North America, Western Canada

Gulf Islands in Spring - Wild Blooms and Majestic Landscapes

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Delve Into an Odyssey Through Geologic and Human Timescales

Walk through wildflower meadows, historic homesteads, and beautiful beaches this spring in the Gulf Islands, BC. Home to southern resident killer whales and many marine birds, seals, and sea lions- enjoy ample wildlife viewing and possible whale watching. Sail among eclectic island communities, under spring skies, and over sparkling waters.

Some people think they’ve “done” the Salish Sea or Gulf Islands if they’ve visited Victoria and Salt Spring Island. They’ve seen only the tiniest, most human-impacted snippet. Our trips leave off where the road ends, alongside sculpted sandstone shorelines, moist rainforests and eagles soaring along rocky bluffs. You’ll learn of Canada’s history in the region, and a history that’s existed far longer, the Coast Salish, as well as the diverse natural history.

Highlights

• Eclectic Communities
Spring is the perfect time to explore quiet towns and hundreds of islands off the roadmap.

• Islands in Bloom
The sweet sights and smells of wildflower blooms attract delicate songbirds and newly-born fawns.

• Geological Wonders
Sculpted sandstone shorelines, moist rainforests and eagles soaring along rocky bluffs,

• Wildlife Abound
Upwelling creates food for the denizens of a rich marine world—orcas, seals, seabirds, and others.

Days 1-3 Welcome Aboard!

Day 1: Orientation, cruising in the Gulf Islands, BC. Seabird island visit, wildlife watching, porpioses. Anchorage Saturna Island.

Day 2: Morning hike on Saturna Island, forest ecology. Spectacular views and picnic. Cruising some of the most productive in the waters of the southern Gulf Islands. Anchorage and beachcombing, early farm history exploration. Sea lion and seabird haul out.

Day 3: Village visit, sailing in Georgia Strait and one of many channels in the area. Anchorage Prevost Island, within the Gulf Islands BC. Exploring the interidal life at low tide. Hike to view and mariner’s light.

Days 4-5 Island Exploration

Day 4: Cruising to either Wallace Island, Penelakut Island or other central Island. Historic and First Nations history. Wildflower meadows or mushroom, fall foliage highlights. Cruising to Russell Island. Optional kayak.

Day 5: Morning woodland shore walk. Kanaka history. Cruising to Sidney.

Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

16 April, 2027 to 20 April, 2027
Maple Leaf

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Cabin

$3,750 CAD pp

Semi-Private Sleeping Areas The spacious main cabin is airy and divided by half-walls and heavy curtains into four berths, providing sleeping accommodations for eight guests. Each area contains large comfortable beds (six and a half feet long), space for your belongings, brass reading lamps, fluffy duvets and blankets. They have walls on two-and-a-half sides and thick, heavy curtains on the other one-and-a-half sides. There are three heads (washrooms) aboard, all with hot running water and shower conversions. If you are a solo traveller, you will be sharing one of the quarter berths with a same-sex solo traveller or you will be placed in our comfortable wheelhouse accommodations. Or, depending on the make-up of guests, our wheelhouse lounge seats convert into comfortable beds.

Maple Leaf

Vessel Type: Schooner

Length: 92f / 28m

Passenger Capacity: 8

Maple Leaf is a 92-foot wooden schooner built in 1904, designed for intimate coastal exploration with a maximum of eight guests. She offers a deeply personal, human-scale experience that prioritises direct engagement with the natural world, accessing remote coastlines, rivers and anchorages unreachable by larger ships. Accommodation is simple but warm: four semi-private sleeping areas, shared washrooms, and communal spaces centred on conversation, observation and shared meals prepared onboard. Stability under sail, long range, and a highly experienced crew make her exceptionally capable despite her modest size.

Constructed from Douglas fir, yellow cedar and mahogany, Maple Leaf blends working-vessel toughness with Edwardian craftsmanship and modern functionality. Life on board revolves around open decks, zodiac landings, kayaking, wildlife observation and, for those inclined, hands-on sailing under crew guidance. Her long history — from luxury yacht to high-performing halibut fishing vessel to pioneering expedition ship — gives the experience a sense of continuity and authenticity. Travel aboard Maple Leaf is immersive, physically engaging, and deliberately unpolished, favouring depth, access and presence over luxury conventions.

Inclusions

• All meals, snacks and beverages prepared from the freshest ingredients by our superb chef.
• Fine wines featured with the evening meal, and a limited amount of beer included and available throughout the trip. (Liquor is not a large part of our trips, so plan on light consumption).
• Services of our naturalist and professional crew.
• Shore excursions.
• Use of gear on board, including rubber boots, kayaks and fishing gear (with fishing licence).
• All accommodations on your vessel and, on trips with a land day, in a local lodging.

Exclusions

• The price does not include transportation to or from the starting and ending points of the Maple Leaf, Swell, and Cascadia trips, except for flights from Vancouver to the start of Cascadia’s Haida Gwaii trips and trips with a current Flight Promotion.
• Canadian trips are subject to a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), while Alaska trips are exempt.
• There is also a sustainability fee of $200 added to each fare on booking.
• Tipping for the crew is not included and is confidential and at your discretion.
• Fishing licenses are not included and must be acquired by guests wanting to fish prior to their trip.