Journeys of discovery

under the midnight sun

Spectacular river journeys on the most iconic rivers in the North. Expertly guided by raft or canoe. Wildlife, hiking & stories.

Since 1972, we’ve been guiding adventure vacations on the top rivers in northern Canada and Alaska. Our trips are 5 to 21 day premium-class raft and canoe based expeditions.  The rivers we travel are conduits for exploring some of the last wild places in North America.

River Journeys

Our river journeys are a continued exploration of the finest wilderness regions on the planet. Using the river as a conduit to travel through the land, we take time to hike, explore, learn and savour the beauty of these wild places.

Anyone can experience the North's iconic rivers from the stability and comfort of our expedition rafts.
Canoe based river journeys on the most iconic rivers in northern Canada.
We’re specialists in planning and operating customized adventure travel trips in remote wilderness regions.

Almost anyone can enjoy one of our river journeys

Our guests come alone, in couples, as a family or in groups. They range in age from 8 to 80 years. There is literally nothing like floating through canyons, camping out in the wilderness, and totally disconnecting from the modern world.

Destinations

We lead canoe and raft based expeditions on the best rivers in Northern Canada and Alaska. Every river we travel is stunningly beautiful, with world class features, great hiking and richly colourful histories.

The Nahanni flows through Canada’s deepest river canyons, past hot springs and geological features so unique that the Nahanni River was among the first World Heritage Sites to be declared by the United Nations in 1978. Paddlers world-wide consider it to be their ‘Mecca’.
Part of the world’s largest bio-preserve, the Tatshenshini flows through the Yukon, British Columbia, Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park, Alsek/Tatshenshini Provincial Park, out to the Gulf of Alaska. Home to grizzlies, bald eagles, moose, wolves and other animals.
The Alsek River has it’s origins only a short distance from the Tatshenshini but the difference between the two rivers is dramatic. Starting in the rain shadow of some of North America’s tallest peaks, the Alsek River flows through two glacial lakes with spectacular hiking opportunities. Known for grizzly bears and wildflowers it is a must do for any naturalist.
A hidden jewel deep in Canada's North. This wild and remote Arctic river flows through the centre of Ivvavik National Park to the Arctic Ocean. The Firth is home to the most northerly herd of Dall sheep in the world as well as muskox, caribou, wolves, fox, grizzly and raptors.

The rivers we paddle are wilderness icons

Many of the rivers we travel are Canadian Heritage Rivers, several are part of  the largest areas of protected land in the world, and all of them are perfect for a wilderness experience you’ll never forget – we guarantee you’ll return home with a great story to tell.

Why Choose Us?

We understand our guests are looking for a once in a lifetime experience, with a treasure trove of great stories to take home.  Our job to make that happen, and we take that responsibility seriously – without cutting corners. Words like average and good enough just aren’t in our vocabulary. All of our efforts add up to the best experience and greatest value.

Our reputation speaks for itself

More than 40% of our guests each year are repeat guests or were referred by a past traveler.

"This was the adventure of a lifetime. From start to finish, from desk to raft, the personnel and organization were flawless; this is particularly impressive given the complexity of the enterprise. I am left with the sense that everyone in the outfit, the guides in particular, were genuinely motivated to provide us with a rich and memorable experience. The Nahanni is beyond beautiful and Nahanni River Adventures has given us a genuine gift in immersing us in it in this fashion. Thanks!"
Richard Condit
"The integrity of the guides, is unparalleled; their ability to guide us down the river and then become gracious chefs, make amazing meals is remarkable. After a great day on the river, sitting at our camp site, gazing at spectacular scenery and enjoying sumptuous meals made for one of our best trips EVER."
Louise Klatzel-Mudry
"Every part of this river trip met and exceeded my expectations! From the beautiful Alsek river and surrounding land, to the guides who were so open to sharing their knowledge of the area and their fantastic cooking, to the other guests who where so helpful and open. As a single person wanting to travel and explore the Yukon and all its beauty I can’t recommend this trip enough. It was beautiful in every way!"
Laura Ringer

What you can expect from us

What sets us apart from other adventure companies? Passion, expertise and – most importantly – attention to the special details. We’ve been perfecting our trips since 1972 and it shows – our guest return rate of over 40% speaks for itself.

Low ratio of guides to guest

Experience has taught us that one of the most important factors for a high-quality and safe adventure is the ratio of staff to guests – we operate with one guide per four guests maximum.

Value

The north is not a mass-market destination ­– thank goodness! It’s not the cheapest region to visit, but the experiences found here are like nothing else in the world.

Knowledge

It’s our goal to have the most consistently knowledgeable staff in areas of local interpretation, such as: Flora and fauna, Geology and geomorphology, Human history, Unique details, stories, features of each region.

Safe travels

We maintain the highest standards for river safety and we are proud to have a reputation for excellence in this area. We employ comprehensive and well-rehearsed emergency procedures and trip contingency planning in line with wilderness camping experiences.

Your Experience

Imagine the “land of the midnight sun”, a country of diverse land forms, wild flowers and new delights to the eye, every day. Imagine rivers that flow through these lands in a sinuous manner, serving as a conveyor to move you from one delightful experience to the next. Imagine rewarding hikes, with a range of distances to choose, to pick the one that’s right for you.

Your adventure begins before you even make it to the river

After meeting your guides and fellow travellers at the rendezvous point, you will make your way to the river. This usually requires a charter aircraft to fly in, out or both. The flights take you over truly spectacular wilderness. Have your camera handy for the flight!

Relax, You’re in Great Hands

Our talented wilderness guides deliver our trips with an authenticity that mirrors the unspoiled wilderness we travel through. Their passion for living, learning and teaching regional geology, wildlife and history is matched only by their sense of adventure, paddling skills, and leadership acumen.

Each day of your river journey will be memorable and will inspire stories to tell your friends for years to come.

Your time on the river each day will vary, leaving plenty of time for other pursuits such as hiking, fishing, and photography. Many trips have one or more “lay-over” days when we stay put and enjoy camping two nights in a particular spot.

You’ll be fed meal after meal of impossibly fresh food, all prepared with a portable camp kitchen and open fire.

The crowning touch of our river journeys are the meals. Forget those old images of freeze dried backpackers fare. At the end of an active day in the fresh mountain air, you deserve to be rewarded by the aroma and taste of a great meal with fresh ingredients, perhaps with a wine you selected. You’ll be continually amazed at the variety and quality of the meals.

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You'll have opportunities to view northern wildlife and plants

The North is rich with some of the most abundant and diverse plant and wildlife anywhere in the world. Each of our river adventures is scheduled to allow for maximum opportunities to see the plants & wildlife of that particular area.

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Questions?

Give us a call at 1-800-297-6927

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