I've done several whale watching, but this one was by far the most incredible of all! They only…read moretake maximum 12 passengers and we were a small group of 8 (6 of us plus a other couple) Captain Jackie made sure to find the orcas and would always have the best spot of the other boats to watch them! Best of all we stayed longer than planned on the tour so every other boat were leaving and we were then the only one to observe the huge pod of orcas. That is when one of them decided to breach and say hello to us... magic!!!! Captain Jackie was very fun and stopped on the way back so we could see eagles even though she already extended the tour on her personal time. Just amazing. If you ever wonder who to choose, you'll have the best tour with Seeking Adventure.

With the abundance of whale watching tours available in Victoria it gets overwhelming and confusing…read moretrying to determine which is best. I had started with an online search prior to my arrival in Victoria but then decided not to book ahead and instead search a place out on foot while touring the city. This ended up being a great decision as I had not come across SeaKing Adventures in my google searches... or perhaps it just didn't stand out enough which may be largely due to the small company that it is. When I walked into their office in Fisherman's Warf I was greeted by Ron and had a good impression of him straight away. Very friendly and very informative. What I liked most is that he's the owner operator. Supporting small business is very important to me. He also has a small boat and you're never with more than 10 people (big bonus for us as we didn't want to be fighting for a view of the whales). I had pretty much decided that this was our guy but didn't want to book as I wanted to chat with the rest of my group first. I also took the time to search out reviews online where I found just two negative reviews. I must admit, after reading the reviews I had second thoughts about going with them but we decided as a group to stick with my initial impression and book the tour (I might also add that their tour is the cheapest I found and offers basically the same package the other companies offer). When we had visited the office earlier in the day it was indicated that they had room on both departures yet when I called to make the reservation I was told the morning departure was full. No problem - was my fault for waiting to book.... however, we ended up walking down to Fisherman's Warf a few hours before our departure (and during the time that the morning tour would have been out on the water) and found Ron at the dock seemingly preparing his boat for what would be our 2pm departure. I would have respected them telling me there's a minimum # of people required to get a boat out (we were just 3) and felt it was a bit shifty to tell me the boat was full. Anyway, the tour itself was awesome. Ron is fantastic and we saw everything that you would see with the other tours but with a more small business feel, which I really appreciate. Ron was informative and had a good sense of the whales and how they move in the water. He did his best to get us as close to the action as possible.

We took the tour yesterday, with Simon as our skipper/guide. Although this tour cost about twice as…read moremuch as the "cattle boat" tours in some other places, it is 10 times the experience! My mind is still reeling from all that we saw. We followed a gathering of 19 orcas for more than an hour. Exceeded every bucket list dream I ever had, for seeing these animals! Simon is very, very knowledgeable; he also collects data for Canada Fisheries, so he knew the pods and individuals we were watching. And that wasn't all. We were guided to view a Humpback whale, 2 kinds of sea lion, seals, bald eagles, and even an island which had been stocked as an exotic game preserve, and still has wild animals from other parts of the world roaming around it. There were only 9 people, plus the skipper, so everybody had a great view of everything. And the boats are really fast, so they can go quite a distance in the search for those ever-moving orcas. An experience of a lifetime...even if (like me) you've taken many other whale-watching excursions.

Such a fun way to learn about the Orcas and to see them hunting and feeding from your small group…read moreof 10 on a Zodiac. Don't hesitate, just do it. You will not regret this amazing experience. Great for kids too. These boats are fast, you will see so much and cover incredible distances. Don't worry there is a WC on board for emergencies! Sign your paperwork, get your sunscreen on, and suit up in your warm floatation suit/life vest. Keep your phone handy as you will see all sorts of wildlife along the way, seals, eagles, eagle nests, then the killer whales. It's amazing how you can check the binder and identify each pod by name with their offspring. On our way back as we returned to dock we even had a bonus viewing of some whales right in Cowichan bay.

Great staff Great services and location…read more We did the whale watching tour with Andrew and we did indeed find whales , porpoises , seals and seal lions . For 150.00 per person and a 5-6 hr day it is well worth the investment. A lot of fun , remember to bring snacks and water for the trip . Throughly enjoyed our day on the water .

We had a great experience renting kayaks from Salt Spring. The staff were super friendly and…read morehelpful, and gave us good information about our routes (we rented on 2 different days). We especially liked the fiberglass kayaks which were so swift and easy to paddle. Such a beautiful place to kayak!

