KAYAKING HAIDA GWAII
Kayaking in Haida Gwaii is a truly unparalleled experience: breathtaking wilderness, serene wildlife sightings, and the profound cultural heritage of the Haida. If you’re seeking an authentic wilderness journey through a vibrant and diverse ecosystem steeped in history, our tours are designed with you in mind.
An Ecological Haven
Separated from British Columbia by the vast expanse of the Hecate Strait, Haida Gwaii—or “Islands of the People” in Haida—stands as a testament to ecological uniqueness. Known as the “Galapagos of the North,” this isolated archipelago is a sanctuary to at least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals, found nowhere else on Earth. How many will you spot?
Limited & Exclusive Access to Gwaii Haanas
Experience wilderness the way it was meant to be enjoyed—with wide open spaces and true tranquility. The remoteness of Gwaii Haanas, coupled with a carefully managed allocation system, ensures an exclusive and intimate exploration of this pristine environment. The lands and waters of Gwaii Haanas are stewarded in cooperation between the Government of Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation through the Archipelago Management Board, the first agreement of this kind in Canada.
Begin Your Journey with Kingfisher
At Kingfisher, we pride ourselves on offering an all-inclusive kayaking experience. From meeting one of your guides in K’il Kun (Sandspit) on the evening before your departure, to providing comprehensive gear—including tents, sleeping pads and bags, paddling jackets, dry bags, and all necessary kayaking and safety equipment—we want to ensure your adventure starts smoothly. And with all your meals and snacks provided, you don’t have to worry about going hungry! Your journey with us isn’t just an exploration of the wild and cultural beauty of Haida Gwaii, but also a taste of exceptional convenience and comfort—that’s just the Kingfisher way.
Prepare to immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty and tranquility of Haida Gwaii with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures—where every paddle stroke brings you closer to nature’s heart and the rich legacy of the Haida Nation.
Kayak Tours of Haida Gwaii
CENTRAL GWAII HAANAS EXPLORER
Expedition Kayaking
5 days / 4 nights
Highlights of the Central Gwaii Haanas Explorer tour include soaking in the natural pools at Gandll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hotspring Island) and kayaking the wildlife rich waters of Juan Perez Sound. This five day tour has a more relaxed pace than our longer Gwaii Haanas Explorer kayak tours.
Price: $2495 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
NORTHERN GWAIIHAANAS EXPLORER
Expedition Kayaking
7 days / 6 nights
The Northern Gwaii Hannas Explorer tours travel between Tanu Island and Burnaby Island in the northern half of Gwaii Haanas. Paddle sheltered channels, secluded bays, and exposed coastline, visit Haida cultural sites T’aanuu Llnagaay (Tanu) and Hlk’yah G̱awG̱a (Windy Bay) and soak in natural hot springs.
Price: $3095 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
SOUTHERN GWAII HAANAS EXPLORER
Expedition Kayaking
8 days / 7 nights
The Southern Gwaii Haanas Explorer tour kayaks the southern end of Gwaii Haanas, from K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay along the rugged coastline to Rose Harbour. Fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, colourful inter-tidal life, wonderful campsite locations, and a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SG̱ang Gwaay.
Price:$3395 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
ULTIMATE GWAII HAANAS EXPLORER
Expedition Kayaking
15 days / 14 nights
This trip is our longest offering, and provides visitors the opportunity to explore almost the entire Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. This experience starts near the northern boundary of Gwaii Haanas, and culminates near the south end after a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SG̱ang Gwaay.
Price: $6195 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
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Exceptional- the trip of a lifetime. We had the best time with Kingfisher. They made the trip approachable and we felt very prepared. We had never done anything like this before and were understandably a bit nervous, but the team made it easy and fun. I highly recommend it.
I was intimidated by the amount of kayaking having a pretty casual background in it but it was not an issue. The campsites and locations were beautiful and we saw all kind of amazing wildlife. The guides were incredible.
