Kayaking Haida Gwaii
Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.
Trip Overview
One hundred kilometres from the mainland of British Columbia, perched on the very edge of Canada's Pacific continental shelf, lie the Queen Charlotte Islands, now known as Haida Gwaii or "Islands of the Haida people."
"Jane, you are such a well spring of helpful info! You & your staff are so helpful - it creates a wonderfully positive impression on clients, especially ones like me who have dealt with several other adventure companies and have a basis for comparisons."
- Dr. David Scheifele - Vancouver, B.C.
Our sea kayak expeditions traverse the east coast of the Charlottes through Gwaii Haanas National Park during springtime when conditions are typically in their prime. Spring is the best time for wildlife and weather here - whales feed on a bounty of plankton, seals gather on islets, and sealions crowd surf-battered rocks. While bald eagles grapple for newly gathered herring, melodies of songbirds fill the morning air, and after nightfall storm petrels and ancient murrelets crash through the forests to undertake their parental exchange on the nest.
The powerful spirit of Haida ancestry is everywhere - from abandoned villages, to the forest where modified trees show evidence of bark stripping, burning, or massive plank splitting, to the sound of ancient Haida myths in the very air we breathe. A vast mosaic of marine and intertidal life makes for great exploration from secluded moss-carpeted campsites nestled under giant red cedar and ancient sitka spruce forests. Other highlights include eating fresh fish cooked over the campfire, soaking in natural hot springs and simply taking in the majestic beauty and wilderness of Gwaii Haanas.
Trip Details
- 9 or 16 day trip begins and finishes in Sandspit, BC.
- Trip includes transfers from Sandspit to Gwaii Haanas National Park, 2 nights accommodation with a traditional Haida feast last night,
- Meals, tents, group kayaking equipment, safety gear and communications are included.
Itinerary-in-Brief
More information about this trip is available in our in-depth Trip Information Package. Please contact our office to receive these detailed materials.
Day 1: You will be met at the airport upon arrival in Sandspit and be transfered to our local B&B. The afternoon is free to walk along the beach, enjoy the peace and quiet and photograph the eagles. If time permits, we will visit the local museum. After dinner, we get briefed on the coming week of adventure.
Transfer, dinner and lodging included
Day 2: The group will transfer south by boat, a two hour ride where we enjoy the scenery and keep an eye for whales. We arrive at a site in Gwaii Haanas National Park where we will begin the fun task of making camp and organizing our kayaks. Time permitting we will launch the kayaks for a short paddle.
All meals and transfer included. Wilderness camping.
Days 3-7 or Days 3-14: You will be travelling by expedition sea kayak, traversing the east coast of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve between the Haida village sites of Tanu and Ninstints. Highlights of this expedition include superb campsites on secluded beaches, exploring the wealth of intertidal life, cooking fresh fish over the campfire, snorkeling in the clear, rich waters, walking in moss-carpeted rain forests, and enjoying the marine wildlife at hand.
All meals included, Wilderness camping.
Day 8 or 15: For those of you on a 16 day tour, you will continue your wonderful journey paddling the Land of the Haida for another week. Day 15 will be the same as Day 8 for those booked on a 9 Day tour, we will meet our charter that will return us to Sandspit where we will be transferred to our local Bed & Breakfast and treated to a Haida traditional dinner feast in Skidegate.
Transfer, all meals and lodging included
Day 9 or 16: Flights homeward on Sunday.
Breakfast and transfer included
Inclusive Services
- the services of two fully certified expedition guides
- all group equipment including kayaks, paddles, tents, safety gear, and communication
- transportation from Sandspit to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve
- all meals listed in the itinerary from dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 9
- B&Breakfast and Dinner accommodation Day 1 and Day 8
- traditional Haida feast (farewell dinner)
Non-Inclusive Services
- personal belongings and gear as per the Clothing and Equipment List
- transportation between Sandspit and your home
- any meals and accommodation in Sandspit before or after the trip itinerary
- Park user fees
- any extra expenses incurred because of delayed departures of chartered or scheduled aircraft
- gratuities for guides
In the News
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The Raven, the Kayak and the Queen Charlottes |