Oh.My.Gosh!!! If you are looking for a personalized and informative tour of both whales and local…read morewildlife, THIS is the one to book. We were so fortunate to be with Ken and his fiancee Laurel when we witnessed two whale pods meet up and greet each other. The interaction was so fun to watch but even more amazing, both pods started swimming towards our boat! Ken was quick to get up on the bow of the boat to get some incredible pictures for us. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. On the way in and out, both Ken and Laurel pointed out different local wildlife and educated us on different species of birds, whales, seals, etc in the area. They are both very knowledgeable and amazing hosts. You couldn't ask for more. Be sure to book your own incredible trip with them!

A wonderful wildlife tour and notably different than experiencing the Sea, wildlife and Orcas from…read morea crowded large boat. We were also impressed with the Captain's professionalism and mariner expertise overall. We always felt safe and also appreciated a willingness to extend our trip time at no cost to ensure we found the Orca pods. The water was choppy on our day out, so we experienced the awesomeness of the Salish Sea as well as her beauty! Our two grandsons, age 12 and 14, really had fun. For all of us, the highlight of the trip was definitely seeing and hanging out with the two incredible Orca pods. It was memorable without compare. I was especially pleased that I was able to take some great video of the Orcas and wonderful photos of my grandchildren.

This was our first time whale watching (ever), we came from San Diego and were visiting Victoria…read morefor the first time. We were surprised when we arrived at the boat, it was way smaller than we expected. When we booked the reservation I could've sworn the picture showed a much larger boat. With 11-12 passengers and 2 captains it felt extremely crammed. It was also rainy that day and not all of us could fit inside the tiny cabin with the captain, so about 4-5 people had to sit outside in the rain/wind. We did see 2 pods of orcas during the tour, and first group got really close to us and possibly swam under the boat which was really cool (we saw a female, calf, and large male orca up close). The second pod we saw from very far away and all we could really see were black dots (that I think were fins?) in the distance. We also saw porpoises and various types of sea birds. The captains were really knowledgeable and friendly, and we enjoyed the tour overall. However the fact that we had to sit uncomfortably shoulder-to-shoulder really detracted from the experience. I also feel they should give a warning about possible seasickness, as the waves could be rough the farther out you get.

Tour was cancelled due to issues with the boat. Was not notified ahead of time and arrived at our…read moretour time excited just to find out we couldn't go on the tour anymore. They said the issues occurred the day before. I understood the need to cancel the tour, but the lack of an early notice prevented us from being able to rebook with other tour companies in time to go out that same day, which was our only day in Victoria. Big disappointment.

How do we keep adding stars! From the time we met Jette and Jon, we felt right at home and spoiled…read more Sailing the San Juans was a dream come true, but little did we know how wonderful every single day would be. Attention to every detail from warm coffee mugs to fill our fresh coffee at 7am to gourmet lunches and dinners, and of course desserts. We had a wonderful time. Jon and Jette are the most gracious hosts, who now we consider friends. Jon keeping us safe and informed of the wildlife and sealife, but also taking us on hikes on islands only accessible by boat. Jette with her great sense of humor surprising us at every turn with a new talent from gourmet cooking, writing songs, playing her guitar and sharing her doodles are a few of the many talents she revealed to us. And then there is Geni, sweet Geni, their portugese water "boat" dog. We instantly fell in love and could not get enough of her. I don't now the last time I felt so relaxed and pampered. Thank you Jette and Jon for the wonderul memories! We are looking forward to returning next year! To anyone considering Sailing the San Juans - this is your charter! You will have the time of your life!

From the moment you step onto the Northwind, take in every single second you can!! Every…read moresecond--every peaceful moment, every sweet and savory bite Captain Jette serves, every bit of island trivia Captain Jon offers--as you sail calmly past thick green forests dotted with specks of white the resident bald eagles offer in the form of head and tail. This is truly an adventure awaiting! If you have ever wanted to sail but don't know how, just leave the sailing, cooking, and swabbing of the decks to Jette and Jon. They love to help make wonderful memories for all of us, and do so graciously and kindly. So stop wondering and take the leap (sail). You will have a blast

We had an excellent adventure with this outfitting and guide service in early August, 2016. Our…read moreparty consisted of 3 experienced paddlers and one guide. We paddled for 6 days and camped for 5 nights. The scenery and whale watching aspects of the trip were excellent. The camps were comfortable and well supported by occasional re-supply from the base back in Port NcNiell. The camp on Sophia Island was particularly well appointed with already set tents, cots and a nice kitchen and sitting area. The food prepared by our guide was excellent and hearty. I would certainly recommend this group for paddlers of all levels of experience.

