With exploration of ancient cultures and coastal rainforests

About the fascinating archaeological research in this region

LearnBlack bears, grey whales, sea otters, and orca

EncounterThe Nuu-chah-nulth cultural heritage of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands

Discover

5-days navigating more than 300 islands and islets in an astonishingly rich cultural and wilderness environment

British Columbia’sPacific Rim National Park

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Our expeditions to the west coast of Vancouver Island explore and experience the wildlife, wilderness and rich Nuu-chah-nulth cultural heritage of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands, an archipelago of more than 300 islands and islets long considered the jewel of the Pacific Rim National Park.

Vancouver Island’s West CoastPacific Rim National Park

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Port Alberni

Ucluelet

Bamfield

VANCOUVER ISLAND

VANCOUVER

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

Tofino

BARKLEY SOUND

BROKEN GROUP ISLANDS UNIT

PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE

CLAYOQUOT SOUND

2015 departures: Apr 11,16, 21, 26, May 2

Price per person: $2400 CAD

Departs from / Returns to: Ucluelet

5-days / 4-nights

Living and travelling aboard the schooner Passing Cloud, and through shore excursions, kayaking and zodiac tours, we’ll explore the islands, beaches, shores, old-growth rainforests, rocky intertidal zones, kelp forest communities, estuaries and fiords of this diverse region, while partnering with local Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, researchers and historians to learn about its ancient and intact cultural heritage.

What’s Included?

All meals, accommodation, transportation, user fees, use of onboard gear and resources, rubber boots.

What’s not included?

5% GST, travel and accommodation before and after the expedition, gratuities, any personal expenses incurred due to weather, logistical delays, delayed departures of chartered aircraft, taxis, ferries.

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Our expedition to Pacific Rim National Park begins in Ucluelet where we board Passing Cloud and set sail for the Broken Group Islands. As we sail through Macoah Passage we will be on the look out for spawning Pacific herring and the grey whales, seabirds, and sea lions that congregate here to feast on this ecological bonanza. We’ll also hope to encounter some of the newest arrivals to Barkley Sound, the sea otter population that is re-colonizing this region. Come late afternoon we’ll drop anchor in a natural lagoon between Dodd, Willis and Turtle Islands and take the opportunity to sea kayak, take a zodiac tour, and shore walk, exploring the old growth forest and white-sand beaches found here. We’ll respectfully observe and discuss the deep shell middens, stone fish traps and ancient clam gardens we encounter, left here by the Tseshaht First Nation over the thousands of years they’ve inhabited this region.

Day1

An early morning beach walk kicks-off our second day, as we take advantage of the low tide to explore the world of diverse creatures like giant green anemones, lemon nudibranchs, bat stars, giant gumboot chitons, frilled dog whelks, peanut worms, purple encrusting sponges, and iridescent seaweed that flourish in this unique and fascinating ecosystem. We follow up our morning of discovery with a hot breakfast, fresh coffee, and tea as we prepare to heave up anchor and sail to Effingham Inlet in the north of the sound. Here we go ashore to explore the coastal estuary and hopefully catch a glimpse of foraging black bears. Next comes a sail through the Imperial Eagle Channel in search of humpback whales and harbour porpoises before anchoring in the Deer Group Islands for the night.

Day2

Sample Itinerary:

Susan and Ken Wiegman, Outer Shores Travellers

Thank you for a wonderful “unplugging from civilization”, educational, and gastronomic delight trip. We enjoyed the rainbows, tidepool life, ducks, minks, eagles, osprey, giant sea stars, bears and whales. We look forward to joining you again.

British Columbia’s Pacific Rim National Park

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We are now in the traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. In the past, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations people drew all they required from the wilderness and wildlife of this exceptionally productive environment. We will visit the coastal community of Bamfield, home to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, which now figures prominently in this historic boardwalk community. Our afternoon has us sailing back across the Trevor and Imperial Eagle Channels to the Broken Group Islands. Here we’ll go ashore to explore ancient stone fish weirs at the “Great Tidepool,” before sailing past an outstanding sea lion haul-out site later in the day. We will anchor overnight at Wouwer Island.

Day3

This morning we travel to Benson Island to tour the ancient village site of “C’isaa”, birthplace of the Tseshaht First Nation that was occupied for at least 5000 years. Here we will see the large shell middens that are the result of thousands of years of marine subsistence at this site. Later this morning we’ll cruise past the tiny ancient “fortress island” of Dicebox Island and learn about the archaeological research conducted here, shining some light on the socio-political-ecological dynamics that made this slight piece of land so vital some 1,500 years ago. In the afternoon we will leisurely stroll and explore the white- sand beaches of Clark or Turret Island before sailing and sea kayaking throughout the afternoon.

Day4

Looking to squeeze every last drop out of this expedition, we will take a final morning shore walk, zodiac excursion, or exploration sea kayak today before heaving anchor and heading back to Ucluelet, all the while keeping out eyes peeled for more sea otters, whales and seabirds as we make our way back to port to say our final reluctant farewells prior to a disembarkation.

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360 B Harbour RoadVictoria, British ColumbiaV9A 3S1, Canada

info@outershores.ca

1-855-714-7233 (Toll Free in North America)1-250-220-2311 (Local and International)

If you have any questions about our expeditions, or a specific detail about the expedition you have booked, please let us know by phone or visit our website for more information.

Photo Credits: James Thompson and Russell Markel.