Haida Gwaii
Home of the Haida Since Time Immemorial
Discover the rich indigenous culture and natural wonder of Haida Gwaii on a small ship tour.
Points of Interest
Ports
Cruise Into Gwaii Haanas, Islands of Beauty
Wildlife, Far-flung Places and Coastal First Nations Culture
Explore Haida Gwaii from the northern town of Masset to the southern reaches of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Marine Conservation Area Reserve & Haida Heritage Site.
Highlights in Gwaii Haanas include Haida village sites (access is weather-permitting but typically includes SGang Gwaay (Ninstints), T’aanuu, K’uuna (Skedans), and Windy Bay); ancient rainforest, intertidal life at K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay (Burnaby Narrows), whales and other marine mammals, remote beaches, and other special experiences.
Haida Gwaii is a must-see destination for those who love wildlife, far-flung places and northwest coast First Nations culture. This cruise explores it all—from rich intertidal life to rainforests to huge whales that feed here. From hot springs to Haida village sites, including UNESCO World Heritage Site, SGang Gwaay.
Itinerary Details
- Ships: Maple Leaf or Cascadia
- Duration: 8 or 9 Days
- Ports: Masset and Sandspit
- Includes a Canadian Geographic Itinerary
Haida Gwaii Sailing Ship Tour
- Maple Leaf
- 8 nights, 9 days
Sample Itineraries: As with all expedition cruises, the itinerary may change based on weather, wildlife activity, and interests of the guests. This itinerary is to give you a general idea of the trip.
Day 1: Masset. Tour kickoff, land-based tour of Northern Haida Gwaii, featuring local highlights and Haida culture, such as a visit to a carving shed in Gaw Tlagée (Old Masset), and a walk on the Golden Spruce Trail. Dinner and lodge accommodation on Graham Island.
Day 2: HlG̱aagilda (Skidegate), Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay ‘Llnagaay. Board ship, orientation, cruising, watching for seabirds in Laskeek Bay, island anchorage and explore ashore or from the tender.
Day 3: T’aanuu village site and an introduction to the rainforest on a walk on Kunga Island. Anchorage in scenic Anna Inlet, where rainforest mountains drop to a quiet, green bay. Optional evening kayak looking for ducks, seals.
Day 4: Introduction to intertidal life near Shuttle Island. Cruise southward in Darwin and Juan Perez Sounds, watching for marine mammals, towards K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay (Burnaby Narrows) for some of the planet’s densest intertidal and subtidal life, a walk in ancient cedar rainforest, and optional kayaking. Possible sighting of the Haida Gwaii black bear. Evening anchorage off Carpenter Bay.
Day 5: Morning sea lion haul-out visit. Cruising through scenic Houston-Stewart Channel past Rose Harbour. Puffin viewing while crossing to UNESCO World Heritage Site SGang Gwaay (Ninstints). Guided tour and free time among this stunning site of historic monumental Haida poles and big house remains.
Day 6: Shore walk on tiny islands at the archipelago’s edge (Gordon Group) before sailing southward around Cape St James to anchorage on southern Kunghit Island. Beach exploration.
Day 7: Beach exploration on one or more other southern beaches. Cruising north to De La Beche Inlet. Evening small boat explore among the islands in this inlet.
Day 8: Visit G̱andll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Springs Island) for hot springs soak and visit with Haida Watchmen. Visit Hlk’yah G̱awG̱a (Windy Bay), a Haida cultural heritage site and home to the Legacy pole. Visit with Haida Watchman and learn of the battle to protect Gwaii Haanas. Cruise north to visit K’uuna (Skedans) village site. Anchorage in Cumshewa Inlet.
Day 9: Morning rainforest walk or kayaking. Cruising Cumshewa Inlet to Moresby Camp. Transfer to Sandspit airport.
