Kelp Reef Adventures
Kelp Reef Adventures
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About
Kayaking is the best way to see Victoria. We specialize in safe, fun and educational kayak tours of Victoria's Harbour and waterfront. Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and 20 minutes from downtown on the scenic boardwalk. We are the closest kayak shop to the Juan de Fuca straight, so when conditions allow, we will paddle along the coast to the kelp forests and an island the harbour seals frequent. Along the way we may see different shore birds like eagles, osprey, oystercatchers, cormorants, and the great blue heron. Starfish, jelly fish and kelp crabs are usually hiding just below the surface. Kayaking is easy and we make it easier by offering paddling jackets, gloves and a bottle of water. Plus on our kayak launch you won't even get your feet wet!
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Kelp Reef Adventures
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1 209 reviews
Excellent
1 155
Very good
52
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
QBN
Tacoma, WA145 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Once a year we go kayaking on my partner's special day. My partner's contact recommended the guided kayak tours in Victoria. After perusing the reviews of different companies on google maps, we picked a company within walking distance and with good start times. We really enjoyed our nearly 3-hour adventure on the water. The kayak tour guide Robert was super helpful with all sorts of tips for us visitors like nearby running routes, great restaurants, and things to see. Guided was especially helpful in navigating the harbor traffic and learning interesting tidbits and stories. We'd definitely book with Kelp Reef Adventures again!
Written 4 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy A
Phoenix, AZ1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
Loved it. Our family of 4 (2 adults, 1 ten-year-old and 1 teenager) took a 2-hour kayak tour in the harbor. It was one of the highlights of our trip and probably the only thing we ALL enjoyed. What we loved: the gorgeous views of the city, seeing seals swimming and resting on a rocky island, learning about kelp (who knew it was such a cool plant), paddling under a building that is built over the water, seeing WWII bunkers on the shore, learning about the floating houses, and watching sea planes (and a helicopter) take off and land.
Our guide was Inez. She is a lovely human and was very knowledgeable. She even gave us great suggestions of things to do and where to eat in Victoria.
Worth every cent.
Our guide was Inez. She is a lovely human and was very knowledgeable. She even gave us great suggestions of things to do and where to eat in Victoria.
Worth every cent.
Written 15 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allison Z
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Best way to end our trip, we had an amazing guide who was friendly and enthusiastic! If your considering other tours don't, this is the best.
Written 14 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TimmyLove999
Mundesley18 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
A must when visiting Victoria! Mich was an amazing guide, so friendly & so knowledgeable & interesting. You don't need to have sea kayaked before as full instructions given & full & supportive support given by Mich. The 2 hour was a perfect length for us on the water & it was stunning 😎
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey-Bub
Massachusetts USA9 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We had a wonderful time on Kelp Reef Adventures afternoon tour. Our guide Inez is very knowledgable about the area, kayaking and marine life, and is just so pleasant to be with. The kayaks are great quality and the paddling was easy (although we had a wind-less day). We loved seeing the harbor and the seals hanging out and swimming. Getting in and out of the kayaks was super easy with their dock, and the kayak skirts kept us pretty dry. Highly recommend this tour.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mal1995
Brighton, UK1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Couples
Not enough words to say how amazing the kelp reef kayaking experience was, from guest service to knowledge these guys offered everything. I wish I could remember her name but the lady who helped organise it was flexible and very welcoming!
When we arrived both of the staff were extremely personable and made our experience top notch. Robert (our on the water tour guide) was incredible throughout the entire tour and clearly shows how much he loves his job. His facts were incredibly interesting and he made sure to get to know us both which was a class touch.
Once again I could not recommend these guys enough and if i am ever in fisherman’s wharf again I’ll be sure to bring them over a beer if I can!
They made our day great and we left an extremely grateful and happy Pam and Mal
When we arrived both of the staff were extremely personable and made our experience top notch. Robert (our on the water tour guide) was incredible throughout the entire tour and clearly shows how much he loves his job. His facts were incredibly interesting and he made sure to get to know us both which was a class touch.
Once again I could not recommend these guys enough and if i am ever in fisherman’s wharf again I’ll be sure to bring them over a beer if I can!
They made our day great and we left an extremely grateful and happy Pam and Mal
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tammysgeorge
Calgary, Canada2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
Fantastic guided tour! Saw lots of adorable seals, beautiful kelp forests and birds. The guide was very knowledgable. I did get quite sea sick half way through but the guide was able to help me manage my way back and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte P
5 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We did a 3hr 9am tour with Robert and the whole experience from start to finish was awesome! We saw an abundance of harbour seals, explored the coastline and the kelp forests. Robert was a very knowledgeable and fun guide and to also know we kayaked across a runway was pretty epic! Thanks team!
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chio P
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
We loved the experience. It was the first time for us and I was really scared. However, the guide was very clear about every instruction before the tour and during. There was a moment when we had some trouble going forward due to some waves and he came back for us until we were on track again. He gave some interesting facts about the places where we were and about the Island. We enjoyed it so much and are hoping to take my family next summer when they come to visit!
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amazing review, we really appreciate it. We’re glad you had a great time and we would love taking your family out next summer.
