The ferry from Prince Rupert takes about seven hours to cross Hecate Strait before arriving at Skidegate Landing on Graham Island. Once at Skidegate Landing one must take a second BC Ferry to Alliford Bay on Moresby Island, about a 20-minute voyage. Sandspit is a 15-kilometre drive east from this ferry terminal.

To get to Prince Rupert, one can also take a BC Ferry from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island up the Inside Passage.

Upon arrival in Sandspit on July 16, 2023, Gwaii Taxi will be providing guests with transport from the Sandspit Airport to their lodging at Northern Shores. We have made them aware of our guest and crew arrivals in advance, but limited cars and drivers in Sandspit may result in people having to wait to be transported. Gwaii Taxi drivers will be located inside the tiny Sandspit Airport near baggage retrieval, awaiting the arrival of the flight. Please introduce yourself as a Bluewater and/or WWE guest who is going to Northern Shores. The service is included in trip fees. If difficulties are encountered, please call the Bluewater office (toll-free 1-888-877-1770 | 604-980-3800) or the Gwaii Taxi driver – 250-637-1162.

Group Rendezvous Point:

Date: July 17, 2024
Time: approximately 8:15 AM
Location: In front of the Northern Shores Lodge (455 Beach Rd, Sandspit, BC V0T 1T0, Canada)

Notes about Meet Up on Day 1 of Sailing Trip on July 17th, 2024

We’ll begin the day with an a la carte breakfast (7:00-7:30 AM) then the group will meet in front of the Inn where your guide/bus driver will greet you for your Haida Gwaii land tour at 8:15 AM.

Please be sure to check out of your hotel room with luggage in hand, prior to this time.

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

Participants who wish to arrive before July 16th must provide their own accommodation. Sandspit is a hamlet and has limited accommodations available and they are very busy in the summer months, so participants should book early. Your pre-trip accommodation at Northern Shores Lodge (455 Beach Rd, Sandspit, BC V0T 1T0, Canada) on July 16th, 2024 is included.

Seaport Bed & Breakfast
Bay View Garden Oceanfront Guesthouse
Northern Shores Lodge (Address: 455 Beach Rd, Sandspit, BC). If you wish to book additional nights before or after the WWE trip, please contact the Lodge directly: (250) 637-2233.

DEPARTURES FROM SANDSPIT

Please book your flight out of Sandspit Airport (YZP) in the afternoon of the tour’s last day (July 24th), or later.

Drop Off Point:

Date: July 24, 2024

Time: Midday
Location: Sandspit Airport (YZP)

If you are staying additional nights in Sandspit, you can be dropped off at your accommodation.

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you wish to depart at a later day, we recommend the following accommodations.

Seaport Bed & Breakfast
Bay View Garden Oceanfront Guesthouse
Northern Shores Lodge at 455 Beach Rd, Sandspit, BC V0T 1T0, Canada

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

US citizens at land and sea borders have other options, such as an enhanced driver’s license, permanent resident card or NEXUS card. See Canada Border Services for approved identification documents.

Visa:

Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter Canada. Those who are exempt require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA; $7 USD), with the exception of Americans. This must be applied for prior to traveling and can be completed online. It usually takes minutes but can take days. See how to apply Electronic Travel Authorization.

If you would like additional assistance in securing your visa, we recommend you consider using the services of CIBTVisas.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

Gratuities are not compulsory on your trip; however, if you are happy with the service that has been provided to you by your crew, tipping is an appropriate way to show your thanks for outstanding service and is customary in this industry.

The amount given is entirely up to the guest; however, a guideline of about $50-80+ CAD per day, per guest is a good reference, which is then then split evenly among all the crew. It is easier to process crew tips as cash, but cheque, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Please note that we do not accept American Express.

Please note that gratuities for your breakfast on Day 1 and at your Haida lunch at Keenawaii’s Kitchen are included in your trip fees.

In British Columbia, it is customary to leave a tip to thank waiters and other service providers. At restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, it is customary to leave 15-25% of the total amount of the bill; if the service was very good, you may wish to leave up to 20%.

However, on the trip, all of your meals are included and there is no need to tip for this service.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (two women per room/cabin), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner. No single rooms are available on this adventure.

Potable Water:

Tap water in Sandspit is potable unless otherwise posted. Potable water will be provided to you while sailing.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Island Odyssey

A certified Canadian Ministry of Transport passenger vessel, Island Odyssey has all of the safety equipment, electronic navigation aids, and features you would expect from a vessel of her standard. All of the cabins have adequate storage space for your bags, personal items and jackets. Coat hangers and life jackets are stowed in every cabin for your convenience. There is electricity in each room, so you can charge your camera batteries and enjoy a reading light as you relax in the evening.

There are 4 double cabins (2 beds for two people sharing one cabin) and 2 cabins with a double bed which can be used for couples or a private upgrade (single).

