Haida House at Tllaal

The Haida House at Tllaal is a beautiful accommodation with a great story: In 2011, the Council of the Haida Nation purchased the final trophy bear hunting license on Haida Gwaii. This, in turn, paved the way for the transformation of the Tlell River House into the Haida House at Tllaal. Following some renovations and upgrades to the property, the Haida House opened for business in 2012. The following year, Haida House received the prestigious “accommodations award” from Aboriginal Tourism BC. They also received the nod from high level media, including the Vancouver Sun, NatGeo, and the Globe & Mail. More recently, the Haida House received the Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure “for leading the way in conscious, environment-minded travel” (2023). All of this is to say the Haida commi**ent towards environmentally-friendly practices, land stewardship and yahguudang is being recognized and acknowledged worldwide, which is no small feat. And once you’ve had the pleasure of staying at the Haida House – and especially the cabins – you begin to see why. The Haida House Lodge, as noted above, opened in 2012. Featuring an in-house restaurant (the Dining Room), small gift shop, meeting space, patio seating, and ten guestrooms on the upper floor, this edifice serves as the proverbial hub of the Haida House. My partner and I had the pleasure of staying in the Lodge this past September and, overall, we enjoyed our 2-night stay. Our room featured two twin beds; contemporary light fixtures; flatscreen TV; complimentary WiFi; Haida art and pictures of notable places around Haida Gwaii (i.e.: Balance Rock); a mini refrigerator; and, lovely views of the adjacent Tlell River. While I can appreciate that some renovations were done some time ago, it’s clear the small bathroom was left out – it’s very much reflective of the 1980s, when the Lodge was first built (but then, it does have a charm about it). Overall, the Lodge proved to be a cozy space to rest after a day ambling about the Tlell River and Misty Meadows area. If I had to complain about anything, it would be that I struggle to find the full value for money in staying at the lodge. $856 for two nights in a fairly basic accommodation is pretty steep, even with breakfast included. The Cabins at Haida House are a much newer addition, opening late during the 2021 season. Located a couple minutes’ walk up from the Lodge, there are twelve, 2-bedroom cedar cabins nestled between sand and forest. Each cabin is designed to resemble a traditional Haida longhouse, albeit with a contemporary twist. Every cabin has its own deck with covered hot tub and outdoor shower. Inside, the interiors are very contemporary and warm. The living room features a large sectional couch, smart flatscreen TV and large floor-to-ceiling windows, giving you beautiful views of the forest (or beach, if you’re lucky to snag one of the beachfront cabins). The main living space also features a dish washer, sink and microwave; however, ther

Haida House was the highlight of our visit to Haida Gwaii. An initial problem with our reservation ( caused by BC Ferries Vacations) was sorted out graciously and effectively by Kathy and the front desk staff. We were then able to enjoy our four day package, with interesting tours and moving insights provided by Marni, our guide and generous Haida host, and Darryl, our patient and kind driver. We were able to meet Haida carvers and learn about their creativity, inspiration, and hard work. The museum at Skidegate is wonderful: well designed and educational, with an interesting tour of the totem poles and canoes. We were disappointed to miss the boat trip to Skidans, cancelled because of weather, but our forestry tour with Dale Lore gave us fresh insights and new perspectives. All the food provided was delicious, whether at Haida House, or elsewhere. We particularly enjoyed our Haida meal provided by Roberta Olson, Keenawaii, and her son. Our beachfront cabin was lovely and comfortable with everything you could want: cooking facilities, a large bathroom, comfortable beds, an outdoor hot tub and shower, beautiful views (especially of the Super Moon). Our fellow travellers were interesting and engaging.

A first visit to Haida Gwaii and we booked a four night package at Haida House. This included shuttles to and from Masset airport. The hotel is in a lovely location on a spit of land with the Tlell river to the front and the sea to the rear. Very, very quiet. We were in a cabin all of which face the sea and are accessed by a wooden boardwalk. The views are limited by a high sand dune but the beach is mere steps away. The cabins are very large and simply furnished with comfortable beds and a large sofa. There is a simple catering space which we didn't use. Storage for clothes was limited so we used the bed in the second bedroom which worked fine. All have a private hot tub on their deck. Great shower and plenty of towels. The restaurant is in the main house. Breakfast and dinner is honest and generous served by lovely staff and we enjoyed talking with fellow guests about our day's adventures. The lodge is a former bear hunting lodge, thankfully in the past, and is now owned by the Haida nation. Credit to them for running an excellent lodge and showing the island at its best. The package included opportunities to engage in learning about the Haida culture with unparalleled access to the carving houses and local creators. We learned a lot as a consequence. All the guides were excellent and the management do an excellent job of delivering the best experience for their guests in an area which is not mainstream tourism. Highly recommended.

My daughter and I enjoyed a lovely and relaxing stay at Haida House. We booked a 4 day package in one of the cabins. We arrived a day early and stayed the first night in the lodge. Kathy and every member of the Haida House team were completely professional, warm and welcoming. The food in the restaurant was quite good. The cabin was absolutely fabulous with a truly spectacular view. Every morning I enjoyed a quiet walk on east beach at sunrise and every evening a nice soak in the hot tub. The tours were so much fun and every guide was knowledgeable, informative and friendly. I can't recommend Haida House highly enough.

We stayed 4 days in a lodge room, which was lovely. We took the opportunity to move to a cabin and it was spectacular. Quiet, lovely view and great access to the beach, not to mention amazingly relaxing, hot tub and all. The staff were generous with their time and knowledge. Having Haida House as our home base made our experience on the awe inspiring Haida Gwaii even better. Haw’aa to all, until next time.

I must say my wife and I had a fabulous stay at Haida House for the seven night package. From the very comfortable cabin we stayed in, to the great meals, the friendly servers in the restaurant and the Haida cultural ambassadors and bus drivers! Can’t say enough good comments. A special thanks to Abigail and Bugsy, Marni and Darryl. Also Rowan. OX

Sensational restaurant open for breakfast every day and dinner only 5 days a week. Alternative restaurants 40 km away. Very helpfull and pleasant staff. Nice, rustic decor. Rooms are basic, not in line with the rest of property. Beautiful suraroundings and acces to the beach.

Our trip to Haida Gwaii was fabulous! We are very appreciative of Haida Tourism and thoroughly enjoyed our 4 day tour package at Haida House. We felt welcomed, cared for and learned so much from all of the staff. We were taken to a number of sites and had the opportunity to hear about the history, art and culture, geography and natural wonders. We were deeply touched by the generosity, knowledge and wisdom of each person we encountered. Our accommodations were beautiful and the food was delicious. There were a number of special touches including a gift bag in our cabin. What an awesome experience! Phillippa Doherty

I really wanted to give a good review but I can’t. Lovely staff and I want to support Haida House but the restaurant was terrible . First our birthday reservation made months previous was cancelled in 24 hours and we got a same day rush booking. We were looking forward to food but it was almost inedible. I think the chef was on holiday. Halibut tasteless, risotto hard, tuna was inedible . I think there are staffing problems/management changes as our experience was a total mismatch of reviews . So fair warning ⚠️