Bioluminescence Kayak Tour ‑ Port Gamble, Washington

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This tour has quickly become our most popular, and for good reason! Paddling amongst the bioluminescence at night on Port Gamble bay is an experience you will remember for a lifetime.

Don't see your Date Available? Check our Full Moon Bioluminescence tour for more dates. This tour is divided into 2 separate pages, not full moon dates (this one) and Full Moon nights. Please check both for available dates. 

Full Moon & Bioluminescence Kayak Tour Dates



This spectacular bioluminescence kayak tour is great for all ages, all experience levels, locals and visitors!

We start your tour with introductions of your tour guides followed by a Naturalist talk, and then a Kayak lesson (or refresher).  After which we are off to enjoy Bioluminescence viewing on Port Gamble Bay.

We use stable double sit-on-top kayaks. You are more than welcome to bring your own kayak, however the cost of the tour will still be the same, and you will need to get approval from our programs director at least 5 days before the tour. Please send request to programs@olympicoutdoorcenter.com .

The cost of the tour includes: Guide, Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Boat light, head lamp. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. We hope to see you out on the water!

Please bring a head lamp if you have one to be worn during the tour. If not we will provide one for you. 

Bioluminescence Tours begin and end at our beach in Port Gamble and will last about 2 hours.

What to Expect

You will almost certainly see Bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is an amazing natural phenomenon in which an organism produces and emits light due to a chemical reaction where the chemical energy is converted into light energy. When disturbed the organisms give off light such as when you paddle a kayak. There may also be amazing sunsets over the Olympics as well as paddling beautiful Port Gamble Bay.

  • We use stable double sit on top kayaks
  • If you are coming as a single you can either match up with another single guest in a double or paddle a single kayak.
  • We will be putting in on a beach that can be sandy or rocky depending on the tide.
  • You will be wearing a life jacket
  • There will be a safety and naturalist talk before leaving the beach which can last 30-45 minutes.
  • You may need to get your feet wet getting in and out of the kayaks so wear boots, sandals, or shoes that can get wet. Our staff will launch you from the beach and you are not expected to get wet but it can happen.
  • It will be chilly on the water after sundown so pack a jacket
  • You will be using headlamps and boat lights that we provide but please bring your own if you have them.
  • Boat lights will go out after about 20 minutes on the water to enhance our viewing of the bio. They can be turned back on at any time.
  • We will paddle as a group and each person will have, besides lights, a whistle for signaling and safety. If you are unsure at any time blow your whistle for help.
  • Paddlers will be encourage to paddle in single file or small groups to enhance viewing. The best viewing is next to shore. It is not uncommon for us to be spread out on the tour.
  • There will be a lead guide (front), a sweep guide (rear) and depending on group size guides that roam the group.
  • The tour is an out and back along the shore of Port Gamble Bay, about 1.2 miles. The shore is on your right going out and on your left coming back so it would be difficult to get disoriented while on the water. Everyone also has a head lamp which can be turned on if needed.
  • There is a sani-can at our beach which we encourage everyone to use before leaving the beach. We will be on the water 1 to 1.5 hours.
  • Occasionally we will have wind and waves on the bay. We do not go out in heavy wind, heavy rain, or lightning. Our tour goes rain or shine and at times you may experience rain and waves while paddling.

What To Bring

We will paddle even in light rain. We will not paddle in high winds or lightning. It will be cold on the water at night so dress warmly.

  • Hardy snack
  • Water Bottle
  • Warm Fleece hat (Windproof if available)
  • Shoes that can get wet, tennis shoes, sandals with straps or hard sole water shoe, NO flip-flops.
  • Short or long pants depending on weather (Ideally synthetic).
  • Short or long sleeve shirt depending on the weather (Ideally synthetic).
  • Change of clothes left In your car If the ones your wearing gets wet.
  • Towel for After (Always nice)
  • Warm Fleece jacket, NOT cotton (Windproof if available)
  • light waterproof/water resistant jacket.
  • Dry Bag for items carried on the kayak (optional)

If bringing electronics (phone, camera, etc.) put in dry bag or Double baggie or provide a waterproof case.

Put Your name on all of your belongings, we are not responsible for lost or stolen gear especially phones, cameras, watches, etc.

Tipping your guides are always a nice gesture for excellent service.

When do we meet?

Start time varies depending on the month, you will be notified before your trip of the meet time if it changes. (Bio only comes out when it is dark). Our standard meet time is 9:30PM and our standard end time is 11:30PM but varies throughout the year.

When will we finish?

The tour will end 2 hours AFTER the meet time. Later is better for viewing Bio.

Please note that you will not be able to catch a Kingston ferry after the paddle but Bainbridge Ferry has a later ferry.  Ferry Times change PLEASE CHECK USING THIS LINK.

Safety Guidelines

We will be paddling at night. Each kayak will have a boat light and each participant will have a head lamp. The participants boat lights are GREEN and the guides RED. Participants boat lights will be turned off after about 20 minutes to enhance viewing. The guides boat lights will never be turned off, so they are always visible and easy to locate. If a participant has any trouble they are instructed to turn their head lamp on so we can locate them quickly. Each participant also have a whistle on their life jacket for signalling. Depending on group size there will be a minimum of 2 guides and a max of 4. Sound caries on the water and on Port Gamble Bay it is easy to hear the group and assess any problems.

Participants are instructed to stay close to the shore during the tour for best viewing. The tour goes out with the shore on your right and comes back with the shore on your left. Participants are instructed to NOT paddle in to the center of the bay and just paddle next to shore. It is dark during the paddle but there is always some ambient light so you can always see where you are going.

The group DOES spread out during the paddle which enhances viewing for all. We encourage participants to paddle in close to shore either in single file or in small groups. When grouping up please keep your distance from other boats.

Our guides goes thru staff training and orientation every year. This is one of our staffs favorite tours to guide. Many have come back year after year. It is not unusual for them to have 20-30 tours each per year.

Where do we meet?

Olympics Beach Site in Port Gamble, Click For Directions.

We will meet at our beach launch; from Rainier Ave., take a right at the stop sign, head down the hill and you will see our shipping container straight ahead through the gate.

Local Hotels and Accommodations:

Cancellation Policy

No refunds or transfers will be provided for any cancellations received less than 72 hours before scheduled tours for any reason,. Substitutions of other participants will be allowed for the day reserved.