History on the Water Boat Tours

Discovery Passage to Chatham Point, Rock Bay

Take a deep dive into the history of Discovery Passage with a special visit to its northern landmarks, including Chatham Point and Rock Bay. Learn about the monumental engineering feat that removed the peaks of Ripple Rock—once a notorious marine hazard in the heart of Seymour Narrows.

Explore Rock Bay and Knox Bay, along with the lighthouse at Chatham Point, and uncover their roles in shaping the region’s industrial past. This area is also home to numerous Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ and Homolco cultural sites. Indigenous histories reveal complex systems of food production, mariculture practices, trade, and shifting alliances along the coast, offering a deeper understanding of how people have lived and worked in this region since time immemorial.

Date: August 16
Meal: Bring your own lunch to enjoy onboard

Desolation Sound: Lund

Travel through the maze of bays and hidden coves of Desolation Sound, past rugged coastlines and towering mountains. Follow the routes first charted by Captain Vancouver and Captains Galiano and Valdez in 1792. Since time immemorial, this coastline has been home to Indigenous peoples, with complex networks of trade and travel shaping the region. Our guides will share the area’s stories, from Indigenous peoples to the impact of settler industries like logging and commercial fishing, revealing how the land and its resources shaped life on the coast. This trip will include a stop at Lund and a sample of the famous cinnamon buns from Nancy’s Bakery. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own lunch to enjoy on the dock.

Date: July 15
Stop: Lund
Meal: Bring your own lunch

Desolation Sound: Okeover Inlet

Experience the myriad bays and interconnected coves nestled among the small islands of Desolation Sound. For thousands of years, this coastline has been home to Indigenous peoples, with complex networks of trade and travel shaping the region. Admire the rugged beauty of the coastal mountains as we revel in the tenacity of past inhabitants, both Indigenous and settlers, who survived this challenging terrain. This trip includes a visit to Okeover Inlet and Prideaux Haven, one of the most popular boating anchorages in the region. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own lunch to enjoy onboard.

Dates: July 29, Aug 30
Meal: Bring your own lunch

Desolation Sound: Refuge Cove

Set sail through the bays and secluded coves between the small, picturesque islands of Desolation Sound. As you pass rugged coastlines and towering mountains on Redonda Island, you’ll follow the routes charted by Captains Vancouver of England, and Galiano and Valdez of Spain, back in 1792. Since time immemorial, this region has been home to Indigenous peoples with diverse communities shaped by complex networks of travel, trade, and relationships. Our guides will share the area’s stories, from Indigenous peoples to costal steamships, logging outfits, float home communities, and the impact of industries like logging and commercial fishing. This trip will explore how the land and its resources shaped life on the coast. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own lunch to enjoy on the dock at Refuge Cove.

Date: June 7
Stop: Refuge Cove
Meal: Bring your own lunch

Discovery Islands

The Discovery Islands are packed with hidden history. See where First Nations and early settlers inhabited this part of the coast and learn about life in remote logging camps and float homes, where the only news from the outside world arrived with the Union Steamships. You’ll hear about the characters who lived and worked on the Discovery Islands including Quadra, Read, Maurelle, and Stewart, to mention only a few in the complex chain of islands that make up this region. Please note, June 21 trip includes a stop at Big Bay and July 12 is a special rapids trip as we’ll navigate through hole-in-the-wall rapids and see first-hand the power of these waters.

• June 21 Stop at Big Bay (Catered lunch onboard)
• July 12 Hole-in-the-wall rapids trip (Snacks will be provided, but you may want to bring your own lunch)

Redonda Islands

East and West Redonda Island are known for their topography with towering peaks and the deepest waters of Desolation Sound. Travel to the places first charted by Captain Vancouver when he sailed in 1792 and learn how people once occupied this part of the coast. As you cruise around the southern tip of Quadra Island, past Twin, and Hernando Islands to enter Desolation Sound you will hear heart thumping stories of the challenges of establishing a home, building a community and making a living in this unforgiving terrain. Then wind your way through Waddington Channel with a stop to see the stunning Cassel Falls located within Teakerne Arm Provincial Park.

Date: May 31
Meal: Catered lunch box on board.

Ripple Rock & Discovery Passage

Take a deep dive into the history of Discovery Passage with a special focus on the monumental undertaking to blast the top off Ripple Rock, the infamous marine hazard in the middle of Seymour Narrows. Explore the bays of Granite, Duncan and Kanish (and more) and hear the stories from Indigenous history to early logging, commercial fishing, and life on the coast.

