EDGE OF THE PACIFIC GWAII HAANAS EXPLORER – EXPEDITION KAYAKING
There are few places where the boundaries between land, sea, and culture feel as intertwined as they do in Gwaii Haanas. In the southern reaches of Haida Gwaii, towering forests tumble toward rocky shorelines, the mountains rise from the sea, and the islands meet the vastness of the Pacific. Here, “Edge of the Pacific” is more than a view from shore. Off the west coast of Haida Gwaii, the continental shelf drops steeply toward the deep ocean, bringing the influence of the open Pacific into the waters surrounding the islands we explore. Deep, nutrient-rich water can rise toward the surface, helping support a marine food web that sustains everything from tiny drifting organisms to seabirds and whales. To explore this landscape by kayak is to experience that connection at the pace of the ocean, quietly, intimately, and with every turn revealing something new.
This five-day expedition focuses on the rugged coastlines of Kints’uwid K’idsii (Houston Stewart Channel) and the cultural heart of the expedition, SG̱ang Gwaay (Anthony Island), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An open-water crossing brings us to this remarkable Haida village site, where the remains of longhouses and carved memorial and mortuary poles offer a powerful connection to Haida history and culture. Along the way, we’ll paddle through a coastline shaped by towering forests, exposed headlands, and the ever-changing rhythm of the Pacific, with opportunities to encounter humpback whales, transient orcas, harbour seals, Steller sea lions, and abundant seabirds.
With less distance to cover than our eight-day Southern Gwaii Haanas Explorer, this focused route allows us to spend more time exploring the landscapes around Kints’uwid K’idsii and SG̱ang Gwaay, while still embracing the challenges of expedition kayaking. Open-water crossings, wind, waves, currents, and changing coastal conditions remain part of the experience. Each night, we settle into a new wilderness campsite, where the sounds of the ocean and rainforest replace the distractions of everyday life.
You might think it’s hard to put a satisfying end to a journey through Gwaii Haanas, but we’ve partnered with Raincoast Breads in K’il Kun (Sandspit) to provide a memorable final dinner upon your return from your expedition. Raincoast Breads is a hidden gem: celebrated as Canada’s pinnacle of haute cuisine, they were the first restaurant in Canada authorized to forage wild ingredients. The result is an extraordinary, hyper-local, seasonal dinner-tasting menu, melding flavours from the forest to the sea. This exquisite dining experience is included with all Kingfisher Gwaii Haanas tour packages.
Join us on the Gwaii Haanas South Explorer kayak tour for five days of expedition-style adventure through the southern reaches of Haida Gwaii, a journey through breathtaking coastal landscapes, rich Haida cultural heritage, abundant wildlife, and the untamed beauty of one of British Columbia’s most remarkable wilderness destinations.
Price: Double occupancy (shared tent): $2,795.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent): $3,045.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST).
*additional charges for some dietary restrictions
Group Size: Maximum of eight guests and two guides.
Participants: This tour is adult-oriented but participants as young as 15 may be accepted.
Suitability: Previous multi-day kayaking and backcountry camping experience is required for this tour.
Departs: Sandspit, Haida Gwaii
Season: July
Searching Availability…
We know organizing expeditions in remote locations can present its own logistical challenges—but that’s where we step in! With each of Kingfisher’s Gwaii Haanas Explorer tours, you can expect:
- A smooth start—meet one of your guides in Sandspit the evening before departure for an orientation and handing out gear
- A fully equipped tour: we provide tents, sleeping pads and bags, drybags, splash-proof paddling jackets, and all other essential kayaking, camping, and safety gear
- A fully catered menu and plenty of snacks—contact us here to discuss how we can meet your dietary needs!
- Smaller group sizes: at most, our groups consist of eight guests and two guides for a smoother, more intimate experience
- End your tour with an unforgettable meal at Raincoast Breads, the first restaurant in Canada permitted to forage wild ingredients. Their seasonal, hyper-local menus offer an unprecedented connection with the landscape through your taste buds!
A Kingfisher tour is an all-inclusive experience—all you need to bring is your personal clothing, toiletries, and a smile! A guest information page is provided with a guest handbook, that includes a list of suitable clothing and other items, plus videos on how to pack, waivers, and participant detail forms.
- Expect a 2-4 hr open Zodiac water taxi transit at the beginning and end of the tour.
- Paddle a fully loaded single and/or double kayak for 4-6 hours per day for multiple days.
- Expect to spend time in a double kayak during your tour. With advance notice, we can often accommodate guests who want to spend their entire trip in a double kayak but we cannot accommodate guests who want to spend their entire trip in a single kayak.
