Getting to Haida Gwaii from Vancouver (or Beyond)

Travelling to Haida Gwaii feels less like getting from A to B and more like crossing a threshold. These islands—remote, windswept, deeply storied—sit off the northern coast of British Columbia and reward those willing to travel just a little farther.

Whether you’re flying direct from Vancouver or taking a road trip by car and ferry, here’s how to reach this remarkable archipelago.

Flying to Haida Gwaii

The fastest and most direct way to Get to Haida Gwaii

Daily flights link Vancouver (YVR) with the islands’ two main airports: Sandspit Airport on Moresby Island and Masset Airport on Graham Island. Flying takes about two hours and offers your first glimpse of the region’s mosaic of bays, forests, and mist-threaded inlets.

Flying is ideal if you want to spend more of your time exploring and less time in transit. Air Canada serves the islands via scheduled daily flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Sandspit Airport (YZP) on Moresby Island. In summer months the service increases to two flights a day. Pacific Coastal Airlines operates flights from Vancouver (South Terminal) to Masset Airport (ZMT) on Graham Island. This is often the easiest gateway if your adventure starts on the northern end.

Schedules tend to be dependable even in shoulder season, and for those planning trips deep into the southern archipelago, it’s often the most seamless route. Just keep in mind that Graham and Moresby are separated by Skidegate Inlet, so choose your arrival airport based on where your adventure begins.

When planning flights, travellers should check seasonal schedules, and if landing at Sandspit (YZP) but heading for other communities—especially on Graham Island—pre-arranged ground transport (shuttle, rental car, taxi) is strongly recommended.

Taking the Haida Gwaii Ferry

The scenic overland route—perfect for road trippers

If you prefer the classic slow-travel route, you can ride the ferry from Prince Rupert to Skidegate. The crossing takes approximately seven hours and moves through whale-friendly waters where humpbacks and porpoises often appear alongside the bow.

From there, if your final destination is on Moresby Island (e.g. Sandspit), there is a short inter-island connector ferry between Graham Island (Skidegate) and Moresby Island (Alliford Bay) which handles both foot and vehicle traffic.

Travellers often choose this route because they’re already exploring northern BC—driving Highway 16, riding the Inside Passage ferries, or stringing together a longer coastal road trip. It’s also the best option if you’re travelling with a vehicle, bicycle, or expedition gear. The crossing has that satisfyingly unhurried, edge-of-the-map feel; you arrive not in a rush, but already attuned to island time.

Coming from Elsewhere in BC or Canada

It’s common to connect through Vancouver or Prince Rupert, but you can also combine flight-and-ferry routes depending on your starting point. Those beginning in the Yukon or Northern Alberta often route north to south; travellers from the Pacific Northwest sometimes add a cross-border road trip into their journey.

The One Mistake Many Travellers Make

Missing Out on Gwaii Haanas

This is the misconception almost everyone carries on their first trip: the idea that all of Haida Gwaii is road-accessible, and that visiting Gwaii Haanas—the region most travellers picture when they imagine the islands—is as simple as renting a car and heading south for the afternoon.

Gwaii Haanas is one of the most extraordinary protected places in the world: a sweeping cultural landscape where monumental poles stand among fallen cedars, sea lions bark across kelp forests, and the rainforest feels ancient enough to breathe on its own. But Gwaii Haanas begins where the road ends—and where tides, weather, and careful planning take over.

How to Access Gwaii Haanas

Access to the protected area is by boat or seaplane only, typically with an authorized operator. Before entering, visitors must complete a mandatory orientation that covers safety, cultural protocols, and ecological stewardship. Once inside, you’re in true wilderness—dynamic weather, reefs, and vast uninhabited stretches define the experience.

But arriving this way also means that every moment feels earned. Sites like SG̱ang Gwaay Llnagaay, the tidal narrows of Windy Bay, and the deep-silence anchorages of the southern islands reveal themselves to those who travel by water. See below what we consider some of the must-see points of interest:

Which Route Should You Choose?

If your focus is Gwaii Haanas or you prefer to minimize travel time, flying from Vancouver is your smoothest option. If your journey is already taking you through northern British Columbia—or you simply enjoy arriving by sea—the Prince Rupert ferry is hard to beat.

Whichever route you choose, it’s worth planning ahead. Summer flights and the Haida Gwaii ferry both fill quickly, and coastal weather can add its own twist to schedules, so a little buffer around your travel days is wise.

If your heart is set on Gwaii Haanas, make arrangements early—access is regulated, and guided trips often book far in advance. And once you’re on the islands, remember that Graham and Moresby are bigger, wilder, and more spread out than most visitors expect. Give yourself the time to move slowly between communities, beaches, and trailheads; you’ll experience Haida Gwaii the way it’s meant to be travelled.