Thursday, July 11, 2013

Haida Gwaii Adventure Tours And Travel For BC Visitors

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By Tonia Merritt


Visitors planning an itinerary for Haida Gwaii adventure tours and travel can easily spend the entire week exploring the waters and the amazing world beneath. The entire stay could also be spent on land, discovering both manmade as well as natural wonders. A flexible tour itinerary can be comprised of elements from both aquatic and terra firma plans. Here's a look at all such components that go into making this visit an adventure to remember.

The 138 islands in the archipelago are located a mere 62-mile hop from the British Columbia coast. Travelers can find suitable Haida Gwaii accommodations and other facilities in Queen Charlotte or Masset on Graham Island. Gwaii Haanas National Park visitors may also want to consider Sandspit as a base, since the national park is on Moresby Island.

Earlier named as the Queen Charlotte Islands, the name for this archipelago was later changed to Haida Gwaii, which means islands of the people. Shifting the nomenclature from the royalty to the masses did little to change the facts on the ground, which is that this place was and remains an outdoor paradise. The world's largest species of black bear still roams the forests, and visitors must be ready for a test of their physical endurance in the wilderness.

Boats will take visitors out into the ocean where they can get up close to migrating whales and a dazzling array of thousands of sea birds nesting on remote islands. For a bigger adrenaline rush, try kayaking tours or a deep-sea sport fishing expedition. The biggest challenge on land is simply getting through the rain-forest in one piece.

An adventurer who prefers to go solo can always pick up a map and hit the gas on Highway 16 as it winds its way past all the communities on both Graham and Moresby. This might, however, not be as easy as it sounds given that the total land-mass on this archipelago covers 3,931 square miles. It would be a whole lot easier to be led by a guide who knows the attractions and activities that visitors like and can safely indulge in.

Anglers can get a charter boat to help them find all the great fishing spots. Many of the smaller islands, which are otherwise completely deserted, have fishing lodges and boat ramps. Bird-watching or nature tours can be led by local experts who also provide tour guide services. Many will take groups of visitors out for a week of camping in the outdoors, helping them learn and enjoy activities such as kayaking, surfing, fishing and tree-climbing.

The Gwaii Haanas National Park presents a unique challenge. This tour starts from Cumshewa Inlet and heads south, or heads north after starting from at Ninstints aka SGaang Gwaay at the other end. Along the way, visitors will experience a thrilling week in the outdoors where they must fish for food, hike and use kayaks to move forward. It also provides opportunities for nature exploration and an up-close look at ancient Haida heritage sites.

The sum of it is that Haida Gwaii adventure tours and travel provide the perfect escape from modernity, and the chance to discover the joys and simplicity of life in the wild. Do remember that this is not an ordinary camping trip. These islands are one of the few places in North America where nature is completely untamed and ferocious. One good thing about this adventure is that people don't have to spend half their holiday traveling to and from a remote corner of the world.




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