“ONCE A YEAR GO SOME PLACE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE”

Welcome to Your Haida Gwaii Adventure

For more than 30 years, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming guests of all ages and abilities from around the world to experience the wild beauty of Haida Gwaii.

Our goal is simple: we want you to know what to expect before you arrive, so you can feel prepared, confident, and excited for the adventure ahead.

Adventure Has No Age Limit

You don’t need to be a lifelong paddler or an experienced adventurer to join us. If you’re in reasonably good general health, comfortable around water, excited to explore a remote wilderness, and happy to lend a hand with the occasional camp chore, you’ll fit right in.

Previous kayaking – Canoeing experience can be an asset, but not required

We travel as a self-supported fleet of single and double sea kayaks, without a support boat. This means that a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and you are adaptable.  More important – ALL guests must have past camping experiences, this is often more valuable than previous paddling experience.

You’ll learn as you go, and our guides will be there to teach, encourage, and support you along the way.

A Typical Day on the Water

One of the questions we hear most often is:

“How far will we kayak each day?”

The honest answer? Every day is a little different.

Our route and daily distance are influenced by tides, wind, swell, weather, and the pace of the group. Because our expeditions are fully self-supported, we have the flexibility to adapt our plans to the conditions. Safety and enjoyment always come first.

Rather than focusing on nautical miles, it’s more useful to think about time on the water.

On most days, we aim to paddle for approximately 5–6 hours total — generally 2½–3 hours in the morning and another 2½–3 hours in the afternoon. Along the way, there’s plenty of time to stop for snacks, stretch your legs, explore the shoreline, take in the scenery, and simply enjoy where you are.

It’s to travel efficiently and safely, experience the incredible beauty of Haida Gwaii, and enjoy the journey together.

And Yes… Sometimes It Rains!

We wish we could promise that every day would bring sunshine, calm seas, and a helpful wind at our backs. Mother Nature, however, has never been particularly interested in following our itinerary!

There may be days when we paddle in the rain, work our way into the wind, or adjust our plans because of changing conditions. A good sense of humour, flexibility, and a positive attitude go a long way.

The weather is part of the adventure — and often makes the stories we tell later even better.

Teamwork Makes the Adventure

A successful kayak expedition is a team effort. Everyone arrives with different skills, strengths, and experiences, and that’s part of what makes each group unique.

Our trips are participatory adventures, which means everyone has a role to play. You may find yourself helping prepare a meal, washing dishes, gathering firewood, collecting water, carrying kayaks, organizing camp, or helping with food storage.

Don’t worry — we’re not expecting you to be an expert at everything! Some people are fantastic in the kitchen, others are natural organizers, strong paddlers, enthusiastic fire builders, or simply great at keeping everyone laughing.

Whatever your strengths, there’s a place for you on the team.

Working together keeps camp running smoothly, but it also creates something more important: camaraderie. Shared responsibilities, small challenges, and plenty of time together in the wilderness have a wonderful way of turning strangers into friends.

Our guides are there to lead, teach, and support the group, but the best expeditions are those where everyone contributes. Together, we create a safe, inclusive, rewarding, and unforgettable experience.

Lifting & Camp Life

Life in a remote wilderness comes with a little more hands-on participation than a typical vacation — and that’s part of the fun!

Daily camp tasks may include:

• Preparing meals and helping with cleanup
• Setting up and organizing camp
• Collecting water and firewood
• Helping move kayaks above the high-tide line each evening
• Assisting with food and gear storage

We can accommodate many physical limitations, and we encourage you to talk with us ahead of time about any concerns or limitations you may have.

Guests should be comfortable carrying approximately 20–30 lb (9–14 kg) and participating in shared camp responsibilities.

You don’t have to be the strongest person in the group. We work together, share the load, and help each other out.

Washrooms & Bathing

A wilderness expedition means embracing a few differences from home — including the washroom!

There are no outhouses in Gwaii Haanas. We follow Parks Canada’s low-impact practices, including the intertidal flush method. Your guides will explain how this works and ensure you have privacy at rest stops and camps.

Many camps have access to fresh water for drinking and bathing. When natural water sources aren’t available, we carry what we need.

An unscented biodegradable wipe is also a very useful addition to your personal gear.

A little preparation goes a long way, and knowing what to expect means you can spend less time worrying about the practical details — and more time soaking up the magic of Haida Gwaii.

