Our small group travel gives you an authentic experience
Feel the breath of a whale drift across you. Have a frank discussion with a coastal resident about what big ideas like the conservation economy or the repatriation of First Nations items really mean to everyday life. Because Maple Leaf staff know the coast and the people on it, and because we travel in a small group, your trip is not just a "sightseeing" trip but rather a journey as the guest in a multifaceted world.

We're a pioneer of ecotourism on the coast
Maple Leaf Adventures has been operating ecotours in B.C. and Alaska since 1986. Our staff have promoted the principles of responsible tourism since before it was fashionable and have made real differences on the coast.

In the 1980s, Maple Leaf Adventures spearheaded and co-authored the Code of Conduct for the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association, a code that is still used as an example for other regions. In the early 1990s, Maple Leaf researched and pioneered tourism into the Kitlope and the Great Bear Rainforest and the company's president assisted Karen and Ian McAllister in founding the Raincoast Conservation society. In the 1990s and 2000s, Maple Leaf staff spent thousands of hours and sums of money on conservation work in the Great Bear Rainforest, and pioneered trips in a new area: northwestern Vancouver Island.

Our extensive knowledge of the coast creates a rich experience on your trip.

You'll enjoy the beauty and history of the classic schooner Maple Leaf
Glossy mahogany cap rails. Warm fir deck planking. Ornate brass and glass period lightshades. These are just a few of Maple Leaf's beautiful elements.

A fast hull. Strong yellow cedar ribs. A history as the first ship on the B.C. coast with electric lights. These are a few highlights of the ship's construction. She has been both a society yacht and one of the strongest open-sea halibut longliners around.

Spending time admiring Maple Leaf's beauty and understanding her strength and her sailing rig is a pleasure for many people.

An exceptional crew-to-guest ratio ensures you personalized service
Take the time to sketch in an ancient village site. Receive a meal by a chef who knows your preferences. Take the exact photo you want because the Captain made sure you had the chance.

When you travel on Maple Leaf you are not a "passenger", but rather a guest. From your initial phone call to the moment we arrange your post-trip taxi, we are thinking specifically of you as an individual. Because we travel with a small group of guests, because have the best crew to guest ratio in the industry, and because an authentic, fun experience is a hallmark of our trips, you will find that a trip with Maple Leaf can produce one of the most genuine experiences in your travelling life.

Our naturalists are experts in their field, giving you the most up-to-date education
Maple Leaf naturalists are experts in their field, who choose to work on Maple Leaf on special sabbaticals for the love of it. They are scientists, authors, and community leaders whose daily work with the development of knowledge on the coast greatly enriches Maple Leaf trips.

Our permits, size and expert knowledge give you special access
Many of the coast's most spectacular places forbid mass tourism. You won't find cruise ships in most of the places Maple Leaf goes, including the UN World Heritage Site Ninstints (Sga'ang Gway) and some of the coast's special bear havens.

Annual coast guard inspections, proper permits and First Nations protocol agreements mean your trip is safe and properly authorized
Operating a professional ecotourism business requires diligence, good planning and proper permits:

• Maple Leaf Adventures has all the required park permits to visit special places on the coast.
• Our crew are highly trained and coast guard certified.
• Our ship undergoes many annual inspections by the coast guard for professional passenger carrying vessels.
• Maple Leaf Adventures holds protocol agreements with First Nations in areas we travel, to ensure their communities benefit from tourism in their territories.

You're supporting a coastal company with deep roots
Maple Leaf Adventures has been operating in and investing in the B.C. and Alaska coastal economy for decades. Your support of our business is a support of the economy of the area - one of the principles of ecotourism.