Kayaking

Transportation for you and your kayaks, or ours to Gulf Island scenic sheltered locations

Kayaking & Paddle Boarding

Gulf Islands Kayak Transportation & Support Services

Paddle Paradise Without the Ferry Hassles

Escape the crowds and rigid ferry schedules with Birds of a Feather Marine’s specialized kayak transportation and support services. We’ll get you and your gear to the most scenic and sheltered paddling locations in the Southern Gulf Islands, where crystal-clear waters, protected coves, and abundant marine life await your exploration.

Your Gateway to Gulf Islands Kayaking Adventures

Whether you’re a seasoned sea kayaker or new to paddling, our local knowledge and personalized service ensure you experience the very best the Southern Gulf Islands have to offer. We know the hidden gems, the sheltered bays perfect for beginners, and the challenging routes that will thrill experienced paddlers.

Bring Your Own Kayak or Use Ours

Own Kayak Transportation Traveling with your own kayak? We’ll safely transport you and your gear directly to your chosen launch point. Our Axopar 28 Adventure boat easily accommodates kayaks of all sizes, plus all your camping gear, food, and equipment. No more wrestling kayaks onto ferry car decks or dealing with loading restrictions.

Inflatable Kayak Rentals Prefer to travel light? Our high-quality inflatable kayaks are perfect for Gulf Islands exploration. These stable, comfortable kayaks are ideal for day trips and multi-day adventures alike. We’ll have them inflated and ready for you at your destination, and we’ll handle all the setup and breakdown.

Destinations That Will Take Your Breath Away

The Southern Gulf Islands offer some of the world’s finest sea kayaking, with each island providing its own unique character and paddling opportunities:

Salt Spring Island Explore the dramatic coastline of the Gulf Islands’ largest island, with opportunities to paddle to secluded beaches, visit local artisan markets by water, and enjoy farm-to-table dining accessible only by kayak.

Galiano Island Discover the long, narrow island’s protected eastern shores, perfect for beginners, or challenge yourself with the more exposed western coastline. The island’s numerous bays and inlets provide endless exploration opportunities.

Mayne Island Paddle around this charming island’s gentle shores, visiting historic sites and enjoying some of the most sheltered waters in the Gulf Islands. Perfect for families and those new to sea kayaking.

Saturna Island Experience the wild beauty of the Gulf Islands’ most remote inhabited island. Saturna offers dramatic cliffs, secluded beaches, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

The Pender Islands Navigate the narrow channel between North and South Pender, exploring hidden coves and enjoying the unique geography of these connected islands.

Tailored Service for Every Paddler

Day Trip Adventures

Perfect for those wanting to experience Gulf Islands kayaking without the commitment of overnight camping. We’ll transport you to prime paddling locations in the morning and pick you up at your chosen time and location. Spend your day exploring protected bays, observing seals and sea birds, or simply enjoying the peaceful rhythm of paddling in some of BC’s most beautiful waters.

Multi-Day Expeditions

For the ultimate Gulf Islands experience, let us support your multi-day kayaking adventure. We can:

•Transport you and all your gear to your starting point

•Provide resupply services at predetermined locations

•Offer flexible pickup arrangements from any accessible beach or dock

•Coordinate with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve for camping permits and logistics

Custom Itineraries

Every paddler is different, and every trip should be unique. Work with our experienced team to create the perfect kayaking adventure:

•Skill-appropriate routes: From protected waters for beginners to challenging crossings for experts

•Interest-based planning: Wildlife photography, historical sites, artisan visits, or pure wilderness experience

•Flexible scheduling: Day trips, weekend getaways, or week-long expeditions

•Weather contingencies: Alternative routes and backup plans for changing conditions

The Birds of a Feather Advantage

Local Expertise

With over 25 years of experience navigating Gulf Islands waters, we know these islands like our backyard. We’ll share insider knowledge about:

•The best launch and landing spots for different tide conditions

•Protected routes when weather turns challenging

•Wildlife viewing hotspots and optimal timing

•Hidden beaches and secluded anchorages most visitors never see

Safety First

Your safety is our top priority. Our services include:

•Current weather and marine conditions briefings

•Emergency communication protocols

•Knowledge of all marine traffic patterns and ferry routes

•Backup pickup arrangements and emergency response capabilities

Comfort and Convenience

Our Axopar 28 Adventure boat features:

•Heated cabin for comfortable transport in all weather

•Spacious deck areas for secure kayak and gear storage

•Smooth, stable ride that minimizes seasickness

•Direct beach access where conditions permit

No Ferry Frustrations

Skip the ferry lineups, rigid schedules, and crowded car decks. We provide:

•Direct harbor-to-harbor service

•Flexible departure and pickup times

•Custom scheduling around your preferences

•Access to locations not served by ferry routes

Planning Your Gulf Islands Kayaking Adventure

What’s Included

•Round-trip marine transportation from Sidney

•Secure kayak and gear transport

•Local area briefing and route recommendations

•Marine weather and conditions update

•Emergency communication support

•Flexible pickup arrangements

What to Bring

•Personal flotation device (PFD) – required by law

•Weather-appropriate clothing and rain gear

•Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)

•Water and snacks for day trips

•Camping gear for multi-day adventures

•Camera for capturing unforgettable moments

Seasonal Considerations

We operate from April through October, when Gulf Islands weather is most favorable for kayaking. Each season offers its own unique advantages:

Spring (April-May): Fewer crowds, wildflower blooms, active marine life Summer (June-August): Warmest weather, longest days, peak wildlife activity

Fall (September-October): Stunning autumn colors, calmer waters, excellent visibility

Book Your Gulf Islands Kayaking Adventure

Ready to experience the magic of Gulf Islands kayaking without the hassles of ferry travel? Our personalized service means every trip is tailored to your interests, skill level, and schedule.