- Paddle in wind, current, and waves
- Kayaking in winds up to 20 Knots can be expected
- Currents of 3 Knots
- Swell of 1 to 2 metres (6 feet)
- Wind waves of 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 feet)
- Climb on and off our zodiac water taxi to the beach at the beginning and end of the trip.
- Assist with loading and offloading of gear and supplies from water taxi. If you have physical limitations that may make this difficult contact our office before booking to ensure this can be accommodated.
- Carry heavy kayaks and gear up and down the beach (this is often the most physically demanding part of the trip)
- Beaches vary from sand, to pebble, to small boulders, to jagged rocks. At low tide, beaches can be covered in slippery seaweed. The upper reaches of the beach are often covered in logs and seaweed Some beaches may require landing through small surf. This is often the most physically demanding part of the trip.
If you have physical limitations that may make this difficult contact our office before booking to ensure this can be accommodated.
- Back-country camp for four consecutive nights
- Please note that while rain usually does not affect our ability to change camps, wind can prevent us from paddling and require us to spend multiple days at one site.
- Break-down, move, and set-up camp most days
- Use the inter-tidal area for low-impact toilet use. This is a wilderness area and there are no facilities, including outhouses, in the areas we visit.
- Recognize that wildlife does not operate on our schedules. Our guides are very knowledgeable and attempt to provide as many wildlife viewings as possible. However, there are no guarantees when it comes to viewing specific species.
- Stay upbeat and positive in various conditions. We are in a rainforest and over eight days, we may encounter all kinds of weather imaginable.
- We pride ourselves on the wholesome hearty meals we provide on our tours. The effort that goes into planning, organizing, and executing our wilderness menus is quite extensive. We are happy to accommodate many dietary restrictions on our tours but each restriction adds to the complexity of this planning and adds additional costs. Below are some of the common restrictions we can accommodate on our base camp tours and any additional costs associated with it that you will be charged.
- No red meat – no additional cost
- No seafood – no additional cost
- Vegetarian – no additional cost
- Vegan +$100
- Gluten intolerant +$100
- Lactose intolerant +$100
- If you have dietary restrictions not listed above (for example, you hate onions and are unwilling to pick around them in a meal), or have allergies or medical conditions (like celiac disease, egg, soy or peanut allergies) that prevent certain foods from being enjoyed by other guests on the trip, please contact our office to discuss whether we can accommodate your needs.
- Some dietary needs that we cannot accommodate include nightshade allergies (potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers) or keto and paleo diets.
- We will send out a detailed Guest Handbook for more information on how to best prepare for this tour.
- If you wish to discuss your suitability for this or any of our other kayak tours contact us at info@kingfisher.ca or phone 1-866-546-4347 in North America or +1-250-856-4617 internationally.
Exact kayaking routes may vary depending on currents, tides, weather, and possible wildlife sightings.
Day 0: Arrival and Pre-Trip Orientation
- Location: K’il Kun (Sandspit); pre-trip meeting at Moresby Explorers’ Office, adjacent to the Seaport B&B.
- Details: Guests should arrive in K’il Kun (Sandspit) a day before the tour begins. A meeting is scheduled for 7:00 PM with a Kingfisher guide to cover essential details about the adventure ahead. This session includes a comprehensive overview of the trip, a mandatory orientation for Gwaii Haanas, the distribution of dry bags for gear packing, and a Q&A session for any inquiries.
- Meals Included: None.
Day 1: Journey to Gwaii Haanas
- Pick-up: Approximately 7:30 AM from your accommodations.
- Journey: The adventure begins with a scenic van ride through the forest, followed by an exhilarating two-hour zodiac journey to our initial campsite. Here, we’ll conduct a kayak and safety briefing before launching our kayaks for an exploratory paddle.
- Camp Setup: Upon reaching our first remote campsite, we’ll establish camp, have a kayak and safety briefing, and post-lunch, embark on our inaugural kayak exploration.
- Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner.
Days 2 to 4: Exploring Gwaii Haanas
- Highlights: Our journey focuses on the spectacular waters and rugged coastlines of Kints’uwid K’idsii (Houston Stewart Channel), where scenic passages and exposed headlands offer an intimate introduction to the southern reaches of Gwaii Haanas. We’ll paddle through remote coastal landscapes rich with marine life and old-growth rainforest, before reaching the cultural heart of our expedition at SG̱ang Gwaay (Anthony Island). A UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Haida village, SG̱ang Gwaay offers a profound connection to Haida history and culture, with the remains of longhouses and carved memorial and mortuary poles standing among the towering forest.
