Inside Passage and Haida Gwaii
Head north along Vancouver Island and take a ferry through the Inside Passage to Haida Gwaii.
Connect two ferry routes along the BC coast into a one-way journey: head north on Vancouver Island to Port Hardy, sail the Inside Passage by day to Prince Rupert, then cross the Hecate Strait to Haida Gwaii to see totem poles, ancient villages, and northern beaches, before flying back from Masset. The itinerary is constrained by ferry schedules, and the trade-off is long travel times. Ideal for travelers who love coastal landscapes and Indigenous culture.
The Inside Passage ferry runs during the day in summer; schedules and experience are less favorable during the stormy season.
Day by day
Day 1 · Cross the Sea and Head North to Campbell River
Nanaimo（Nanaimo Harbourfront Walkway） → Campbell River（Discovery Pier）
Ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes), then drive approx. 155 km.
Check all ferry schedules before booking accommodations.
Stay: Downtown Waterfront
Day 2 · North to Port Hardy Terminal
Campbell River（Elk Falls Provincial Park & Suspension Bridge、Ripple Rock Trail & Seymour Narrows） → Port Hardy
Campbell River to Port Hardy is approx. 235 km, about 2.5 hours driving.
Stay: Port Hardy
Day 3 · Daytime Sailing through the Inside Passage
Prince Rupert
Depart from Bear Cove in the early morning; the voyage to Prince Rupert takes about 15 hours.
Sails roughly every other day in summer; missing it will disrupt all subsequent plans.
Stay: Prince Rupert
Day 4 · Cross the Sea to Haida Gwaii
Prince Rupert to Skidegate takes about 7 hours, with limited weekly sailings.
Some sailings are overnight; please adjust according to the seasonal schedule.
Stay: Daajing Giids
Day 5 · Haida Heritage Centre
Haida Gwaii（Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay、Daajing Giids、Balance Rock）
Daajing Giids to Skidegate is approx. 10 minutes; short drive on the island.
Car rentals on the island are very limited; book several months in advance.
Stay: Daajing Giids
Day 6 · Gwaii Haanas Boat Tour
Haida Gwaii（Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve、K'uuna Llnagaay (Skedans)）
Full-day round trip departing from Sandspit or Moresby Island.
Reservations and an orientation are required to enter the park; highly weather-dependent.
Stay: Daajing Giids
Day 7 · Along the East Coast to Tlell
Haida Gwaii（Tlell、Pesuta Shipwreck）
Daajing Giids to Tlell is approx. 40 km, about 35 minutes.
The Shipwreck Trail is about 10 km round trip; allow a full half-day.
Stay: Tlell
Day 8 · North Island Beaches and Totems
Haida Gwaii（Golden Spruce Trail、Old Massett、Tow Hill & Blow Hole、Agate Beach）
Tlell to Masset is approx. 70 km, then about 25 minutes to Tow Hill.
Stay: Masset
Day 9 · Fly from Masset back to Vancouver
Haida Gwaii（Masset & Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary）
The airport is right next to the town; fly back to Vancouver (approx. 2 hours).
Flights are limited and weather-dependent; leaving a buffer day is recommended.