Campbell River Whale Watching and Wildlife Adventure

Campbell River Whale Watching and Wildlife Adventure

Rated 5 out of 5

Experience one of the most immersive whale watching tours in Campbell River. Our 6-hour adventure explores Discovery Passage, the Discovery Islands, Desolation Sound, and, when wildlife and conditions align, Johnstone Strait—giving you more time on the water and more opportunities to encounter humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, bears, and other incredible wildlife.

Our custom designed landing craft also gives us the rare ability to land on a secluded beach for lunch, where guests can get off the boat and stretch their legs, while surrounded by pristine coastal scenery before continuing the adventure.

Book Today for an Unforgettable Adventure

6 Hours

Jun 15 - Oct 15

Min Age 3

Max Guests 12

Lunch Included

Covered Boat w/ Washroom

Humpback Tail during a Whale Watching and Boat Tour in Campbell River

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Risk Free – 48 Hour Cancellation

$259 Adult / $239 Child (3-15yrs)

+ 15% Taxes (GST/Fuel Levy). Prices shown in CAD 

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Questions? Call 250 228 1307

Trip Meeting Location

This tour departs from:
Discovery Harbour Marina
Address: 1374 Island Highway, Campbell River

 

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Your Tour Includes:

Homemade Lunch, Tasty Snacks, and Hot/Cold Beverages

Tour Duration: 6 Hours

Max Guests: 12

New 2025 Covered Vessel: Custom Built 30' Landing Craft

Washroom Onboard

Knowledgeable Guide: A Fun and Educational Captain

Orca, Also Known As A Killer Whale, Hunting During A Whale Watching Tour In Campbell River

Why Choose a 6-Hour Whale Watching Tour?

A 6-hour whale watching tour isn’t just a longer boat ride—it’s a completely different experience. With more time on the water, we can travel farther into some of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich areas on the British Columbia coast, including Discovery Passage, the Discovery Islands, Desolation Sound, and, when wildlife and conditions align, the legendary Johnstone Strait. The additional time gives us greater flexibility to spend longer observing natural behaviors, and explore remote locations that shorter tours simply can’t reach.

Our custom-built covered landing craft makes the experience even more unique. Unlike traditional whale watching vessels, we’re able to land on secluded beaches where guests can step ashore to enjoy lunch surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Discovery Islands before continuing the adventure. Combined with a heated cabin, onboard washroom, spacious viewing deck, and small group sizes, our 6-hour tour offers one of the most comfortable, immersive, and unforgettable whale watching experiences in Campbell River.

Meet the Wildlife

Part of the adventure is not knowing what you’re going to see! During the summer months (July – September), Campbell River has a very large population of Humpbacks. It is not uncommon for us to see 15+ Humpbacks on a single Whale Watching Tour! We also have Transient (Bigg’s) and Northern Resident Orca frequently travel through our area, however Orca cover a very large ground, so they can be a bit more unpredictable.

Our focus is not only on whales, but on all of the wildlife and scenery our area has to offer. Other wildlife we often see during our tours are Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Seals, Sealions, and Eagles. In the spring and fall at low tide, we have a very good chance of spotting Bears scavenging on the beach! 

Our wildlife encounters are completely on their terms, we don’t chase wildlife, we patiently watch and observe. Our goal is to give you a fun, educational, and memorable experience, while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our wildlife.

Responsible Whale Watching is our priority, we respectfully follow a strict set of guidelines designed to keep both you and our wildlife safe. To learn more about Responsible Whale Watching, click here.

Humpback Breaching. Humpback Whales Are Often Seen On Our Campbell River Whale Watching Tours

Embrace the Journey

Your journey begins from Discovery Harbour Marina, downtown Campbell River.

We are fortunate enough to be a part of a fantastic Whale Watching community in Campbell River, so often we know where everything is before we even get out on the water. This helps us spend less time searching, and more time watching!

Our uniquely designed landing craft allows us pull right up onto shore, where we will take a break for lunch (included). Guests will have the opportunity to stretch their legs and do a bit of beachcombing before we continue on with the rest of our tour!

*Depending on conditions, and how our tour is going, sometimes we decide to eat lunch on the boat in order to maximize our time on the water.

Whale-Watching-Campbell-River-Img 4373 E1786229151712

meeting location

Now Departing from downtown campbell river

All tours are now departing from Discovery Harbour Marina

Meeting Location:

How to Find Us?
We are located on ‘F’ Dock at Discovery Harbour Marina (1374 Island Highway, Campbell River.) There are two entrances to the marina (North and South). We are located at the South Entrance which is just off of Roberts Reach Road.

Our boat is docked at the bottom of the ramp (F Dock), just in front of the washrooms.

