Make your way to the seaside Oak Bay Beach Hotel, a short drive east of Victoria, for your 2.5-hour evening kayaking tour. Upon arrival, receive a safety briefing from your experienced guide, then put on a life vest and practice basic paddling techniques. When you're ready, hop into a single or double kayak.

Follow your guide into Oak Bay, part of the Salish Sea, and paddle north along the scenic coastline just as the sun begins to set. As you explore the islets of the Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve, your guide shares informative commentary on the surrounding geology and marine life.

Brilliant golds and oranges illuminate the sky as you look out for seals, otters and sea stars in the water. With any luck, you may even catch sight of porpoises, orcas and humpbacks that visit this area.

To the east sits the Chatham, Discovery and San Juan islands. The archipelago silhouetted against the sky is only matched in beauty when, on a cloudless night, you look up to see the hazy swirl of the Milky Way. After you're done admiring the sights, paddle back to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel to end the tour.