SEA KAYAK GWAII HAANAS - HAIDA GWAII

Unplug to Reconnect – Haida Gwaii is a different world, its a place where fast lives slow down…

It’s as far removed as possible from the crowds, traffic jams, street lights of the city, and your daily distractions.

On April 14, 2024, the Haida Nation, and BC recognizes Haida Aboriginal title, a historical first in Canada.  “Rising Tide” Haida Title Lands Agreement, is a first-of-its-kind negotiated agreement recognizing Haida Aboriginal title in Haida Gwaii.  Read more from the Council of Haida Nation about this historical event.

Haida Gwaii, is situated in the Pacific Northwest, about 90 miles away from the British Columbia mainland and less than 35 miles away from the Alaskan panhandle’s glacier-capped mountains. The Haida Culture is intertwined with the sea and land in this region.

In 2010, the Haida First Nations and the Canadian Government officially changed the name of the Queen Charlotte Islands to Haida Gwaii, which means “Islands of the People.”

Gwaii Haanas National Park is a world leader in conservation, covering an area of approximately 4900 square kilometers from the mountaintop to the ocean floor. It is the largest integrated sea-land conservation management area globally, encompassing over 200 islands. Sea kayakers can explore 1,700 km of shoreline, over 800 watersheds, and it is home to 20% of British Columbia’s seabird population.

The archipelago is famously known as the “Galapagos of the North” and has been recognized for its beauty and conservation efforts. In 2005, National Geographic Traveler magazine ranked Gwaii Haanas as the top park destination in North America. In 2014, the magazine named Haida Gwaii one of the world’s top 20 places to visit.

To protect the wilderness, Gwaii Haanas operates on a very limited permit system. There are only a few licensed operators allowed to offer kayak tours in Gwaii Haanas, and Ocean Sound Kayaking is one of them. 

Review our Preparation Page to help with your initial planning.