5-Day Sailing Tour of the San Juan & Gulf Islands
Trip Highlights
Description
Join us for an all-inclusive multi day sailing tour of the most beautiful marine environment in the world!
Our multi-day, all-inclusive sailing tours are the best way to unwind, relax and immerse yourself in the Salish Sea's natural beauty. With each day aboard, you'll feel a deeper connection to the natural world as you let the stresses of everyday land-based life melt away. We follow the rhythms of the wind and tides to show you the true beauty of this magical archipelago.
Sailing from our home port of Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, we are quickly in one of the most scenic and wildlife-rich areas of the world. Our naturalist captain will hoist the sails and guide your small group in an intimate exploration of wildlife and nature by eco-friendly sail power.
Sailing aboard the S/V Nawalak is about escaping the crowds, relaxing, and connecting with nature and the sea while exploring the quiet beaches and pristine islands of the northwest. During our tours we share with you the gems and secrets we’ve discovered in our 30+ years of sailing these amazing waterways.
Our chef specializes in bringing your culinary whims to fruition with rich, distinctive cuisine and the freshest local ingredients.
Our heated pilot house allows dining for up to 8 guests while enjoying panoramic views. Our staterooms are heated and comfortable with fresh linens, towels and toiletries provided.
Our home port is Deer Harbor Marina on beautiful Orcas Island. Private trips can start and end anywhere in the San Juan Islands or Puget Sound!
Our USCG licensed, lifelong sailor captain and crew will handle all the sail hoisting and navigating, but if you want to join in, or want to learn how to harness the wind, we love teaching.
Itinerary
Each trip is a unique experience. We stay in rhythm with the tides, currents and wind to bring you the best experience on the water possible. As locals, we know the "out of the way" places where the wildlife is, the best sailing routes and the calmest waters. If you have a special destination you want to see, just let us know.
Tour info
Why take this tour?
Our 5 & 6 day tours offer you a longer chance to experience some of the most scenic and intriguing places along the NW Coast.
The unique beauty and sunny weather of Washington’s San Juan Islands have been famous for generations. Nestled in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the nearly 200 unique islands get about half the rainfall of Seattle. The alluring charm of this archipelago is expressed both in its natural landscapes, and its diverse wildlife – above and below the water. Grass and moss carpeted hillsides give way to graceful madronas and sculpted firs. Wildflowers fill the meadows in spring and early summer. The occasional sand or gravel beach is punctuated by whimsically shaped sandstone, beckoning the kids to explore. Rich emerald waters yield fish for the grill, crab and prawns for a shore-side feast. Three groups of orca whales call the islands home during the year, chasing the salmon that migrate through. Eagles perch in shore-side trees, and a variety of seabirds cruise the bays and channels, diving for fish. Protected park land abounds with several islands devoted entirely to the marine explorer. A large variety of trails provide great opportunities for discovery. A sunny overlook, a hidden cove, a quaint one-room school house, or an abandoned lighthouse are among the myriad treasures to be found. Local artist’s galleries, restaurants, and elegant resorts with spas lend variety on the bigger islands.
With a two hour sail to the north, the Canadian Gulf Islands take up where the San Juans leave off. Similarly beautiful in topography and weather, they provide a quieter, even more relaxed experience. Myriad peaceful coves, madrona-clad sandstone bluffs, and mossy woodland trails invite adventurers. As in the San Juans, many sandy beaches lay thickly fringed with white shells; the telltale evidence of ancient village sites of the seafood eating Coast Salish people. Relax with us in a protected anchorage while one of the famous sunsets caps another memorable day.
Included
Gourmet meals prepared daily by our on-board chef
Kayaks, SUPs, Electric inflatable dinghy
Experienced naturalist USCG captain
Convenient pick up and drop off locations any where in the San Juan Islands
Excluded
Gratuities not included in cost of tour, but are welcome!
Frequently asked questions
Things to know
Our Vessel
Nawalak (Kwakwaka'wakw word meaning spirit of nature) is a 55' Pilothouse Ketch Sailboat. Our heated and dry pilothouse means if we encounter a rain shower (it is the PNW!) guests and the captain can sit cozily warm and dry while having panoramic views. The interior is created almost entirely of ...
