Set in the dramatic and pristine seascape of the British Columbia coastline, this 10 day tour up the west coast to the Queen Charlotte Islands provides a stunning kaleidoscope of land and sea experiences. Journey with us to ancient rainforests, secluded beaches, totems, abandoned native villages and plentiful marine and wildlife!
On our way to the Queen Charlottes Islands, we cross Georgia Straights over to Vancouver Island and travel up the east coast to Port McNeil. From here we take a small ferry to the First Nations’ Community of the Kwakwak'awakw people located in Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. We’ll overnight in a rustic lodge overlooking Johnstone Straight – known as the home of the “killer whale”. Optional activities include whale watching or grizzly bear viewing.
From Port Hardy, we catch a ferry up the protected waters of the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert. After overnight here, we take a final ferry to Graham Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands.
This archipelago of about some 154 islands is often referred to as "Canada's Galapagos" or Haida Gwaii (The Haida Place). Essentially still a wilderness area, the islands are warmed from an ocean current from Japan and experience 127 centimeters of rain annually. These factors created a landscape of 1,000-year old spruce and cedar rainforests, abundant animal life and waters teeming with marine life. The islands, the largest of which are Graham and Moresby, are home to a wide variety of other large native trees, including Western Red cedar, Nootka Cypress, Shore Pine, Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock and Red alder. These forests harbour endemic plant species, 25% of B.C's nesting seabirds, one third of B.C's population of peregrine falcon, and are a stronghold of bald eagles, black bears, deer and raccoon. Waters surrounding the Queen Charlotte Islands host major salmon runs, rich and diverse intertidal populations, and the largest Stellar sea lion population in B.C., as well seals, whales and porpoises.
In addition to the remote culturally significant areas, main highlights include Naikoon National Park, Tlell River, the wreck of the Pestula, Louise Island with stops at Mathers Creek and Reef Island. We also visit an abandoned Haida gravesite and two abandoned Haida villages.
2008 Tour Dates
Tour # 1. June 25 - July 05
Tour # 2. July 16 - 26
Tour # 3. August 06 - 16
Tour # 4. August 27 - September 06
Tour # 5. September 10 - 20
All tours depart on a Wednesday and finish in Masset on a Saturday.
Vancouver, B.C. return
Day 1. Vancouver, B.C.
Arrangements will be made for you at our hotel in Vancouver. Please be checked in by 3:00 pm. Our guide will arrange to meet the group in the lobby at 4:00 pm for a 2 hour briefing and city tour of Vancouver.
Accommodation: Hotel
Included meals: none
Day 2. Alert Bay, B.C.
Travelling north we head to Horseshoe Bay and board the B.C Ferry that takes us across the Georgia Straight to Vancouver Island. One and a half hours later we arrive at Departure Bay near Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island. From here we follow the Island Highway northeast to Port McNeill. At Port McNeill we board a small ferry that takes us across Johnstone Strait to the First Nation community of Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. After we check-into our waterfront lodge our guide will take us on a tour of this culturally rich community. Your guide will also confirm optional activities for the morning which include a full day of grizzly bear viewing or a half day of whale watching.
Accommodation: Lodge
Included meals: breakfast
Day 3. Port Hardy, B.C.
This day is set aside for optional activities and exploration of Alert Bay. Those who do not choose the full day grizzly bear viewing will have time to visit to the U’mista Cutlural Centre and carving studios of the ‘Namgis. Other activities include a hike along the Big Tree trail, or a stroll through the Ecological Gardens. The gardens are spanned by board walk and dirt trails that traverse culturally modified tress and an abandoned dug out canoe. In the late afternoon we travel the last 40 kilometers to the northern tip of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy.
Included Meals: Hot breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4. Prince Rupert, B.C.
An early morning start gets us set for our scenic, full day ferry cruise up the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert – the ferry departs at 7:30 am and arrives at 11:00 pm on the same day. The group and Midnight Sun guide leave the tour van on Vancouver Island and proceed as foot passengers onto the ferry. Passengers should have luggage that is easy to manage and that they can carry for short distances, as from this point on we rely on local transportation. A shuttle service will take us from the ferry terminal to downtown in Prince Rupert where we overnight.
Included Meals: Hot breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 5. Queen Charlotte City / Graham Island, B.C.
Depending on the ferry schedule we will either be boarding the 9:00 or 11:00 am sailing to the Queen Charlotte Islands, the last leg of our journey. Crossing time is approximately 8 hours. Upon arrival at Queen Charlotte City we take a shuttle to our accommodation where we can relax and enjoy a leisurely evening.
Included Meals: Hot breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6. Graham Island, B.C.
The morning is free to enjoy the sites and sounds of Queen Charlotte City. Optional activities include visiting the Haida Heritage Centre, a magnificent 53,000 square foot cedar multi-complex consisting of five contemporary monumental timber longhouses, and five replica longhouses. Three classrooms and the Haida Gwaii Museum expansion building are housed in replica longhouses. After lunch we’ll be taken to the north end of Graham Island to hike into Naikoon National Park, hunt for agates, and enjoy a walk along giant stretches of sandy white beaches. Later in the day we’ll have a guided tour through the village of Haida.
Included meals: Hot breakfast and light snack on day hike
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7. Graham Island, B.C.
Accompanied by a local guide we explore the Tlell River Trail and view the changing scenery as we walk through the giant forest of Sitka Spruce, and Helmlock. We also encounter the wreck of the Pestula that ran aground in 1928. This area is prime habitat for many shorebirds and lucky visitors may see a family of river otters playing near the mouth of the river.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Hot breakfast and light snack on day hike
Day 8. Floating Spruce Lodge / Louise Island, B.C.
Crossing over to Morsby Island we board a zodiac take to Mathers Creek, an abandoned logging camp from World War II. This camp supplied the airforce with spruce to build airplanes and is also the site of an abandoned Haida gravesite. We also stop at Skedans Village an abandoned Haida Village and Reef Island where we can walk along the sandy beaches and explore the giant spruce and cedar trees. We’ll overnight in a floating cabin with a large deck. Optional kayaking is available from the lodge.
Accommodation: Rustic Floating Lodge
Meals: Hot breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9. Graham Island, B.C.
On our marine journey back to Graham Island we visit to Hot Springs Island. Here visitors can relax while soaking rock pools of hot mineral water while viewing the San Christoval Mountain Range. Our last stop before returning to Queen Charlotte City is Tanu, an abandoned Native Haida Village. Surrounded by giant helmlock and cedar the century old village footprint is barley visible. We arrive back in Queen Charlotte City just after lunch. Free afternoon to explore local shops and galleries.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Hot breakfast and lunch.
Day 10. Flight from Masset to Vancouver, B.C.
Traveller can enjoy a leisurely morning before we board our shuttle bus to Masset for flights back to Vancouver. Note that flights are not included in the price of the tour. You can either request Midnight Sun Travel to make these arrangements for you or you can request the return flight with your travel agent. Travellers can also return by BC Ferry to Prince Rupert and fly out to other destinations in BC and Canada.
Meals included: Hot breakfast.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
A driver/leader, all ground transportation including, ferry fees to Vancouver Island, Cormorant Island, Prince Rupert and Skidegate, all national, provincial, state, territorial and wildlife refuge fees, accommodation as per itinerary, guided day hikes to Naikoon National Park and Tlell River, zodiac power boat tour to Louise Island and Hot Springs Island.
Included meals: 10 hot breakfasts, two snacks, two lunches and one dinner
Not Included: Return flight to Vancouver, meals where not indicated, optional activities, gratuities, and 5% GST. The single supplement is $560.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Ecotourism
Cultural Journey
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