KAYAKING

4-Day Bicycle & Kayak Inn to Inn Expedition

Few people get to experience each island’s unique style the way that you will. Lopez Island (known for its friendliness and “the wave” that islanders give each other in passing) is the smallest of the major San Juan Islands. Orcas Island, with Moran State Park, the panoramic view on top of Mount Constitution, the lakes and waterfalls, is a must see when visiting. The coastline of San Juan Island’s west side will leave you breathless with the view of the snow capped Olympic Peninsula. You will get to know these islands inside and out cycling and kayaking each one.

Flora and fauna: Bald Eagles, Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers, Pigeon Guillemots, Pacific Harbor Seals, Orcas (Killer Whales), Dall's Porpoises, Great Blue Herons, Ochre Sea Stars, Deer, Fox, Pacific Madrones, Douglas-firs, forests of Bull Kelp and Eel Grass beds.

Crystal Seas Kayaking strongly believes that an outstanding guide can make the difference between a good trip and a fabulous trip. Therefore, Crystal Seas places a lot of emphasis on using the best guides available. Crystal Seas Kayaking prides themselves on their choice of guides - they are people persons, friendly, knowledgeable, have a great attitude, are excellent leaders, great teachers and who love what they do.

Each tour begins with a thorough safety/kayak/bicycle lesson to familiarize you with your equipment so that you are adequately prepared for your adventure. This lesson includes paddling technique, sea kayaking safety, biking techniques, biking safety, becoming familiar with safety gear and other helpful and necessary preparation for the expedition.

A great trip involves many factors. One of these is the group size. A smaller group is safer on and off the water, allows for more interactions between the guides and guests and gives guests a chance to know each other. Furthermore, Crystal Seas Kayaking can also adjust and modify the trip to the individual desires and interests of the group, allowing guests to participate in various activities ranging from birding to advanced kayaking, to photography, to hiking. For all these reasons and more, Crystal Seas Kayaking keeps the regularly scheduled Inn to Inn Multi-Sport Expedition group size to 10 guests and 2 guides.

Trip Details

Day 1: Sample 4-Day Itinerary
Crystal Seas Kayaking will meet you at the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor and then shuttle you to the Westside of San Juan Island where you will gear up and head out along the coastline viewing beautiful vistas of Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountain Range. Weave in and out of small bays searching for sea stars, paddle through kelp forests rich with sea life and search for orcas, eagles and porpoise.

This afternoon, break for a delicious picnic lunch set upon a pebble stoned beach. Tonight, retreat to the Friday Harbor House where you can enjoy views of snowcapped Mount Baker and watch boats coming into the harbor. After a wonderful dinner at one of Friday Harbor’s best restaurants, you can soak in a jetted bath in the privacy of your room.

Day 2:
Wake up to a beautiful sunrise outside your window and prepare to cycle! Head out along San Juan Island’s quite country roads to whale watch park where you can enjoy lunch and watch for orcas. Afterwards, cycle north visiting the Alpaca Farm, an English garden at British Camp, Roche Harbor and then head south to San Juan Vineyards. Tonight we spend another night at the Friday Harbor House.

Day 3:
Today, paddle through the wasp islands along the northern Puget Sound to Orcas Island where you will land in Cascade Bay. Here, stay the night at Rosario Resort. Meet for dinner in the Moran Mansion where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Cascade Bay and then retreat to your comfortable room nestled upon a hillside overlooking the bay.

Day 4:
Today, cycle the horseshoe highway along Orcas Island’s enchanted evergreen lined roads. Stop for lunch in Eastsound where you can buy gifts and mingle with friendly locals then journey on to Moran Sate Park. Here you can go for a swim in the lake or hike through an old growth forest to a waterfall. End the day at the top of Mount Constitution where you will have a panoramic view of all the San Juan Islands, neighboring Canada, Mount Baker, Mount Rainer, the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges. Afterwards, Crystal Seas Kayaking will shuttle you back to the ferry landing on Orcas Island to say your goodbyes.