Paddle Orcas Island’s north shore on a 2-hour guided kayak tour from Eastsound
2 hours
Guide, gear, dry bag
Explore Eastsound’s north shore on a 2-hour guided kayak tour from Brandt’s Landing Marina. Paddle toward Point Doughty State Park and scan rocky shorelines for marine birds and other local wildlife.
Minimum age is 13, with a maximum weight of 260 lbs per person and maximum height of 6'4''. This tour uses a rocky beach launch and landing, so bring secure footwear that can get wet; water shoes are not included.
1–4 people: cancel over 72 hrs before for refund minus $15/person. 5+ people: cancel up to 5 days before for refund minus $10/person. Late cancellations/changes, late arrivals, and no-shows are not refunded unless filled. No refunds for delayed/canceled ferries. Full refund if Shearwater cancels and you choose not to reschedule.
No. Your guide provides basic instruction, and the tour works for both beginners and seasoned paddlers.
Yes. You launch and land from a rocky beach, so expect to get your feet and shoes wet. You also need to help move the kayaks to the water and back to the racks.
Wear clothing suited to the day’s weather. Bring layers and a wind jacket (or a light rain coat), plus secure footwear like water shoes, sport sandals, or sneakers (flip-flops are not recommended).
340 Brandt-Landing Rd Eastsound, WA
Kayaking around Orcas Island becomes genuinely special when your guide knows every current, creature, and story of the San Juans. The guides here consistently earn praise for their deep knowledge of marine life and local ecosystems, with names like Dan, Moe, Nara, and Mason appearing repeatedly as standouts. They strike that sweet balance between being informative naturalists and relaxed companions on the water. Expect to see harbor seals, jellyfish, starfish, and bald eagles on most tours, with guides carefully keeping appropriate distances from wildlife. The small group sizes mean plenty of personal attention, which first-time kayakers especially appreciate. Tours launch from both Deer Harbor and Doe Bay, with three-hour excursions being the most popular choice. The bioluminescence tours also get rave reviews for those visiting during the right season. Equipment quality is solid, including tandem kayaks for couples and dry bags for belongings. The company shows flexibility too, offering to reschedule when weather looks questionable rather than pushing ahead with less-than-ideal conditions.
We had a good time on our kayak trip at Doe Bay! Our guide, Michelle, did a great job instructing us on how to get into our kayaks (and how to get out in an emergency!) and clearly knew the area well, sharing great insights about the local wildlife along the way. The kayaks themselves were high quality (higher than other trips we've done on the island) and well maintained. We paddled out to the Peapod Islands, where we saw many harbor seals — Michelle made sure we kept an appropriate distance to avoid disturbing them. At South Peapod Island, we spotted at least three eagles among a large group of oystercatchers. It would have been nice to get closer but we all understood why the restrictions exist. The conditions weren't ideal that day, but we still had a good experience. Great trip, great guide — thanks, Michelle!
Wayne Rennick
July 6, 2026
We had a good time on our kayak trip at Doe Bay! Our guide, Michelle, did a great job instructing us on how to get into our kayaks (and how to get out in an emergency!) and clearly knew the area well, sharing great insights about the local wildlife along the way. The kayaks themselves were high quality (higher than other trips we've done on the island) and well maintained. We paddled out to the Peapod Islands, where we saw many harbor seals — Michelle made sure we kept an appropriate distance to avoid disturbing them. At South Peapod Island, we spotted at least three eagles among a large group of oystercatchers. It would have been nice to get closer but we all understood why the restrictions exist. The conditions weren't ideal that day, but we still had a good experience. Great trip, great guide — thanks, Michelle!
Wayne Rennick
July 6, 2026
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