Canoeing on the Athabasca River in Alberta, Canada

Meet your guide and the rest of the group in Edmonton. Pickup from Edmonton is at 8 a.m. We can also pick up guests in the town of Hinton, located close to Jasper National Park (about 1-hour drive east of Jasper). Pickup from Hinton is at 11 a.m.

Once everyone is on our van, we’ll head west to the starting point of our canoe adventure. During this 3-hour drive, kick back and enjoy the picturesque scenery whizz by the window.

Once we arrive, take a deep breath of fresh, outdoor air and get acclimatized to your new surroundings. Pitch your tent by the lake and get ready for an afternoon of canoe training on quiet waters. Expert guides will provide you with canoe-specific skills and emergency procedures including hand signals. You’ll learn some basic paddle strokes that will help you to maneuver your canoe more effectively.

You’ll also be advised on minimal impact or “leave no trace” camping in the wilderness. Our group will camp in the untouched wilderness without causing harm to its precious ecosystem.

In the evening, a welcome dinner awaits.

Today we start our wilderness canoe trip. You may leave any non-essential luggage in the hold of the bus. Then, gear up and start paddling along the amazing Athabasca River.

At first, we move slowly to get used to the ever-moving water. Keep in mind that your paddling speed is highly dependent on the water level.

The following days, you’ll spend 5-6 hours on the river in the company of your fellow travelers. Be enchanted by the serene beauty of nature, punctuated by close encounters with fascinating wildlife. En route, keep your eyes peeled for wild geese, beavers, eagles, elk, bear, and moose.

Our route will change from relaxing, drifting downstream, to more challenging rapids or turns. Beginners will get to try out their newfound canoe skills and more experienced paddlers will still find plenty of challenges and have loads of fun in this wild setting. Sometimes you might have to drag the boat over a shallow point but there are no portages on this trip.

We’ll pitch our tents on sandy islands or pleasant spots along the shore. During the trip, you’ll have ample time to enjoy swimming or fishing. Spend the nights around warming campfires to the crackle of a fire. If it’s a colder season and we’re lucky, one of the world’s most fascinating natural wonders - the Northern Lights - will illuminate the dark night sky.

Today is the last day of our canoeing adventure. Arrive at the town of Whitecourt where the bus is waiting for you. We congratulate ourselves on finishing the 160-km (100-mi) route. In the evening, we come back to Edmonton.

We thank you for joining this tour and hope you had the adventure of a lifetime! Until next time!

• No previous experience is required for this canoe trip. International classification of difficulty (1 is lowest, 5 is highest) rates this stretch of the Athabasca River as Class I overall with a few Class I and II rapids & one Class III rapid.
• At this time of year, expect pleasant weather. Average summer temperatures run around 15-25°C (59-77°F) on average. However, don’t forget to bring a warm jacket for chilly mornings. A recommended packing list will be provided upon booking.
• The minimum age of participants is 12 years old. Family tours can be arranged for families with kids as young as 8 years old.
• Several tour departures offer German and/or French-speaking guides.

This is a wilderness trip. Interrupting the tour is difficult once started and is only attempted in case of emergency. The guide has a satellite telephone.