So few accessible adventure travel destinations—think relatively untouched places where ancient cultures and pristine nature still coexist in harmony—remain that feel truly authentic. But Canada’s Haida Gwaii, often described as the Galapagos of the North, ranks among them. And now, visitors to this remote, mist-shrouded archipelago off the northern coast of British Columbia can experience renowned Haida culture and cuisine at a luxury floating eco-lodge on the wild western coast of Xhaaidlagha Gwaayaai—the “Islands at the Edge of the World.”
Owned and operated by the indigenous Haida Nation, Ocean House welcomed its first set of intrepid travelers earlier this month. To reach it, guests take a 70-minute chartered jet north from Vancouver and then board a private helicopter for the breathtaking, 20-minute ride over an island with a jagged spine of snow-dusted volcanic peaks. Awaiting them upon touchdown is a 10,000-square-foot, floating five-star retreat anchored in secluded Stads K’uns GawGa (or Peel Inlet) surrounded by lush cedar and Sitka spruce-canopied fjords.
The lodge’s interiors—which, like those of Japan’s Guntû floating hotel, look more like a classic hotel than a cruise ship—have been brought to life by celebrated Haida interior designer Gina Mae Schubert, who made ample use of distressed cedarwood detailing and modern interpretations of classic Haida art throughout the 12 guest rooms. Common areas include a plushily furnished lounge equipped with a wood-burning stove and a bar shaped like a traditional longhouse, a cozy media room, and a tranquil library. A resident artists’ studio hosts a rotating roster of Haida carvers, painters, weavers, and storytellers meant to connect guests more deeply to the region’s rich history, while the full-service spa features everything they need to completely disconnect, including a cedar-paneled sauna and steam rooms.
Unsurprisingly, Ocean House’s spacious dining room—with its panoramic water views—is where the magic really happens. The menu changes constantly based on the freshest fare available, but guests can expect breakfasts featuring razor clam fritters, Dungeness crab, poached eggs, seaweed hollandaise, and freshly baked pastries. Dinners offer more local ingredients, with dishes such as foraged mushrooms and sea asparagus, salmon tartare, smoked black cod, venison, halibut, and fresh crab—all created by award-winning co-chefs Joseph Kennard and Brodie Swanson, who masterfully infuse traditional Haida dishes with modern panache.
But, of course, days at Ocean House are not spent exclusively onboard. Guests will team up with resident Haida cultural guides to forage in emerald-moss-smothered old-growth forests and explore ancient village sites; picnic on tide-swept beaches within sight of seals, sea lions, and whales; sea kayak as black bears patrol the shoreline; and fish for salmon off the rugged coastline. Everywhere, they will be surrounded by the primordial serenity that infuses this mystical, hidden world of sea, forest, symbols, and song.