Nawalak (Kwakwaka'wakw word meaning spirit of nature) is a 55' Pilothouse Ketch Sailboat. Our heated and dry pilothouse means if we encounter a rain shower (it is the PNW!) guests and the captain can sit cozily warm and dry while having panoramic views. The interior is created almost entirely of teak and mahogany having five private staterooms, plus two heads with enclosed, private showers. There is also a well equipped, commercial quality galley and on deck bbq grill allowing our chef to create sumptuous meals each day.
What should I bring?
Included in your tour is all food and non-alcoholic beverages. A bottle of wine is served with each dinner, and if you would like to bring your own wine, beer or spirits, feel free to do so. A warm cozy stateroom with fresh linens and blankets awaits you after a day sailing and exploring. All tow...
Included in your tour is all food and non-alcoholic beverages. A bottle of wine is served with each dinner, and if you would like to bring your own wine, beer or spirits, feel free to do so. A warm cozy stateroom with fresh linens and blankets awaits you after a day sailing and exploring. All towels and toiletries are provided also.
Feel free to bring any books, cameras, sketchbooks, journals etc.
Cancellation Policy
The 30% deposit is fully refundable minus a $200 admin fee if cancellation occurs 90 days or more before scheduled departure. Cancellation after 90 days prior to departure may result in forfeiture of the charter fee. A refund of your total charter fee will be made if your reservation(s) are fille...
The 30% deposit is fully refundable minus a $200 admin fee if cancellation occurs 90 days or more before scheduled departure. Cancellation after 90 days prior to departure may result in forfeiture of the charter fee. A refund of your total charter fee will be made if your reservation(s) are filled by another party, minus a $200 admin fee and any fee decreases incurred by EISC.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at any time – we very much look forward to sailing with you!
Customer Reviews
Six days aboard the vessel Na'walak with naturalist Captain Dave and joyful Chef Faith was an absolute delight. Whether sailing, motoring, hiking, kayaking or enjoying fine dining in the cozy pilot house, we were Five Happy Campers.If you're looking to be well looked after while on a sailing trip, climb aboard and head out of the harbor with Emerald Isle Sailing Charters--the Salish Sea's most interesting, informative and just plain fun adventure...
Sailing the San Juan’s was a bucket item list for us—the natural beauty of the islands attracted our nature-lover inner senses. What we did not anticipate was the amazing knowledge of the area from Captain Dave. Listening to him share the history of the islands and his pointing out those areas on our hikes/sails, was something way beyond our expectations. And the food? Wow! Chef Faith blew us away with her presentation and the taste of the food—all healthy!! The six days flew by but we are forever changed by the bonding of this group of five people who shared this time together—our memories will last a lifetime.
I just returned from an exceptional 6-day San Juans excursion with Captain Dave. I signed up for the sailing, hiking, kayaking, and great scenery…and the trip certainly delivered in those areas. But the real magic of this vacation is in Dave’s expansive knowledge (seamanship, the natural world, local history), the wonderful cuisine that our chef Faith thoughtfully prepared, the easygoing and serene coves we stayed in each night, and the great conversations with new friends. You can lose yourself in the scenery, solitude, and sailing…and emerge recharged from a truly unique experience!
Truly an amazing experience and highly recommended. Captain Dave was exceptional! His knowledge of the area, history and wildlife were always insightful and not too intrusive to a relaxing day on the water. The boat is in amazing shape and very comfortable. We did 6 hours with 8 people including Dave and his helper. Plenty of space to move around, chill out and enjoy the stellar views. I would use this place again in a heartbeat!
Exceptional experience!!!! Capitán Dave really goes out of his way to make you feel at home and provide a memorable experience. His knowledge, caring, and expertise are awesome. He talked about the different islands, provided specific information about them, explained some of the history and made the tour extremely interesting and enjoyable. We had a wonderful time, relaxed, have fun, laughed, and throughly enjoyed. Along the way we saw Porpoises, a Gigantic jellyfish (Fried Egg Jellyfish), Bold eagles, Seals, Sea lions, Harbor Seals, Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemot, and ORCAS!!!! Yes, Orcas, 4 of them!!! So close, that we felt as we were swimming with them. Dave knew that 2 of them were males and 2 females. It was absolutely wonderful and Awesome. Will definitely do it again, probably even a 6 day family trip 😋🤩👍🏼 Very appreciative of the time we spent together!!!!