Our Wilderness Ethic

Our goal is simple: replace cell phones with solitude and streetlights with stars.

Haida Gwaii is often called the “Galápagos of the Pacific Northwest” for its remarkable biodiversity. We are committed to protecting this extraordinary place by following Parks Canada and Haida Nation guidelines for low-impact camping, respectful wildlife viewing, and responsible travel. On the first day of your trip, your guide will provide an orientation covering Haida culture, ecological stewardship, and the practices that help keep this wilderness truly wild.

As a small business, we accept the following payment types.

1. Etransfer: a free Canadian online banking service
2. Credit Cards: a 2.8% processing fee is applied to all Credit Cards through the platform – Square
3. International Guests: an additional 1.5% processing fee (total 4.3%) is also applied when using your Credit Card

Using your credit card for payment can have valuable benefits depending on the specific card, including medical coverage, evacuation insurance, trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance – helping you to protect your travel plans.

Please Note – All prices are in Canadian Dollars, and excludes the 190$ Gwaii Haanas Park Fees, and 5% GST

Please take the time to review “Travel Responsibly” to further understand how and why you should protect your travel investment.

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. It helps protect your travel investment and reduces stress if you are unable to travel as planned.

Many travellers have coverage through their credit cards; however, you should confirm with your provider that your policy includes adequate trip cancellation, interruption, and medical coverage. Credit card insurance is often limited in coverage amount and may not include cancellation, medical expenses, or COVID-19 related issues.

Please note that a 2.8% processing fee is applied to all credit cards through the secure platform Square, while an additional 1.5% processing fee is applied to all international payments as well.

Ocean Sound Kayaking is not responsible for ensuring that guests obtain appropriate travel insurance coverage. You are responsible for confirming that your insurance adequately covers your entire trip.

Personal equipment, baggage, and valuables (including cameras, electronics, and jewellery) are carried at the owner’s risk. Ocean Sound Kayaking is not responsible for lost, damaged, or delayed property.

If a tour must be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control or a force majeure event—including but not limited to war, political instability, civil disturbances, terrorism, natural disasters, fires, epidemics, pandemics, acts of God, labour disputes, transportation failures, airport or port closures, severe weather, or other similar events—Ocean Sound Kayaking will not provide refunds. Guests should contact their travel insurance provider to initiate a claim.

Ocean Sound Kayaking is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparing for a trip that is later cancelled. This includes non-refundable airfare, visa fees, vaccinations, equipment purchases, or other travel arrangements.

Guests are strongly advised to have travel insurance to cover unexpected events or illnesses before and during the tour, particularly when travelling to remote locations such as Haida Gwaii, where medical evacuation costs can be significant.

For out-of-province and international guests, travel insurance is essential. Medical care and emergency evacuations in British Columbia can be very expensive. Please consult your travel agent or insurance provider to confirm your coverage.

Additional costs resulting from tour delays—including those caused by weather, transportation disruptions (flights, ferries, or zodiac), illness, or similar circumstances beyond the control of Ocean Sound Kayaking—are not included in tour pricing and are the responsibility of the guest.

To participate in the tour, each participant must complete in full a Medical Information Form and Liability Release Form. Ocean Sound Kayaking requires the completed forms to be submitted along with your deposit when registering on our Haida Gwaii kayak tours.

We are happy to accommodate many dietary restrictions. However, please be aware that dietary restrictions add complexity and costs to preparing for your tour. Below are the dietary restrictions we can accommodate and the associated costs for substitutions:

• $125 fee: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, nut-free, and soy-free
• No additional cost: vegetarian, no red meat, no fish, no seafood

If you have dietary restrictions or allergies not listed above, please contact us at info@oceansoundkayaking.com to discuss if we can accommodate your needs and any additional charges.

Specializing in Haida Gwaii kayak vacations over the past three decades allows OSK to offer a variety of tours ranging in duration, skill, and location.  Here is a short trip comparison and an interactive map for you to review.

Most kayak outfitters divide Gwaii Haanas into thirds, offering trips in the South end, central/ middle, and in the North end of the park, which ultimately offer different experiences. This interactive map shows the various kayak tours offered by Ocean Sound Kayaking and their location on Gwaii Haanas.   This map also outlines the various Haida Cultural Sites or Watchmen Sites that paddlers could experience, while many guest find this map a good reference when getting to know the lay of the land.