kayaking tours

We understand that many of our guests come on our kayaking tours in Canada and around the world to participate in a style of trip that has minimum impacts on the environment. While we follow established minimum impact practices during our tours, our ideals don’t stop at the back door. We firmly believe that a business can operate successfully and still have a minimal or positive impact on the environment and community in which we all live.

We aim to raise the bar in terms of environmental commitment and sustainability in the eco-tourism industry. We are not looking for a pat on the back for our efforts, but we hope to set new standards that encourage other tourism/business providers to also clean up their organizations and become co-leaders in sustainable and environmentally sound practices. In our actual operations in the field we are committed to conducting ourselves in the most responsible manner possible – this goes above and beyond mere camping practices to include all of the elements below.

* While kayaking we practice minimum impact camping in order to preserve the nature of the coast. Human waste is dealt with in the most appropriate manner for the location we’re in, soap use in freshwater lakes and streams is not permitted, and at our campsites we keep our ‘footprint’ as small as possible by keeping to established tent sites and trails. Our food is stored out of the reach of any curious animals so as to not alter their natural behavior.
* We respect the wildlife and believe in their right to exist without harassment, and while we treasure all sightings, we maintain a healthy distance. We also abide by all whale-watching guidelines and try not to ever disturb wildlife from their normal behavior.
* We are founding members of the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMMSA) which was established to ensure best practices and responsible wildlife viewing standards for tourism operators.
* We have established with some and are working with others to establish protocol agreements with First Nations groups who consider the areas we travel in traditional territory.
* We hold all required permits and respect all the guidelines for operation set forth by Parks Canada, BC Parks, Crown Land and the Marine Protected Areas.
* We support the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve Warden and Research program which aims to educate boaters about the Reserve and the very special Orca whales which frequent this area. We supply the program with donations of surplus food and support whenever possible.
* We run our tours back-to-back, which allows us to never have an empty water taxi or van and minimizes our carbon footprint.
* We pick up our guests at their accommodation, carpooling to our various trip destinations.
* We use primarily Canadian-made and ethically sourced kayaking and camping gear.
* Every guest of Spirit of the West receives a re-usable mug to use while on trip, but to also encourage using a travel mug once back at home versus disposable cups when enjoying their daily coffee or tea.
* We have a solar power system for charging our emergency communication system and for charging your camera batteries.
* We use only biodegradable and phosphate free dish soaps.
* 100% recycled toilet paper (don’t worry it’s not recycled toilet paper, its toilet paper made from recycled paper, and other than saving many trees you won’t even know the difference from mainstream TP)
* We recycle or compost everything that we can. BC is lucky to have a great returnable drink container program in which we participate.

15% comission