- Daily Routine: Weather permitting, we relocate camp daily, offering a fresh perspective of the archipelago’s beauty each morning. The route and activities are tailored to the group’s abilities and conditions, ensuring a unique and memorable experience for all.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5: Reflection and Return
- Morning: We spend the morning reflecting on our shared experiences over a leisurely breakfast.
- Return Journey: Midday, the zodiac will return us to K’il Kun (Sandspit), with an anticipated late afternoon or early evening arrival.
- Farewell Dinner: In partnership with Raincoast Breads in K’il Kun (Sandspit), we celebrate our expedition with a tasting menu showcasing local delicacies, encapsulating some of the region’s finest culinary treasures. This farewell dinner is included in your tour package.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Our Guest Handbook contains details on preparing for your kayak tour. Included in the handbook is travel and accommodation information, a list of what to bring, what you can expect while you are kayaking, wildlife viewing etiquette, participant detail form and release forms. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any specific questions you may have that are not covered in the Guest Handbook.
The climate in Gwaii Haanas is typical of British Columbia’s outer west coast – cool and wet virtually any time of the year. The best weather is usually between mid-June and mid-August. During July and August the average temp is about 15°C with an average daily minimum and maximum of 12°C and 17°C. For maximum enjoyment on your trip in all types of weather please bring the items listed below.
Suggested reading
All of our tours carry a small library of field guides and local history books. Some of the books listed below are larger “coffee table” books that are too big to fit in our kayaks. If you wish to learn more about the area prior to your trip these books provide a great narrative with stunning photographs. Each title is linked to Amazon.com and open in a new window.
The Queen Charlotte Islands Book 2: Of Places and Names
Ninstints: Haida World Heritage Site
The Golden Spruce: A True Story Of Myth, Madness, And Greed
Raven’s Cry
Islands at the edge: Preserving the Queen Charlotte Islands Wilderness
To The Charlottes – George’s Dawson’s 1878 Survey of the Queen Charlotte Islands
A Guide to the Queen Charlotte Islands
Chiefs of the Sea and Sky: Haida Heritage Sites of the Queen Charlotte Islands
Charts
Your guides have charts of the area and will review them with guests each day. If you wish to bring your own chart(s) they are listed below. Each chart is linked to the corresponding page on the Canadian Hydrographic Service’s website and you can search where to buy these charts locally (links will open in a new window).
Chart 3808 – Juan Perez Sound – 1:37,500
Chart 3809 – Carpenter Bay to/à Burnaby Island – 1:37,500
We provide high quality three season tents. For couples we provide three person tents, and for solo travelers a slightly smaller 2 person tent. Therm-a-rest sleeping pads, and warm mummy-style sleeping bags with liners are all provided to ensure a good night’s sleep. A small library of natural history books is on every trip.
On the water we use stable single and double fibreglass kayaks and lightweight carbon/vinyl paddles. Waterproof kayaking jackets, personal floatation devices, and neoprene kayaking mitts are provided to keep you warm and dry while kayaking.
Includes: 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 can be read by clicking on the “Preparation” tab above. All meals during the kayak trip are provided and prepared by your guides. Transportation is all-inclusive from Sandspit by our network of vans and water taxis. Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site Fees.
What is not included: We do not provide transport from your home to Sandspit, nor do we provide airport transfers. Accommodation in Sandspit is not included. Any meals outside the kayak portion of the tour are your responsibility. Travel insurance for accidents or emergency evacuation is not provided; we recommend you purchase a policy before leaving home. The trip price does not include guide gratuities; should you feel that the service was exemplary, it is always appreciated.
This tour departs from Sandspit on South Moresby Island, Haida Gwaii.
It is imperative that guests arrive in Sandspit no later than the day before the kayak tour’s departure date. At the end of the trip, the earliest guests should plan to head home is the morning after the tour ends. Better still, spend a few more days to explore more of the islands. The Haida Heritage Centre is worth the visit.
Travelling by Air
Flights to Sandspit – YZP from Vancouver depart from the main terminal of Vancouver International Airport – YVR and are approximately 2 hours. These flights are operated by Air Canada.
Travelling by Ferry
BC Ferries services Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) from Prince Rupert. The crossing is approximately 7 hours. Once arriving in Skidegate on Haida Gwaii another short ferry ride is necessary to reach nearby Alliford Bay, a 15 minute drive from Sandspit. If you have the time an Inside Passage ferry runs between Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert.
Via Rail offers train service to Prince Rupert from Jasper. Travel to Jasper from Vancouver or Edmonton by train.
Recommended Accommodations
Seaport B&B
Additional Accommodations
Bayview Garden B&B
