Frequently Asked Questions

We offer an assortment of tours on and off the water!

• 4 hour Whale and Wildlife Tours on Zodiac or Covered Vessels
• 4 hour Ocean Rapids tour on Zodiac Vessels
•  6 hour Whale Watching Tours on Zodiac or Covered Vessels
• 6-7 hour Spring Bear and Waterfall Tours
• 7-8 hour Whale Watching Tours on Zodiac or Covered Vessels
• Full Day Kayaking Tours with Wildcoast Adventures
• Full Day Grizzly Bear Tour

The Full Day Whale Watching Tour gives us the luxury of time!  The main focus of this tour is the sighting of Orca which means that on some days we may travel further distances to see them as we have the time to do so.  However, we do make every effort to spend quality time with other wildlife such as Humpback Whales, Dolphins, and Bears along the shorelines. The extra time allows us to spend more time with the animals that we encounter along the way.
We still look for and see Orca on our 6 hour whale watching tour!  We just do not have the ability to travel as far to find them!

• Grizzly Tours: 10 years old
• Rapids Tour: 10 years old
• Kayaking Tour: 10 years old (please note 1 parent or adult is required for every child 15 or younger)
• 4 hour Covered Boat: No minimum
• All other marine tours: 4 years old

We strive to accommodate every person who dreams of joining us on a tour and we have had multiple guests in wheelchairs join us. However, given the nature of our location and functionality of our boats it can sometimes be difficult.
We have partnered with Access 2 to provide a free ticket to someone who accompanies a person with an Access 2 card.  You can find more information about the program here.

Please give us a call in the office to see if we are able to accommodate your needs!

Yes! All of our vessels have a washroom on board except for Rocket that typically runs our 4 hour tours

• We provide floater suits on zodiac tours.
• Lunch is provided on all of our tours 6 hours and longer.
• Experienced guides and Transport Canada approved vessels

We have never had anyone get seasick on our Zodiac vessels! You’re surrounded by fresh air and Zodiac vessels glide through the water for a very smooth ride!

If you’re worried, we recommend taking a non-drowsy ginger tablet (like Gravol)

A reusable water bottle*, an extra layer of clothing, sunscreen, extra snacks, sunglasses, camera, and binoculars.
*we have a water refill station available! We are making efforts to eliminate all single use plastic from our operations.

Warm layers of clothing, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses

There are benefits to both the AM and PM tours!  Sometimes the morning tour comes across wildlife that moves too quickly and is gone by the afternoon.  There's also something special about being one of the first boats out on the water!  Sometimes the afternoon tour is the only one that comes across certain wildlife.  As well, there have been multiple boats out on the water and so we have a pretty good idea where the wildlife for that day is by the afternoon!

It's ultimately hard to say which is better, and it really just depends on what fits into your schedule the best!   There's unfortunately not a definite answer as wild animals tend to do whatever they please!

• Transient Orca (the mammal eaters) stay around all year long! Sometimes they disappear and aren’t seen for days.
• Northern Resident Orca (the salmon eaters) haven’t frequently made their way down to Campbell River in the last few years, but we travel far enough to see them (almost!) every day on our 7-8 hour Whale Watching tour from mid-to-late July until September.
• Humpback Whales are around our area from May to November!
• The best time to see Grizzly Bears feeding on the salmon is September and October, but we have always had great sightings in August as well!
• We see Black Bears and Grizzly Bears along the shoreline from April to June.

• In our area, we tend to see: Humpback Whales, Orca, Dall’s Porpoise, Harbor Porpoise, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Steller Sea Lions, California Sea Lions, Eagles, Harbor Seals, Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, and a number of different sea birds!
• We pride ourselves in going above and beyond to ensure that our guests see as much wildlife as possible on one of our tours. However, because they are wild animals we cannot guarantee that you will see every single mammal mentioned above.

• 100 metres away from most whales, porpoises, and dolphins except if they are in a resting position or with their calf, then it’s 200 metres
• 200 metres away from Orca
• 400 metres away from Orca in Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat. We don’t actively watch this group and they’re very rarely in our area.
• In addition to the viewing distance enforced by the DFO, we collaborated with another local company to create a Code of Conduct to ensure that whale watching tour operators are going above and beyond to maintain safe practices for whales and marine mammals

We go to two separate locations to see Grizzly Bears!

