Powell River Whale Watching Zodiac Tour

Embark on our new Powell River whale watching Zodiac tour, focused on humpback whales, marine wildlife sightings, and coastal history. 

The nutrient-laden waters of the Salish Sea support an incredible variety of marine life from microscopic phytoplankton that form the foundation of the food chain, to sea stars, seals, sea lions, and, most notably, the majestic humpback whale. This 3-hour whale watching Zodiac tour from Powell River, BC highlights the remarkable population recovery of humpback whales in the region and offers a family-friendly introduction to the biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast.

Along the journey, our experienced naturalist guides share stories about the Salish Sea, Texada Island, Powell River, and the peoples who have called this coast home since time immemorial. When conditions allow, guests may even listen to marine mammals through our onboard hydrophone system—an unforgettable way to connect with the underwater world.

We practice respectful wildlife observation at all times, strictly following regulatory guidelines. Our goal is to ensure that any wildlife we observe remains undisturbed by our presence. The Transport Canada-certified rigid hull inflatable vessels we operate are designed with one of the quietest sound footprints in the industry, minimizing impact on whales and marine mammals.

Please note that whale sightings are never guaranteed. Our motto: Expect nothing and everything is a gift.

Tour Details:
• 3-hour whale watching Zodiac tour from Powell River BC
• Departures from the docks at Beach Gardens Resort and Marina
• 9:30 am and 2:00 pm

Ages 5+

Tales of Whales: 3 hours

Per Person ages 5+: 

1-4 persons    $175 + GST 

5 + persons    $155 + GST

Private tours: $1240 + GST Minimum 6 people + $155 for each person additional person above 8 people. 

+ $5 environmental fee per person which we donate to regional conservation organizations.

4 Persons Minimum
If you are less than 4 persons, please go ahead and book as others may join or contact our office for details on the options. 

10 persons maximum

Departures: 9:30 am or 2:00 pm
For more information please call 1-888-552-5558.

Reservations made online are subject to a non-refundable booking fee.

• How do I get to Lund and where do I park?

  Visit our “Getting Here” page for more information.

  For the Tales of Whales Zodiac Tour, reminder this tour leaves from Powell River, from the Beach Gardens Resort Marina.

  7074 Westminster St, Powell River, BC V8A 1C5. Our meeting location will be at the Marina by the Marina Office sheds just outside the gates.

  Parking at the Beach Gardens: You may park above the hotel entrance in the space to the left of the entrance area and walk down the hill to the Marina. Hotel staff can direct you if you need assistance.Or you may follow our signs down to the Marina to see if there is space in the gravel lot at the left at the bottom of the hill. Please DO NOT park in the lot by the Sea Sider Restaurant / Beer and Wine Store

• What do I need to bring and wear for my tour?

  What to Bring & Wear

  • Small backpack to put everything in
  • Sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen
  • Water bottle and any snacks
  • To Wear: a long sleeve shirt and light long pants
  • To Bring: Shorts, t-shirt
  • Windbreaker or rain jacket, plus a warm layer
  • Closed toed footwear
  • Any medications you may need in an emergency

  What’s provided?

  • Floater coat and/or life jackets, pending the weather and water temperatures
  • Binoculars
  • Dry bags
  • Lap blankets
  • Field guides & maps
  • Knowledgeable guide!
• Are there any physical abilities required for the tour and are there any age restrictions?

  Physical Abilities: For our boat tours, you must be able to step over a pontoon and into a boat and walk on rough uneven surfaces when / if we stop on shore. Sometimes with low tides, the ramps leading to docks can be very steep but they do have handrails. All trips leaving from Lund aboard our smaller vessel Namu, when/ if we are making a shore stop, you will be required to step into water, and onto rocks / uneven / slippery surfaces. Our boat captain can assist you of course. Please call and talk to our staff if you have any specific concerns.

  Age Considerations: We have had babies to 85 year olds on our vessels. Babies must be worn by a parent and will be required to wear a PFD as well. As it is an open boat, wind can sometimes be an issue for smaller children but that can be remedied by having kids sit sideways on a parents lap. Children can stand up and wiggle /move when the boat is stopped but must be able to stay in place while we are at speed. It is a wonderful experience for all ages.

• Can I bring my dog on the boat?

  Unfortunately we do not allow pets on our zodiac boat tours. There are day kennels in Powell River if you need a dog sitter.

• What if the weather is bad?

  Please visit our Policies tab to learn about this.

Minimum # of Guests Policy: Some tours have a minimum number of guests required to run the tour. I understand that if my tour fails to reach its required minimum, my tour may be changed to a Private Tour, a shorter time frame OR moved to a different day. Our office will communicate with you if changes are required.

Weather Policy: If we cancel a tour because it is unsafe to go out (which relates primarily to wind and sea state conditions) you will be entitled to a refund. Rain does not constitute a reason for cancelling a tour but may result in a modification of the tour length and route. Refunds will be issued if we return 30 plus minutes earlier than the tour end time.

Medical Policy: Please note that on our tours you may be anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours away from the nearest point of professional medical assistance. Therefore, we require our guests to inform us of any serious medical issues or concerns, such as the following: heart conditions, severe allergies resulting in anaphylaxis, diabetes, asthma, musculoskeletal conditions, and also pregnancy. In our efforts to support you to have an enjoyable and safe trip, we ask that you bring with you the appropriate medications to manage those conditions. Should you not have the appropriate medications (such as an Epipen) we may choose to modify your tour destination or refuse your participation out of consideration for your and other guest’s safety.

Tipping Policy: Tips aren’t included in our pricing. It is customary in Canada, to give a tip if you think you had great service from one of our guides  / office team / launch site staff. This applies for all tips from half day to multi-day adventures.  Our guides thank you!
Cancellation Policy: We require a full advanced payment of the services to complete a booking.
If you should need to cancel, you may choose either a monetary refund (see cancellation schedule below) or you could choose to have all your monies paid held as a credit towards future services. Credits are only valid within the same calendar year as the original booking.
•    Cancellations made 22 + days in advance = full refund
•    Cancellations made 8 - 21 days in advance = 50% refund of dollars paid
•    Cancellations made 1 – 7 days in advance = No Refund
•    Cancellations made on the day of scheduled tour or rental = No Refund
Changes Policy: Any guests who wish to change their booking dates will have the opportunity to make one free change to their dates within the same calendar year as the original booking. Should additional changes be required, each additional change will be subject to a $35 admin fee.