Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Things To Know Before Looking For Haida Gwaii Hotels

By Marci Nielsen


British Columbia is one of the last places on the earth that has a best kept secret in terms of travel destinations and possibly tour spots. This best kept secret comes in the form of the archipelago of Haida Gwaii. So before you pack you bags and head off to one of the several Haida Gwaii hotels, please find out more about what this place has to offer by reading on further in this article.

Being an archipelago, expect that quite a lot of activities or major activities for that matter, will be centered around or near the water or sea. In fact a major, if not prime attraction is the year round whale watching tours and excursions that many have come to know and enjoy.

For the island community, whale watching has been a great money earner since the area is known to be the best in the world for watching certain whale species year round. Specific whale species that are common in the area are killer whales, gray whales and humpback whales. Depending on the month or the season, you either will get increased or decreased frequencies in sightings per hour when you go. Thus it is always best to do your research on the best times to go when whale watching so you can get the most bang for your buck.

One should not be mistaken that only water activities are available. There is plenty to be had on land as well. Quite a few hiking trails and camping areas dot the archipelago, as well as some notable kayaking and fishing spots. A popular activity engaged in by most tourists is to bike around in the morning, and in the afternoon just lounge around one of the many beaches in the area waiting for nightfall.

Learning about the local culture and history may be something that might want to do. The local people, known as the Haida, are very proud of their heritage and would be more than willing to answer any questions that you may have. You should read up before talking to them however, so as to avoid sensitive questions and moments.

As you travel along the islands, you will notice quite a few totem poles around and they look very much like Alaskan totem poles. This is because the Haida also occupy large areas of Alaska. The totem poles are records of each of the families on the island and should be accorded much respect.

Four days is the minimum amount of time you need to fully circumnavigate the entire area and soak everything in. This is enough time to be able to visit all the local arts and crafts establishments as well as the museums that are on offer from each of the local communities. During this time, you will most likely learn a lot about a furniture making technique used by North American Indian tribes, called the bent wood technique. This is a way of making furniture without using nails and such.

Getting to the archipelago is quite simple. All it will take is a two hour plane ride from Toronto. Some people opt to take the more scenic boat or ferry ride that takes close to eight hours.




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