My wife and I spent 3 days/2 nights with Discovery Expeditions and had such a great time. Larry,…read morethe owner, was extremely welcoming and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot from him and enjoyed spending some time getting to know him. Our guide, Korry, was also excellent. He was also friendly and welcoming and made sure we were well fed and had a good time. There is never a guarantee of finding specific wildlife when you are out in the wild, but Larry and Korry knew the animals behaviors and made sure to stay up to date on recent patterns and updates from all the other local teams in order to give us the best chance to see orcas, humpbacks, eagles, seals, and lots of other wildlife while out kayaking. Even if we didn't see any whales the entire time, it still would have been a great trip. However, we did see lots of orca and humpbacks during our time. They even came right by our island one evening, where we could see them from our dinner table and hear them while sleeping in our tents. I highly recommend going with Larry and Discovery Expeditions. We hope to make another trip in the future.

Had a fabulous birthday party aboard the Fantasea!…read more 20 friends did a nautical theme bash and the staff onboard were great. We opted to order sandwich and sushi platters from Thriftys to be delivered to the boat before we arrived. Turned out well, the staff kept them chilled for us and we all met on the dock before taking off. Great drinks (can't bring your own), but the Captain's "Purple Slurpee" is amazing! Reasonable prices, cheaper than most bars. Bring your own music! CDs are your best bet. I made 3 and had them on rotation for the 3 hour party cruise. Can't wait to go again!

From the owner: Our luxury yacht is skippered by a certified Master Captain with over 30 years of professional…read moremarine experience. With licensed bar, sound system, and on-board bathrooms we're proud to offer a variety of services including party cruises, dinner cruises, fishing charters, whale watching, marine wildlife tours, stag and stagette cruises, and sea memorials.

I am leaving this review in December 2021 about Far and Away Adventures' offering of RAPID COVID…read moreTESTING for air travellers. If you are traveling out of YYJ Airport and live nearby, then this is the place to go because: (1) The rapid-test can be done quickly, with the option of picking up the kit from their store in Sidney and taking the test, at home, via live video, scheduled in a timely manner, such as (as I leave this review) less than 24 hours ahead of my flight departure. (2) Far and Away Adventures was the strongly preferred choice by a close friend who has traveled to the U.S.A. by air within the past week who told me these two things: (a) Far and Away delivered the services and the results in a timely manner, as promised, and they were able to board their flight; and (b) many passengers were made late for their flight because they used another service that is located VERY VERY VERY CLOSE to the airport. If I am able, I will leave my review about that other service. The only drawback to the Far and Away Adventures setup is you must pay in advance, instead of just 24-hours ahead of time. While the policy is understandable -- I'll be picking up my COVID test within the week but won't be taking the test until early next month -- but if my flight (or all flights to the USA) get cancelled (due to travel restrictions, if re-imposed) then I have paid ahead of time... well... perhaps they would, in that hypothetical case, revise the policy, and I wouldn't mind paying a deposit upon picking up the test, and then paying the balance the day before my scheduled online test. Just remember DO NOT go to the place that's so-close-you-can-walk to the airport terminal.

From the owner: Small ship cruising and South Pacific adventures to Tahiti and Fiji are only a few of our…read morespecialties. Far and Away Adventures can custom build a unique vacation that will take you to popular locations or the less explored corners of the world. Specialists have been to over 50 countries and each has over 20 years experience planning exceptional vacations.

I took my 78 year old mother on her "bucket list" vacation, she has always wanted to see Victoria!…read morehowever, with Alzheimer's starting to affect her ability to keep up, being driven about by Kevin in a Tesla was the most wonderful solution! We had a perfect day learning about the history of the island. Kevin is very attentive, and honestly I had a nice break from being the caregiver, as he was so gracious to help her in and out of the car at every stop! history buffs will love his tour, and we saw things I ended up ordering books about (local artist emily Carr, the First Nations art, the Queen's house, the oldest China Town in Canada) after the tour. It's such a fascinating, whimsical place! I recommend the Tesla tour 100% and will be back!

We were in Victoria as part of an Alaskan cruise in June. We decided on a tour with Kevin at Tesla…read moreTours. He picked us right outside our ship, took us to the Castle before anyone else was there, the Government House gardens & Christ Church Cathedral. Followed by a scenic drive to Butchart Gardens; where we spent the rest of the afternoon. He also arranged for the tea and lunch service at the gardens using his member discount. It was completely wonderful! The food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. We did offer for him to have lunch with us but he insisted on waiting so we could have some time to ourselves. After tea, he walked around the gardens with us, happily taking pictures and giving us interesting info. At our request, he dropped us off at the Fairmont Empress around 4pm. We walked around a bit and then took a cute little water taxi back to the ship. I highly recommend this tour if you have 2-3 people and want to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Kevin is very friendly and knowledgeable. Oh and of course, the car is amazing! We'd love to tour with Kevin again in the future!