Haida Gwaii - formerly Queen Charlotte Island Tours, B.C.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
RATED #1 PARK DESTINATION IN NORTH AMERICA by the 2005 National Geographic Review.

All our cruises and boat tours to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site begin and end in Sandspit/Queen Charlotte City.

Our 54-foot motor yacht Great Bear II will be your home away from home for our 8-day tours in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. The ship is certified by Transport Canada passenger vessel and is equipped with all the latest safety and navigation equipment. Our 18-foot hard bottomed zodiac is perfect for shore excursions, shoreline exploration, and as a platform for witnessing the spectacular carpets of intertidal sea life in Burnaby Narrows. We also carry kayaks and a row boat for guests to use in the serenity of our coastal anchorages.

FOCUS OF OUR TRIPS

Our Haida Gwaii tours in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve take us one hundred kilometers west of B.C.'s north coast, on the edge of the Pacific Continental Shelf, and to the archipelago of Haida Gwaii. Its shores bathed in warm, nutrient-rich waters, Haida Gwaii is often referred to as the Canadian Galapagos.

Because the Haida First Nations People had such an abundance of food, they had time to develop one of the world's most powerful and creative cultures. The Haida culture, art, and the unique flora and fauna of B.C.'s Haida Gwaii are the main focus of our tours in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

VISIT THE HAIDA HERITAGE CENTRE

Our Haida Gwaii adventure tour may begin or end with a visit to the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate where in 2001, the Haida raised six new totem poles in a memorable ceremony at the site of Kaay llnagaay, (Sea Lions Town).

This important heritage centre celebrates the living culture of the Haida people, and includes an interpretive centre, carving sheds, theatre, and art school.

SEE OLD HAIDA VILLAGE SITES AND SPEAK WITH HAIDA WATCHMEN

As we travel south aboard our motor yacht Great Bear II into Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, our tour will bring us to the old village sites of Skedans, Tahnoo, Sgang Gwaay, (a World Heritage Site), and also Gandll K'in, (Hot Springs Island). In each of these sites, Haida Watchmen will greet and share with us the life and culture of each of these awe inspiring and very spiritual places.

You will be able to walk alone on trails through these old villages, and have the time to see, hear, and smell, all that makes these sacred places so special! Bring plenty of film for your camera!!

UNIQUE FLORA & FAUNA, A BIRD WATCHER'S "EDEN"

Because Haida Gwaii has been separated from the British Columbia mainland for so long and much of the land escaped the last ice age, there exist many unique and genetically different species that cannot be found anywhere else in Canada. (Even the larger Black Bears found here are genetically different from their relatives on the mainland.) Haida Gwaii are a bird watchers 'eden': you may see Tufted Puffins, Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Murrelets, Shearwaters, Cormorants, Oyster Catchers, some of which only come on land to nest in the summer and spend the rest of their lives at sea.

RELAXATION AT IT'S FINEST

In late October 2012 after the 7.7 earthquake rattled Haida Gwaii, the hot pools at Gandll K'in dried up and the earth became cold. However, warm water has begun to return and has filled several of the pools which we are all very excited about!

If you are traveling with us in the future, don't forget your bathing suits so you can revel and relax in the warm water on Gandll K'in, (Hotsprings Island).

SMALLER TOUR GROUPS ALLOW FOR A MORE INTIMATE EXPERIENCE

Although we have had private charters with as few as 1 for a special photo assignment or 2 people celebrating their special anniversary, our scheduled trips are limited to a maximum of 5 guests.

We believe that our smaller group sizes allow our guests to really discover the heart beat of this unique and soul stirring wilderness.

Whether it's during our tours through the old village sites with Haida Watchmen, or during our float through of Burnaby Narrows, or during a forest walk, our small group sizes mean our guests enjoy a much more intimate experience while leaving the smallest possible footprint, something that is extremely important to us.

Testimonials

"...all shown to us with such modest competence--makes me proud to be part of Canada." ~ Phyllis, Toronto, Ontario

"As wonderful as the trips have been, the friendships with you are the most memorable and special aspects of these coastal adventures." ~ Al and Marilyn, Calgary, Alberta

"Your love and respect for these islands and these people are palpable and moving." ~ Margo, Vancouver, Canada

Experience the Wild  ...in Wilderness !

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