Contact us to discuss your ideal kayaking adventure. Whether you’re planning a peaceful day of exploration or an epic multi-day expedition, we’ll help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Boat, Captain, and crew are yours to command – set your own course and plan your own perfect day on the water.

NB: Our boat capacity limitation is 2 rigid hull kayaks plus and/or 4 inflatable kayaks.

Hundreds of 5 Star Reviews from our B&B and Marine

    
 
 
         
   Chris B 
 
 
 
 Verified Best B&B on the island!
What an amazing piece of property, stayed 2 days and can’t speak highly enough Of Dieter and his wife, from the delicious homemade breakfasts, too the island hoping boat tour. Highly recommended! If you go, make sure to order some of his wife’s homemade muffins to go, they will change what you think a muffin is supposed to be!! 😁
  
 
        
   Codi H 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing stay and chartered tour!
Had an amazing stay for our friends birthday weekend! Dieter and Paphada are awesome hosts and maintain a beautiful property. Breakfasts were fantastic, Paphada's muffins are 10/10! We also did the private boat charter and Dieter took us to Saltspring and Pender for some exploring, we had an amazing day on the water and shopping/eating on the islands. Thank you so much for the laughs and the stories, and the memories that we'll hold dear forever! Can't wait till next time!
  
 
        
   Jo G 
 
 
 
 Verified Magical Getaway!
This was the perfect getaway. The location is so serene with such tranquil grounds. The breakfasts were so special. Birds of a Feather is so clean and our room was so special. We can't say enough about our wonderful hosts. All recommendation were spot on. We can't wait to return again. In fact we booked our next stay before leaving!
  
 
        
   Resort57384523341 
 
 
 
 Verified Boat Charter September 2024
We booked Dieter for a boat charter. We were very impressed with Dieter's professionalism, courtesy and kindness. We were spreading our mother's ashes at sea and he ensured the entire experience was special and memorable. The marina was lovely and his boat was impeccable and felt luxurious. Thank you so much Dieter!
  
 
        
   Thomas G 
 
 
 
 Verified Bucket list to beautiful Vancouver island
Superb,comfortable room- Suite #1.Private outside deck(where we ate many of our meals)overlooking huge lagoon and Pacific Ocean.Could see all the way to Victoria.Wildlife everywhere-geese,ducks,otters,raccoons,deer- even a cougar.Sat out on end of 50 ft pier and watched sun come up daily.In a quiet residential neighborhood with multimillion Redburn estate next door.Hosts warm and friendly- fresh baked muffins daily.Could recommend more strongly.
  
 
        
   Susann P 
 
 
 
 Verified Beautiful BB
We were allowed to enjoy for 5 days the hospitality, prudence, the comprehensive service, the warm-hearted friendliness, the cleanliness throughout the house, the beautiful room overlooking the lagoon and the large terrace dsvor. With a delicious breakfast every day started perfectly, 2 times Dieter and Phapada even gave us the great joy of a German breakfast with everything that goes with it. Dieters have tips on beautiful trails in the wonderful surroundings our time at Birds of a Feather made perfect. Thank you again for the wonderful time with you, stay healthy and be greeted warmly by us. TS
  
 
        
   kyla w 
 
 
 
 Verified Really nice time
Lovely space! The owners were responsive and friendly. The location was great and having the ability to use boats to explore the lagoon made for a really nice afternoon. It was also quite and restful. I would recommend for anyone looking for a nice place to stay outside of Victoria
  
 
        
   Stephanie W 
 
 
 
 Verified Awesome day trip to the wineries!
We just finished our wine tour with Dieter and I must say that we were very impressed! Dieter went out of his way to make our day perfect even when the weather didn't cooperate. He took us out for a delicious lunch and made excellent suggestions on what to do and where to eat for the remainder of our holidays. He was professional, personable and you could tell he genuinely cared for our experience on the island. All in all, we highly recommend! Dieter.... We'll see you in Thailand!
  
 
        
   Jeri C 
 
 
 
 Verified Lovely respite
We are so very appreciative to Peter for being so accommodating! Our stay was beautiful and peaceful. We loved watching the storm roll in over the Juan de Fuca Strait from his lagoon side seating. A truly beautiful place and a beautiful stay!
  
 
        
   Erik A 
 
 
 
 Verified Private Boat Charter
Today I had a private boat tour booked with Birds of a Feather Marine Tours. I wanted to go back to an Island I hadn't been to for 30 yrs and wanted to take my family to the place I had so many fond memories of. The whole experience was a pleasure from booking, the actual boat (new Axopar) and the trip itself. Dieter made us feel welcome, he Captained his boat well and was even telling us about some of the wildlife we encountered along the way. He had to wait while we toured the Island and had lunch which I'm sure wasn't overly exciting for him for the couple hours we were there but he never rushed us or made us feel like we needed to go. My boys got bored early as expected so I asked Dieter to show us some wildlife on the way back. We were able to spot porpoises, a sea lion, plenty of seals basking on rocks, bird life, we went through some neat passages, past some beautiful scenery and enjoyed some fun times on the water. My wife usually gets motion sick (my biggest concern was her not really enjoying the day because of it) but on the Axopar, that boat is so smooth it cuts through the water that well. We did spend quite some time fighting the wind and waves, crossing other boats wakes and she said she never felt nautious once. Unfortunately the whales eluded us today, that wasn't the purpose of the journey, but would have been the icing on the cake. Thank you Dieter for a great trip and helping make new memories while bringing back plenty of old ones.