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The southern main island of Haida Gwaii is called South Moresby, home to Gwaii Haanas ('Place of Wonder') National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. This new park encompasses 138 islands and 42 freshwater lakes, with the peaks of the San Cristoval mountains — the rugged backbone of South Moresby — rising 3,000 feet above sea level. Our sea kayak trips traverse the east coast of the archipelago through Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site during springtime, when wildlife and weather conditions are typically in their prime. This paddling odyssey features superb campsites, where we absorb the majesty of the wilderness around us while enjoying gourmet meals skillfully prepared on the campfire. 

It takes two weeks to complete the entire traverse. It’s possible to combine two different one-week trip departures to experience all that Haida Gwaii has to offer in a single 17-day trip. For those joining a 10-day trip only, one trip will paddle the northern half of the traverse, and the other will paddle the southern half. Weather permitting, the southern trip will travel south of Burnaby Narrows through the Houston Stewart Channel to the Pacific Ocean, where we will hopefully visit Rose Harbor and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ninstints, an ancient Haida village. The northern trip will visit the old-growth forest at Windy Bay, enjoy the scenic pools of Hotsprings Island and visit the village of Tanu. On all trips, we will break camp and travel to our next camp taking advantage of low tides to explore the abundant intertidal life. There will be ample time for snorkeling. We will also plan to spend a night with the nocturnal burrow-nesting auks and petrels on trips in both directions. 

Physical Activities: This expeditionary sea kayaking trip is rated intermediate with a flexible itinerary: the number of miles paddled every day will depend on local weather and ocean conditions. We expect to paddle no more than five hours between camps. However, if adverse conditions such as strong winds and currents persist, we may find ourselves paddling longer in order to reach a safe and optimal campsite for the night. 

We use stable, seaworthy craft specifically designed for ocean environments. By using double kayaks, we are able to balance the group with respect to paddling power and experience, as it is of utmost importance on any expedition that the group stick together. All of our kayak expeditions begin with a comprehensive introduction from the guides. During this orientation guides review equipment, safety measures and rules, demonstrate paddling strokes, and discuss rescue procedures. After this introduction, we find that people adapt to the paddling skills required. Every individual will with launching and beaching the kayaks. We pride ourselves on helping first-time sea-kayakers fall in love with the sport! 

These trips are inherently exploratory in nature and require from participants a commitment to group unity and a willingness to face the unexpected and overcome challenges. While we never intend to kayak during rough conditions, we cannot guarantee that we will not encounter such conditions while out on the water. All participants must be prepared for adverse conditions such as strong winds and temperature fluctuations. The individual and collective success of this expedition depends upon each applicant assessing his or her own abilities to decide whether participation in a trip of this nature is appropriate. If you have any questions or doubts about your suitability for this trip, please give us a call. 

Please note: 1. The itinerary above is a sample itinerary only -- the exact itinerary of any trip will be    dictated by factors such as weather and wind. (Note: the south-to-north course of travel                            outlined above may run in reverse for any given trip.)

TRIP INCLUDES

• The services of two fully certified expedition guides  
• All group equipment including kayaks, paddles, tents, safety gear and communication devices  
• All accommodations as noted  
• Meals as noted (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)   
• Transportation from Sandspit to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site  
• Group transfers as indicated in the itinerary  
• Traditional Haida Feast (farewell dinner)

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