Desolation Sound Marine Park Day Tours

Desolation Sound Marine Park, British Columbia, Canada

Explore the protected waters of Desolation Sound Marine Park and learn about the fascinating history, ecology & present-day life of this beautiful part of coastal British Columbia

Embark on a day of discovery, exploration, learning - and all around good times - with Powell River Sea Kayak’s professional guides.

Located on Okeover Inlet - 30 kilometres north of Powell River - our historic site is perfectly situated for trips launching into the natural beauty of Okeover, Malaspina and Lancelot Inlets.

Rich in Coast Salish culture and steeped in stories of early European explorers, pioneering souls and off-grid characters, the inlets of Desolation Sound Marine Park provide an intriguing glimpse into coastal British Columbia’s history.

Wildlife experiences are ever-present, with majestic bald eagles, oyster catchers, cormorants, murrelets and many more sea birds calling this area home. Lively intertidal marine life is well-suited to sea kayaking as you paddle over shallow waters displaying everything from sea stars to sea cucumbers and spiny urchins, with curious harbour seals never far away.

Western Red Cedar boughs sweep towards the ocean and Douglas Fir trees fill-in this lush landscape while arbutus trees provide unique colour and twisting features to the varied shorelines. All this is backdropped with towering Coast Mountains rising mightily in the distance.

We welcome you to join us on this intriguing adventure into the unique features of the inlets of Desolation Sound Marine Park.

Our Day Tours

The Classic Desolation Marine Park Tour

After 25+ years, this is definitely the classic!
Duration: 7 Hours // Cost: $159 pp. // Lunch Included

Key Features:
  • Top quality kayaks and equipment.
  • Professionally guided 7 hour day tour with smartly planned routes designed to maximise great paddling conditions, key educational opportunities, and idyllic lunch spots.
  • An engaging mix of interpretive moments covering First Nations and early explorers to marine wildlife and the beautiful landscapes of Desolation Sound Marine Park and the surrounding Coast Mountains.
  • Powell River Sea Kayak’s renowned tour food! A delicious shore-side lunch that is healthy, creative, filling, and made where possible from locally sourced ingredients.
  • Free parking at our historical site on Okeover Inlet.
  • Pre-tour safety talk and paddling tips to help you to avoid injury.
group of kayakers paddling

Sea kayaks are the perfect mode of transport, but the real highlight of this tour are the stories - the rich history and unique culture - and the alluring natural beauty of Desolation Sound Marine Park and the inlets of Okeover, Malaspina and Lancelot.

Our professional guides not only provide safety and comfort for our guests, but also craft the tales and add the minute details that pull you deeper into the fascinating reality of this beautiful area.

As you paddle, time is taken for key interpretive moments along the route, yet spontaneity is ever-present - such as when a harbour seal pops-up nearby, a spiny sea cucumber passes right underneath your kayak, or a pod of orcas happens to choose the inlets for that day’s foraging!

kayaking near shoreline yellow life vest

Kayaking experience is not necessary, however moderate fitness is helpful and a great attitude is essential! We generally use double kayaks on day tours, as we feel this gives our guests a better overall experience and allows us to explore deeper into the inlets of Desolation Marine Park, while increasing stability and comfort for inexperienced paddlers.

Guests with experience paddling full touring single sea kayaks may elect to paddle a single, but if winds are forecast your guide(s) may elect to take more doubles than requested.

What you will need: comfortable clothing, water shoes (closed toed footwear mandatory), a water bottle, and some extra layers for warmth if needed.

What we provide: touring kayaks (doubles or singles), professional guides, unbeatable knowledge and interpretation about Desolation Sound, and a delicious shore-side lunch.

When trips run: June to September, every year.

How to book: click here to see our calendar of dates and make a booking!

snacks on a blanket

The Combo Snorkel & Kayak Tour

Snorkel with the Stars in Desolation Sound Marine Park!
Duration: 7 Hours // Cost: $159 pp. // Lunch Not Included
Minimum age 12 years

Key Features:
  • Top quality kayaks, equipment, and snorkeling gear.
  • Professionally guided 7 hour day tour with smartly planned routes designed to maximise great paddling conditions, key educational opportunities, and prolific intertidal marine wildlife.
  • An engaging mix of interpretive moments focusing on marine wildlife but also including First Nations culture, early explorers, and the beautiful landscapes of Desolation Sound Marine Park and the surrounding Coast Mountains.
  • Access to the best snorkeling areas in Desolation Marine Park at low tide, with plenty of diverse, colourful and fascinating species to view, hold and learn.
  • Free parking at our historical site on Okeover Inlet.
  • Pre-tour safety talk and paddling & snorkeling tips to help you to avoid injury and stay safe on and in the water.
snorkeling near the rocks

We use kayaks to travel through the beautiful and protected inlets of Desolation Sound Marine Park - learning about the history and natural ecology on the way - to access the best hidden places to snorkel among the colourful, vibrant, and prolific intertidal marine wildlife.

Once we arrive at our snorkeling hotspot, we don full 5mm wetsuits and snorkeling equipment for an underwater adventure - where giant sea stars, spiny urchins, colourful anemones and more are waiting to be found amongst the forests of kelp and along the rocky underwater shore.

We run this special tour only on days with very low tides in the middle of the day, which give us the best access to those creatures that live at the lowest points of the intertidal zone. Our professional guides are extremely knowledgable about the critters you will encounter, going out of their way to bring you face to face with marine animals you would never know existed from the comfort of your kayak!

pair of kayakers near the shore

Kayaking experience is not necessary, however moderate fitness is helpful and a great attitude is essential! We generally use double kayaks on day tours, as we feel this gives our guests a better overall experience and allows us to explore deeper into the inlets of Desolation Marine Park, while increasing stability and comfort for inexperienced paddlers.

Guests with experience paddling full touring single sea kayaks may elect to paddle a single, but if winds are forecast you guide(s) may elect to take more doubles than requested.

What you will need: comfortable clothing, water shoes (closed toed footwear mandatory), a water bottle, and some extra layers for warmth if needed (especially after the snorkeling section).

What we provide: touring kayaks (doubles or singles), snorkeling equipment (5mm wetsuit, mask & snorkel, fins, neoprene hat and gloves), professional guides, unbeatable knowledge and interpretation about Desolation Sound and its marine wildlife.

When trips run: on select dates with very low midday tides from June to September, every year.

How to book: click here to see our calendar of dates and make a booking!

man holding a sea creature

Book Now!

Prices in Canadian Dollars. Currency converter.

Taxes, rates and policy information.

Note: You may elect single or double kayaks for the tour, however the guide(s) may use their professional discretion to bring more double kayaks than requested due to weather conditions or group dynamic.

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