I cannot recommend this enough.read moreread less
nadijar20138/14/2025 -
Guiding at it's very best!! Our Whales and Wildlife Kayaking trip was a fabulous experience from start to finish. Our guides, Ben and Jeff were super knowledgeable and friendly. They looked after us all amazingly well and the whole experience totally exceeded our expectations.read moreread less
Wendy J.7/27/2025 -
Great outdoor and semi-glamping experience This was a magical trip! We were a group of 11 adventurous women, wanting to see wildlife and exploring these islands. The guides were great, we got to see and hear lots of whales and some orcas, learned a lot about the flora and fauna. The tents and beds were very comfy, the meals excellent. Some , but not all of us had kayaking experience, one should be in decent physical shape to do this trip.The Kingfisher Co was easy to work with and responsive to some of our special needs. I can 100% recommend them.read moreread less
Dagmar C.9/21/2023 -
Incredible experience and trip! Wow! This was such an amazing trip. Our guides, Liz and Renee, were so incredible. They were welcoming, funny, knowledgeable, and great cooks. I learned a lot about marine wildlife and how to kayak better (I had some prior experience but not a ton). Renee prepared a detailed kayaking plan each day that felt safe, the right amount of exercise, and ensured we saw some cool nature.
The base camp was great, beds were comfortable, tents were nice, and the food was delicious. The camp is situated right between the Orca/Humpback “highway” so we sat and watched whales all evening after finishing kayaking and could hear them breathing all night long. Truly magical.
The kayaking was fun, safe, and we saw some amazing wildlife from the kayaks, the boat tour, and camp. My guess is 100 orcas, 50 humpbacks, hundreds of porpoises, 3 grizzlies, some otters, + tons of seals, sea lions, and eagles! We also lucked out with a really fun tour group that loved playing games and hanging out together! I would love to go again at some point!read moreread less
P2251KWshelbyw8/01/2024 - It was fantastic! We highly recommend the kayak and grizzly tour. We started our vacation with Kingfisher in late August and this tour set the benchmark very high for the rest of our trip through Canada.
Camping on an island close to nature and wildlife was an exceptional experience. The guides made it even better by taking care of us on land and on water, sharing their knowledge with us. Not only did we watch whales, but we also met more marine life and learned about currents and flora. Many thanks to Audrey, Jess and Kayleigh.
Environmentally friendly, with high respect for wildlife, far from mass tourism. Kayaking for beginners and advanced. Nice mix of people and good group size.
The grizzly tour with Sea Wolf Adventures on the last day was a great way to end the tour. Sherry and Brandon shared their indigenous knowledge of the wildlife and islands with us. We watched orcas on the way to see the grizzly bears. Visiting the cultural center in Alert Bay and hearing personal stories was also a highlight! Thank you so much.read moreread less
Julia S.10/02/2022 - We did the 4 day base camp kayaking and grizzly tour and it was fantastic. The base camp was well maintained, the food at camp was excellent. We saw lots of wildlife. The kayaking guides were very knowledgeable and courteous, Jeff was exceptional. The boat captain for the grizzly tour was lovely. All the guides were always delighted to share fun wildlife facts and never compromised our safety. Constant changing tides and mountain weather affects the waters around the island and the day to day itineraries, so you may not get to kayak every day. The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is that we are Australians and did the camp with a local Canadian family. At times, I felt like my partner and I were a bit of an afterthought to the two younger guides. They seemed much more focused on chatting with the Canadian family, and a lot of the conversation was content we couldn’t really join in on. It left me feeling kind of awkward and, honestly, a bit like a pest (like we were intruding just by being there). That said, I know this is just my personal take on the social dynamic. Aside from that, I’d still absolutely recommend the company and the experience. It’s clearly a well-run operation and overall was a great trip.read moreread less
Nicole F.7/30/2025 -
Fabulous Kayaking Hanson Island and Johnstone Strait Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is the best. My wife and I did the 4-day Base Camp Whale and Bear Adventure. The base camp accommodations with the tent cabins were super comfortable and located on a strategic point where we could see so much just from camp. Brenda and Ben, our guides, were kind, fabulous and shared SO much valuable information about the water, sealife and animal life in and around the Johnston Strait are we were immersed in. We woke up every morning to laughter, hot coffee and breakfast. Our days were filled with great kayaking and animal sightings. We saw everything we were hoping to see during our trip and more - dolphins, sea lions, bears (mama and cub), orcas, humpbacks, sea otters, eagles, and a lot of underwater life. I would recommend these guys to anybody without hesitation.read moreread less
292lesb8/13/2024 - Tausend Dank an Kelsie und das Team für die tolle Tour, die wir in den letzten 4 Tagen hatten. Ganz viel erlebt, viele Tierbeobachtungen, tolles Essen, super Betreuung und Anleitung, und dann auch noch sehr gutes Wetter - wenn wir nicht so eine weite Anreise aus Berlin hätten, würden wir immer wieder mit den Kingfishers fahren.read moreread less
Gabriela T.8/16/2023