Parking:
Paid parking is available in the large gravel parking lot behind Winners/Jysk/Petsmart (off of Roberts Reach Road). The ticket booth is located at the entrance to the marina. You can also park for free at the far south end of the parking lot, just please watch out for the signs designating where the paid parking begins.

Please be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour.

 

Staying at Browns Bay Resort? Pickups from the Browns Bay Marina are only available for our Private Tours, all other tours will need to meet us at our downtown location.

LET YOUR ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Our tours depart from Discovery Harbour Marina (downtown Campbell River) and from there we’ll go where ever the wind takes us! We’re fortunate enough to be a part of a fantastic Whale Watching Community in Campbell River, so often we know where everything is before we even get out on the water. This increases our chances greatly of seeing humpbacks, whales, dolphins, and various other marine and wildlife. On a typical tour it is common to encounter Humpbacks, Orca, Seals, Sea Lions, even Pacific White Sided Dolphins! We offer tours of different lengths, perfect for families and guests of all ages.
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YOUR VESSEL - THE "TINMAN"

Hop aboard the "Tinman," our brand-new custom 30-foot aluminum landing craft—designed for a comfortable and smooth ride, beach landings, and unforgettable coastal adventures. With seating for 12, a heated cabin, large front deck, and onboard washroom, you’ll stay warm and comfortable the whole trip. Add in panoramic windows and a hydrophone to listen to the ocean below, and you've got the perfect boat for photographers, explorers, and wildlife lovers alike!
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What To Bring

  • Hat
  • Weather Appropriate Clothing
  • Flat or Low Soled Shoes
  • Sunscreen
  • Re-Useable Water Bottle
  • Camera
  • Binoculars

Booking and Cancellation Policy

Booking Cut-off:
Most trips have a booking cut-off 4-8 hours before departure, and 24 hours for private tours. If you’re looking to book a last minute trip, please give us a call at 250 228 1307

Trip Payments/Deposits:
A 10% deposit is due at the time of booking (unless the trip is within 7 days, in which case the full amount will be charged). The remaining balance will automatically charged 7 days prior to your trip. If you prefer to pay the balance sooner or with a different card, please refer to the “pay now” link in your booking email.

Cancellation Policy:
Most tours have a 48-hour cancellation policy (excluding Eagle Tours – see below), Groups of 4 or more, private tours, and water taxi trips have a 7 day cancellation policy. If cancellations are received prior to the timeframes mentioned, a full refund will be provided. Late cancellations and no shows will be charged the full price of the trip. 

Eagle Tour Cancellation Policy:

  • Private Eagle Tours – 30 Days
  • Standard Group Eagle Tours –  14 days

Cancellations for Eagle Tours will have a 10% admin charge on refunds. If you prefer to receive a voucher for a future trip instead, the admin charge will be waived. If you have a late cancellation and we can fill your space, we’ll provide a credit for a future trip. 

Minimums/Weather Cancellations:
We require a minimum of 4 guests for each trip (excluding private tours and water taxi), and reserve the right to cancel tours if we are below our minimum. We also reserve the right to cancel the trip if the captain deems the weather or conditions are unsafe. If the trip is cancelled, guests will have the option to rebook, otherwise a full refund will be provided.

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Our Brand New Landing Craft with a Covered Heated Cabin with onboard washroom

We are excited to welcome you aboard our brand new boat – The “Tinman.”

The “Tinman” is a 30-foot aluminum landing craft that is made for adventure! With powerful twin Mercury 250s, room for 12 passengers, heated cabin with panoramic windows, large front viewing deck, onboard washroom, and no cruiser suits needed – you’re set for any West Coast experience.

Our Campbell River Whale Watching Tours are unlike no other! The beauty of mother nature is that you never know what she has in store for you! We’ve had tours where we’ve spent the entire trip watching humpbacks launch themselves out of the water, or had pods of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins play in our wake. Orca often make appearances as well :)

We focus not just on whales, but on all of the beautiful wildlife and scenery our coast has to offer. We often have guests join us, who have been whale watching and wildlife tours in other parts of the world, and have said hands down, this was the best!

Check out what kind of local wildlife you might encounter here 

At Discovery West Adventures, we believe in offering authentic wildlife experiences—not scripted ones.

We don’t offer a formal “whale guarantee,” mainly because those programs often come with quite a few conditions or require very specific circumstances to redeem. More importantly, they can shift the focus toward chasing a single sighting rather than enjoying the overall experience.

Whales are wild animals, and while we work closely with a strong local network to locate them, sightings can never be guaranteed, especially in the early and late season.

