Sunday, November 10, 2013

Diversity Prevails Among Haida Gwaii Accommodations Available

By Katrina Wheeler


There are plenty of Haida Gwaii accommodations to choose from. Prospective vacationers will find an extensive variety on offer. The most popular season stretches from May to September. During this period, it is advisable to reserve guided tours and lodging in advance.

Online information is readily available about where to stay. Most of these places can be found located in local communities or on Highway 16. The highway is the primary route running north and south alongside Graham and Moresby.

The splendor of the regional landscape, of this territory formerly named Queen Charlotte Islands, is a major draw for visiting tourists. This isolated group of one hundred fifty islands is a desired vacation spot for sports buffs and nature lovers alike. The secluded region provides visitors with an antidote to their urban surroundings. Surfers flock here to use the only surfing spot in Northern BC. Other activities visitors get pleasure from are fishing, camping, climbing and hiking in the nature reserves and the protected parkland under the stewardship of its Indigenous inhabitants.

This Canadian territory is 100 km wide and 300 km long. It has a triangular form that tapers to a point at Cape St. James on its southernmost edge. The territory is 120 km west of the northern coastline of British Columbia. It lies below the Alaska panhandle. It is located 75 km from the American border. The main land masses of the archipelago are Graham Island in the north and Moresby Island in the south. In the southern part of Moresby Island lies a National Park Reserve and a Heritage Site. A short ferry ride of about 20 minutes connects the two and their Indigenous residents. The settled communities have a distinctive culture that reflects the Haida way of life.

The Indigenous people have lived in this setting for many centuries. Archaeologists have identified more than five hundred historic locations. The finest mortuary poles are said to be located in the village of SGang Gwaay. In 1981, Nan Sdins Illnagaay was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Travelers can pick whichever transportation method suits them better. Every day a ferry serviced by BC Ferries runs to Moresby Island from Prince Rupert and. This scenic journey takes almost 7 hours and motor vehicle owners may bring their automobiles along. They will need their own transportation to travel from one place to another. Bus service is no offered here and taxis are only accessible in the more populous areas. Each day flights travel to Sandspit and Masset from Vancouver. The Masset flight is only available daily during the busy season. Otherwise it flies three times in the week. Tourists can fly into QC, Masset and Sandspit from Prince Rupert as well. Boaters can dock in these three communities which also provide harbor services. Bus service and rail links also exist.

The assortment of lodging options include camping grounds, lodges, a hostel, motels, hotels, bed and breakfast purveyors, huts on the beach and rustic cabins, luxurious cottage and guest housing facilities. Some of these may be inaccessible during the winter. RVs and Campers can get into most camping sites.

Some areas will offer a wider range of choices. These include the town of Masset, the nearby Tow Hill community and the village of QC. The diversity of Haida Gwaii accommodations are designed to satisfy individual guest preferences without over commercialization of the pristine environment.




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