21-Day Haida Gwaii & Yukon Expedition

Inside the bus:

• Comfortable lounge and seating area to relax and connect
• Indoor space for meals and shared moments
• Kitchen setup with stove, cooler, and cookware
• Woodstove for warmth and cozy evenings
• Solar-powered lighting and USB charging
• Occasional WiFi
  

Outside:

• Nights are spent camping in tents in remote locations
• Evenings around the fire, under open skies
• A closer connection to the land and the places we travel through
  

This is not about luxury.

It’s about having a solid basecamp while staying fully immersed in the North.

This expedition is designed for active travelers with a good fitness level and a love for the outdoors.

Over the 21 days, we combine hiking, backpacking, packrafting, surfing, and other adventure activities. You should be comfortable spending long days outside and carrying a heavier backpack during the multi day backpacking section.

Previous experience is not required for every activity, but a positive attitude, good fitness, and an adventurous mindset are important for this expedition.

You arrive in Sandspit, Haida Gwaii, where the expedition officially begins.

Hotel accommodation for the first night is included, giving you time to settle onto island time before we hit the road. Depending on your arrival time, you can explore the coastline, grab a drink, or simply take in the fact that you’re standing on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean about to begin a 21-day expedition across western Canada.

In the evening, we meet as a group to go over the trip, gear, logistics, and everything ahead of us over the next three weeks.

Pacific air. Rainforest. Expedition energy already kicking in.

The expedition officially gets rolling.

After loading up the bus, we begin exploring Haida Gwaii and make our way north through rainforest roads, rugged coastline, and small island communities.

Along the way, we take part in a cultural experience to learn more about the history, traditions, and deep connection to the land that make Haida Gwaii such a special place.

From there, we continue north toward Masset, stopping at wild Pacific beaches, driftwood-covered shoreline, and hidden corners of the islands along the way.

By evening, we settle in near the ocean for our first beach dinner and campfire of the expedition, with the sound of the Pacific beside us and 20 more days of adventure ahead.

Today is all about the Pacific.

A surf lesson is included for anyone wanting to hit the waves on the remote beaches of Haida Gwaii, one of the wildest surf destinations in Canada. Whether it’s your first time surfing or you already have experience and want to improve your skills, this is a pretty unreal place to spend a day in the ocean.

Cold Pacific water, huge empty beaches, bald eagles overhead, and barely another soul around.

The rest of the day is spent warming up around the fire after the surf session and enjoying another evening beside the ocean.

One more full day on Haida Gwaii before we leave the Pacific behind and begin the long journey north.

The plan for today? Kind of depends on the weather, the waves, and the overall expedition mood. More surfing is definitely an option, but we may also head out for a coastal hike, explore more hidden parts of the islands, wander empty beaches, or follow random roads just to see where they go.

One last full day of salty air, rainforest, beach fires, and island life before trading the Pacific for the North.

Today we leave Haida Gwaii behind and begin the next chapter of the expedition.

We board the ferry back to Prince Rupert, spending the day crossing rugged Pacific coastline, tiny islands, open ocean, and endless views from the deck. Keep your eyes open for whales, sea lions, and bald eagles along the way.

The landscapes slowly begin to change as we leave the islands behind and make our way back toward the mainland.

By evening, we arrive in Prince Rupert, where the long road toward the Yukon officially begins.

The real northern roadtrip begins.

Today we start driving north through remote northern British Columbia, following long highways through mountain valleys, dense forest, rivers, and tiny northern towns that feel far away from everything.

This is one of those classic expedition roadtrip days. Coffee stops at random roadside places, big scenery out the windows all day long, music on in the bus, and the feeling of slowly heading deeper into the North.

By evening, we set up camp somewhere remote beneath the northern sky and settle in for another campfire night on the road.

Today we officially cross into the Yukon.

Along the way, we stop at the famous Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake before continuing west through endless northern landscapes toward Carcross. Keep your eyes on the road today because there’s a good chance of spotting wildlife along the way, including bison, caribou, bears, and other classic northern roadtrip sightings.

