Haida Gwaii

Experience the awe, timeless beauty, and enriching culture of ‘the edge of the world’.

Discover Ancient & Living Culture

A biological and cultural trip for the senses

The Haida people have been living on Haida Gwaii since time immemorial. The southern islands are protected from the ocean floor to the mountain tops, forming Canada’s first marine protected area, and are only accessible by floatplane or boat. With over 100 islands, Haida Gwaii, briefly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, is one of the richest biological and cultural areas in North America.

Moments Captured

Stills from profound moments in Haida Gwaii.

Main Focal Points

Between the abundance of cultural history learning moments and the variety of wildlife to be seen, Haida Gwaii offers no lack of daily highlights. Here are a select few features that sets this tour apart.

Haida Culture

Haida culture has been established for thousands of years, and is completely intertwined with how we visit Haida Gwaii. Among the southern islands in Gwaii Haanas there are many historic village sites hosting the remains of great longhouses and the best remaining examples of original memorial poles in the world. One of these village sites, SGaang Gwaay, has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the remaining poles “bear unique testimony to the culture of the Haida” and are “recognized to be among the finest examples of its type in the world.”

Ancient Old Growth

The primal and majestic temperate rainforests of Haida Gwaii provide the perfect backdrop to this otherworldly location. Whether it be a towering Sitka spruce, standing potentially over 200’ tall, or a Western Red cedar that has stood in its place for over a millennia, the power and regality of this forest-scape is truly breathtaking.

Striking Biodiversity

Theories suggest that Haida Gwaii escaped the last ice age, forming a glacial refuge for certain plants and animals, creating the presence of plant species found nowhere else in the world and sub-species of various birds, fish, and mammals. This remarkable evolutionary showcase is why Haida Gwaii can be referred to as the “Galapagos of the North”.

Bluewater Adventures group walking along a train in a wooded forest with the sun shining through.

Ample Activity

Long summer days, several cultural sites, and countless protected coves offer numerous opportunities to get off the boat and explore either by foot or by kayak. Whether it be traversing moss laden rainforest, walking an established path to a traditional Haida village site, or peering into the kaleidoscopic intertidal from your own kayak seat, Haida Gwaii itineraries are rife with exploration opportunities.

Set Sail

Navigating our way through the maze of islands to the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas provides our captain and crew, with the help of good weather, many opportunities to travel under sail. With a little help from Mother Nature, this trip offers a host of possibilities to give our guests the silent, but thrilling, experience of setting sail on the Pacific Ocean.

Current Haida Gwaii Sailings

Running from mid-May to mid-August, come experience Haida Gwaii for yourself. Browse through our current Haida Gwaii sailings on offer to find a date and vessel that best suits you.

Schedules & Pricing

Visiting Responsibly

How We Tour Sustainably in Haida Gwaii

Bluewater Adventures is proud to donate to and support the Council of Haida Nation’s Watchmen Program. The Haida Watchmen are seasonal ambassadors to the various culturally significant sites in Gwaii Haanas, and provide education on the Haida culture to visitors who pass through.

Bluewater is happy to invite, schedules allowing, Haida Resource Guides onboard our trips whenever possible. By hiring local Haida guides, whether they be elders or artists, we hope to provide an authentic and deeply knowledgeable lens into the Haida culture as well as reduce our carbon footprint by hiring folks who live on island.

Prior to operating in Haida Gwaii and Gwaii Haanas, we ensure that all crew take part in the Parks Canada led Gwaii Haanas training, so that our crew are up to date on how to visit responsibly and provide current and appropriate information to our guests. In cooperation with Parks Canada, we also participate in beach clean ups on our trips whenever possible to help lessen our, and others’, impact on this incredible ecosystem with an aim to leave it better than we found it.

Trip Reflections from Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii captures the hearts and minds of every traveler fortunate enough to traverse through its mystical islands. Here is a small collection of guest experiences from Haida Gwaii.

“One of the things I most enjoyed on this trip was the silence within the forest, the silence – sometimes – spreading over the ocean. This quietness gave to me a sense of peace that continued throughout the trip. Black bears, whales, moss, the melodies of thrushes only added to this experience. Thank you [crew] for your support, leadership, and joy at being present moment to moment as we moved on trails through the forests, as we moved over splendid waters.”
Jim B.
“I expected to learn about the Haida – I did. I hoped to see whales – I did, humpback and Orcas for extended periods! I did not expect to feel so overwhelmed with emotion. The spirituality of this sacred place changed me.”
A. Turner
“The Watchmen were a highlight. I came away full of admiration for the Haida and feeling privileged to have heard their stories, seen their pride and openness.”
J.G., Vancouver BC
“I absolutely loved this trip. The Haida people, the islands, the sights and sites, the history, the art, the nature, the marine life, the water, the boat, the sailing!!!! To be immersed in nature and with the Haida culture was phenomenal. There is such connectivity throughout these islands and their people with nature, with their ancestors, with tradition, with the poles. Absolutely captivating and eye-opening, and sense stunning.”
S.C., Newport Beach, USA