The Best of Haida Gwaii – Pure Nature, Authentic Culture

The majority of these are concentrated on the island of Kiis Gwaay within several small, coastal communities connected by a paved road. It takes about an hour and thirty minutes to drive from Masset, where most people arrive via BC Ferries from Prince Rupert or by flight, on the northernmost edge, to Daajing Giids in the south, through Tlell and Skidegate.

First stay in Masset or Tlell with their creative spaces and the trails, beaches, and birdwatching in Naikoon Provincial Park. Appreciate the iconic style of Haida art, characterized by symbolic animal motifs and striking formline, through carving sheds and galleries featuring renowned Haida artists. Then stay in Daajing Giids to witness the contours of the island rippling up from the west coast via the challenging Sleeping Beauty trail, and visit interpretive spaces that ground your journey in history and present-day from a Haida perspective.

A twenty-minute ferry from Skidegate brings you to Alliford Bay, connected by road to the community of Sandspit on the southern island of Gwaii Haanas (Morseby Island). Beyond Sandspit, a complex network of gravel backroads traverses the island, leading to hiking trails and stunning, remote lake and beachfront campgrounds. This island is far less inhabited and far more rugged, and we suggest you be mostly self-sufficient. The focus for travellers on the South Island is the otherworldly Gwaii Haanas National Park, which blends pristine wilderness with ancient cultural sites.

It is a Haida Heritage Site of millennia-old stories, remnants of ancient longhouses, carved poles with characters and crests, and culturally modified trees. Visitation is marine-access only. Embark with one of the limited number of tour operators registered to visit the park, putting respect and conservation at the heart of excursions. Let Haida guides provide you with an intimate understanding of our culture and the archipelago’s extraordinary biodiversity.

Members of the Gwaii Haanas Guardian Watchmen Program delight in sharing Haida Village sites and culture with visitors from May to October. Members also conduct ecological data collection and creel surveys, contributing to the understanding and preservation of this magical place. Ambassadors for our Nation, the Guardians are the connective tissue between guests and first-hand Haida perspectives.

Haida mythology draws on dreamlike scenes conjured by the ancient rainforest, dense moss, primordial ferns, and breathtakingly large native trees. Flowing and thundering through the islands are life-giving waterways, protected bays, salmon-spawning rivers, and the Pacific Ocean on its western side.

Be enthralled by the six native mammal subspecies that exist in Xaayda Gwaay.yaay (Haida Gwaii) that are found nowhere else on earth, including Taan (North America’s largest black bear). Marvel at a glimpse of a fluke or fin as some twenty species of whales and dolphins play and migrate around the coast. Practice patience and sit quietly with your binoculars, as rare birds take shelter and revitalized populations of seabirds set up bustling colonies on rocky outcrops.

Flights depart regularly from Vancouver Airport with Air Canada, arriving at K’il Kun Xidgwangs Daanaay Airport near Sandspit on Gwaii Haanas (Moresby Island) and at Masset Airport on Kiis Gwaay (Graham Island). Seasonal routes are also available with Pacific Coastal Airlines.

BC Ferries travels between Prince Rupert on BC’s mainland to Skidegate. Connect by road to Prince Rupert or take the BC Ferry from Port Hardy on the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island. Several marinas and anchorages are also available across Gwaii Haanas.

Once you’ve arrived, consider travelling at a slower pace on two wheels with e-bikes and scooters available to rent on arrival. With 150 islands in the archipelago, kayaking is a popular way to explore.