Contact us now to arrange your 2008 wilderness experience. Group rates available for 4 or more guests. This trip is offered during August and September each year to take advantage of the best combination of water levels, weather and wildlife viewing opportunities. Reservations are required for all tours.

Suggested Equipment List

Each guest on the multi-day expedition is supplied with one medium and one large size waterproof drybag. To protect your clothing and make it easier to organize, items should be packed in clear plastic bags. Small ziplock bags are useful for keeping toiletries & camera film and equipment dust/sand free. We suggest that you leave your valuables at home due to the risk of damage or loss. Anything that you may need during the day should be packed in the medium size drybag as the larger waterproof bag will be inaccessible. Your personal equipment should not weigh more than 40 pounds.

Remember that our expedition trips take place in wilderness areas. To reduce the potential for bear interactions we ask that you not bring any perfumes, colognes or fragrant deodorants on the trip.

Clothing: 1 quality waterproof rain suit (jacket & pants), 1 warm sweater, 1 fleece sweater or jacket, hat (sun or rain), 2 t-shirts, 2 shirts, 1 pair shorts, 2 pairs pants, socks and underwear for 4 days.

Footwear: 1 pair light hikers/walking boots, 1 pair sneakers/sandles, neoprene socks if your feet get cold easy (for inside the wet suit booties).

Personal: sunglasses, sunscreen, at least SPF15, camera & film, toiletries, flashlight, bug repellent, extra contact lenses, glasses and supplies as required, personal medication as required.

Optional: collapsible fishing rod with case

Rafting Tours - Multi Day

Nimpkish River - Best of the Island

3 Days - $900 /person

The Nimpkish River is the largest volume river on Vancouver Island and the only island multi-day expedition. This tour combines the Nimpkish River Whitewater and Adventure day trips plus another 15 km of river to explore. We start at Duncan Pool and run the entire river section to Nimpkish Lake, more than 45 km downstream. Great scenery, limestone canyons, wildlife (including black bear, elk, cougar, deer, eagles and more!), swimming, caving, cliff jumping, kayaking and rapids ranging from family splash to the more adventurous whitewater!

Included: Use of waterproof gear bags, tent (one for each 2 guests), sleeping bag and pad, use of fishing rods & gear, all riverside meals, limited wines and micro-brewed beer, splash jackets and pants, wetsuits and helmets (for certain river sections), lifejackets, government user fees.

Not included: fishing license, 1% W.T.A. Habitat Conservation fee, 2% government land use fee and 5% government services tax.

Nimpkish River Itinerary

Night 1: The night before departure your guides will meet you for a pre-trip meeting to review the trip itinerary, hand-out waterproof dry bags, review what-to-bring & any final preparations or questions regarding the tour.

Day 1: Our first day starts at a reasonable time, allowing everyone the opportunity to pick up any items that may not have found their way into your suitcase. Guests & a guide leave our rafting centre by vehicle for the Nimpkish River at approximately 9:00 a.m. Depending on your luck, you may see black bears, deer, elk, bald eagles and other wildlife on the trip into the river. At the river put-in we will rig the rafts and start on our adventure. The Nimpkish Valley will be your adventure host for the next 3 days and two nights.

Day 2: The smell of fresh brewed gourmet coffee will awaken you. Breakfast will be served at approx. 8:30 am, allowing the fishers a chance to try their luck before eating, and those who want a longer sleep to take their time. We will be packed up and on the river at approx. 10 am each day. Depending on your preference, you may choose to paddle along with us, try the inflatable kayak or just ride along and enjoy the scenery. We expect to see many bald eagles, mergansers and dippers and may be lucky enough to see black bear, elk or cougar as we have on other trips. Lunch will be a riverside buffet allowing everyone to build a lunch that fits your own taste and appetite. A variety of fun, splashy sections on the river will add excitement as we run the sections of river used for two of our whitewater day trips. A cave to go through, cliffs to jump from, swimming holes and water fights are all possibilities on this trip. We hit camp in the late afternoon to allow enough time for everyone to set up their tents, check out the views and enjoy some refreshments while your guides prepare another sumptuous supper.

