See and Experience What Most Visitors
Never Do
Adventure away from crowds
There is no better way to take in the San Juan Islands than from the seat of a kayak. Our smaller group size provides for a more intimate guest experience.
Collect moments, not things
Our guides know the islands, waters, and coastlines inside and out, and will lead you to isolated bays and islets that offer the most stunning views.
Connect with nature
The Salish Sea ecosystem, our playground, is truly one of Washington’s greatest natural assets. Meet some of the marine mammals, sea and shorebirds, fish, and wildlife that also call this place home.
Choose Your Adventure
3, 4, or 6 hour kayak tours
Explore the Salish Sea in an intimate, small-group setting. Our experience of over four decades will ensure a safe, educational, and rewarding experience!
2, 3, 4, or 5 day kayak & camp tours and 5 day inn to inn tour
Our diverse and ambitious routes take you away from the crowds, where orcas and wildlife dwell and where scenery inspires.
Planning a group outing? Treat them to something out of the ordinary! We offer custom, guided kayaking adventures. Choose one of our existing tours, or we will happily design a custom itinerary.
With 42 years on the water, we can guide you in selecting the tour that is right for you based on your experience. Get ready to enjoy your own five-star paddling adventure!
Ready to explore the wild side of the San Juans?
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
What Happy Paddlers Are Saying
Our half-day tour with Noah was one of our favorite experiences on our Washington trip. We went in August (the weather was great) and spotted tons of wildlife. Noah was extremely knowledgeable and provided thorough, enthusiastic answers to our constant questions about most aspects of the island. If we ever make it back to Washington, we'll be sure to come back here!
SOPHIE WAS OUTSTANDING!!! She not only gave us a personal tour (the other reservation fell through so it became a fun private excursion), but she was so smart and knowledgeable about the islands, its history and the incredible ecosystems we experienced. The water was perfect! And so many fun fury friends showed up, and we watched as they played in the water. Jellyfish were abundant, and we even had a clear view of the mountains. Nathan and Sophie made an incredible team, slowing down to show us fun beaches and historical points. Also encouraged us to sample the bull kelp! Yum! Thank you for a great time! You’ll not regret going with this crew!
The guide Austin was awesome! Very knowledgeable and helped everything go smoothly. Mom is 65 and we went tandems, he was kind and talkative and made her very comfortable in the water. The boats were stable and the paddles were Werner (less arm fatigue)! We were a small group of three! If you want Cadillac service choose San Juan Expeditions! Great views and a fun time!
My wife and I did a 3 hour tour last week. Our guide, Nathan, was outstanding! He was courteous, professional and had a deep fund of knowledge about the flora and the fauna of the area. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful and the kayaking experience, our first, was remarkable. Nathan was patient and very supportive in giving us the basic skills we needed to be safe on the water and to make the most of our experience. I highly recommend San Juan Kayak expeditions and we're so thankful that Nathan was our guide.
The guides were amazing. Very knowledgeable. I will definitely book these guys again.
Melissa M
September 8, 2023.
Verified Full day tour —awesome experience!!
My husband and I joined six others (a lovely family!) on this full day tour with Topher. Topher was an outstanding guide—thorough and helpful to get us all set up safely and in the water, patient, knowledgeable and fun. We traveled to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse, hiked, ate lunch and kayaked back. We saw harbor seals, purple starfish, jellyfish that looked like an egg, and an eagle. (I was hoping to see otters but no luck). I’d recommend this excursion to anyone who enjoys being up-close with nature, loves to be active and wants a one-of-a-kind experience. This is a must do!!
Raphael K
August 13, 2023.
Verified Wonderfull kayaking experience.
Beautiful setting. Excellent Kayaks and the staff was friendly and very courteous and accommodating. I would definitely use them again.
Mary M
August 3, 2023.
Verified Highly recommend this company.
Our guides were experienced, knowledgeable of the area and wildlife, and fun. We saw sea lions, seals, bald eagles and many other birds and marine life.
csquared2014
July 16, 2023.
