Exploring British Columbia and the San Juan Islands

Discover the powerful wilderness and warm charm of the Pacific Northwest over a wide-ranging week in the San Juan Islands and British Columbia. You’ll venture to spectacular, remote islands and sail through channels that teem with sea life, plus you’ll visit charming towns and First Nations heritage sites. This National Geographic Sea Bird voyage sails one-way between Seattle and Vancouver allowing ample time to venture far north into Alert Bay, including Victoria and the Robert Bateman Centre, with remote stops in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, and deep in the fjords of British Columbia. This San Juan Islands and British Columbia travel expedition will enable you to:

• Kayak, hike, and expedition landing craft cruise the wildlife-rich coasts of Desolation Sound and the Gulf Islands
• Learn the histories of First Nations people through their art and powerful dance performances
• Search for killer whales in the region where they’re most reliably found in the Northern Hemisphere
• Enjoy a private evening event at the Robert Bateman Centre in Victoria

Discover the Wildness of the San Juans & British Columbia
Sail among the more remote San Juan Islands in places ideal for kayaking, exploring by expedition landing craft, and hiking where seals, sea lions, river otters, bald eagles, and killer whales are often seen. Venture to the Gulf Islands, a rich archipelago in the Strait of Georgia, perfect for active exploration and rich in wildlife. Go through Desolation Sound, on the north end of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, a mecca for kayakers with its calm, sheltered waters and outstanding natural beauty. Explore its isolated bays and islets by kayak and then hike its meadows and lush green forest trails.

First Nation Cultures of the Region
In Alert Bay you’ll make your way to the U'Mista Cultural Center, home to a stunning collection of potlatch masks created by the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples. In the Big House see the Tsasala Cultural Group bring the stories of their people to life through a powerful dance ceremony.

Visit charming towns & museums
Enjoy a guided tour of Friday Harbor’s Whale Museum, with its fascinating collection of artifacts, artwork, and whale skeletons. Or choose to walk the picturesque town’s streets, mixing with locals in the art galleries, coffee shops, or pubs. And in Victoria, there’ll be a chance to tour private gardens, take a bike ride and call at the Robert Bateman Centre to take in the definitive collection of his incredible natural history artwork. 

Travel in excellent company
Explore under the sure guidance of an expedition leader, a historian, a geologist/naturalist, plus a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor and a wellness specialist. Their knowledge and passion for British Columbia & the San Juan Islands is the key to your once-in-a-lifetime experience.