Happy Anniversary! 2024 marks our 35th season exploring Haida Gwaii.
Since 1989, Ocean Sound Kayaking’s Haida Gwaii tour has been a popular choice for those seeking flexibility, remoteness, wildlife, and Haida Totems. If you want more time kayaking and less time packing and unpacking, then this tour is perfect for you. Haida Gwaii kayak tours offer a true west coast environment rich in adventure and imagination.
The remote southern waters present new discoveries each day, such as endless beaches, hidden inlets, old-growth forests, Haida cultural sites, and an abundance of wildlife that Gwaii Haanas is known for. The nutrient-rich southern waters of Gwaii Haanas provide paddlers with endless wildlife encounters, including the always entertaining Humpback and Minke whales, or the occasional pod of Killer Whales. Seabirds such as Tufted Puffins and Rhinoceros Auklets nest throughout this area. There are several well-established Stellar Sea Lion and Seal haul-outs as well, which can be enjoyed from a distance.
Guests can freely design their own agenda since this tour is not as tide or weather-dependent as our expedition trips. We often use several base camps, allowing paddlers the opportunity to intimately explore an area or move on to the next site as they wish.
The area was home to the Kunghit Haida, a group isolated from their Northern Haida counterparts. A visit to the village of SGang Gwaay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the highlights of the trip. One hundred and twenty years after being abandoned, a row of standing poles still remains as evidence of the once-flourishing culture. This island jewel boasts the largest number of original standing totem poles in the world!
This rugged, wind-swept shoreline dotted with incredible beaches is a true west coast experience for all abilities to enjoy!
Click here to see the difference between an Expedition Tour and Basecamp Style Tour
Take a virtual tour of SGang Gwaay
Reviewing the Tour Map allows guests the opportunity to get familiar with the highlights, wildlife, and geographical locations of the tour. The goals of our Haida Gwaii kayak trips are to be fun, engaging, educational, and relaxing.
Kayaking Gwaii Haanas – Haida Gwaii is a true wilderness experience and requires a flexible mindset to travel safely in a self-propelled vessel. This is a self-supported kayak tour, which uses a mixed fleet of kayaks for your convenience, confidence and enjoyment. The success of the tour depends on weather, tides, guest interests, and the overall ability of the group. No one person (guides included) can have any control over such v
ariables.
Below is an itinerary, created from over two decades of travel thru Gwaii Haanas, that guests have enjoyed. That said, it is your tour, and you may have your own personal bucket list to check off, so OSK will try to facilitate any deviations from the below schedule.
Day 1 Your tour starts with our friends from Moresby Explorers picking you up at your accommodations in K’il Kun (Sandspit), the location of the islands’ main airport. They will entertain you with stories and point out coastal attractions while transporting you by zodiac to Rose Harbor, found in the remote southern end of Gwaii Haanas National Park, where your Haida Gwaii kayak tour will begin. From 1905 to 1942 this was a once flourishing whaling station. Today, Rose Harbor boasts a population of four hardy west coast characters that homestead on site. This special place offers rustic accommodations and excellent local cuisine for travelers.
Once introduced to our mixed fleet of single and double kayaks, our objective is to travel safely in accordance with the weather, tides and general interests of the group. Each day you will explore somewhere new. Leaving Rose Harbor, we will establish our first wilderness camp in one of the many bays and islands found on the east coast of Kunghit Island.
Days 2 – 7 
Opportunities to view Humpback and Minke whales that often feed in these waters is possible. Feeding on krill, and small fish, a Humpback will consume over 1.5 tons (1,361 kg) of food a day. While the female is slightly larger than the male (45- 50 feet), these whales are capable of breeching their 40 tons completely out of the water – a sight never to be forgotten. These nutrient rich waters also create habitat for seals and Stellar Sea Lions. Weather permitting, paddling alongside the towering cliffs found in this quiet environment is one of our favourite places in Gwaii Haanas. From this location, not only do you get the opportunity to view the many Tufted Puffins that nest and feed here, but a glance of Cape St. James- the most southern point of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) is a treat. Besides big vistas, and amazing sunsets, guests are allowed to fish the eastern waters of Gwaii Haanas.
Yes, fishing from a kayak is often a highlight as you have a chance of providing yourself with a freshly caught meal- something no restaurant can offer. Please note that fishing is not permitted west of Rose Harbor, due to an established Rock Fish Conservation Area.
Moving camp and paddling through Huston Stewart Channel towards Rose Inlet, you get your first sight of the Pacific Ocean. Not yet ready for open ocean, we establish another remote camp along the shore of Rose Inlet. Rose Inlet allows us to explore the old growth forests that Haida Gwaii is known for. Walking through these towering forests kayakers see the Western Red Cedar tree (Thuja plicata) which is the provincial tree of British Columbia, and also known to coastal natives as the “TREE OF LIFE”. Guests can reflect on how the Haida felled these trees and stripped bark for cedar ornaments, clothing, houses, totem poles, and canoes.
Kayakers are also exposed to ancient fish weirs; places that the Haida once gathered migrating salmon in the fall months, before returning to their winter village of SGang Gwaay.
Now familiar with the local wildlife, history, and surroundings of Kunghit Island we head out to the open ocean. Paddling around Cape Fanny, the southern tip of Moresby Island, sends tingles through even the most seasoned visitor, and the Pacific Ocean sets the rhythm for the day. 
