One hundred kilometres from the mainland of British Columbia, perched on the very edge of Canada's Pacific continental shelf, lie the Queen Charlotte Islands, now known as Haida Gwaii or "Islands of the Haida people."

Our sea kayak expeditions traverse the east coast of the Charlottes through Gwaii Haanas National Park during springtime when conditions are typically in their prime. Spring is the best time for wildlife and weather here - whales feed on a bounty of plankton, seals gather on islets, and sealions crowd surf-battered rocks.

While bald eagles grapple for newly gathered herring, melodies of songbirds fill the morning air, and after nightfall storm petrels and ancient murrelets crash through the forests to undertake their parental exchange on the nest.

The powerful spirit of Haida ancestry is everywhere - from abandoned villages, to the forest where modified trees show evidence of bark stripping, burning, or massive plank splitting, to the sound of ancient Haida myths in the very air we breathe. A vast mosaic of marine and intertidal life makes for great exploration from secluded moss-carpeted campsites nestled under giant red cedar and ancient sitka spruce forests.

Other highlights include eating fresh fish cooked over the campfire, soaking in natural hot springs and simply taking in the majestic beauty and wilderness of Gwaii Haanas.

How this trip makes a difference

Over the past 23 years, this operator has successfully guided active, self propelled wilderness adventures. We start our trips by supporting the local communities where we travel, from shopping for our supplies to lodging, and, whenever possible, hiring local guides. Once we are dropped off in the wilderness, we are walking, paddling or dogsledding across a landscape, noticing everything, but leaving nothing but footprints in our wake.

Every visitor traveling behind us will arrive feeling they are the first explorer to the area. Wildlife skulls, antlers, and artifacts are left as they were found. Rocks anchoring tents are returned their original resting place. The little garbage we generate is carried out with us. Fresh water sources are fiercely protected against contamination.

Our trip goals include educating and connecting people to nature and the outdoors through natural history based expeditions. We diligently promote cultural preservation and environmental awareness from our pre-departure information to our no trace practices in the field. As our guests explore the wonders of our world, we hope to help everyone gain new insights and perspectives on other cultures and environments as well as our own and foster a sense of our interconnectedness.

We consider running these trips our way of giving back to the environment as our guests return better educated and likely to vote or support these environments, their culture and wildlife.