Gulf Islands
Hidden Islands Beyond the Ferry Route
Delve into an odyssey through geologic and human timescales
View Itineraries
Gulf Islands
Sheltered, islet-dotted waters teeming with wildlife
Some people think they’ve “done” the Salish Sea or the 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 and delve into an odyssey through geologic and human timescales, alongside sculpted sandstone shorelines, moist rainforests and eagles soaring along rocky bluffs.
Highlights
Experience the entirety of this unique region, taking the time to get to know its rhythms and intricacies.
Experience the Gulf Islands
See the Gulf Islands through the eyes of our guests.
Activities
Our tours allow you to experience the best of the Gulf Island’s National Park Reserve.
- Small boat rides
- Whale and bird watching
- Natural history through hands-on experience
- Village visits
- Sailing (by sailing ship)
- Moderate walking
- Marine mammal viewing
- Talks with your naturalist
- Beach exploration
- Kayaking
What People Say
What guests like you loved about Maple Leaf Adventures in the Gulf Islands.
Featured Wildlife
A haven for seabirds and marine mammals
With a variety of terrestrial and marine habitats, the Gulf Islands offer the opportunity to encounter wildlife around every corner.
Orcas
Witness their natural behaviors and learn more about their fascinating social structures.
Humpback Whales
Known for their haunting songs and acrobatic displays, marvel as they migrate through the Gulf Islands.
Sea Lions
Observe the playful sea lions as they bask on rocks and showcase their vocal prowess.
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Known for their energetic displays, often leaping and riding the bow waves of our ships.
Cultural History
Rich and continuing culture spanning millennia.
Come to know the home territory of the Coast Salish First Nations. Learn about significant cultural sights and practices, and how alive and vibrant the culture is today.
Possibly enjoy a visit with a Coast Salish Elder and dear friend of Maple Leaf Adventures.
The Seasons of the Gulf Islands
See Islands and Wildlife in Two Different States
Berry blossoms, wildflowers, and migrations of birds will greet you in the early spring months. Whales will be returning to the area, making possible the sightings of humpback and killer whales.
Marvel at the changing colours of the leaves as autumn turns the islands from green to brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. Pick apples from wild trees on islands where few visit. Watch sea lions, humpback whales, and harbour seals fill themselves on small fish.
The Gulf Islands with Maple Leaf Adventures
Discover Ecological Wonders in this National Park Reserve
Travelling is a divine state, and exploring by boat is its purest form.
- Semi-Mediterranean climactic conditions which bring an early spring and warm autumn.
- A network of protected areas throughout the Gulf Islands make up the National Park Reserve, a strategy that is ecologically and community-minded.
- Dry Rainforest with arbutus trees, island culture and Garry Oak Meadow ecosystems.
- Seabird migrations and the Southern Resident Orca population.
Gulf Islands Itineraries
Choose from several unique itineraries in the calm of Spring or Fall.
Gulf Islands in Spring
View ItineraryHere, snow-capped mountains ring an inland sea, full of intricate waterways among hundreds of warm islands.
Wines and Islands
View ItineraryExperience Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands’ emerging wine regions.
Gulf Islands in Fall
View ItineraryIsland hop in the National Park Reserve, visit wildlife colonies, walk rainforest and rocky bluffs, and tiny islands not visited by ferries.
