gwaii haanas national park

By large boat/Zodiac/Kayak for 130-150 miles to enjoy an array of ocean conditions, scenery, old growth forest, wildlife, ancient Haida village sites, hotspring, history of all sorts, no end to photo opportunities, World heritage Site extraordinaire with people who take pride and care deeply about their place !Through it all you will be looked after safely, individually, fed well, and given an opportunity to relax over time and remember what is really important in life ! Put it on your " Bucket List " which seems to be extremely important these days for all of us!The full name is Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site.

Beautiful, unspoiled scenery, stunning wildlife and lots of National Geographic-type moments. This place is hard to get to, but we found the effort worth it, especially as we lucked out with the weather.

The opportunity to visit this remote pristine area of the world was enhanced by my experience with MV Atlas Ocean Tours. The seven day on board trip provided wonderful opportunities and unforgettable experiences in this fabulous area. James Nickerson (owner of MV Atlas Ocean) was brought up in the archipelago and has an enviable knowledge of Gwaii Haanas, ensuring productive fishing, kayaking among the salmon runs, whales and sea lions, eagles and bears. We also had the privilege of visiting the Haida sites and learning of their culture.As a single traveler, the company of my four companions made for a thoroughly enjoyable trip. From first contacting MV Ocean Tours, Cathy and James Nickerson were responsive providing very comprehensive and accurate guidance and information notes (essential when travelling from the UK). This attention to detail and high quality was evident in every aspect of the trip. Wonderful food often 'the catch of the day' and delicious wines with great memories. Truly the trip of a lifetime

The effort to get here and travel around is repaid in full measure. Experience nature close up and unplug for a week as we did. We voyaged on MV Atlas Ocean Tours with Captain James Nickerson, who acted as tour guide, chef, photographer, racontour full of local knowledge and attention to detail.Your tour has to be flexible based on; prevailing wind, waves, tides, animal behaviour and the expressed interests of your small group (ours was 5). The boat was rock solid and always felt safe. The 3 cabins differ significantly. The front cabin below decks is roomy, private with a big bed, but dark and noisy if there are waves. The mid cabin is most private but has bunk beds. The Salon bedroom has to be created by removing the table, so its less available but it experiences the beautiful sunrises at the start of each day. This is a participatory tour, you need to pitch in with some of the sous chef stuff and house keeping chores including swabbing decks and lifting crab traps. The food was excellent and varied always based on high quality ingredients. We are foodies and loved it. Daily activity was determined by the weather and location but included; looking for whales, kyaking, creek walking looking for bears, jigging for fish (halibut, ling- cod, snapper), trolling for salmon (coho), visiting Haida sites, fires on the beach and moving from place to place. We were fortunate to visit three Haida sites; Skedans, Tanu and SGang Gway and get extensive explanations from the local watchman. So, bring your high quality rain gear, tall gum boots not mini ones and experience the wonder that is Haida Gwaii. It was great to sail one way and fly the other. We were impressed with the constant attention to detail and the love James has for this job.

The remote location , the beaches, the pristine woods and the gentle natives give reason to return. Next time I will include a kayaking trip in the South Moresby area.

Our group of 15 was divided into two for tours with Haida Style Expeditions, with Haida owner James Cowpar and Haida interpreter Paul Rosang. On day one, the group made it to Skedans, just outside of the park boundary. Paul gave us an insightful tour of the existing totem poles,the epidemics that caused Haida to abandon the village and his time there as a child. Along the way, we visited islands with sea lions and seals galore. The seas were rough and caused us to return early. On day two, the second group went directly to Tanu. We visited the burial sites of Charlie, Bill Reid and Miles Richardson, Sr. The Haida Watchmen gave us a superb tour of the former Haida village. We were treated to a visit by a female Orca and her two calves, hunting for seals near where our boat was moored. The ride back included a visit to another sea lion haul-out, with the sea lions staying well ashore with the Orcas nearby. What a fabulous expedition and excellent hospitality by James Cowpar and Paul Rosang of Haida Style Expeditions.