Bluewater Adventures’ SV Island Odyssey

Northern Shores Lodge

Northern Shores Lodge is a 15-minute walk from Damaxyaa Heritage Conservancy and 20 minutes from Sandspit Harbour. Your room includes coffee/tea making facilities while a toaster, additional coffee and tea making facilities and a microwave oven are provided in a kitchenette. Bathrooms include guest toiletries and walk-in showers.

Sea views can be enjoyed from the property.

Driving from Sandspit airport takes 5 minutes. There is a special menu and children’s menu available for guests with children. Highlights at this lodge include entertainment activities, a summer terrace and a sun deck.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT HAIDA GWAII

About

Our Haida Gwaii trips start & end in the community of Sandspit (K’il Kun) on Moresby Island. Sandspit is the only town on Moresby Island and hosts a supermarket, a few accommodation options (hotels, B&B’s, campgrounds), a couple of restaurants, and kilometres of coastline to view the Pacific Ocean outlined by the peaks of neighbouring Graham Island. Sandspit, known as the “Gateway to Gwaii Haanas”, is the perfect launching off point for your Haida Gwaii experience as it demands the pace of life to slow down, nature to be observed, and the sound of the ocean to become your soundtrack for the next week.

Land Transportation

Transportation is provided for guests to and from the ships in Haida Gwaii in a 12 to 15 person passenger van. The van consists of three rows of bench seats accommodating three people, and seats beside the driver – this does require a bit of crawling over seats for some guests. The step up into the van is about knee height, however there are handles on the inside of the van to help pull yourself up.

Luggage is stored in the back of the van and potentially on top in a secure, storage container. During your land tour, the bus will be taking paved roads. The longest we travel during the land tour is from Northern Shores to the Alliford Bay ferry terminal which is about 20 minutes.

At the end of your land tour, you will take the same passenger van along a logging road to Moresby Camp to meet your awaiting ship and crew. Although the dirt road is maintained by the logging companies, it can be sometimes a bumpy ride. The drive out to Moresby Camp is usually about an hour and will be the most extreme driving on the trip. In taking our time, guests can keep an eye out for wildlife, often seen on our drives to and from Moresby Camp.

Island Odyssey Sailing Crew

All our trips have four talented crew members onboard: a captain, mate/deckhand, chef, and naturalist/resource person. These four people work together to create your overall trip itinerary as well as your day-to- day agenda based on the daily conditions. With decades of experience, our crew have the local knowledge and abilities to cater your trip to your interests and showcase the hidden gems of Haida Gwaii.

What to Expect During the Expedition Activities

There can be transit days during your Haida Gwaii trip that may include some rolling seas. Our sailing vessels are equipped to stabilize to these conditions and our Crew can provide some helpful remedies if you are prone to motion sickness. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this incredible landscape.

Of all the destinations Bluewater travels to, Haida Gwaii provides us with the most opportunities to explore ashore. Guests can expect to be onshore anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours and thus should be able to stand and walk for that amount of time. We do not travel far during our shore excursions – a few kilometres at most – and guests should expect a variety of trail conditions, anywhere from flat, maintained, forest paths to undulating and unkept rainforest exploration which could include unsteady footing or stepping over fallen logs. We will also venture into estuaries and rocky islets aboard our zodiacs or in kayaks, for those who are interested in a paddle.

Guests should expect to be getting in and out of the zodiacs at least once a day. This includes getting in/out from the boat as well as in/out on shore. Unloading onto shore could include bigger steps down, stepping onto slippery rocks, or stepping out in wavy conditions. Assistance will always be provided. When coming back onto the boat, guests should be able to pull themselves up onto what we call the ‘swim grid’ with the assistance of a Bluewater crew member’s arm or on their own with the ladder hand rails.

On Board Safety

Upon arrival to the boat, the crew will go through the expectations and steps of various emergency scenarios such as man overboard or a vessel evacuation. It is important to follow instruction and direction from the crew as they are professionally trained to facilitate and execute these emergency scenarios. If you have any concerns on your ability to participate in an emergency drill, please address this to the crew as soon as you arrive to the boat.

Mobile Device Access

Mobile device usage on Haida Gwaii is good in some locations and unreliable in others. There is reliable service in Xaana Kaahlii GawGaay (Skidegate Inlet) – Daajing Giids (briefly known as Queen Charlotte), HlGaagilda (Skidegate), and Sandspit – and up coast to about Gandll SkahlGaal (St. Mary’s Spring). After that, your bars drop rapidly. There is no cell service south of Sandspit or during your time adventuring in Gwaii Haanas, providing every opportunity to be in the moment.

Climate & Weather

Usually on the Pacific Coast we have a good variety of constantly changing weather. Expect a mixture of sunshine, rain and wind on most trips.

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Although most of your trip expenses are covered in your trip fees, there are some additional costs that are not, i.e., meals on your arrival day are not included and lunch and dinner on the last day is not included. There is a cash machine located at Super Valu, but most shops and restaurants in Sandspit (K’il Kun) accept debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Cash is not required onboard the vessel unless you would like to provide your crew gratuity or purchase merchandise in cash.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Useful Websites:

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Work on your upper body and core strength.

Weight lifting, yoga and pilates can help with this.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].