By now, the expedition is starting to feel very different from where we began. The Pacific coast is far behind us, the mountains are getting bigger, and the roads are getting emptier.

By evening, we arrive near Carcross, surrounded by lakes and rugged mountain landscapes. We explore the small mountain town, wander through the Carcross Desert, cook dinner together, and settle in for another campfire night beneath the northern sky.

Today we head into the mountains around Carcross for our first full Yukon hiking day of the expedition.

The terrain here feels completely different from Haida Gwaii. Dry alpine ridges, endless lakes, wide open northern landscapes, and views that seem to stretch forever. We spend the day hiking through one of the Yukon’s most underrated mountain areas, moving through rugged terrain with nonstop views in every direction.

By evening, we set up camp near a lake with the option for a little paddle, a cold swim, or simply relaxing beside the water after a big day in the mountains.

Today we head deeper into the wild landscapes around Annie Lake Road, one of the Yukon’s hidden gems for mountain hiking and backcountry exploring.

This area is known for its rugged alpine terrain, endless ridgelines, hidden lakes, old mining roads, and huge views stretching across southern Yukon. We spend the day hiking through remote mountain landscapes that feel properly wild and far away from everything. Caribou sightings are not uncommon out here either.

Another full day surrounded by big Yukon scenery and quiet northern wilderness.

Today we make our way toward Kluane National Park, home to the biggest mountains in Canada.

Along the way, we stop in Whitehorse to resupply and explore places like Miles Canyon before continuing west toward Haines Junction, where the landscapes begin changing once again. Bigger mountains, wider valleys, glaciers in the distance, and long stretches of open wilderness slowly take over the horizon.

We also stop at the Da Kų Cultural Centre to learn more about the history, culture, and deep connection between the land and the people who have called this region home for generations.

By evening, we arrive in Kluane country and set up camp in one of our favourite spots in the Yukon, beside a river with mountains surrounding us in every direction. Not a bad place to park a bus for the night.

Today we trade the bus for packrafts and begin moving deeper into the Kluane wilderness.

We launch onto Kathleen Lake surrounded by massive mountain scenery, glacial water, and some of the wildest landscapes in the Yukon. From the water, Kluane feels even bigger. Mountains rising straight out of the lake, endless shoreline, and not much else around besides wilderness.

Throughout the day, we paddle deeper into the backcountry before setting up our first remote camp of the packrafting expedition.

A pretty surreal place to spend the night.

After waking up in the backcountry, we leave the packrafts behind for the day and head deeper into the Kluane wilderness toward Lake Louise.

This is proper backcountry travel through rugged alpine terrain, rocky slopes, mountain valleys, and wide open landscapes that feel incredibly remote.

Turns out the Yukon has its own Lake Louise… and you definitely won’t be fighting for a parking spot here.

We spend the day exploring this wild corner of Kluane before returning to our remote lakeside camp for another night surrounded by mountains, glacier-fed water, and big northern scenery.

This morning we pack up camp and paddle back across Kathleen Lake, surrounded by massive peaks and glacial scenery one last time before returning to the bus.

From there, we continue driving further west through Kluane country, almost reaching the Alaska border as we make our way toward the Samuel Glacier area.

The landscapes begin changing again out here. The trees slowly disappear, the valleys become wider and rougher, and the mountains feel even more raw and exposed.

By evening, we arrive near the trailhead and prepare for the next stage of the expedition: three days backpacking through glacier country.

For the next three days, we leave the road behind and make our way back into British Columbia, although this feels like a completely different corner of it.

Near the Yukon and Alaska border, we head deep into glacier country on a true wilderness backpacking expedition near Samuel Glacier. This wild mountain region is filled with rugged valleys, glacial rivers, massive icefields, and huge mountain landscapes that feel completely unreal.

As we travel deeper into the valley, the surrounding glaciers and the enormous Samuel Glacier slowly begin taking over the landscape. And yes, we literally camp with views of this massive glacier stretching across the mountains beside us.

Creek crossings, remote camps, glacier views, and three days fully immersed in mountain life.

