In the spirit of the season, I’d like to share a Haida Gwaii trip planner for post #7 in our Blogmas travel adventure series. For those you who are unfamiliar with this archipelago off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, Haida Gwaii is a gem worth exploring. This itinerary provides ideas for 10 days on the islands – from how to get there to where to stay and what to do.
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What and where is Haida Gwaii?
Home to hundreds of archaeological sites, Haida Gwaii is the ancestral homeland of the Haida Nation. This archipelago of close to 200 islands – large and small – lies about 100 kilometres (62 mi) off the northern coast of British Columbia.
Stretching close to 250 kilometres (155 mi) in length, Haida Gwaii means “Islands of the People.” It is sometimes referred to as the Canadian Galápagos for its abundance of wildlife.
Established in 1993, Gwaii Haanas is a National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Sites covering the lower third of Haida Gwaii. It means “Islands of Beauty.”
Archaeological evidence shows that the Haida have been living on the islands for almost 13,000 years. In the late 1700s, during the time of first contact with Europeans explorers, an estimated 20,000 Haida lived here.
In 1787, the archipelago was named Queen Charlotte Islands after one of the ships of British explorer George Dixon. Following a new name came diseases such as smallpox, measles, and tuberculosis. These decimated the native population and by the late 1800s, fewer than 600 Haida were left on Haida Gwaii.
It would take several hundred years, but in 2010, the Islands of the People – Haida Gwaii – became its forever name. In 2024, British Columbia officially recognized the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title over the islands of Haida Gwaii.
Planning a Haida Gwaii vacation
When good friends suggest taking a trip together, we always jump on the opportunity. It worked well for Canada’s east coast and Newfoundland, so when they suggest the west coast and Haida Gwaii, we start planning.
How many days? What exact dates? One vehicle or two? How long will it take us to get from our homes to Prince Rupert? Do we need to overnight? When should we book the ferry?
Do we want to camp or stay in Air BnB type rentals? What’s the nightly accommodation budget? How far in advance do we need to book?
Where to do we want to go on the islands? What are the travel times and distances? Which tours are available during our visit and how far ahead do we need to book them?
Are we planning to self-cater all our meals, and if so, what do we need to plan for food to bring with us?
It takes answering all these questions – and more – to plan a trip. Regardless of where you go, planning ahead is always key to an enjoyable getaway.
But what if you don’t know where to start?
We’ve taken some of the guesswork out of the process and are sharing our recent Haida Gwaii itinerary.
Haida Gwaii trip planner
This 12-day itinerary includes a mid to late September trip. There were several reasons for this, but mainly we all had the time free, it was off season, and the coho were running in the rivers for fishing. Weather is in transition at this time of year, though. Expect more wind and rain and most tours will end for the year by mid-month.
We were too late for a kayak trip into Gwaii Haanas (next time), but we did manage to get in on the very last boat trip of the season to the ancestral Haida village of K’uuna Llnagaay (Skedans) and around Louise Island.
Our Haida Gwaii trip planner covers arrival and an overnight stay in Prince Rupert. It includes information on the roughly 7-hour BC ferry crossing over to Skidegate Landing. We share our accommodation choices in Daajing Giids (formerly Queen Charlotte City), Masset, and Sandspit – all of which we recommend.
https://daajinggiidsvisitorcentre.com/This island itinerary also includes ideas for daily activities (from hiking and beach walking to fishing and museums). There’s a list of birds spotted, links to weather, tides, and the Daajing Giids visitor information center, as well as where to buy groceries and a list of Haida Gwaii campgrounds (if you want to camp).
When is the best time to visit Haida Gwaii?
It really depends on what you are looking to do. May is an increasingly popular month with longer periods of daylight, birding is excellent, and it’s still off season. June can be cool and wet but it’s a great month for whale watching.
July and August have the highest visitation, but don’t count on doing much sunbathing. When we were in Haida Gwaii in July on a previous trip, we were wearing hats and mitts and multiple layers at the summit of the Sleeping Beauty Trail. Haida Gwaii is all about the atmosphere – no matter what time of year you visit.
Truthfully, the right time is the time you have. So, what are you waiting for? Download your free copy today and start planning the trip of a lifetime!
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