Dates: June 28, July 26
Stop & Meal: Brown’s Bay Resort for a meal
Please note, the meal at Brown’s Bay includes tea/coffee and gratuity. Any additional cocktails or specialty drinks can be purchased by the individual traveler.

Romance on the Rocks – An Evening of Love, Lust, and Heartbreak on the Coast

Set sail on a journey through Desolation Sound, where stunning views meet unforgettable stories of passion and intrigue. Our Romance on the Rocks evening tour takes you on an adventure through hidden bays, serene coves, and tiny islands, all set against the backdrop of the rugged coastal mountains. Along the way, we’ll share tales of love, lust, and heartbreak from the coast’s rich history—because, as we all know, love is never simple. Imagine what romance was like for those who lived in these rugged and remote places. With every twist and turn of the boat, you’ll feel the echoes of the past and be swept up in the dramatic stories that have shaped this stunning landscape. Please note, love is a messy business, and this trip is recommended for passengers 18+. A catered meal is included to enjoy onboard.

Dates: July 19, Aug 5
Meal: Catered meal to enjoy onboard

Sonora Island

Travel north through Discovery Passage to the edge of Quadra Island, then onward through scenic Okisollo Channel, with a stop at Owen Bay. As you pass through some of the world’s most sought-after tidal rapids, you’ll learn about the hardy characters who struggled to build lives and livelihoods in this ragged coastal environment. Hear compelling stories of struggles, perseverance, innovation—and at times economic ruin—as you cruise past historic landmarks along the way. Take time to stretch your legs at Browns Bay Resort, where we’ll enjoy dinner on the dock at this remote and breathtaking marine resort.

Adding a fun new twist, we’re introducing our “Believe It or Not” Tours. Guests enjoy the same engaging and informative experience, with the added challenge of identifying one tall tale hidden amongst the true histories. Guess correctly and you could win a prize. It’s an entertaining and interactive way to experience history.

Date: Aug 12
Stop & Meal: Brown’s Bay Resort for a meal
Please note, the meal with tea/coffee and a gratuity are included in the tour fee. Any additional cocktails or specialty drinks can be purchased by the individual traveler.

Sutil Channel & Cortes Island

Think you know everything about Cortes Island? You may be surprised. Join us for a special “Believe It or Not” tour where we circumnavigate Cortes, exploring the various bays, inlets and islands that surround it. Beyond Squirrel Cove, the primary village site of the Klahoose First Nation, lay hidden fortifications that reveal the tumultuous history just below the surface. Whether weaving through Lewis Channel, cruising past Twin Islands in Baker Passage, or around the sandy beaches of Marina Island, you’ll hear incredible stories of the unique and sometimes odd heroes and villains of past logging camps, stump farms, and whaling stations. But one of these amazing stories is pure fiction. Can you figure out which one? Guess correctly and you could win a prize! It’s an entertaining and interactive way to experience history. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own snacks to enjoy on board in one of the beautiful bays.

Date: August 23
Meal: Bring your own snacks

Thurlow Islands

These islands are a hidden gem set within some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery on the West Coast. Though sparsely inhabited today, the Thurlow Islands boast a rich and fascinating past, from Indigenous villages to logging camps, forestry stations, canneries, and even gold mines. Along the way, you’ll travel through the legendary Seymour Narrows and pass over the historic site of Ripple Rock. Enjoy a relaxing break to stretch your legs and savour a delicious meal at Blind Channel Resort or on the dock at Shoal Bay. A stop at Blind Channel Resort also includes a special visit with a member of the Richter family, who have called West Thurlow Island home for several generations.

Adding a fun new twist, we are introducing our “Believe It or Not” tours. Guests enjoy the same engaging and informative experience, with the added challenge of identifying one tall tale hidden amongst the true histories. Guess correctly and you could win a prize! It’s an entertaining and interactive way to experience history.

Dates, Stops & Meals:
Blind Channel Resort for a meal

• • June 14
  • July 5
  • Aug 9

Please note, the meal at Blind Channel Resort includes tea/coffee and a gratuity in the tour fee. Any additional cocktails or specialty drinks can be purchased by the individual traveler.

Shoal Bay picnic lunch on dock

• • May 24 (bring your own lunch)
  • June 24 (bring your own lunch)