A trip of a lifetime, all expectations were exceeded, thank you for the lasting memories.
The North Nomad
Experience the pathless traveled and North Nomad difference — Go beyond sightseeing and immerse yourself in the wild, remote and deeply storied character of Haida Gwaii. The North Nomad, is an extraordinary journey through ancient forests, protected coastlines, sea bird – seal colonies, and places rich with Haida history and culture.
With over three decades of kayaking on Haida Gwaii – some of my favorite shoreline to explore and places to camp are found on this trip.
Our route explores the northern part of Gwaii Haanas alongside the protected conservancies of Ḵ’uuna Gwaay and Kunx̱alas. Together, these remarkable areas safeguard an incredible diversity of marine and terrestrial life, from old-growth forests and rugged shorelines to some of the region’s most important marine habitats.
Into the Wild North
Our journey begins along the shoreline and through the ancient old-growth forests of Kunga Island, where the landscape offers a glimpse into the wild character of Haida Gwaii.
We’ll also visit T’aanuu Llnagaay (Tanu), a culturally significant Haida village site known for its historic longhouse sites and as the resting place of renowned Haida artist Bill Reid. Here, the landscape becomes a gateway to understanding the deep cultural connections between the Haida people and these islands.
The waters surrounding the northern conservancies are equally extraordinary. This highly productive marine environment provides vital habitat for an abundance of wildlife, including harbour seals, Steller sea lions, seabirds and migrating whales travelling through Hecate Strait.
The northern islands are home to an impressive array of wildlife. Long-term research and monitoring by Environment Canada, the Laskeek Bay Conservation Society and the Research Group on Introduced Species has documented seabirds, shorebirds, marine mammals and cavity-nesting birds, along with the remarkable plant diversity found throughout the region.
Keep your eyes open for peregrine falcons, pelagic cormorants, ancient murrelets, tufted puffins and marbled murrelets—just some of the species that depend on these protected ecosystems.
Quick Fact – Laskeek Bay is home to the Ancient Murrelet, which can be considered “the” seabird of the Haida Gwaii archipelago, where an estimated 50% of the global population breeds.
A Journey Through Haida History
One of the highlights of The North Nomad is our visit to Ḵ’uuna Llnagaay (Skedans), a Haida Heritage Site where towering memorial and mortuary poles stand among the remains of an ancestral village.
Here, we have the opportunity to meet the Haida Watchmen, who bring the landscape to life through stories of the people, places and traditions connected to this special site. It is an experience that offers a deeper understanding of Haida culture and the enduring relationship between the Haida and these lands and waters.
Why You’ll Love the North Nomad
- Discover the less-travelled northern reaches of this spectacular protected landscape.
- Experience the beauty and scale of old-growth coastal forests on Kunga Island.
- Visit Limestone Island Research Station — Discover vital nesting habitats and reflect on our connection to the natural world.
- Visit significant cultural sites and hear stories shared by the Haida Watchmen.
- With over three decades of kayaking on Haida Gwaii – some of my favorite shoreline to explore and places to camp are found on this trip.
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 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 variables.
Over the 4 days we’ll paddle west from Alliford Bay toward Long Arm. We’ll spend our days navigating islands and islets, seeking out natural treasures, finding time to soak up the wonder of the wilderness, and allow nature to help us all reconnect.
Day 1
Your adventure begins in Sandspit (K’il Kun), BC, home to the island’s main airport. We’ll pick you up at your accommodations in Sandspit at 7:30 a.m. and transport you to our launch point at Alliford Bay.
Day 2 – 8
Formal Itinerary to follow…
2026 Kayak Vacations
All prices are in Canadian Dollars. Prices do not include the 5% GST
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 success of the tour depends on the weather, tides, guests’ interests, and the overall ability of the group. No one person, including guides, has no control over such variables.
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
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.