Day 3: Today will be our last day on the river. We will meet our transportation home at the head of Nimpkish Lake, approx. 45 km from where we started, at approximately mid-day. The views down the lake are amazing, with snow covered peaks throughout the summer months. After everyone helps to load the rafts, you'll have lunch while the crew loads up the rest of the gear. After lunch we'll make our way home to Campbell River, with plans to arrive late in the afternoon - but remember we have been on river time - our flexible schedule allows for later arrivals and stops to view wildlife on the way home. You can plan to fly home at the end of the day; however, we strongly recommend staying in Campbell River one more night.

• Youth 12 years old and under must be at least 50 lbs to fit the rafting safety equipment.
• Prices do not include 1% W.T.A. Habitat Conservation fee, 2% government land use fee and 5% government services tax.

 

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Southgate River - The Valley of Falls

4 days    $2350/person

The Southgate River provides the winding tour route down glacial green waters cascading off the surrounding mountains. The glacial flow originates from the Homathko Icefields, the largest in BC at 770 square kilometres. Adjacent to the Great Bear Rainforest, this river expedition is unique in its accessibility and remoteness at the same time. The tour includes a boat trip to the head of historic Bute Inlet and a helicopter flight into our starting point on the river. Marvel at the views of amazing waterfalls, glaciers and mountain ridges. We have many opportunities for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing along the way. The river valley has abundant wildlife, including grizzly bear, wolves, deer and eagles. Great food, professional guides and a spectacular river valley to explore at a natural leisurely pace.

Included: Use of waterproof gear bags, tent (one for each 2 guests), sleeping bag and pad, helicopter and boat transfers, use of fishing rods & gear, all riverside meals, limited wines and micro-brewed beer, splash jackets and pants, lifejackets, government user fees.

Not included: fishing license, 1% W.T.A. Habitat Conservation fee, 2% government land use fee and 5% government services tax.

Southgate River Itinerary

Night 1: The night before departure your guides will see you for a pre-trip meeting to review the trip itinerary, hand-out waterproof dry bags, review what-to-bring & any final preparations or questions regarding the tour.

Day 1: Our first day starts at a reasonable time, allowing everyone the opportunity to pick up any items that may not have found their way into your suitcase. Guests & a guide leave Campbell River by water taxi for the Southgate River at 8:30 a.m. Depending on your luck, you may see killer whales, sea lions, black bears, seals and other marine wildlife on the trip into historic Bute Inlet. At the head of the inlet and the mouth of the Southgate River we will meet our helicopter transport with E & B Helicopters. You will be transferred by helicopter over the Homathko Icefields, glaciers & waterfalls to our put-in location on the middle reaches of the Southgate River. The "Valley of Falls" is your new host for the next incredible 4 days.

Days 2 & 3: The smell of fresh brewed gourmet coffee will awaken you. Breakfast will be served at approx. 8:30 am, allowing the fishers a chance to try their luck before eating, and those who want a longer sleep to take their time. We will be packed up and on the river at approx. 10 am each day. You will see more than a dozen major waterfalls along the river corridor, the smallest at least 500 feet high! Depending on your preference, you may choose to hike into the base of a falls or a nearby lake with your guide while the rest of the crew relax alongside the river or try their latest fishing techniques for the big Dolly Varden. We expect to see grizzly bears on this trip - indeed we saw 8 grizzly on our first descent of the river in 2002. Lunch will be a riverside buffet allowing everyone to build a lunch that fits your taste and appetite. A short splashy section on the river on day 3 will add a little excitement for the crew. We hit camp in the late afternoon to allow enough time for everyone to set up their tents, check out the views and enjoy some refreshments while your guides prepare another sumptuous supper. Everyone hits the hay early as the fresh air and excitement takes toll.

Day 4: Today we will be on the river early in order to meet the boat at the river mouth at approx. 10 am. Our last day on the river brings us out into the head of Bute Inlet and amazing views again of the coast mountain range. After loading our gear we will start our journey back to Campbell River, stopping for lunch along the way at a remote fishing resort. We will aim to arrive back in Campbell River in mid-afternoon, but again, as on the river, our flexible schedule allows detours to watch whales or other wildlife on the way home. You can plan to fly home at the end of the day; however, we strongly recommend staying in Campbell River one more night to ensure that you make your connections home.