4-Day Broken Group Islands Kayaking: Paddle & Camp

Paddle between islands, camp on sand, wake to eagles overhead

A 4-day sea kayaking expedition through the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, where you paddle between wild islands and camp on secluded beaches with a live guide. All kayaking equipment, tent, sleeping mat and meals are included; participants need to be comfortable in water and capable of 4 to 6 hours of daily paddling plus easy hiking. Minimum age is 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arrival and kayaking introduction

• Meet at 250 Seaplane Base Road
• Load gear and board water taxi
• One hour water taxi ride
• Arrive at Broken Group Islands beach
• Unload gear and send off water taxi
• Learn to pack kayaks with guide
• Attend safety pre-trip talk
• Practice kayaking fundamentals

The Experience

The trip starts at 250 Seaplane Base Road, where you load gear and take a one-hour water taxi into Barkley Sound. That ride itself shows you the rugged coastline you're about to paddle through. Once the taxi drops you at a sandy beach in the Broken Group Islands, your guide walks you through how to pack the kayak, fit yourself in the seat, hold the paddle and move through the water—no experience needed, just comfort around water and the fitness for 4 to 6 hours of paddling each day. A safety talk covers what to do if you capsize and answers any nerves before you push off.

Each day unfolds on the water between islands and islets, with lunch on a different beach and the chance to paddle near harbour seals while eagles work the sky above. The paddling itself is the point: you're operating the kayak, reading the water, moving under your own power through a landscape most people see from a distance. Evenings you camp on the beach, cook dinner together and sleep in a Mutha Hubba tent with an Exped sleeping mat (adults) or Helinox cot, depending on what the guide sets up for you.

Everything you need to paddle and sleep is packed for you—kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, tent, mat or cot, beach chair. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and tea come with the trip. You bring a sleeping bag (or rent one for an extra fee), your personal items and the willingness to spend four days entirely on the water and sand. The guide stays with the group the whole time, speaking English, and can adjust the pace or the route based on conditions and how everyone is moving.

What’s included

• All kayaking equipment (kayak, paddle, personal flotation device).
• Mutha Hubba tent.
• Exped sleeping mat for adults or Helinox cot.
• beach chair.
• breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and tea each day.
• snacks.
• live English-speaking guide for the full 4 days.
• water taxi to and from the islands.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Hello Nature Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?Book this expedition if you want to spend four full days operating a kayak yourself rather than watching from a boat—the paddling is the whole point, and the camping on sand between days makes it a complete immersion in the islands, not a day trip back to town each night.

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Top questions

What's the fitness level needed for 4 days of sea kayaking in the Broken Group Islands?

You need to be comfortable in and around water and capable of paddling 4 to 6 hours each day, plus some easy hiking. No kayaking experience is required; the guide teaches you on day one. Suitable for all physical fitness levels who meet those water-comfort and endurance requirements.

What kayaking and camping gear is included, and what do I bring myself?

The expedition includes all kayaking equipment (kayak, paddle, personal flotation device), a Mutha Hubba tent, an Exped sleeping mat for adults, a Helinox cot and beach chair. You bring your own sleeping bag, personal items and clothing; if you don't have a sleeping bag, one can be provided for an additional fee.

How does the first day work, and when do we actually start paddling?

Day 1 begins at 250 Seaplane Base Road, where the group loads gear and takes a one-hour water taxi into Barkley Sound. The taxi drops you at a sandy beach in the Broken Group Islands. After unloading, your guide teaches you how to fit everything in the kayak, how to sit and paddle, and covers safety basics before the first paddle.

What meals and drinks are provided during the 4 days?

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and tea are included each day. Lunch is often a picnic on a secluded beach; dinners are cooked at camp. Snacks are provided throughout the paddling days.

What wildlife might we see while paddling the Broken Group Islands?

Harbour seals paddle near the kayaks, and eagles soar overhead. The Barkley Sound coastline and the islands themselves are the main draw—the wildlife encounters happen as part of moving through their habitat, not as a separate viewing activity.

Is there a minimum age, and can children kayak on this expedition?

The minimum age is 12. Children must meet the same requirements as adults: comfort in and around water and the fitness for 4 to 6 hours of daily paddling.