Written 10 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephanie H
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
What a great experience! My daughter and I were nervous about our first sea kayaking trip but it went wonderfully! We saw otters, harbour seals, sea stars, crabs, birds and even tasted bull kelp (quite tasty). Our guide, Mitch, was knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and kept us safe and comfortable.
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to review us. We’re very proud of our guides. There’s always more kelp to eat 😅.
Written 10 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Is the evening tour as good/ popular as the morning and do you generally see less wildlife on the evening tour?
Written 22 June 2019
kelpreefadventuresBC
Victoria, Canada
We have been seeing similar levels of animal activity on our sunset tour as during our morning tours. The seals with the pups are especially active, throughout the day, during the summer months.
The 2 main differences are:
The morning is 3 hours (compared to 2 hour sunset tour), and more time on the water means more chance of sightings.
The sunset tour allows you to experience the amazing sunsets over Victoria on the water.
Written 19 August 2023
kelpreefadventuresBC
Victoria, Canada
We offer different kayak tours leaving from Fisherman’s wharf and a chance to experience the local wildlife at eye level without disturbing them.
Written 19 August 2023
Where are you located? on the trip advisor website, it says you are 25 minutes out of downtown while your website says you can be found at fisherman's warf. Where do we meet you for tours at?
Written 23 July 2017
Thats right, our tours depart from fisherman's wharf, a floating community of float homes, restaurants and of course eco-tours. The address is 1 Dallas Rd., Victoria.
Written 23 July 2017
Does the full day tour take you to more scenic or more wildlife-filled areas than the 3 hour tour? If the length of the tour is not considered, is one tour superior to the other?
Written 24 August 2016
Hello Sue
If you have the time to devote to a full day kayak tour it is worth going to Beecher Bay. We have the opportunity to see more variety of wildlife because there is the chance to see whales near Race Rocks. I don't want to say it is superior to our Victoria based kayak tours because near Victoria we have a harbour seal rookery and haul out. In Victoria during August we have many baby seal pups with their mothers.
Written 25 August 2016
Hello :) how does it work around January? are there some exceptions and will we see everything we would during summer time?
Written 28 October 2015
Hello
Where we go on our tours depends on the ocean conditions. The outer harbour and kelp forests can only be reached on calm days but in January we have frequent storms. Of course it's still possible to see harbour seals, river otters and many types of shore birds within the protected harbour but it's June that the female seals have their young and we spend the warmer months in Victoria watching them grow up.
Written 28 October 2015
Are there lockers to store valuables at your location before going out to kayak?
Written 21 August 2015
We have secure storage for valuables but they're not lockers, rather a staff member who keeps guard over everything from rings to passports! Of course we have dry bags if you would rather bring your wallet etc with you.
Written 21 August 2015
Your 3 hour tour is $90, versus $75 for a competitor with similar reviews. Is there something that differentiates your tour from others? Also, what is the best clothing and footwear for kayaking?
Written 18 July 2015
Yes! We are currently ranked #2 on trip advisor out of tours in Victoria (eagle wing whale watching is #1). Our 3 hour tour includes a picnic lunch and we provide extras that other companies do not. Spray skirts, gloves, jackets, hats, sunglasses, drinking water and dry bags for cameras.... Also loading into kayaks on our Jet dock means you don't even get your feet wet.
Just layer your clothes lightly as we generate heat while kayaking and any footwear is fine on our Jet dock.
Written 18 July 2015
Heather H
England, United Kingdom
Hi I will be staying at the Oswego Hotel from 16 to 20 August. I am interested in the sunset kayak and the discovery island trips. So you do pick ups from the hotel? if not, what is the best way to get to you?
Thanks
Written 15 July 2015
Hi Heather
Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is about a 5 min walk from the Oswego hotel to the end of Kingston St. Also we offer some great 1/2 price specials on our sunset tours Tuesday -Thursday, only $29.50 for a two hour kayak tour and we supply everything you need to kayak.
We don't kayak to Discovery island but we do have an island closer to our location that the female harbour seals visit and it's pupping season now. This means they are starting to have their babies and if the conditions allow we can paddle out to see them. When it's is windy we stay in the protected inner harbour.
Written 15 July 2015
we have a 4 year old son. Is he old enough to ride in a kayak for a tour?
Written 23 May 2015
Hello
Your son is still a little too young for our adventure sport. We have a minimum age of 7 years old for our tours and offer 1/2 price to children 7-12 on our 4pm kayak tour June-Sept.
Written 24 May 2015
This looks fantastic! If we have a group of two boys, ages 9 and 12, and myself with companion, who has back issues and can't do paddling, would we be able to enjoy this tour? How would it work?
Written 24 March 2015
Hi Nancy
I have a couple scenarios that could allow your family to kayak with us depending on your condition. We have double kayaks that make kayaking a breeze when two do the work of one. If you can paddle a little you could share the double with your strongest child. However if you cannot paddle at all, I would suggest you share the double with your companion or our kayak guide and the kids go together. I recommend our Family Tour as the kids will be 1/2 price on the 2 hour tour at 4pm offered daily June thru Sept.
Written 25 March 2015
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