Think of the traveling experience to the Queen Charlotte Islands as a big west coast scenic tour, because that is what it is. Whether by sea or by air the scenery is spell binding.

Arriving By Sea: The 6-8 hour tour aboard a BC Ferry is the main mode of transportation from Prince Rupert, BC located on the mainland transporting walk-on passengers, cyclists and vehicles.

Visitors sailing via a ferry to the Charlottes will arrive in Skidegate Village, on the southeast tip of Graham Island, the main point-of-entry to the Charlottes. The schedule of sailings vary per season. When traveling this BC Ferry route with a vehicle you should always get a reservation as the ferry is small and booked in advance many times over. Without a reservation you could be waiting for weeks for the next available sailing.

Ferries to Prince Rupert, BC include a route arriving from Port Hardy located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. A connector sailing to the Charlottes, via Prince Rupert from Port Hardy is available.

There are sleeping cabins on board the BC Ferry - reservations required. Most people, including ourselves, pack a sleeping bag and pillow and pick a piece of floor for the overnight cruise. Pets, must stay on the car deck. Showers, a children's area, a restaurant and a gift store are available on board the ferry.

Arriving By Air: Visitors also arrive in the Queen Charlottes by floatplane, helicopter and commercial flights from Prince Rupert and Vancouver. The main airport is in Sandspit on Moresby Island. A secondary airport, smaller in size, is located on the northern tip of the Queen Charlottes near Masset on Graham Island.

From Sandspit Airport there is a local airport bus which transports all passengers from Moresby Island to Queen Charlotte City on Graham Island. Also available are cab companies for transportation to the main villages on the Charlottes. For those wishing to rent a car, there are various businesses offering rentals. Book well in advance.