Ultimate Gwaii Haanas (25.209)
| Location: | Haida Gwaii |
| Price: | $5291.00 |
| Duration: | 15 days/14 nights |
| Departs from/arrives at: | Sandspit |
| Accomodations: | Camping |
| Tour Type: | Leisure Tour |
| Activity Level: | Intermediate |
| Nearest Town/Village: | Sandspit |
| Inclusions: |
|
| Exclusions: | We don't provide transport from your home to Sandspit, nor do we provide airport transfers. Pre&post accommodation not included. |
| Guest Parking: | Yes Details: |
| First Nations: | Visit Haida Heritage Sites |
| Additional Information: The jewel of the islands, Gwaii Haanas, provides the adventurous kayaker with stunning scenery, remote wilderness, fantastic wildlife, and the opportunity to visit important Haida cultural sites. Isolated from British Columbia by the infamous Hecate Strait, Haida Gwaii are ecologically unique. The 100 kilometres of open water has isolated the archipelago from the BC mainland, to the extent that there are at least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals that are found no place else in the world including the Haida Gwaii black bear. This bear has developed exceptionally strong jaws in order to take advantage of the abundance of hard-shelled seafood available. They are the largest black bears in North America. This trip is our longest offering, and provides visitors to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site with the opportunity to truly explore almost the entire protected area. This experience starts near the northern boundary of Gwaii Haanas, and culminates near the south end after a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SGang Gwaay Llnagaay (Anthony Island, Ninstints). It includes all the highlights found in the other trips, including visits to T’aanuu Llnagaay (Tanu) and Hlk’yah GaawGa (Windy Bay) and time for a soak at Gandll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Springs Island). This trip is our longest offering, and provides visitors to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site with the opportunity to truly explore almost the entire protected area. This experience starts near the northern boundary of Gwaii Haanas, and culminates near the south end after a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SGang Gwaay Llnagaay (Anthony Island, Ninstints). It includes all the highlights found in the other trips, including visits to T’aanuu Llnagaay (Tanu) and Hlk’yah GaawGa (Windy Bay) and time for a soak at Gandll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Springs Island). The length of the trip offers the best opportunities to view wildlife as the longer you are in the field, the better your chances. Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, and black bears are all prolific in this area. Gwaii Haanas is a wildlife viewer’s dream. There are 750,000 seabirds nesting in Gwaii Haanas, more bald eagle nests per kilometre of shoreline than anywhere else in Canada, and the highest breeding density of Peregrine falcons in the world. One third of British Columbia’s Steller sea lion population calls Haida Gwaii home and humpback whales may be seen throughout the area. Burnaby Narrows has some of the highest levels of living material of any intertidal zone in the world. Haida Gwaii has at least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals including the Haida Gwaii black bear which has developed exceptionally strong jaws in order to take advantage of the abundance of hard-shelled seafood available. They are the largest black bears in North America. As this trip combines our two eight day trips (our Northern and Southern Explorer tours), it is possible that not all guests continue for the entire trip – we take advantage of the changeover to re-supply with fresh food. (Some of the Ultimate Gwaii Haanas Explorer kayak tours start at or near Tanu Island near the northern boundary of the protected area and travel south as outlined in pre-departure information. However, some tours travel in the reverse direction, starting near Rose Harbour in the south and kayaking north to Tanu Island.) We provide you with all the necessary kayaking and camping equipment, including kayaks, paddling jackets, PFD (life jacket), group shelters, tents, sleeping pads, camp chairs and sleeping bags (you may bring your own). A comprehensive list of required personal items will be provided. All meals during the kayak trip are provided and prepared by your guides. We’re proud of our menu that includes abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, a wide variety of international dishes, and freshly baked treats. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated given sufficient prior notification. Transportation is all-inclusive from Sandspit by our network of vans and water taxis. |
|
Itinerary
-
Day
1Guests need to arrive in Sandspit the day before the trip departs. At 7:00 PM there is a pre-trip meeting with your guide at Moresby Explorers’ office, next to the Seaport B&B. At the meeting your guide(s) provide you with an overview of the trip, provide a mandatory Gwaii Haanas orientation, distribute dry bags to pack your gear, and answer any last minute questions you may have.
The next day, guests need to arrive in Sandspit the day before the trip departs. At 7:00 PM there is a pre-trip meeting with your guides at Moresby Explorers’ office, next to the Seaport B&B. At the meeting they'll provide you with an overview of the trip, provide a mandatory Gwaii Haanas orientation, distribute dry bags to pack your gear, and answer any last minute questions you may have.
You are picked up at your accommodation at approximately 7:30 AM by van. We travel over logging roads for about one hour to Moresby Camp where we then board an open zodiac (rigid hull inflatable boat) for an approximately two to four hour exhilarating ride into Gwaii Haanas.
Upon arrival at our first remote campsite, we set up camp and have a kayak and safety orientation. After lunch we try out the kayaks for the first time, exploring the waters surrounding camp.Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
2Starting near the northern boundary of Gwaii Haanas, near the abandoned Haida village of Tanu, this trip travels south, stopping each day at a new wilderness campsite. You can expect to see few people, and those that you do are likely be near the Haida cultural sites.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
3As we head south, we’ll travel through Darwin Sound, Juan Perez Sound, before crossing past Skincuttle Inlet and Carpenter Bay. Towards the south end, we’ll turn west into Houston Stewart Channel, and catch the first glimpses of the west side of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Most of our time is spent travelling the east coast of Moresby Island and the smaller islands close to it.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
4Given the length of the trip, it also offers the best opportunities to view wildlife as the longer you are in the field, the better your chances. Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, and black bears are all prolific in this area. Gwaii Haanas is a wildlife viewer’s dream.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
5The guides pick the route each day after considering the goals of the trip, abilities of the guests, and the weather and sea state. No two trips are identical, but all are amazing experiences.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
6Burnaby Narrows has some of the highest levels of living material of any intertidal zone in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
7There are 750,000 seabirds nesting in Gwaii Haanas, more bald eagle nests per kilometre of shoreline than anywhere else in Canada, and the highest breeding density of Peregrine falcons in the world. One third of British Columbia’s Steller sea lion population calls Haida Gwaii home and humpback whales may be seen throughout the area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
8Day eight is turnover day, with some guests leaving us, and others arriving. We also resupply with fresh food (e.g. fruit and cream for our coffee) for the remainder of the journey.
We will also be saying good bye to some guests and hello to others. Our Ultimate Gwaii Haanas tour combines our two 8 day trips in the area with some guests deciding just to do a segment of it or others choosing this Ultimate option that combines them both.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
9Exploring Gwaii Haanas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
10Exploring Gwaii Haanas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
11Exploring Gwaii Haanas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
12Exploring Gwaii Haanas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
13Exploring Gwaii Haanas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Accommodation by Customer
-
Day
14Exploring Gwaii Haanas.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
-
Day
15On the last day of the kayak tour, you’ll have time to reminisce about the previous days over a leisurely breakfast. Your transportation generally arrives about midday for the journey back to Sandspit where you have the opportunity to get together with the rest of your group for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accomodation: Accommodation by Customer
