Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada

The Queen Charlotte Islands are an archipelago off the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, consisting of two main islands, Graham Island in the North, and Moresby Island in the south, and approximately 150 smaller islands. Other major islands include Langara, Louise, Lyell, Burnaby, and Kunghit Island The islands are separated from the British Columbia mainland to the east by Hecate Strait. Vancouver Island lies to the south, across Queen Charlotte Sound, while the U.S. state of Alaska is to the north, across the Dixon Entrance.

From Queen Charlotte City you can reach some breathtaking natural settings, see plant and animal sub-species that don't exist anywhere else as well as enjoy the rich artistic traditions of the Haida. Some of the land, including the homelands of some of the Haida peoples, is jointly protected under federal and Haida legislation as Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

Activities on offer include fishing, kayaking, beachcombing, birding, viewing wildlife and taking floatplane trips to remote areas of unspoiled wilderness. The islands are home to an abundance of wildlife, including the largest subspecies of black bear and the subspecies of stoat.

Things to See & Do

* Queen Charlotte Visitor Info Centre in Queen Charlotte City
* Haida Heritage Centre at Qay’llnagaay
* Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
* Fishing, kayaking & swimming
* Wildlife viewing

General information

Cruise Season – May - September
Currency - Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Language – English
Land Area – 10,180 km²
Population – 5000 approx
Electricity – 110 vlt 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – +1

Port Location – The port is located at Skidegate Landing on the outskirts of Queen Charlotte City.

Transport Links – Air Canada Jazz offers regular daily flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Sandspit (YZP).

North Pacific Seaplanes has daily float plane service between Prince Rupert and Masset and service three times a week between Prince Rupert and Sandspit/Queen Charlotte City.

Pacific Coastal Airlines provides daily service from Vancouver's South Terminal(YVR) to Masset(YMT) during the summer and service three times a week during the shoulder and winter season.

The Queen Charlotte Islands are accessed by a six hour ferry trip from the port city of Prince Rupert on the mainland coast of British Columbia three times a week. Reservations are highly recommended and the earlier the better. You can also connect with BC Ferries breathtaking Inside Passage trip to Port Hardy on the north end of Vancouver Island, the Alaska Marine Highway to Ketchikan, Alaska and points north, Via Rail's "Skeena" train service to Prince George in the heart of Northern British Columbia and Greyhound Bus Lines.