It's expensive and difficult to get here, there are no 5, 4 , 3 or even 2 star hotels, the restaurants are kind of 90s rural Idaho, there's no water slides or trailer parks. Still with me?Okay, you need to come here. It will change your world. It did mine. This Earth is incredibly resilient. Haida Gwaii is the proof. Wow!

this was worth the extra day we stayed on the islands...flight was beautiful and the zodiac trip was interestng, to say the least....the guide at the site had done it for 10 years and was superior in his knowledge and proud of his history

We took a 7 day mother-ship trip with Atlas Ocean Tours and owner/operator James Nickerson. James was born, raised and lives on Haida Gwaii. He knows the land, sea, flora and fauna intimately. Gwaii Haanas park is very isolated and hauntingly beautiful. We saw whales, deer, eagles, seals, sea lions, otters, a bear and of course all kinds of sea birds and underwater life. We always anchored in a different spot each night, and always alone except for one night in Rose Harbour where we went ashore for dinner in the home of James’ friend and long time resident, Sue who cooked from her fantastic garden and the sea - another great meal and experience.James is a “foodie” who is an excellent cook and Atlas is well stocked with food and wine, including delicious desserts made by James’ mother. We were able to catch crabs, prawns and yellow eye snapper on our trip, which were cooked up fresh and mouth wateringly delicious. (be sure to get a fishing license in advance). One of our group was allergic to shell fish and gluten but James cooked separate food for her and his mother had made special desserts.The main activities are kayaking, hiking, fishing and visiting the Haida heritage sites. Since you will be traveling in a small group it is important to talk openly about your priorities within these activities and the general life on the boat. Please understand that you are sharing the relatively small space of a boat for a week and that life on a boat is not like life at home. Water conservation and trash minimization are important.We had varied weather and kayaked in blazing sun, mixed sun/cloud and a day of rain. Kayaking in the rain was a fantastic west coast experience. ( follow Atlas Tours recommendations re clothing) We were alone with nature when kayaking and hiking. Kayak entry and exit is completely dry from the swim grid on the back of the boat.Helping out is part of the experience and the guests do the dishes and cleaning while James drives the boat and does the majority of the cooking – you will be very happy with his cooking!We have lived in B.C. all of our lives and often near the ocean but this trip was still a fantastic new experience for us. For someone living in a city or non -coastal town this trip will blow you away.By the end of the first day we felt like we were traveling with a good friend and by the end of the trip we were sure of it.

My husband & I joined 2 other couples on the 'Atlas' yacht last month (July 2014). While cautiously optimistic about spending 7 nights on a boat with strangers, we were thrilled with our experience. 'Captain James' was highly competent, knowledgeable and fun while the boat was spotless and cozy. Yes, you're asked to 'pitch in' with food prep and clean-up but there was an abundance of high quality ingredients on hand (not to mention the daily fresh seafood!) and it was a great way to bond with our new crew-mates. Plus, we needed to move after indulging in so much good food. Each day offers choices for activities: kayaking (6 easily-maneuvered Seawards), jigging for halibut, setting spot prawn/crab traps, fishing for salmon, visiting ancient Haida villages like the eerily beautiful Ninstints, exploring new islands, beaches & coastline, whale watching …and on until it was time to drop anchor in a secluded sheltered bay. One tip would be to be clear from the start about which activities you prefer to do most (i.e. more kayaking or fishing) and convey that at the start. The preferences of all need to be taken into account but James clearly tries to please all guests. We loved the entire experience, learned so much about ocean & Haida life and enjoyed all the personalities on board. We would highly recommend this trip - it would be perfect for a small reunion of family/friends but we thoroughly enjoyed meeting adventuresome new people.

Culture, wilderness, adventure. You name it - its got it. (just come prepared for wet weather - but we had 2 glorious weeks with little rain).

Haidi Gwaii and Gwaii Haanas are extraordinary places. If you go, the islands and the park will exceed your expectations. However, the quality of your experience depends on which tour operators, lodges and guides you choose. Confirm all details up front to be sure that you will get what you are paying for before you book. Avoid Anvil Cove Charters. It is a shoestring operation that was supposed to close down a year ago. Accommodations and equipment are sub-standard. Captain is skilled and professional, but the cook is neither. There are no certified guides and the cook treats passengers as unpaid galley slaves. Advertised showers means maybe one very limited shower a week. If you are lucky enough to get a shower, the amount of water you use will be strictly monitored and you will be publically chastised for anything over three minutes or five gallons.

We feel most fortunate to have experienced Gwaii Haanas under the care and 'guiding' of Moresby Explorers. From the professional and knowledgeable leadership of our guide, Erin, to the delicious meals prepared by Elise at the float camp and Susan at Rosé Harbour, our 4 day zodiac trip was an adventure. We have been left with a wealth of new knowledge & wonderful memories. The wildlife we encountered, the welcoming Haida people we met and the stories that were shared have both inspired and humbled us. We will return to this magical place called Haida Gwaii.Brian and Wendy V

Moresby Explorers runs great trips to see the sites. Do research on the Haida and natural flora, fauna, geography, and culture history ahead of time and you'll enjoy it even more.

This is an amazing area that will appeal to those that like wild areas and aboriginal history. See it before the abandoned Haida village sites crumble into dust!