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.
Pricing
Double occupancy (shared tent):
$2,595.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent):
$2,845.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
August 2 to 6, 2027
August 6 to 10, 2027
August 10 to 14, 2027
August 14 to 18, 2027
August 18 to 22, 2027
EDGE OF THE PACIFICGWAII HAANAS EXPLORER
Expedition Kayaking
5 days / 4 nights
The 5-day Gwaii Haanas South Explorer travels between Kints’uwid K’idsii (Houston Stewart Channel) and SG̱ang Gwaay in the southern reaches of Gwaii Haanas. Paddle rugged coastline and open Pacific waters, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SG̱ang Gwaay, and experience remote wilderness camping.
Pricing
Double occupancy (shared tent):
$2,795.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent):
$3,045.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
July 4 to 8, 2027
July 8 to 12, 2027
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.
Pricing
Double occupancy (shared tent):
$3,495.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent):
$3,845.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
August 22 to 28, 2027
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.
Pricing
Double occupancy (shared tent):
$3,995.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent):
$4,395.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
July 12 to 19, 2027
July 19 to 26, 2027
July 26 to August 2, 2027
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.
Pricing
Double occupancy (shared tent):
$6,995.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Single occupancy (solo tent):
$7,745.00 CAD per person plus 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
June 20 to July 4, 2027
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I'd definitely go again I went on the 3 night 4 day Whales and Grizzly Bears trip. The guides were superb, very friendly and professional. They shared their knowledge about the environment and the First Nation people, went out of their way to ensure everyone in the group (6 of us) were feeling comfortable about the paddling and prepared some excellent meals. I hadn't really thought about the food to be honest, but it was excellent! Overall it was a magical experience.read moreread less
152carolinec7/26/2024 -
Whales and Grizzly Bears Base Camp Kayaking a wonderful experience. I feel very privileged to have been able to stay in such a unique location, teeming with wildlife. Highly recommend the Sea Otter safari add-on too. It is the often the same wildlife, but it's a very different experience for wildlife and viewer from all 3 watercraft types. Guides & facilities excellent. Recommend staying in the Black Bear too, at both ends of the kayaking trip.read moreread less
Tanya J.9/20/2024 -
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 -
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 - We did the 4 day orca/grizzly bear tour. The Kayak portion was excellent but I did not like how the cabins were assigned. The guides say, “you figure it out between you” and this resulted in a competitive race to get the cabins. We were left with the tent closest to the kitchen (because we did not join the race) which meant that as a light sleeper, I did not sleep well and it impacted the enjoyment of the trip. Unless there was a change in this process (suggest that people draw numbers and get their choice accordingly), I would choose a different company. If they made a fairer process for tent selection then I would recommend Kingfisher. My advice to future groups is to determine your method for selecting cabins at your pre-trip meeting. For the grizzly tour, know that you cover a lot of ground on the boat and we did not see any grizzlies.read moreread less
Charmaine M.9/13/2023 - 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 - The 6-day kayaking tour exceeded our expectations. Declan and Babs were the best guides you could wish for for this experience. They gave us ALL THE INFO on camping and kayaking. We saw whales every day and learned a lot about life on and in the water.
We expected a lot or fun and a good time but surely didn't expect a trip this spectacular and full of so many interesting facts. The camps were chosen daily depending on the group and the weather, and we always felt included in the decision-making process. We were very comfortable with the group, especially given thé small size. The food was always delicious and varied. We definitely recommend this tour. Once in a lifetime experience.read moreread less
Jennifer F.7/21/2025 - I did the 4 day family base camp whale watching tour with my husband and 2 kids (6 yrs and 9 yrs) and it is one of the best things we've ever done. The guides were amazing, the food was delicious and we were lucky enough to see humpbacks and orcas.
Andrew the owner was super accommodating of all our needs and was so passionate and knowledgeable about the local wildlife and the local area, and we loved our guides who made the whole experience so smooth and fun.
Definitely book a family tour with Kingfisher if you want a unique experience with your kids that they'll always remember.read moreread less
Sarah J.8/09/2023 - My trip with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures was nothing short of extraordinary. The combination of expert guidance, intimate group size, and the stunning scenery of British Columbia made for an unforgettable experience. Each day brought new adventures and a deepened appreciation for the wilderness. Can't wait for my next adventure with them!read moreread less
Ian H.7/20/2023







