Hi Michelle, I apologize for the late response! It seems that TripAdvisor has perhaps changed the settings on our business account and I just noticed that we sometimes are not receiving notices when we get questions and reviews. I've reached out to them to try and sort out the issue, but I fear that doesn't help you at all. Anyways, to answer your question, if seeing whales is the absolute goal then I think that whale watching with Island Adventures is the better choice. A motorized vessel has far more range during the course of a trip and their focus is to get you to the whales. We do see whales on our tours (just yesterday we had several pods of Bigg's Orca whales right off of the Burrows Island Lighthouse) but it is more a matter of luck and timing. A kayak moves at a walking pace, slower than the travel speed of whales, and so we have to be in the right place at the right time. This is true of all kayak companies so I would caution against buying a "kayaking with whales" trip from any company out here that advertises such a thing as I believe that it sets up the wrong expectations. If you have the time then I would recommend doing both a whale watch and a kayak trip. Being in a kayak gets you much closer to the natural beauty of the area (it is like walking through the forest rather than driving a vehicle). If you have any other questions, or would like some local assistance with any of your travel plans, then please do not hesitate to contact me. We are not allowed to post email addresses or urls on this platform, so I cannot send you my personal email address, but our business email is on the home page of our web site. I promise that you will receive a speedy response if you contact me there. Again, I apologize for not seeing this message until now and I hope we can help you and your son have a fantastic vacation! Kind Regards, Erik

Hi Jacinta, Our multi-day trips are priced "per person". The Fully Catered trips include all of your meals, and camping gear, as well as all of your paddling equipment and a professional guide. The only thing that you'd need to bring is your clothing, a sleeping bag, and any personal items that you would like to have for the duration of the trip. If you prefer not to travel with a sleeping bag then we can rent you one for just $25/trip. When you book with us we will send you a more complete packing list. We also offer a Self-Catered trip option, where participants bring their own camping gear and food. We supply all of the paddling gear and your guide on these trips. These trips go to the same fantastic destinations and are a great way to save a few dollars if you like to use your own camping gear. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have other questions. We'd love to see you out here with us! Kind Regards, Erik