Vancouver Island Photo Tours

Name: Vancouver Island Photo Tours
Address: 1003 Ocean Place, Port McNeill, BC, V0N2R0, CA
Telephone: +12502303570
Rating: 5

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Vancouver Island Photo Tours

Vancouver Island Photo Tours visits the most scenic places around Northern Vancouver Island. While o
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Welcome to the Vancouver Island Photo Tours (VIPT) page. Vancouver Island Photo Tours (VIPT) is owned and operated by Professional Photographer, Rolf Hicker. Rolf takes you to some of the most scenic places around Northern Vancouver Island while having a chance to watch beautiful wildlife: grizzly bears, black bears, killer whales, humpback whales, dolphins, bald eagles, sea otters, and o

ther wildlife. Rolf Hicker is a full time, 30+ year professional, award winning nature and wildlife photographer with an "endless" client list including National Geographic, Canadian Tourism Commission, Fairmont Hotels, Holland America, BMW, Porsche, and Readers Digest just to name a few.

Rolf started photographing, filming and publishing the northern part of Vancouver Island in 1984. He was involved in several video productions as well as the movie production "The Killer Whales of Johnstone Strait". He filmed orcas over a period of 7 years underwater.

Rolf travelled intensively around the world and in 2004 he finally called northern Vancouver Island his home and immigrated to Canada. He now lives with his two boys Alex and Daniel between Port McNeill and Telegraph Cove where he offers a beautiful Bed and Breakfast (The Artists Point Bed & Breakfast), and his private, customized photo tours. http://vancouverislandtours.info
https://www.theartistspoint.com/
http://hickerphoto.com

08/12/2026

My season is busy and relentless. Almost every day means 16–18 hours of work, often for 30–50 days in a row without a day off the water—unless the boat needs servicing.

I know this isn’t sustainable, but for now, it’s what I need to do to keep everything afloat.

Yet every year, at the height of the season, I take one week off for my boys. And honestly, there couldn’t be a better time. The water is at its busiest, so I get some much-needed rest—and for one week, the bears and whales have one less boat around them.

But most importantly, this week belongs entirely to my boys. ❤️

No tours, no early departures, no long days on the water—just time together, starting with a round of golf. These are the days that truly matter.

06/16/2026

I would like to report suspicious and possibly illegal fishing activity within the Gwa̲xdlala/Nala̲xdlala (Lull/Hoeya) Marine Refuge in Knight Inlet. Fisheries and Oceans Canada

The suspects were identified as Bartender (BCX1848) and Sparrow (BCY1177) - {ID’s by Marine Education and Research Society, thank you!}, two humpback whales who were seen actively fishing directly underneath a clearly visible NO FISHING sign.

As a responsible member of the public, I believe it is important that we all work together to make our ocean a better place by reporting illegal fishing activities when we see them.

I will leave it to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to decide whether these two repeat offenders require a warning, a fine, or perhaps just a polite reminder that the rules apply to everyone… even whales.😅🤣

In all seriousness, moments like this are a funny reminder of how special these protected areas are, and why they matter. Marine refuges help protect important habitat, feeding areas, and the incredible wildlife that depends on them.

That said, I am not sure Bartender and Sparrow got the memo.

Knight Inlet, Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada

and Oceans Canada
Rolf Hicker Photography
Vancouver Island North Tourism

05/05/2026

These are some of the grizzly bear images from last season I value the most.

Not because they are the most dramatic.
Not because the bear fills the frame.
Not because the animal is staring straight into the camera.

I love them because they show grizzlies as part of their world.

A loon quietly swimming in the foreground while bears feed along the shoreline.
A bear entering the water.
A female grizzly bathing in Knight Inlet.
A young bear sitting on a bed of seaweed.
Cubs exploring the shoreline and having their early experiences with ravens.
And the wild landscape itself — because without this place, there is no story.

For me, wildlife photography is about behaviour, mood, habitat, distance, patience, and respect.

I am not a big fan of bear photos where the animal is locked onto the camera with a hard stare. Those images may look powerful, but they are often not natural. A bear staring directly at us is usually aware, alert, tense, unsure and stressed — and those are exactly the reactions I try to avoid.

The best moments happen when the bear continues with its life.

Feeding. Walking. Swimming. Resting. Teaching cubs. Exploring the tide line.

That is when we are doing it right.

Photographed in Knight Inlet, in the Traditional Territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada.

All images were photographed on my small-group wildlife tours from Northern Vancouver Island.
Maximum of 4 guests, quiet, ethical, respectful wildlife viewing.

05/01/2026

It was the perfect day - even without whales

These are just IPhone videos from my first tour of the 2026 season. Unedited, original sound. Not a planned film shoot. Not a perfect photography day. Just one real day on the water.

And that is exactly why I wanted to share it.

Come with no expectations, and you will be happily surprised.

Nature gives us what it gives us. Every day is different, and nothing in the wild can ever be guaranteed.

This is my 9th season with my own boat and my 19th season guiding and working on the water here. So early in the season, I honestly had no expectations (and ai told my guests before booking). I hoped we might see a bear - but that was hope, not expectations.

