Maple Leaf Adventures

02/08/2025

The right ship for the right coast. The search for Cascadia spanned the globe, but the perfect vessel for exploring the wilds of B.C. was worth the wait.

With a shallow draft for hidden anchorages, a quiet and efficient design, and the comfort to match the journey, she’s built for adventure. Step aboard and see for yourself.

🎥 Feline Gerhardt and Alex Keuhn 🎙️ Kevin Smith

02/06/2025

Featured in Drift Travel Magazine

Maple Leaf Adventures is a pioneering ecotourism company based in British Columbia, offering small-ship expedition cruises along the coasts of British

02/04/2025

A journey into Canada’s rainforest coast stays with you long after you’ve left. The vastness, the quiet, the sheer wildness—few places on Earth offer this kind of connection. Deckhand Alina shares a little about this perspective shift…

🎥 Feline Gerhardt and Alex Keuhn 🎙️ Kevin Smith

01/31/2025

Congratulations to Pamela Dillon of Ontario, Canada!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Pamela for winning First Place in the 58th New Millennium Award for Nonfiction with her stunning piece, The Visitation! This beautifully written essay captures the raw beauty of nature and the profound experiences that come with exploring the wild.

Pamela will receive $1,000 and publication both online and in print—a well-deserved honor for such a powerful piece of storytelling.

Read The Visitation here: https://newmillenniumwritings.org/the-visitation-pamela-dillon/?fbclid=IwY2xjawII84NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeJpAQBuGuUFThZmrmXlpHQzMjDm235mr_7PWKKjXZCQZetzxwcYN1yi6A_aem_6mr2GCP72hs5OKL6ftMXWg

Join us in celebrating Pamela’s achievement in the comments below!

58th NMW Award for Nonfiction. Pamela Dillon of Ontario, Canada for “The Visitation” Dillon’s essay takes readers on a lush and vibrant journey into the misty magic of Earth& #8217…

01/30/2025

🚢 We’re Hiring a Chef for SV Maple Leaf! 🍽️✨

Calling all adventurous chefs! If you’re a talented junior chef looking for an opportunity to step up in your career, this is your chance!

As the sole chef aboard SV Maple Leaf, a classic 92-foot schooner, you’ll prepare high-quality meals for guests and crew on 4 to 8-night voyages along the stunning BC and Alaska coastline.

What We Offer:

✅ A unique chance to grow your culinary career
✅ The opportunity to cook with fresh, local ingredients
✅ An adventurous work environment with an award-winning expedition cruise company
✅ A supportive, close-knit team

What We’re Looking For:

*Passionate, skilled junior chefs ready for a challenge
*Ability to work in tight quarters & long days
*Love for West Coast cuisine & nature
*A great personality for 24/7 guest & crew interactions

📩 Apply now at [email protected]

Join us for an unforgettable culinary journey!

01/30/2025

Join us for the Great Bear Rainforest CanGeo trip with Nikon Ambassador Jenny Wong on September 6 - 13th, 2025

Photo: Greg Shea Explore the pristine beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest, guided by expert naturalists and a lauded wildlife photographer. Photo: Simon

01/29/2025

Embark on a journey through the Broughton Archipelago, aptly named the “Serengeti of the Sea.” This remarkable region combines vibrant wildlife encounters with deep cultural experiences.

Witness orcas, humpbacks, and sea lions in their natural habitat while exploring the rich traditions of local Indigenous communities. Aboard the Maple Leaf, a piece of history in her own right, each day brings a new story.

📷Photography by Maple Leaf Adventures crew including

01/27/2025

The Great Bear Rainforest—an enormous part of the western coast of Canada—is one of the rare places on Earth where wildlife and nature thrive.

Remote and unroaded, it offers a chance to reconnect with the wild. Tourism here isn’t just an experience; it’s part of the solution, inspiring guests to leave as advocates for this extraordinary wonder.

🎥 Feline Gerhardt and Alex Keuhn 🎙️ Kevin Smith

01/24/2025

“I think we all need a place in the world that we can close our eyes and just know exists—and it’s intact, and it’s safe. My hope for our guests is they have found that here…”

In the Great Bear Rainforest, the rhythm of life follows the tides, and the air carries the salt of the Pacific and the scent of cedar. It is a reminder of what the world can still be: deeply alive.

Come discover it for yourself—step aboard and be part of a journey that connects you to the untamed wonder of Canada’s wild west coast.