• The Orford River in Bute Inlet with our partner, Homalco Wildlife Tours
• The Toba River Valley in Toba Inlet with our partner, Klahoose Coastal Adventures

There isn't actually very much walking involved!  For both of our Toba Inlet and Orford River tours, there is a van that takes us from platform to platform.  Occasionally, we make the walk between the platforms but it's never usually more than 150 metres and it's never at a quick pace.  There are a number of stairs to reach each viewing platform and there are two ramps that can be very steep depending on the tides:  one to get from land to our office, and one from the boat to land. Both of these ramps have railings and can be done at your own pace.

Both Bute and Toba Inlets follow a similar structure: a scenic three-hour boat ride each way through the Discovery Islands, paired with three hours of land-based bear viewing along salmon rivers with Indigenous guides. The difference lies in place and perspective.

Bute Inlet, home to the Homalco First Nation, features turquoise waters, tidal rapids, and is often known for sightings of mothers with cubs along the Orford River.

Toba Inlet, within Klahoose First Nation territory, is defined by glacier-carved fjords, rushing waterfalls, and lush rainforest along the Klite River, where larger males are frequently observed.

If time and budget allow, visiting both inlets offers the most complete experience of the grizzlies and cultures that define this remarkable region.

Online through our website, by email, calling our office, or visiting our Floathouse!

Bookings made before November 1st, 2026:

Customers will receive a full refund or credit to gift voucher if we have received notice of cancellation 48 hours prior to tour departure. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No-shows will be charged the full price. Gift vouchers have no cash value.  Contact us by phone or email to cancel or inquire about a cancellation.

Bookings made after November 1st, 2026:

Full payment is required at the time of booking. When booking directly with Campbell River Whale Watching, you may choose between our Standard Rate or add Flex Trip Protection for additional flexibility.

Standard Rate

Our Standard Rate includes the following cancellation policy:

• Cancellations made more than 7 days before departure are eligible for a full refund.
• Cancellations made within 7 days of departure are non-refundable.
• No-shows are non-refundable.

Flex Trip Protection

For an additional 10% premium, Flex Trip Protection allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour for any reason up to 12 hours before departure.

With Flex Trip Protection:

• Cancellations made at least 12 hours before departure receive a full refund of the ticket price.
• You may instead reschedule your tour without penalty, subject to availability.
• Cancellations or changes made within 12 hours of departure are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled without penalty.

How to Cancel

All cancellation requests must be submitted by email to info@campbellriverwhalewatching.com from the same email address used to make the reservation. The applicable cancellation policy is determined by the rate and/or protection selected at the time of booking.

Operator Cancellations

If Campbell River Whale Watching cancels a tour due to weather, unsafe operating conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control, guests will be offered a full refund or the option to reschedule, subject to availability.

All trips are subject to applicable fees and taxes.

We stand out because of our commitment to exceptional experiences, sustainability, and wildlife conservation:

• Certified Sustainable & Carbon Neutral – Leaders in eco-friendly tourism, protecting at least one square meter of old-growth forests in BC with every guest.
• Expert Guides – All tours led by certified naturalists with deep local knowledge.
• Diverse Tours – Multiple lengths, boats, and experiences including kayaking, ocean rapids, and photography workshops.
• Ethical Wildlife Practices – Our Code of Conduct exceeds federal regulations for safe, respectful wildlife encounters.
• Giving Back – At least $5 per ticket supports local marine conservation groups like the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association, so every tour helps protect our oceans.
• Comfortable & Memorable – Generous snacks and lunches, plus expert guidance throughout your adventure.
• Safety First – Modern navigation, communication tech, and thermal survival suits keep you warm, dry, and safe.
• Recognized Excellence – Platinum Certified by Sustainable Tourism 2030 and winners of multiple awards for tourism and sustainability.

Experience unforgettable wildlife adventures with a company that cares for the environment, animals, and you.

Online systems are amazing, but do still have some limitations. Unfortunately this is a limitation of ours. If you are trying to book a private charter, and it is asking you to book 2, please give our office a call and we will be happy to manually make the booking for you.