Instead, we prioritize a full wildlife experience which keeps the tour natural and enjoyable. We focus on delivering an exceptional experience every time you’re on the water. Our tours explore a rich marine environment where encounters may include whales, dolphins, sea lions, bears, waterfalls, and more.

By not offering a guarantee, we’re able to:

  • Spend more time exploring and less time chasing a single sighting
  • Adapt to real-time wildlife activity
  • Provide a more relaxed, natural, and respectful experience

Our goal isn’t just to “check a box”—it’s to give you a meaningful and memorable connection with the coastal ecosystem.

For the safety of our guests and the marine life, we practice responsible and ethical whale watching. We care so much about the welfare of our wildlife, and pride ourselves on being stewards of the sea. We follow a strict set of whale watching guidelines that go above and beyond those put in place by Transport Canada. 

Read More . . . 

We are fortunate enough to have whales year round, but certain times of the year are better for certain species.

We see Orca year round, but they seem to be more regular in the spring/late summer. Orca are always on the move and can disappear for days, which makes them a bit more unpredictable.

We have a huge population of Humpbacks that come here to feed every summer. They start to arrive in May, but we see the highest population mid-June through to early September.

It depends what you really want to see, and how much time you’d like to spend on the water. We have wildlife and beautiful scenery on all of our tours, but our most popular tours are our 6 Hour Whale Watching Tour and our 4 Hour Coastal Adventure. 

During our 6 Hour Whale Watching Adventure, we have the opportunity to travel a bit further and spend more time with the whales. We also take a nice break for a homemade lunch, where guests will have a chance to get off the boat and stretch their legs, and use the bathroom if necessary.

If you’re looking for something a bit shorter, the 4 Hour Coastal Adventure, is essentially is just a shorter version of the above, lunch is not included in this one. We often see whales during our 4 hour tours, but we are a bit more limited with the time spent with them.

If you have young kids, we suggest doing the 4 Hour Coastal Adventure, or 3 Hour Sunset or even a private tour.

  • A warm jacket or sweater to wear while the boat is underway
  • Weather appropriate footwear & clothing
  • Camera
  • Hat & Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Please keep in mind we are on a boat and things might get wet!
  • Your Sense Of Adventure!

No two tours are the same! At the beginning of the tour, we always ask what our guests would like to see! Depending on what has been spotted already, weather conditions and general vibe of the group, we will make a game plan of where to go.

Typically our longer trips will involve going into Desolation Sound, or further north (depending on weather). Our shorter trips will explore around Quadra Island and Discovery Passage.

Though sometimes we encounter rougher water heading out/coming in, most of our routes are fairly well protected and quite calm! 

It’s not very common we have guests seasick on our boat, but if you know you are prone to it, we recommend taking some anti-nausea medication as a precaution before we leave the dock.

For the enjoyment of everyone on the trip, the minimum age for our trips is 3 years old. Please keep in mind that kids need to be able to keep their life jackets on at all times while on the boat. If you are doing a private tour, we have no minimum age limit. 

We understand things happen and we try to be as flexible as possible. Most tours have a 48-hour cancellation policy,  Groups of 4 or more and private tours have a 7 day cancellation policy. Our Eagle Tours have a separate cancellation policy, which can be found here.

We require a minimum of 4 guests for each trip, and reserve the right to cancel tours if we are below our minimum. We also reserve the right to cancel the trip if the captain deems the weather or conditions are unsafe. A full refund or option to reschedule will be provided to all guests if a trip is cancelled.

Please review our full cancellation policy here

Yes! Our boat does have a bathroom on board.

There are plenty of ways to have fun during our tours! But we have a zero-tolerance alcohol and substance policy. This means no smoking of any kind, alcohol or drugs while on board. We take the safety of our guests extremely seriously and anyone found violating this policy will be returned to the dock, and refunds will not be given. 

Our boat is wheelchair accessible! We do need to know in advance if we have any guests in a wheelchair as we need time to remove our front seat in order to accommodate them inside the cabin. This also reduces our seating capacity by 1, so please contact us in advance to ensure we can accommodate your request. 

Please note that wheelchair guests must remain in the cabin for the duration of the tour. They will be seated at the front, and with the panoramic windows and full glass door, they’ll have the best seat in the house! Unfortunately our washroom is not wheelchair accessible (due to limited space), so please keep this in mind when booking your tour.

Rated 5 out of 5

What Our Guests Love About Us

Ethical Viewing for a Sustainable Future

For the safety of our guests and the marine life, we practice responsible and ethical whale watching. We care deeply about the welfare of our wildlife, and pride ourselves on being stewards of the sea. We follow a strict set of whale watching guidelines that go above and beyond those put in place by the Department of Fisheries

READ MORE ABOUT ETHICAL WHALE WATCHING