Organized Tours in Queen Charlotte Islands
Tours & Excursions to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve
By far the easiest and most convenient way of visiting Gwaii Haanas is by joining a guided tour. Outfitters must be registered with park officials; the list of authorized tour operators is the best place to start shopping for expeditions into the park. Note that the park entry fee of C$20 per day may or may not be included in the cost of tour packages, so ask when booking.
Many outfitters, such as Butterfly Tours Great Expeditions (tel. 604/740-7018; www.butterflytours.bc.ca) -- alternately booked through Great Expeditions (tel. 800/663-3364 or 604/257-2040; www.greatexpeditions.com) -- offer kayaking packages that suit every age and experience level; Butterfly's 8-day tours start at C$2,480. Longtime sea-kayak outfitter Ecosummer Expeditions (tel. 800/465-8884 or 250/674-0102; www.ecosummer.com) offers 10-day trips to Gwaii Haanas, with prices starting at C$2,425. Pacific Rim Paddling Company (tel. 250/384-6103; www.pacificrimpaddling.com) has 7-day kayak trips to the park, with prices from C$2,095.
Sailing into Gwaii Haanas is another popular option, and most sailboat operators also have kayaks aboard for guests' use. Bluewater Adventures (tel. 888/877-1770 or 604/980-3800; www.bluewateradventures.ca) offers 8-day tours starting at C$4,200. Ocean Light II Adventures (tel. 604/328-5339; www.oceanlight2.bc.ca) offers 8-day Haida Gwaii sailings on a 22m (72-ft.) boat for C$3,500.
Inland Air Charters (tel. 888/551-4222 or 250/559-4222; www.inlandair.bc.ca) offers sightseeing seaplane flights to Hot Springs Island and SGang Gwaay 'Ilnagaay. The latter trip includes a landing at Rose Bay and a 20-minute boat ride to the ancient village, plus a guided tour. You need to charter the entire plane, at a cost of C$3,420, but the cost can be divided by up to five passengers; check the website, as weight restrictions may apply.
Diving charters around the islands, but not in Gwaii Haanas, can be arranged through Emerald Sea Sail and Scuba (tel. 250/635-5818; www.qcislands.net/emeraldsea).