Verified Great trip!
Our trip was great! Full day adventure- saw seals and bald eagles and even a sea lion! Marit was awesome and very knowledgeable of the history and of the area. A must do!
Meghan W
June 12, 2023.
Verified "The Ultimate' Sea Kayaking Trip
I did the 5-day "The Ultimate", and it was nothing less than spectacular. Our guide, Jury, did a fantastic job! Although we ended up having to change our route, he was very communicative about safety, weather, tides, and wind, and laid out an alternate plan that left me thinking it might have been better than what we were supposed to do. 🙂 We saw orcas, seals, otters, porpoises, and so many other sea creatures. The group size was perfect at 8, and the food was delicious. Such a fun time with wonderful people, in a magical place!
Dezirae S
June 8, 2023.
Verified Beautiful Adventure
5 day ultimate adventure was amazing! Beautiful views, delicious food better than I cook at home, knowledgeable guide made us feel safe. Group activities were fun and our guide promoted fun and inclusive group dynamics. Relaxation and adventure all rolled into one amazing vacation. We paddled from island to island, camping at state parks with access to bathrooms and some had fresh water access. We saw orcas, porpoises, starfish, jellyfish, deer, bald eagles, banana slugs, and more. Each meal was delicious, the views were beautiful, and the hiking was a nice added bonus. I would definitely go again!
Debbi H
October 1, 2022.
Verified What an afternoon!
We've kayaked before, but never with such an in-depth pre-boarding lesson and top quality equipment! Spray skirts---who knew! Darby had even the newbie, senior citizens among us feeling confident in the water and was knowledgeable about everything we saw. We circled a little island where harbor seals and cormorants were hanging out. One curious seal came out to see what we were doing in their water. It was truly a delightful excursion from our cruise ship~~one of our favorites, just the right length and level of activity.
lockwoodluvsmrh
September 21, 2022.
Verified Gone but not forgotten
This is certainly a beautiful country! In all America, I do not believe that we could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society. Nathaniel Greene is a rare and well rounded man eager to participate equally in the wilderness of nature and the wilderness of the mind. His random childhood stories from the islands were a bright spot in our journey outshone only by his extensive knowledge of random ponds in upstate New York. For a rugged naturalist who looks as if he tastes nothing while eating, Nathaniel surprises with his appetizing spreads. A veritable smörgåsbord delighted us at each meal. Our band of merry mouths couldn’t get enough! And did I mention the kayaking? We liked that sport. It’s probably something about the speed which of course can be achieved in biking–albeit with a little more risk of scrapes. Nathaniel likes both kayaking and biking. Unless he is skiing. Which he often is. A perfect misanthropist’s heaven. Nathaniel is just the man to divide the desolation between us. Keep rocking on foam, Nathaniel 🤘🏼
Joanne N
September 8, 2022.
Verified Beautiful bay - great way to spend afternoon
Beautiful weather, friendly folks & guide (nathan) and peaceful, pretty bay. The kayaks are fast & comfortable as well....
Annika B
August 23, 2022.
Verified Unforgettable kayak trip in a beautiful place
I went for a 3-day paddle to Jones and Stuart islands with Caitlyn as my guide. SJKE was very accommodating from start to finish and provided wonderful meals and gear for me to set me up for success. Cole and Topher were very generous and made sure we had what we needed and that our trip went smoothly. Caitlyn is a wonderful guide who has an obvious love for the islands that shines through everything she does. It is clear that her passion for the islands translates into a thorough commitment to safety and enjoyment on the water. She has great knowledge about the ecosystem, topography, and culture of the area and is well-oriented to the bioregion. She knows how to navigate the waters with wisdom and experience. She is committed to the safety of her guests and I always felt comfortable with her guidance. The trip was difficult at times but she was very encouraging and her love for the islands was infectious and motivated me to keep going. We saw so many seals, kelp forests, seabirds, porpoises, eagles, mouflon sheep, and other amazing forms of life. Thank you SJKE!