Our next camp will be within close proximity to Anthony Island, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SGang Gwaay.
Take a virtual tour of SGang Gwaay.
The following day a short crossing brings us to the climax of our journey where we will spend the day in the presence of the Totems of the Pacific. Paddling the west coast jewel can offer you another opportunity to view Stellar Sea lions and seals that haul out on the many islets surrounding the island. Paddling up the west coast to Cape Freeman can also be an option, weather permitting. Exploring this less-travelled corridor provides vast views up and down the west coast of Haida Gwaii. Whether it is playing with an octopus or a nudibranch in a tide pool by camp, or sea kayaking along the shoreline at low tide, opportunities to enjoy the colorful intertidal life that kayaking Haida Gwaii is known for, are abundant throughout your journey.
Day 7 From our west coast camp, kayaking to an established bird colony to enjoy the many Tufted Puffins, and possibly a rare sighting of the well-dressed Horned Puffins, is a highlight to the day. Other birds such as the rhinoceros’ auklet, marbled murrelet, pigeon guillemot, Cormorant (pelagic and double crested), and a variety of sea gulls can be found in these waters.
Day 8 The final day, we will paddle amongst the many islands and islets of Houston Stewart Channel in the morning, and then prepare for your return to your accommodations in Sandspit. This is a true coastal experience for both beginners and experienced paddlers, and an adventure you will never forget!
2025 Kayak Vacations
We have extended our 2024 Anniversary Prices into the 2025 season for you to Enjoy!
2026 Early Bird Sale
Introducing people to Haida Gwaii has been our specialty since 1989. Why settle for second best?
Designed with you in mind, OSK is offering our 2026 tours at the following prices for a limited time.
Review all Haida Gwaii Kayak Tour Dates
Click Here – for details on wildlife, highlights and geographical locations regarding this tour.
Below is an overview, created from over two decades of travel through Gwaii Haanas, that guests have enjoyed. Kayaking Gwaii Haanas – Haida Gwaii is a true wilderness and requires a flexible mindset to travel safely in a self-propelled kayak.
The perfect vacation looks different for everyone, so it’s important to ask yourself some initial questions when planning a trip to Haida Gwaii.
Please take note that Ocean Sound Kayaking does not accept direct online bookings.
Instead, we prefer to communicate with our guests over the phone when possible. This allows us to introduce ourselves, answer any questions you may have about designing the perfect trip for you, or about Haida Gwaii in general. Additionally, this process allows OSK to create a cohesive group well before we even meet on Haida Gwaii.
This is what sets us apart – the OSK difference.
We have been introducing people of all ages, abilities, from around the world to Haida Gwaii for the past 30 years, and we want to ensure that all our guests have a clear understanding of our trips before we start, so that your expectations are met.
Personal Fitness
First and foremost, it’s important to note that age is just a number to us. We see that you are an adventurous soul who seeks intrinsic wilderness experiences, and that’s exactly what we aim to provide. If you’re in good physical condition and willing to share in occasional camp chores, you’re welcome on our tours.
We travel in a self-propelled mix fleet of single and double sea kayaks, without any support boat on any of our kayak tours. Kayak experience isn’t required, but we ask that guests feel comfortable around water. More important than your paddling skill is your past camping experience, which will assist you greatly in ensuring your comfort in a remote wilderness setting like Haida Gwaii.
Lifting and Carrying
To make any trip successful, all guests must participate in the daily chores and contribute to the overall team environment, such as food cache, meal prep and clean up, setting up camp, collecting firewood, and drinking water. We can accommodate guests with physical limitations in this department, but we expect guests to be able to carry up to 20-30 pounds, as kayaks must be placed above the high tide line nightly in teams of 6-8 people.
Toilets
There are no outhouse facilities throughout Gwaii Haanas. We use low-impact practices such as the “intertidal flush,” which is a standard set by Parks Canada for all kayakers in Gwaii Haanas. Your guide will brief you on this practice and present a private area for the group washroom at each rest stop and campsite.
Bathing and Water
Many of our chosen camps have a freshwater source to collect water and take a bath. Your guides will create the boundaries along with a private location for guests. The kayak tour can carry 110 liters of water to sites that do not have a suitable or reliable water supply. Non-scented wet wipes are handy items around camp as they are convenient and easy.
OSK Principles
Our goal is to offer a wilderness experience that will remove you from your everyday distractions, replacing cell phones with solitude, and streetlights with stars. Let’s keep the wild, “WILD.” With this in mind, it’s our responsibility to travel through Haida Gwaii with an ethical approach. Haida Gwaii is known as the “Galapagos of the Pacific Northwest” and can offer some incredible wildlife experiences. Your guide will provide you with a trip orientation on day one, a Parks Canada requirement for all Gwaii Haanas guests. The orientation is to offer insight into the Haida Culture, the sensitivity of Ecological Reserves, and to deliver awareness of how our tours will practice industry standards regarding low-impact camping and wildlife encounters.
The OSK Team has designed a few tutorials for you.
A compressive Trip Planner and further videos will be presented to all guest once registered on a tour with Ocean Sound Kayaking, referencing over 30 years of questions and answers.