Arrival

Arrival

Haida Gwaii Kayaking Tour Travel Notes

Guests need to arrive at Sandspit Airport (YZP) on the northeast tip of Moresby Island the day before the first scheduled day of the trip. Upon arrival, check in with Moresby Explorers to confirm where you need to meet up the following day. The balance of the day is free to explore Sandspit, walk the beach, and watch some of the many bald eagles that dot the treetops along the shoreline.

Overnight: Sandspit

Meals: None

Day 1

Day 1

At approximately 7:30 AM, the Moresby Explorers will pick you up and drive the group to Moresby Camp, a small Bay on Cumshuwa Inlet. There, you will board the Moresby Explorers’ inflatable for an exhilarating 2½-hour trip along the coast of Moresby Island to Wanderer Island just north of Burnaby Narrows. After settling into camp, there will be a sea kayaking orientation and an exploration of the area to try out new skills.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2

Day 2

After breakfast, we start our Haida Gwaii kayaking trip and set a course for Burnaby Strait and Dolomite Narrows (Burnaby Narrows). The dramatic profile of Yatza Mountain dominates the skyline as we round the southern tip of Burnaby Island. Floating the narrows by kayaking, we will experience the colorful pageant of this biological wonder at close quarters before returning to our camp on Wanderer Island.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3

Day 3

An early start. After a breakfast, we will load the kayaks and set out, passing between Burnaby and Moresby Islands. Crossing Skincuttle Inlet, the ecological reserve of the Copper Islands, is visible to the north. We pass the old village site of Hagi on Bolkus Island and the abandoned mine works at Jedway as we head south toward our first campsite.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4

Day 4

Today, we will continue south, crossing Collison Bay, the site of one of the earliest European settlements on the islands, toward Goodwin Point, past the Rankine Islands ecological reserve sea bird nesting site toward our campsite, the old village site of Kaidju at Benjamin Point. A short walk across the point from the protected north cove leads to a remarkable view of the point’s winter storm-battered south shore.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5

Day 5

Rounding Benjamin Point, we get our first view of Kunghit Island. As we swing into Houston Stewart Channel, we enter a narrow passageway from Hecate Strait to the Pacific and paddle into the territory of the Kunghit Haida and their last chief, Ninstints. Our camp is on Ross Island.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6

Day 6

Riding the tide through the remainder of Houston Stewart, we get an expanding view of the Pacific and finally Anthony Island comes into view to the west. After rounding the southern tip of Moresby Island through Cape Fanny, we head toward our camp tonight at Louscoone Point, an ideal jumping off spot for our visit to the ancient village of SGang Gwaay on Anthony Island.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7

Day 7

A short but dramatic paddle takes us past Adam Rocks and into the protected cove on the west side of the island. Entering the old village, one can’t help but be touched by the haunting majesty of the standing poles. We will spend as much time as possible exploring the village and have a visit with the Haida Watchmen (the Haida caretakers of the ancient sites in the park who are well known for extending legendary Haida hospitality) before setting out for Raspberry Cove.

Overnight: Wilderness Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8

Day 8

The final day of our Haida Gwaii kayaking adventure — a leisurely morning on Ross Island, as we pack up personal gear and await the arrival of Moresby Explorers. The return trip is scheduled to have participants back in Sandspit by very late afternoon or early evening.

Overnight: Sandspit

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Departure

Departure

A Note on Itineraries

Itineraries are intended as guidelines only. Tofino Expeditions reserves the right to change the itinerary without advance notice at the discretion of the guides due to weather conditions or other general or logistical situations at the time of the trip. Tofino Expeditions is committed to producing trips of consistently high quality and safety without compromise.

Overnight: N/A

Meals: None

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