Departures
Find ideal trip dates for our Haida Gwaii Sailing Ship Tour below. All prices are listed in Canadian dollars. For other itineraries and departures, switch the tabs above.
| Date | Price | # of Nights | Start Port | End Port | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 29 – July 7, 2026 | $9,250 | 8 | Kitimat | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 8 – 16, 2026 | $9,250 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 16 – 24, 2026 | $9,250 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 24 – August 1, 2026 | $9,250 | 8 | Masset | Kitimat | Maple Leaf |
| June 7 – 15, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| June 15 – 23, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| June 23 – July 1, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 1 – 9, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 9 – 17, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
| July 17 – 25, 2027 | $9,750 | 8 | Masset | Sandspit | Maple Leaf |
* Prices are all-inclusive, and subject to a $200 sustainability fee per person. The trips in Canada are subject to 5% federal tax. See “Included in Our Price” for the exceptional value included. Fares are per person, based on double occupancy, and in Canadian dollars. For solo travellers, there is no single supplement on the SV Maple Leaf trips (shared accommodation), and there is a 50% single supplement on the MV Swell and Cascadia trips. For full-ship private charters, please contact us. Payment and cancellation policy is available online, in the brochures and by speaking with us. We welcome your contact.
Haida Gwaii Catamaran Tour
- Cascadia
- 7 nights, 8 Days
Sample Itineraries: As with all expedition cruises, the itinerary may change based on weather, wildlife activity, and interests of the guests. This itinerary is to give you a general idea of the trip.
Day 1:
Meet at Vancouver airport for flight to Haida Gwaii (included in trip fare). Tour kickoff at Masset, land-based tour of Northern Haida Gwaii, featuring local highlights and Haida culture, such as a visit to a carving shed in Gaw Tlagée (Old Masset), and a walk on the Golden Spruce Trail. Dinner and lodge accommodation on Graham Island.
Day 2:
HlG̱aagilda (Skidegate), Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay ‘Llnagaay. Board ship, orientation, cruising, watching for seabirds in Laskeek Bay, island anchorage and explore ashore or from the tender.
Day 3:
Enter Gwaii Haanas and visit the ancient village site of T’aanuu Llnagaay, followed by a nature walk on Kunga Island. Continue whale watching en route to Windy Bay (Hlk’yah G̱awG̱a), a significant Haida cultural site and home to the Legacy Pole. Anchorage Island Bay.
Day 4:
Cruise south to K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay (Burnaby Narrows), home to one of the world’s richest intertidal/subtidal ecosystems. Explore by kayak and small boat before continuing to the north end of Kunghit Island, go ashore and explore.
Day 5:
Morning visit to sea lion haulout. Seabird viewing at nesting island, then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site SG̱ang Gwaay on the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas. Round Cape St. James and explore the beaches of southeast Kunghit Island.
Day 6:
Morning shore visit to second southern beach. Cruising north to De La Beche Inlet. Afternoon kayaking and/or small boat tour of calm island-strewn anchorage, exploring shoreline and birdlife.
Day 7:
Cruise through Juan Perez Sound and visit G̱andll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Springs Island) for hot springs soak and visit with Haida Watchmen. Cruise north to visit K’uuna (Skedans) village site. Anchorage in Cumshewa Inlet.
Day 8:
Cruise to Sandpit in the morning, transfer to airport to catch your flight to Vancouver.
Departures
Find ideal trip dates for our Haida Gwaii Catamaran Tour below. All prices are listed in Canadian dollars. For other itineraries and departures, switch the tabs above.
| Date | Price | # of Nights | Start Port | End Port | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 – 8, 2026 | $12,995, $14,995, $17,350 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| May 5 – 12, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| May 12 – 19, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| May 19 – 26, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| June 11 – 18, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| June 18 – 25, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
| June 25 – July 2, 2027 | $13,975, $16,095, $18,590 | 7 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
* Prices are all-inclusive, and subject to a $200 sustainability fee per person. The trips in Canada are subject to 5% federal tax. See “Included in Our Price” for the exceptional value included. Fares are per person, based on double occupancy, and in Canadian dollars. For solo travellers, there is no single supplement on the SV Maple Leaf trips (shared accommodation), and there is a 50% single supplement on the MV Swell and Cascadia trips. For full-ship private charters, please contact us. Payment and cancellation policy is available online, in the brochures and by speaking with us. We welcome your contact.
Haida Gwaii with Canadian Geographic
- Cascadia
- 8 nights, 9 days
Sample Itineraries: As with all expedition cruises, the itinerary may change based on weather, wildlife activity, and interests of the guests. This itinerary is to give you a general idea of the trip.
