Canada: Gulf Islands, BC
Two or three day tour to Pender Island - ready for 2025 bookings!
Rowing Trip Overview
Embark on an unforgettable coastal rowing experience in the stunning Gulf Islands, off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia! Choose a two or three day adventure rowing tour to Pender Island, off the coast of Vancouver Island, staying overnight in a beautiful resort. Customized and longer options may be possible. Dive into the world of coastal rowing with experienced coastal rowing guides and let each stroke reveal new horizons in this beautiful part of Canada.
This popular rowing tour has limited availability. We have a two step booking process, beginning with an availability check. Please read the details below carefully. The tour options are described in the itinerary section.
Two reasons especially. The scenery first and foremost. A pleasing combination of west coast nature and civilized comfort. The second reason to row here are the local guides. Whomever is with you on the water is extremely experienced coastal rower - and likely guides our BC Wilderness group and guided trip with Rowing The World. And possibly an Olympian. This is your chance to row with some of the best coastal rowers in Canada. Even getting to the start location for this Gulf Islands rowing experience is fun and not your usual trip to a dock. The trip starts from Piers Island, a small island near Swartz Bay ferry terminal (by Sidney) and partway to Saltspring and Mayne Islands.
Included
- Choose a two or three day tour to Pender Island, or agree with your guides on a longer customized option.
- One or two nights accommodation at Poets Cove Resort and Spa on Pender Island
- Use of coastal boats.
- Guide/coach on water rowing with you.
- Safety boat which transfers your luggage. Water taxi from Swatz Bay to Piers Island where the tour begins.
- Detailed Information Package, with specifics on getting there, arrival details and contacts, recommendations for accommodation and restaurants. We provide suggestions on other activities to enjoy in the region when you are not rowing.
- Lunches are included. Breakfast and dinners are not included - you can order from the resort or bring your own supplies.
Trip Details
Meet your local guides
Julien Bahain
Meet Julien and Katie and their amazing team of guides. Rowing The World and Travel2Row have been working with them for many years. You are in excellent hands! Julien is a three-time Olympian and Olympic medallist in rowing. In 2013, he successfully rowed unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days. Julien and his family live on a small island off the coast of Vancouver Island where they embrace living on the water. Julien is also a trained mechanical engineer and currently works as a project director for Infrastructure BC in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Katie Bahain-Steenman
Katie is a U23 World Championship medalist and Rowing Canada Performance Coach currently coaching the development team. Together with Julien, they founded West Coast Rowing Adventures with a goal to grow coastal rowing and share the beauty of British Columbia and its amazing, yet fragile, ecosystem.
Itinerary
We really want to be able to have you join us but there are only limited dates possible. It takes time to confirm the availability of boats, guides and accommodation, which is why we charge a non-refundable fee. Let's get started!
his two-day coastal rowing tour will give you the opportunities to row in the Gulf Islands National Park while enjoying a nice evening at Poets Cove Resort on Pender Island.
Meet at 9:00AM at the Swartz Bay government dock (2210 Dolphin Road - North Saanich) where the SeaStar Ferry Service will transport you to Piers Island.
After a safety session and equipment check, we will row and have lunch on one of the many islands before heading towards Pender Island and Poets Cove Resort. Enjoy a nice swim or relax in your hot tub before having dinner at the local restaurant.
After a good night sleep, let's row back to Piers Island via Portland Island or Russell Island. SeaStar Ferry Service will transport you back to the government dock for 2PM.
Rowing, hot tub, pool, restaurant and wildlife...sign me up!
This is like the two day tour but even better!
On Day 1: Meet at 8:00AM at the Swartz Bay government dock (2210 Dolphin Road - North Saanich) where the SeaStar Ferry Service will transport you to Piers Island. After a safety session and equipment check, we will row and have lunch on one of the many islands before heading towards Pender Island and Poets Cove Resort. Enjoy a nice swim or relax in your hot tub before having dinner at the local restaurant.
On Day 2: After a good night sleep and a breakfast at the local coffee shop, we will row around South Pender Island and stop on one of the many beaches for lunch. After a 20 km row, time to go back to the resort and enjoy the pool.
On Day 3: Time to row back to Piers Island via Portland Island or Russell Island. SeaStar Ferry Service will transport you back to the government dock for at 3PM.
Water conditions, especially as affected by the wind, will determine the exact time and location of the rows. Safety is a priority. The rowing guide has the final say on rowing distances and destinations. There are safety requirements for this Experience: you must bring and wear your own Personal Floatation Device.
Price per person
| Availability checking fee | One non-refundable fee for the entire group | CAD$100 |
| Two day Pender Island tour | Per person | CAD$748 |
| Three day Pender Island tour | Per person | CAD$1,045 |
No GST is charged for the Availability checking fee. 5% GST will be added at checkout on the tour price.
A minimum of six rowers is required. Maximum of eight rowers. Smaller groups are possible but the total fee for six rowers will be spread across a smaller group.
This popular tour has limited availability. Once you know your preferred start date, please have one member of your group register and pay the availability checking fee. This is non-refundable. Your guides will be in touch to discuss options. We hope to have your rowing soon in the Gulf Islands!
Ideas, information and inspiration
British Columbia is a beautiful province and leads the country in coastal rowing. Here are a couple of blog posts from our sister company Rowing The World. One chronicals a trip on Vancouver Island with the guides you will travel with, while anohter is from the pandemic era, listing some websites to explore and help you plan your trip. Have a look at the OARCA organization which promotes coastal rowing in BC and Canada and also runs a local club on Vancouver Island, perhaps giving you a way to add a little more rowing to your vacation.
FAQs
Our full list of Frequently Asked Questions answers all your questions. Or Contact Us – we are happy to help.