Uniquely beautiful Haida Gwaii (formerly The Queen Charlotte Islands) is accessible in a variety of ways: via plane and sea-plane, with several flights per week arriving in Sandspit/Queen Charlotte City from Vancouver and Prince Rupert; service by BC Ferries from Prince Rupert in the Northern British Columbia region, and from Port Hardy (500 km/310 miles from Victoria), on Northern Vancouver Island.

Haida Gwaii and its communities of Skidegate, Queen Charlotte, Tlell, Massett and Old Masset on Graham Island, and Sandspit on Moresby Island with access to the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, all provide a rich and diverse cultural experience in some of the world’s most cherished and unspoiled ecosystems. These islands offer a magical and soulful experience with the ecology of which Canadians are proud, with natural environments protected in the name of regional, national, and international heritage, and they are a must-see for any traveller who values genuine contact and viewing of pristine ecosystems.

The weather on Haida Gwaii is surprisingly mild year-round, as it is positively affected by the Japanese current, and while some areas are subject to prodigious rainfall (hence the abundant verdant foliage), others enjoy climate more often associated with temperate Southern coast.

Along with the declared UNESCO Heritage Site, Haida Gwaii is overflowing in authentic First Nations culture and historical research. Any interested traveller can immerse themselves in the deep history of the region and its peoples, dating back thousands of years, and the rich legends and traditions of the Haida people are essential to understanding and appreciating the local fauna, their habits and their origins.

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Photo credits: Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay courtesy Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC/Dannielle Hayes; Ancient Haida poles at Nan Sdins Llangaay (Ninstints) on Anthony Island in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve courtesy Tourism BC/Tom Ryan; Humpback whale breaching in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in Haida Gwaii courtesy Tourism BC/Tom Ryan; Moss covered forest in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in Haida Gwaii courtesy Tourism BC/JF Bergeron