3-day VARGAS ISLAND TOUR
Leave the hustle and bustle behind to discover adventure and natural simplicity beyond Tofino on a 3-day Vargas Island Kayak Tour with an expert guide from Paddle West Kayaking. Select dates 10% off — see below.
DISCOVER VARGAS ISLAND [3 DAY ADVENTURE]
Explore Vargas’ rugged coastline searching for wildlife, big and small. Camp on sprawling white sand beaches beneath the stars or the canopy of the rainforest. Eat delicious, nutritious, fresh meals prepared by your guide. Watch the sun set as you fall asleep to the sound of gently crashing waves. Wake up as the sun rises over the mountains of Vancouver Island. Escape from the routines of everyday life and live simply by the tides.
For groups larger than 4, alternate dates and trip lengths can be requested. We speak with every guest before booking to get the details correct, answer your questions, and get you excited to go on a sea kayak expedition in Clayoquot Sound.
Click on pins to see potential campsites.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- 5-day professional guiding service
- All meals and snacks
- Water, plus bottomless tea and coffee
- Return water taxi from Hot Springs Cove to Tofino
- All kayaking gear (kayak, PFD, spray skirt, paddle, safety gear, dry bags)
- Camping gear at additional cost
- Daily $15/person Ahousaht Stewardship Fee
What’s on the menu?
At Paddle West, we pride ourselves on providing mouthwatering expedition meal options — savour high-quality cuisine with your toes in the sand. Your guide will keep you smiling with filling meals and snacks to fuel your kayaking adventure. To start your day, enjoy breakfasts like egg and avocado sandwiches, french toast, or granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit — and of course, bottomless tea and coffee. Common lunches include hearty sandwiches, wraps, and salads, or salmon chowder and fresh biscuits. After setting up camp at the end of the day, snack from a West Coast-inspired charcuterie board as you lounge on the beach. Dinners will be sure to help you recharge, and keep you asking “Wait — they can make food this good on the beach?” Examples include:
- Pulled chicken tacos with fresh veggies, Paddle West’s famous refried beans, handmade guacamole & salsa
- Locally caught wild salmon pasta packed full of veggies
- Fire-roasted shrimp, chicken, beef, and veggie skewers
Evenings are always capped off with tea, and dessert from a local Tofino bakery. Tea and coffee are always available.
Meals are not the same on each expedition — we choose from a rotating selection. We can accommodate all dietary restrictions.
Kayak camping experiences in Clayoquot Sound
If you are looking for the opportunity to escape and explore for longer than a single day, the pristine waters of Clayoquot Sound are the place to be. Designed around marine conditions and guest preferences, this tour takes you into Southern Clayoquot Sound to the white sand shores of Vargas Island. Vargas Island offers a rugged shoreline, sandy beaches, sheltered channels, a lagoon and mudflats to explore.
Explore the coastline searching for wildlife, big and small. Camp beneath the stars or the canopy of the rainforest. Eat delicious, nutritious and fresh meals inspired by the West Coast and prepared by your guide. Watch the sunset as you fall asleep to the sound of gently crashing waves. Wake up as the sunrises over the mountains of Vancouver Island. Escape from the routines of every day life and live simply by the tides.
The shores of Vargas Island are a popular place for grey whales to feed and nearby is the Cleland Island Ecological Reserve which is home to a variety of nesting birds including the Rhinoceros auklet, Pigeon guillemot and plenty of Black oystercatchers. Transient Orcas and the Humpback whale are known to use the waters off of Vargas Island as feeding grounds in the summer as well. Land loving mammals like the black bear and the coastal wolf are also scattered around Southern Clayoquot Sound. The opportunities for wildlife on and around Vargas Island are vast.
Required Paddling Experience
Our multi-day tour requires no previous paddling experience but we suggest that you be familiar with camping in a wilderness setting. It is also recommended that you have the physical ability to sit in a kayak and paddle for four to six hours a day. The paddling is often not strenuous but depending on conditions more physical exertion may be required. The tour and the destination campsites will be determined by the group’s experience and abilities.
What to Bring
Paddle West Kayaking provides all the kayaking and safety gear required for the tour, your guide, wilderness camping fees and West Coast inspired meals.
You are responsible for providing your own camping set up which includes a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, personal clothing and other personal items. If you do not have your own camping set up, Paddle West Kayaking rents such items for a reasonable extra cost.
Please see the Packing List page for a detailed list of what to bring with you on your tour.
Additional gear for rent
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TENT
4/2/1 person |
SLEEPING BAG
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THERMA-REST
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Guided Multi-Day Tours
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$25
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$15
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$15 |