 2 bunks, 1 room
with a single. Generally we can accommodate you with your
own room. On the rare occasion when we have several independent
travelers we do our best to match you up with a suitable partner.
Three bathrooms and two showers are available for our 10 guests.
The
kayaking
Although
kayaking is not a prerequisite to join our tour, we feel that
it is the best way to get close to nature. Never tried kayaking
before? No worries - we'll show you how. A thorough orientation
of kayaks and safety procedures are covered to prepare you
for your time on the water. The sea kayak is extremely stable
and easy to manouver, both in single and double configuration,
allowing a unique and silent floating view of both marine
and land-based wildlife.
The
combination of mothership and kayak gives you incredible wilderness
access with the comforts of a 4 star hotel. The daily itinerary
will be catered to each individual group where kayaking time
will vary depending on groups desires.
Meals while
on tour
At Spirit of
the West we put a great amount of time and effort in preparing
wholesome quality meals. Our chef will delight guests with
meals featuring fresh quality produce and local delicacies.
Spirit of the West is not licensed to serve alcohol. However,
you may bring your own. Please ensure to notify us if you
have any dietary concerns, restrictions or food allergies.
This should be included in detail on your medical form.
Accommodations
before/after tour
We have included
a list of places to stay for Port McNeil, if you need assistance
with accommodations elsewhere, please contact us at
1 800 307 3982.
Port McNeil
Ev's
Bunkhouse on the Beach
website:
www.pixsell.bc.ca/bb/125.htm.
Phone:
1
877 956 4993
Seaview
B&B
website:
www.portmcneill.net/seeview/
Phone:
1 250 956 4818
Broughton
Manor B&B
website:
www.broughtonmanor.com
Phone:
1 250 956 4202
Rosebury
Manor B&B
website:
www.pixsell.bc.ca/bb/150.htm
Phone:
1 888 956 7673
Tanquil
Space B&B
website:
www.portmcneill.net/tranquil
Phone:
1 250 956 2002
Haida
- Way Motor Inn
website:
www.portmcneillhotels.com
Phone:
1 800 956 3373
Meeting
Location - Departure day
Port McNeil
Port
McNeil Meeting time:
6:30 pm
Where:
McNeills Cafe
Getting
there:
McNeills Cafe is located on the waterfront in downtown Port
McNeil across from the main docks.
Getting
to Port McNeil
For this
tour you need to get to Port McNeil. Port McNeil is located
on Hwy 19a 2.5 hrs drive north of Campbell River, 4 ½ hrs
north of Nanaimo and 6 hours north of Victoria. To get to
Port McNeil you can drive and ferry, bus and ferry, or fly
from Seattle or Vancouver. If you are coming from the mainland,
in order to get to Vancouver Island with your car, one must
take a ferry. Please note that the ferries can get quite congested
during the summer months, so we advise you to get an early
start your "travel day" and enjoy the drive up. For car rentals
contact Budget Rental at 1800 299 3199 /
www.budgetvictoria.com or National Tilden at 1800 227
7368. See the back of our catalogue for more info.
If you are flying you have the option of flying right from
Seattle to downtown Port McNeil by Kenmore Air floatplane.
This is most costly but most direct. The other option is to
fly with Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Port Hardy
(a town near Port McNeil), and from here a 25 minute airport
shuttle will take you to our meeting point in Port McNeil.
You can have us arrange the transport shuttle or you can contact
Port McNeil Airport Shuttle at 1 250 956-8294.
Please note: For bookings or detailed travel information such
as flights, ferries, buses, and car rentals, you can contact
our local travel agency, Uniglobe Travel. They can be reached
in North America at 1 800 567-6511 or by email at wc.rivercity@uniglobe.com
