Our Captain’s tour of the Gulf lslands is akin to a “friends & family” experience in the Salish Sea.
Step back in time and embark on an unforgettable boat tour through the storied waters of British Columbia’s southern coast, where history, maritime heritage, and breathtaking scenery come together. This tour offers a rare opportunity to experience some of the oldest and most iconic lighthouses on Canada’s west coast up close — each one with its own fascinating story.
⚓ Fisgard Lighthouse (1859)
The journey begins with a visit to Fisgard Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. Built in 1859 to guide the Royal Navy into Esquimalt Harbour, Fisgard still stands proudly today, its red and white façade a picturesque symbol of Victoria’s colonial maritime past. Learn about the brave lighthouse keepers who lived here through harsh storms and isolation, and explore the rich legacy of the naval and shipping history it protected.
⚓ Discovery Island Lighthouse
Perched on the rugged shores east of Oak Bay, the Discovery Island Lighthouse marks the entrance to Haro Strait. First lit in 1886, it served as a crucial beacon for vessels navigating the waters toward Victoria. Although now automated, the lighthouse remains a poignant reminder of a bygone era of hands-on maritime stewardship, set against the wild, windswept beauty of Discovery Island Marine Park.
⚓ Trial Island Lighthouse
Nearby, Trial Island Lighthouse stands sentinel over one of the busiest waterways off Victoria. Established in 1906, it was named for the “trial” or testing of incoming ships’ navigation skills. The lighthouse sits atop rocky shores where swirling tides and submerged reefs demand respect — making this beacon an essential guide for mariners for over a century.
⚓ Active Pass Lighthouse (East Point, Saturna Island)
Cruising northward through the narrow and often dramatic waters of Active Pass, we reach the charming East Point Lighthouse on Saturna Island. Built in 1888, East Point played a vital role in helping ships safely navigate the swift and turbulent currents that define Active Pass. The surrounding cliffs and waterway are also prime spots for wildlife sightings, including orcas, sea lions, and bald eagles.
⚓ Race Rocks Lighthouse
The final highlight of the tour is an optional 90 minute fuel & time surcharge add on because of the distance.
The rugged Race Rocks Lighthouse, built in 1860 on a cluster of rocky islets southwest of Victoria. Known for its fierce tidal currents and rich marine biodiversity, Race Rocks is Canada’s second-oldest lighthouse on the west coast. This historic beacon has watched over mariners for over 160 years and today anchors an important ecological reserve teeming with seals, sea lions, and seabirds.
Stunning coastal scenery including rocky shores, remote islands, and wildlife.
Opportunities for photography — the lighthouses, marine life, and ocean vistas are unforgettable.
Comfortable vessel with experienced crew and safety equipment.
Mid-spring through early fall offers the calmest waters and best chances for clear skies, wildlife sightings, and magical sunsets over the Salish Sea.
Chris B2024-09-15Verified 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 H2024-09-15Verified 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 G2024-09-13Verified 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! Resort573845233412024-09-11Verified 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 G2024-09-09Verified 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 P2024-09-05Verified 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 w2024-08-28Verified 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 W2024-08-26Verified 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 C2024-08-18Verified 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 A2024-08-13Verified 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.
Tsehum Rd, Sidney, BC V8L 2P6
birdsofafeathermarine@gmail.com
+1-250-858-7308
If you have questions before you book please reach out to us.
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