Islands, seals & lighthouse
Discover the natural beauty of Victoria on our Trial Islands Kayak Tour, ideal for intermediate paddlers with some experience. As you paddle along, take in the stunning views of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains and Oak Bay's picturesque coastline, including the iconic lighthouse. A knowledgeable guide will lead the way, providing insights into the area's history and ensuring your safety. Keep an eye out for the playful seal colony that calls Trial Islands home.
Amazing Scenery
Enjoy a south coast kayaking experience meandering along Victoria's stunning southern coastline and a visit to iconic Trial Islands. Awe inspiring views of the Olympic mountains combined with the marine wildlife that makes Victoria famous, this tour is sure to leave you breathless!
Professional Service
Our tour guides are Paddle Canada certified sea kayak guides. Choose between Necky Eliza and Current Design Storm single kayak or (more stable and faster) Necky and Current design double kayaks. We include a snack on each kayaking tour. Private washroom amenities available.
See Wildlife
Visit the island's local seal colony, spot herons, cormorants, oyster catchers and eagles as we paddles along the amazing intertidal coastline. The occasional sea lion can bespotted around Trial's Southern point. Past hidden beaches, sea stars and floating jellyfish, this is a trip to remember!
Easy Access
We begin this trip at the highly photogenic Kitty Islet (with the red and yellow chairs!). There is free parking available here, and we have toilets located at our office which is directly across the street on Beach drive.
Pricing
2-8 people per tour, 3 hrs
Trip Details
Total trip distance is between 8-12km (depending on speed of the group). Due to strong currents and winds around the Trials Islands they can only be accessed at certain times of the day. Tour times may have to be adjusted to correlate with slack tide. If winds are exceeding 20 km/h your guide will contact you before the tour to suggest an alternative route (e.g. our Oak Bay Coast & Islands Tour or along the southern shoreline of the stait of Juan de Fuca towards Ogden point) or reschedule/cancel the tour.
We meet at Kitty Islet across from our office on Beach drive. We set you up with all your gear and you sign our waiver (If you have not already viewed and signed it online).
You should wear comfy clothing (fast drying athletic wear or merino wool is best but not required) and any kind of shoes (although water shoes or neoprene booties would be preferable) You won’t get very wet but some drops may sprinkle on you from paddling.
Valuables may be left with us to take to the office, locked in your car or taken in drybags on the trip.
We start with a brief review of safety signals on Kitty Beach before launching our kayaks. Here in the sheltered waters of McNeill Bay we will have a mini refresher lesson of basic kayaking strokes and emergency procedures before heading off on our adventure.
We will begin by following the shoreline around McNeill bay and making sure that everyone is comfortable and confident. Once our guide is convinced that everyone is safe on the water and can turn and paddle sufficently, we will continue with the tour and make our crossing to the Trial Islands.You will learn a bit of Victoria’s and McNeill Bay’s history as you paddle out on the beginning of our journey!
After the Islands, we pass a number of small bays, mansions, and hidden pebble beaches before arriving at Harling/Foul point. From here we pass Harpooner rock, the Chinese cemetary, and then pass by the unmistakable Templer rock jutting out of the water.Lastly we will pass by what is arguably Victoria’s best sandy beach, Gonzales beach.(there are bathrooms here if needed)
After the sandy beach of Gonzales we continue west to the large pebbly beach of Ross Bay. Depending on group energy levels we will stop for a snack in the tiny Hollywood Cove or push on to the end of Ross Bay next to Clover Point.
After a snack and a drink, it’s time to retrace our steps and return to Kitty Islet. If you’re not in a rush after your tour, take a map and do a short walking tour over to the hidden gems of McMicking Park and Anderson Hill Park only minutes away!
