Itinerary Overview

Days 1–2: Skidegate, Haida Gwaii Museum, Keenawai’s Kitchen, Floatplane, Ancient Haida Villages

We’ll begin our Gwaii Haanas expedition with a private tour of the Haida Gwaii Museum, for an immersive introduction to the cultural history of Haida Gwaii. Tonight, we’ll be treated to a traditional Haida feast at Keenawai’s Kitchen in Skidegate. The next morning we’ll enjoy a short, scenic floatplane flight from Queen Charlotte to Cumshewa Inlet where we’ll meet the schooner, Passing Cloud to set sail for the ancient village of K’uuna Llnagaay (Skedans). Haida Watchmen will guide us through the cultural history of this ancient Haida village and introduce us to mortuary and memorial poles. We’ll continue our voyage south to the village of Taanuu Llnagaay (Tanu) and tour the remaining house depressions from this once-bustling community that was a gathering place for many villages.

Days 3–4: Wildlife viewing, Sailing, Burnaby Narrows, Cape St. James

As we work our way south, we hope to sail a few miles from shore into the pelagic zone for a chance to view marine wildlife, such as pelagic seabirds, sharks, giant ocean sunfish, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and humpback whales. Another highlight of Gwaii Haanas is the incredible marine biodiversity of world-famous Burnaby Narrows. Using our kayaks and inflatable skiff, we’ll follow one of our crew in snorkeling gear and check out giant predatory sunflower stars, multicoloured bat stars, massive moon snails, decorator crabs, and nudibranchs (sea slugs). Weather permitting, we’ll visit Cape St. James at the southernmost extremity of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. With ocean currents meeting from the east and west, this area is alive with marine life, including tufted and horned puffins, sea lions, and killer whales on the hunt for their next meal.

Days 5–6:  SGang Gwaay, Mortuary and Memorial Poles, Gordon Islands

We’ll visit the World UNESCO Heritage Site of SGang Gwaay, the jewel of Gwaii Haanas. Here we’ll walk through the ancient village site amongst remains of massive longhouses, and a stunning grove of standing mortuary and memorial poles. We’ll also explore the beaches, tide pools, and spectacular vistas of the Gordon Islands. Our days will be spent exploring moss-laden coastal rainforests, intricate river estuaries, intertidal zones, and coastal bog ecosystems. We’ll discover the remnants of wooden-stake fish traps dating from more than a thousand years ago, and contemplate the interconnectedness of salmon, bears, coastal rainforests, and people.

Days 7-9: Coastal Rainforest, Ancient Fish Traps, Hlk’yah GaawGa (Windy Bay), Queen Charlotte

We’ll continue on to Hlk’yah GaawGa (Windy Bay), where we’ll walk through the old-growth forest of massive cedar and spruce trees that ultimately led to the creation of Gwaii Haanas. The Haida Watchman here will share with us the story of Gwaii Haanas as told by the Legacy Pole. We cap off our day by enjoying a late afternoon sail before dinner. Make sure to keep a sharp lookout for the mammal-eating killer whales that frequent this area. This evening, our last night aboard Passing Cloud, we’ll share our highlights and reflect on all that we’ve experienced and learned over the past week. On our final day, we’ll say farewell to the Passing Cloud and crew and enjoy another short floatplane ride back to Queen Charlotte, where our expedition officially comes to an end.

Check out what our guests have to say about this expedition!

“Many, many thanks for a very special week on a fantastic boat with the best crew ever! All the best and for sure we’ll meet again.”

— Herman, Matthew and Robert, NETHERLANDS

“Awesome! Overwhelming! Will be ‘processing’ the experience for many days, months! A privilege to see accomplished seamen at work, the transition of ancient Haida culture to the new generation, and the majestic scenery and wildlife.”

— Ian and Joyce, ON, CANADA

“The Pacific Northwest is home for us and learning about and experiencing the richness of the history of Haida Gwaii is truly a remarkable thing. The experience on Passing Cloud was an extension of the welcoming spirit we felt on Haida Gwaii. It pervades the environment and makes our time here that much more special. I feel like I’ve just barely tapped the surface of the richness of the land, the sea, the people, and the culture. An adventure that exceeded our expectations!”

— Mac and Penny, WA, USA

“Thank you so much for an amazing trip! Your attention to detail and fantastic personalities made this adventure the trip of a lifetime!”

— John, BC, CANADA

“What a gift this has been. Beyond expectations, impossible to do justice to in words. You’ve created an amazing experience that we’ll all cherish for the rest of our lives. A thousand “Howas!”

— Susan, BC, CANADA

While you are in Haida Gwaii

Since you’re travelling so far to get to Haida Gwaii, we definitely encourage you to spend a little extra time exploring this remarkable part of the world before or after your days with us. Here are some resources for you:

Haida Nation and Cultural Heritage
Haida Gwaii Museum at Kay Llnagaay
Council of the Haida Nation
Council of the Haida Nation LINKS
Haida Laas Newsletter
Swan Bay Rediscovery Program
Skidegate Haida Language App
Haida Singers

Accommodation
Seaport Inn B&B (Sandspit)
The Inn at Sandspit (Sandspit)
Bayview B&B (Sandspit)
Haida House (Tlell)
Copper Beech Guest House (Masset)
Jag’s Beanstalk (Skidegate)

Transportation
Air Canada from Vancouver to Sandspit
Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Masset
BC Ferries from Port Hardy and Prince Rupert to Skidegate

Research, Education, and Conservation Organizations
Laskeek Bay Conservation Society
Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society
Haida Gwaii Marine Stewardship Group
Love Haida Gwaii
Spruceroots

Travel/Tourism
Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC
Go Haida Gwaii
Discover Haida Gwaii
Gwaii Haanas National Park
Naikoon Provincial Park
Queen Charlotte Visitor Center