After several days deep in the mountains, today is all about slowing things down beside Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon.

We return to camp, dry gear, recover from the backpacking expedition, and enjoy a more relaxed day beside the lake. There’s time for a swim, a paddle, or simply doing absolutely nothing for a while. Highly underrated expedition activity.

In the evening, we gather around the fire for a cultural experience led by a citizen of Kluane First Nation, sharing stories, perspectives, and connections to the land that has shaped this region for generations.

Today we hit the road again and begin the long drive north toward Dawson City.

This is proper Yukon roadtrip territory. Long highways, endless scenery out the window, questionable gas station coffee, random roadside stops, good music in the bus, and at least one person saying “wait, stop the bus!” because they spotted wildlife.

Along the way, we stop at iconic Yukon spots like Braeburn Lodge, home of the legendary giant cinnamon buns that are honestly large enough to count as a survival ration, before continuing north toward Five Finger Rapids and eventually Dawson City.

A full day of northern roadtrip energy as we make our way deeper into the Yukon.

Today we explore Dawson City, one of the most legendary and unique towns in the North.

After wandering through old gold rush streets, historic buildings, and the strange little corners that make Dawson what it is, we head out for a rock climbing session overlooking the Yukon River.

The climbing area sits above the river valley with wide views across the surrounding Yukon landscape. Whether you’re newer to climbing or already experienced, it’s a pretty fun and unique place to spend a day on the rock.

By evening, we head back into Dawson where there’s time to explore the town’s famous nightlife, live music, old saloons, and yes… potentially the legendary Sourtoe Cocktail. We’ll let you Google that one yourself.

Today we drive the legendary Dempster Highway into Tombstone Territorial Park.

Built on continuous permafrost, the Dempster is one of the most iconic and remote roads in the North, winding its way through mountain passes, tundra valleys, and landscapes that begin looking more like the Arctic than anywhere else we’ve been so far.

As we enter Tombstone, the scenery changes completely once again. Trees disappear, the valleys become wider, and the jagged black peaks of the Ogilvie Mountains rise dramatically out of the tundra around us.

We spend the day hiking through Tombstone’s rolling tundra valleys and sharp black mountain landscapes, exploring one of the most unique regions of the Yukon.

By evening, we settle into camp surrounded by the mountains of Tombstone as the northern expedition vibes hit an all time high.

Today we head even further into Tombstone Territorial Park for one final big hiking day of the expedition.

We drive deeper into the park before setting out into the tundra, surrounded by dramatic valleys, alpine ridges, and the sharp peaks of the Ogilvie Mountains rising around us. The landscapes out here feel raw, open, and completely different from anywhere else we’ve traveled during the last three weeks.

This is our final full day immersed in the North. One more long day outside, one more trail lunch with ridiculous views, and one more evening in one of the most iconic landscapes of the Yukon.

Today we begin the long drive back south toward Whitehorse, leaving the tundra behind for the final time.

The road back gives us one last chance to soak in the landscapes of the North, while the bus slowly fills with the usual end-of-expedition mix of dusty gear, snack wrappers, questionable amounts of trail mix crumbs, and stories from the last three weeks.

Three weeks ago we started beside the Pacific Ocean on Haida Gwaii.

Now we return from the Arctic tundra after crossing an entire section of western Canada through mountains, glaciers, coastlines, highways, and wilderness.

End of expedition.

The minimum age to book with YuSquatch Mt. Adventures is 18 years old unless accompanied with a legal guardian on the tour.

• A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure all bookings.
• Cancellations made more than 90 days before departure:
  25% non-refundable
• 90 to 61 days before departure:
  50% non-refundable
• 60 to 31 days before departure:
  75% non-refundable
• Within 30 days of departure:
  100% non-refundable
  

Please note:

Trips operate in remote wilderness environments where weather, wildfires, transportation issues, or other unforeseen circumstances may impact itineraries or trip operations.

Yusquatch Mountain Adventures reserves the right to modify or cancel trips when necessary for safety or operational reasons.

We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance.

For full terms and conditions, please refer to our complete Cancellation & Terms Policy.