Day 1:
Meet at Vancouver airport for flight to Haida Gwaii (included in trip fare). Tour kickoff at Masset, land-based tour of Northern Haida Gwaii, featuring local highlights and Haida culture, such as a visit to a carving shed in Gaw Tlagée (Old Masset), and a walk on the Golden Spruce Trail. Dinner and lodge accommodation on Graham Island.
Day 2:
HlG̱aagilda (Skidegate), Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay ‘Llnagaay. Board ship, orientation, cruising, watching for seabirds in Laskeek Bay, island anchorage and explore ashore or from the tender.
Day 3:
Enter Gwaii Haanas and visit the ancient village site of T’aanuu Llnagaay, followed by a nature walk on Kunga Island. Continue whale watching en route to Windy Bay (Hlk’yah G̱awG̱a), a significant Haida cultural site and home to the Legacy Pole. Anchorage Island Bay.
Day 4:
Cruise south to K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay (Burnaby Narrows), home to one of the world’s richest intertidal/subtidal ecosystems. Explore by kayak and small boat watching for Haida Gwaii black bear. Ancient cedar forest walk. Cruising south, watching for whales. Shore trip on north end of Kunghit Island.
Day 5:
Morning visit to sea lion haul-out. Seabird viewing at nesting island, then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site SG̱ang Gwaay on the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas. Anchorage in Looscoone Inlet. Tender excursion to explore inlet and watch for black bears.
Day 6:
Sail south, around Cape St. James while viewing seabirds. Explore southern beaches Haida Gwaii.
Day 7:
Morning shore visit to another southern beach. Cruising north to De La Beche Inlet. Afternoon kayaking and/or small boat tour of calm island-strewn anchorage, exploring shoreline and birdlife.
Day 8:
Cruise through Juan Perez Sound and visit G̱andll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Springs Island) for hot springs soak and visit with Haida Watchmen. Cruise north to visit K’uuna (Skedans) village site. Anchorage in Cumshewa Inlet.
Day 9:
Cruise to Sandpit in the morning, transfer to airport to catch your flight to Vancouver.
Departures
Find ideal trip dates for our Haida Gwaii Catamaran Tour with Canadian Geographic below. All prices are listed in Canadian dollars. For other itineraries and departures, switch the tabs above.
| Date | Price | # of Nights | Start Port | End Port | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 3 – 11, 2027 | $15,835, $18,350, $20,870 | 8 | Vancouver | Vancouver | Cascadia |
* Prices are all-inclusive, and subject to a $200 sustainability fee per person. The trips in Canada are subject to 5% federal tax. See “Included in Our Price” for the exceptional value included. Fares are per person, based on double occupancy, and in Canadian dollars. For solo travellers, there is no single supplement on the SV Maple Leaf trips (shared accommodation), and there is a 50% single supplement on the MV Swell and Cascadia trips. For full-ship private charters, please contact us. Payment and cancellation policy is available online, in the brochures and by speaking with us. We welcome your contact.
Your 2026 Canadian Geographic Ambassador
Jenny Wong is a visual storyteller, wildlife and adventure photographer, and Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow whose work brings science, conservation, and place to life through careful observation and compelling imagery. On this Special Edition expedition, Jenny shares both her photographic approach and her broader perspective on conservation storytelling, helping guests slow down, observe carefully, and engage more deeply with the landscapes and wildlife of this extraordinary archipelago.
June 9 – 17, 2026
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Haida Gwaii Cascadia Airfare Special
Flights Included for Haida Gwaii aboard Cascadia
Book a Haida Gwaii sailing aboard Cascadia, with airfare from Vancouver arranged and covered by us.
Qualifying Trips
- All Haida Gwaii trips on Cascadia.
Terms and Conditions
Offer not transferable to other trips and is not redeemable for cash or credit. Maple Leaf Adventures is responsible for arranging and covering the cost of airfare from Vancouver to Haida Gwaii as a part of this special offer. However, we do not assume responsibility for any matters, including delays, lost baggage, or any incidents that occur during the flight itself.
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Solo Traveller Special
We’re waving the single supplement!
