As summer hits its stride in British Columbia, familiar hotspots fill quickly—ferries packed to the gunwales, lakeside cabins booked solid, and the scent of sunscreen lingering in lineups for paddleboard rentals.
But for those in the know, there’s another side to summer holidays in BC: remote, rugged, and refreshingly crowd-free.
These are the places where locals go to unplug. Where cell service fades, and the only notifications are the splash of a breaching whale or the call of a distant loon. And for those craving more than a getaway—something deeper, quieter, more connected—this is the season to head off the beaten path.
The Coastal Secret Locals Don’t Always Share
There’s a reason most of BC’s coastline doesn’t show up in road trip itineraries: it’s not accessible by car. Fjords cut deep into the mainland, islands scatter like breadcrumbs across the sea, and the forest here grows old and undisturbed.
Photo: Simon Ager
In BC’s most remote corners, stillness reigns. A hidden cove in the Great Bear Rainforest offers the kind of solitude only accessible by boat—and only known to those who’ve gone looking.
It’s to these quiet corners—Haida Gwaii, the Great Bear Rainforest, the Broughton Archipelago, Vancouver Island’s wild northwest—that naturalists, guides, and long-time locals go when they want to reset.
Not for the Instagram shot. But for the real thing.
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Whales and Wild Isles of the Great Bear Rainforest
View ItineraryEmbark on a summer expedition across one of the richest coastal ecosystems in the world.
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Whales and Totems
View ItineraryExplore intricate passageways between idyllic islands in the Broughton Archipelago, one of the best places on earth to see whales.
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Vancouver Island’s Wild Side
View ItineraryCruise Vancouver Island’s rugged Northwest, where time is measured by the rise and fall of the tide.
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Haida Gwaii
View ItineraryDiscover the rich indigenous culture and natural wonder of Haida Gwaii. 8 to 9 days from the northern town of Masset to the southern reaches of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve
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Great Bear Rainforest and Kitlope
View ItineraryBird migrations, newly awakened grizzly and black bears grazing on green sedges—experience it all on a small ship adventure.
Aboard the Path Less Taken
One of the most immersive ways to experience BC’s best uncrowded places is aboard a small expedition ship—like those operated by Maple Leaf Adventures.
Designed for just 8 to 24 guests, these vessels are floating lodges for exploring the wild by day and unwinding in comfort by night. You might kayak up a hidden inlet one morning, then share wine and conversation with a renowned naturalist or Indigenous guide over dinner. You might wake to the distant call of wolves or glide past sea otters in a kelp forest. No itinerary is rushed. No port is crowded. This isn’t cruise tourism. It’s summer in BC—reimagined.
Photo: Markus Atkins
A coastal wolf patrols the tideline—a glimpse of wild BC that few ever witness. In these remote places, silence speaks, and nature leads.
This Summer, Go Where the Wild Still Lives
If you’re craving a quiet summer destination in BC that leaves the crowds behind and fills your spirit instead, consider heading to the quiet edges. To ancient forests. To ocean silence. To the places that still feel like a secret.
Because sometimes the best summer holidays in BC aren’t found on the map—but out on the water, where wild things roam and time slows down.
Photo: Alex Harris
Anchored in stillness. Deep in BC’s untamed fjords, moments like this remind us that the best summer destinations aren’t built—they’re discovered.
Want to Explore BC’s Wildest Corners This Summer?
Maple Leaf Adventures offers small-ship expeditions to Haida Gwaii, the Great Bear Rainforest, Vancouver Island, and beyond. With expert guides, locally sourced cuisine, and deep cultural and ecological immersion, these are voyages to some of the best uncrowded places in BC.
Explore Summer Expeditions