🎥 Feline Gerhardt and Alex Keuhn 🎙️ Kevin Smith

01/13/2025

🌊 Fresh Flavors, Coastal Inspiration 🌊
Dining aboard Maple Leaf Adventures is a feast for the senses! Our chefs craft fresh, locally inspired meals daily, celebrating the vibrant flavors of the BC and Alaska coast. From OceanWise-certified seafood to foraged ingredients like wild berries and sea asparagus, every bite tells a story of the land and sea. 🍽️

🛳️ Start your day with a cold buffet and a hot plated breakfast, enjoy self-serve snacks between excursions, and end the day with a stunning three-course dinner. Onboard the Cascadia, our sundowner happy hour features a cocktail of the day—or your choice of beer, whiskey, or wine—to toast the day’s adventures. 🍷✨

We also accommodate most dietary needs with advance notice—just let us know! Your journey is about comfort, connection, and discovering the flavors of the wild coast. 🌟

📷Photography taken by Maple Leaf Adventures crew including

01/06/2025

https://www.travelandleisure.com/alaska-swell-cruise-8747496

The Swell, a refurbished tugboat, is the perfect way to explore Alaska’s unforgettable wildlife.

01/01/2025

Back by popular demand, we invite you to view our 2024 Highlights Reel, a celebration of the remarkable moments we shared together on the coast...

Shot by our talented crew throughout BC and Alaska, and lovingly crafted during these quiet winter months, this year’s production captures the breathtaking wonders of our journeys—plus a glimpse into life aboard our small ships, where laughter, learning, and connection transform exploration into something extraordinary.

Thank you for being part of our community. Here’s to the memories we’ve made and the adventures yet to come!

12/22/2024

On this shortest of days, it’s only natural to dream of what’s on the other side... That could be standing on the deck of a classic wooden schooner, surrounded by the soft greens of spring’s first blooms, or gliding through tranquil waters as sunlight dances on the waves.

These aren’t just daydreams—they’re experiences waiting to unfold in some of the most breathtaking corners of British Columbia and Alaska. This holiday season, why not plan for a journey where the thaw of winter gives way to the life of spring and summer?

12/19/2024

The Gulf Islands of British Columbia are beloved for their beauty and charm. Islands like Saltspring, Galiano and Pender—easily accessible by ferry—are popular destinations, known for their art, food and stunning landscapes. But beyond the well travelled routes lies another side of the Gulf Islands, where hidden gems can only be reached by small boat or expedition ship.

These lesser known islands, off the ferry routes, are where you’ll truly experience the magic of the Salish Sea—-wildlife-rich shorelines, secluded coves, and histories waiting to be discovered. With Maple Leaf Adventures, you can explore these special places during the quieter seasons of Spring and Fall—when waters are calm, wildlife thrives, and the pace of life slows to match the rhythm of the tides.

Step off the beaten path and experience the Gulf Islands in a whole new way, guided by experts who bring their stories, landscapes and wildlife to life.

12/17/2024

Immerse yourself in the awakening beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest, one of Earth’s most pristine and ecologically rich regions.

This epic spring expedition offers travelers the chance to experience the lush forests, remote fjords, and abundant wildlife of this iconic coastal rainforest. Towering cedar and spruce forests line the shores, creating a serene environment that shelters countless species.

From black bears foraging along the water’s edge to eagles nesting in ancient trees, the Great Bear Rainforest offers an unparalleled wildlife experience.

12/14/2024

We are thrilled to announce that the Small Ship Tour Operators Association has been honoured with the “Good Neighbour Award”, in recognition of our collaborative efforts to remove industrial-scale marine debris from our home coastline.
 
Shared love of this coast and its ecosystems brings us ALL together in this industry, especially in our geographic part of it. Instead of competing, we’ve embraced collaboration, addressing challenges that matter deeply to the coast, its people, and its life. Together, we reject the zero-sum view of business, working instead with trust, respect, and a shared commitment to changing the world for the better.
 
We want to thank the five Nations we worked with for their trust and participation – the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’Xais, Wuikinuxv, Gitga’at and Gitxaala Nations; we want to thank the community of guides and youth who were so fired up that no day was long enough if there was another hawser line to untangle from the beach; we thank the government’s team at Clean Coast, Clean Waters for making these expeditions possible, and every recycling and transport business that helped us get the 360 tonnes of debris to the right place.
 
Ultimately the reward of being a good neighbour is the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself. In this case, it’s being in this “good neighbourhood” where whales breach among the islands and fjords, and a few small people with big ideas can help make a world of difference 🌎✊

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