Why Moresby Explorers?
Six Reasons Why You Should See Gwaii Haanas with Moresby Explorers.
We rely on our solid reputation to bring us new customers each season. Whether you've heard all about us from a friend or just found us on the Internet, it is important to us that you come away from your trip with a positive experience to share with others. We will be informative and honest with you throughout the booking process, and if this is not the trip for you, we will help you find other options.
Here are some of the things that set us apart from other tour companies.
Reason 1: We love it!
We truly enjoy taking people out on the water and experiencing this magical archipelago. We love spending time with wonderful people who have roots in the land deeper than the trees and sharing the space with so much wildlife.
Reason 2: We've got great zodiac boats!
Travelling on a small boat is a great way to experience Gwaii Haanas. We are able to travel quickly between points of interest, allowing maximum time onshore to explore. The shallow draft of these boats allows us to get up close to the shoreline to view wildlife, explore pristine inlets, or disembark at new landing spots. However, not all small boats are created equal. We use rigid-hull inflatable boats manufactured right here in B.C. by Zodiac Hurricane Technologies. These are the same brand of boats used by the Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard and military and proven in extreme conditions around the world. A "deep V" fibreglass hull creates a smoother ride on the water, and the air-filled tubes around the hull add extra floatation and legendary stability. The Hypalon tubes are separated into five sections, and the hull is completely enclosed and self-draining, making the boat virtually unsinkable. As you may know, Haida Gwaii is known for unpredictable weather that can flare up suddenly, but with these boats, we can be sure of a safe ride at all times.
Reason 3: We're really dependable!
We understand that your visit to the islands may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we want to make sure you see what you came to see. If we confirm your trip, we will not cancel it, even if all the other people on it cancel at the last minute. If we cannot safely go out due to bad weather, we will try our best to either move the trip to a different day, explore a different area, or otherwise accommodate the people on the trip.
We run Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors which are reliable, quiet and clean burning. These reliable engines greatly reduce the possibility of mechanical problems. Even so, on our single-engine boats, we carry a small spare for backup. The fact that we run four boats plus a spare, which we operate out of Moresby Camp (the closest road access to Gwaii Haanas), allows us to respond quickly should a problem arise. In most cases, we will be able to fix the problem or exchange boats and continue the tour with little disruption. No other company operating in Gwaii Haanas can offer the same.
Reason 4: Our tours start at Moresby Camp.
There are two options for accessing Gwaii Haanas and the area just north of Gwaii Haanas: start from the docks at Queen Charlotte or Sandspit and make your way around the notoriously rough Sandspit Bar and south along the exposed shorelines of northern Moresby Island, or start at Moresby Camp, a recreation site located about one hour drive south of Sandspit. Although launching at Moresby Camp means we must drive there each day, we firmly believe that it is the better option, and we keep all our equipment and boats at Moresby Camp rather than in Sandspit. The more protected waters around Moresby Camp mean that we can run many tours from here, which we would have to cancel due to weather if we were trying to run from the Sandspit harbour.
Reason 5: We've got a cool & convenient floating lodge.
We are unique in being able to provide our guests with comfortable indoor accommodation, not a tent or a liveaboard boat. Nestled in a small remote cove in Crescent Inlet and accessible only by boat or plane, our floating lodge is the perfect place for us to overnight on our boat tours. The lodge has eight guest bedrooms: four with "double under and single over" bunk beds, two with queen beds and two with two singles. A large sitting area has a 14-person dining room table, gas fireplace, full kitchen, covered deck and a great view. There is hot and cold water and a bathroom with a flush toilet, but no shower. It takes just over an hour to get there in one of our speed boats from Moresby Camp, and it is less than a kilometre outside the northern boundary of Gwaii Haanas.
Reason 6: We are local!
We have excellent staff retention, so our staff are experienced and know the area well. Moresby Explorers has been a locally owned and operated company since 1988. The owners and many of the staff live full-time on the islands. This means we know the highlights of Gwaii Haanas and the more unique and little-known spots that not everyone visits. Being a local operator gives us the advantage of a long season, with tours and custom trips available whenever a demand arises.
“Excellent tour, the weather cooperated, food was great, watchmen/women we’re all wonderful. Bryan was very knowledgeable on all aspects of the itinerary.”
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Louise Island Day Tour
This full-day trip takes you all the way around Louise Island and includes a visit to the ancient Haida village site of Ḵuuna Llnagaay Skedans. Louise Island is rich in history and is also a great area to learn about the ecology and environment of Haida Gwaii, both terrestrial and marine.
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Northern Gwaii Haanas Two Day Tour
This tour explores the northern half of Gwaii Haanas and the Louise Island area, with an overnight stay at our floating lodge.
We stop at several important Haida cultural sites and fill out our days with a mix of Haida cultural history, pioneer history, marine ecology, and beautiful scenery.
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Southern Gwaii Haanas Two Day Tour
Explores the Southern half of Gwaii Haanas and the Rose Harbour area.
Aim to visit SG̱ang Gwaay and/or G̱andll K'in Gwaay.yaay Hot springs.
One Night Stay at Rose Harbour
More boat travel time than our other trips
All Fees, Food and Transportation are Included.
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Gwaii Haanas Four Day Tour
This tour takes you all the way to the remote southern end of Gwaii Haanas and includes a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SG̱ang Gwaay. We also explore other cultural sites, visit hidden bays and inlets, and search for wildlife. Overnight stays at our floating lodge and Rose Harbour Guesthouse