Luckily I had the perfect for guests with me: calm, patient, quiet, and simply happy just to be out there.
That makes a huge difference.

My tours are small for a reason. Maximum 4 guests. No crowded boat. No rushed agenda. No “tick the box” wildlife chasing. We go with the day, the weather, the tides, the light, and what ever nature offers us.

When we are around wildlife, we stay quiet. Whenever it is safe and possible, I turn the engine off. Then we don’t just watch nature - we listen to it.
Yesterday, nature gave us more than any of us were hoping for.
We saw a grizzly bear, black bear, dolphins, sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, mountains, waterfalls -and for the first time ever for me in this region, a sea wolf.
And still, we did not saw a single whale - which does not happen often. Yet it was the perfect day.

04/13/2026

This beautiful healthy black bear was walking down the shoreline straight toward us, calm and completely at ease. Moments like this are only possible when we stay small, quiet, patient, and give wildlife the time and space they deserve.

Having more time on the water always makes a difference. No rushing, no pressure, just letting nature unfold on its own terms. That is the main reason why my tours are “all day tours” somewhere between 6-12 h depending on season and wildlife.

IPhoned😅 in the Broughton Archipelago, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.

Sustainable wildlife tourism means respect first. Always.

04/09/2026

Nature pure, just watch and listen❤️!

Engine off. IPhones ready. Hearts full.

We were drifting quietly, leaving this humpback whale completely undisturbed, when it began hitting its pectoral fin on the water. Moments like this are why I do what I do.

Whenever it is safe, I turn the engine off. Because true wildlife encounters are not only about watching — they are also about listening.

The breath, the splash, the silence.
Pure nature. No disturbance. No need to get closer.

This is the beauty of respectful, ethical wildlife viewing.

04/01/2026

Less than 4 weeks left beforeA grizzly bear mother with her two cubs — one of the many magical moments that make Knight Inlet so special.

In less than 4 weeks, I’ll be back out there, searching once again for authentic wildlife experiences in one of the most spectacular wild places on the coast. And as always, the priority is simple: the animals come first.

Wildlife should never be disturbed or pushed for a photo. The real privilege is to observe these magnificent animals in peace, behaving naturally, in their own world.

That is exactly why I keep my tours small, with a maximum of 4 guests. Small, personalized tours allow for a quiet, respectful, and flexible experience — and the chance to enjoy nature in a much deeper way.

I’m very much looking forward to another season in Knight Inlet. Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada

12/10/2025

2025 — and just like that, the season is over.

If life weren’t so busy, I’d probably post more…
But maybe that’s why this wrap means something — it makes me pause and look back.

This season was turbulent, unpredictable, chaotic at times (in a good way)…
and absolutely unforgettable.

Someone asked me if I had a “great season,”
meaning: lots of guests, lots of money.
If that’s the definition, then the answer is No.

But greatness showed up in other places.
In early mornings on the inlet, in laughter shared on the boat, in meaningful wildlife encounters, and in the small groups who came out here for something real.

It also showed up at home.
Our garden thrived.
The worm farm exploded with life.
And none of that would have happened without the amazing friends who helped, supported, cooked, planted, fixed things, and kept this place moving while I was out on the water.
Their kindness and hard work were a huge part of this season’s success.

And by that measure… 2025 was a great season.

Thank you to everyone who stepped aboard, trusted me, braved the weather, and cared about this place as much as I do —
and thank you to my friends at home who made it all possible. 🖤

Time for rest, recovery,
and maybe a little hibernation.
See you in 2026. 🖤🌊🐋🐻🌱🪱

09/16/2025

𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 ✨

My photo of 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐤 (BCZ0339) is on the cover of 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 🐋

Photographed near northeast Vancouver Island, in the traditional territories of the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples.

For me, this cover is about more than just the image — it reflects my 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲. Animals should be shown in their natural world, respected and undisturbed.

One of the most beautiful and meaningful covers of my career 🌊💙

🙏 With gratitude to the Kwak̕wala-speaking Peoples, to BBC Wildlife Magazine, to MERS, and to all my guiding friends who help protect and respect these incredible animals.

08/15/2025

A Giant Among Giants 🖤
A large male Bigg’s Killer Whale gliding through flat calm waters beneath the towering cliffs of Knight Inlet—a breathtaking moment of scale, solitude, and presence.

This is my favourite fjord in British Columbia, deep in the Traditional Territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, Canada. The raw drama of these cliffs makes everything feel wild and humbling—even a powerful apex predator like this orca.

Photographed ethically from a respectful distance of over 200 meters, using my Sony a7RV with a 200–600mm lens. No need to get close. No need to intrude. Nature gives us everything when we simply observe and be patient.

📸 For me, the best images are not “look at me” portraits but quiet scenes of wildlife in their natural rhythm—undisturbed, unbothered, in their natural habitat. That’s where the real beauty lies.

Let’s keep celebrating photography that respects its subject.
Let’s keep a distance to whales.
Let bears be bears.
Keep sea otters sleeping.

Address

1003 Ocean Place
Port McNeill, BC
V0N2R0

Telephone

+12502303570

Website

http://www.vancouverislandtours.info/

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