Don’t miss this great opportunity for solo travellers, in their own cabin with no single supplement, to discover the rich culture and natural wonder of the BC coast!
Qualifying Trips (2026)
- Salish Sea Expedition with Canadian Geographic, Apr 14-18, Swell
- Desolation Sound, Apr 21-25, Apr 25-30, Swell, May 3-7, Cascadia
- Haida Gwaii May 11-18, May 18-25, Cascadia.
- Whales and Wild Isles, Aug 9-17, Cascadia
- Whales and Wild Isles 5 days, Aug 18-22, Cascadia
- Great Bear Rainforest, Aug 30-Sep 6, Oct 10-15, Cascadia
- Desolation Sound & Fjords of BC, Oct 18-26, Cascadia, Oct 18-27, Swell
- Craft Beer Cruise, Oct 28- Nov 1, Swell
- Wines & Islands, Oct 27-31, Cascadia
Qualifying Trips (2027)
- Salish Sea Expedition with Canadian Geographic, Apr 12-16, Swell
- Desolation Sound, Apr 24-28, Apr 29-May 3, Swell
- Desolation Sound, April 15-19, Cascadia
- Haida Gwaii May 5-12, May 12-19, Cascadia
- Whales & Wild Isles 5 Days, Aug 2-7, Aug 9-17, Cascadia
- Great Bear Rainforest, Aug 26-Sep 2 and Oct 6-11, Cascadia
- Des Sound & Fjords of BC, Oct 15-24, Cascadia
- Des Sound & Fjords of BC, Oct 17-26, Swell
- Craft Beer Cruise, Oct 27-31, Swell
- Wines & Islands, Oct 25-29, Cascadia.
Terms and Conditions
Subject to availability and booking limits on select sailings, as designated by Maple Leaf Adventures. Available in category 1 cabins on Cascadia and category 1 or 2 cabins on Swell (limited availability). Not combinable with other offers, except pay-in-full and standard back-to-back trips.
Experience Haida Gwaii
See Haida Gwaii through the eyes of our guests.
What People Say
See what our guests have to say about our Haida Gwaii tours.
Highlights
Cultural and Natural Wonders of Haida Gwaii
Embark on a Haida Gwaii tour that explores both modern-day Haida Gwaii communities and ancient historical sights in Gwaii Haanas.
Related Stories
Follow our coastal expeditions with notes from the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your questions about our Haida Gwaii itineraries. Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for more general trip and booking information.
To reach Masset, you will board with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Pacific Coastal flies from the peaceful South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport. There is a regular shuttle bus that runs between the Main and South Terminals at Vancouver International Airport. Allow at least 60 minutes from door to door, plus check-in time, if you are transferring from another flight. Be sure to bring your luggage as it will not be transferred for you between airlines. Maple Leaf Adventures has pre-arranged your shuttle service from the ship to Sandspit Airport (YZP) at the end of your tour. For itineraries aboard Cascadia, flights between Vancouver and your trip are included.
Our schedule is designed to accommodate incoming flights on the day of departure and most guests will arrive on the day. But, if you would like to arrive a little early to avoid the stress of possible flight delays, you will find recommendations for local hotels and activities in your welcome aboard package.
Haida Gwaii experiences mild and pleasant weather with temperatures ranging from cool to warm. It is a time of transitioning from spring to summer and should prepare for a mix of sunny days, occasional rainfall, and moderate temperatures. Layered clothing is recommended to adapt to changing weather conditions. May through to July is a great time to explore the stunning landscapes and cultural richness of Haida Gwaii while enjoying the comfortable weather.
The best time to visit Haida Gwaii is early summer. May provides excellent opportunities for peak seabird viewing, and both May and June have fewer summer visitors, allowing for peaceful visits to the village sites where you can take your time to explore. It may also surprise you to know that May is also the sunniest month in Haida Gwaii. Naturalist and biologist Trudy Chatwin recommends travelling to Haida Gwaii during this time, and you can read her insights from her about visiting in May and June.
Yes. You will be met at Masset airport by your guide who will take you on a tour of the Masset area, to your accommodation for the night, and continue your tour of northern Haida Gwaii on day two, ultimately getting you to the ship in the late afternoon. All meals and accommodation in a lodge are included.
