On nights 2-6, you'll be wild camping out in the wilderness at a variety of epic spots on beaches, islands and gorges. This really is one of the true highlights of the trip, and some of the best wilderness camping you're likely to find anywhere in the world. Expedition tents are twin-share, and you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag and mat for the duration. All the cooking equipment is provided by your host. The expedition will involve some mucking in with putting up and taking down camp each night - all part of the adventure.

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Wild camping

Before and after the expedition you'll stay in twin-share rooms at Chateau Arnaud, located on the waterfront next to Sept-Îles marina with sweeping views of the ocean. The hotel makes for a super comfy stay before and after your 5 nights camping out in the Canadian wilderness. Chateau Arnaud is a good launchpad for the final night of the trip as you celebrate a successful expedition with a few drinks and some poutine in town. Continental breakfast is included on both your stays here.

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Sept-Îles

On nights 2-6, you'll be wild camping out in the wilderness at a variety of epic spots on beaches, islands and gorges. This really is one of the true highlights of the trip, and some of the best wilderness camping you're likely to find anywhere in the world. Expedition tents are twin-share, and you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag and mat for the duration. All the cooking equipment is provided by your host. The expedition will involve some mucking in with putting up and taking down camp each night - all part of the adventure. 

Before and after the expedition you'll stay in twin-share rooms at Chateau Arnaud, located on the waterfront next to Sept-Îles marina with sweeping views of the ocean. The hotel makes for a super comfy stay before and after your 5 nights camping out in the Canadian wilderness. Chateau Arnaud is a good launchpad for the final night of the trip as you celebrate a successful expedition with a few drinks and some poutine in town.  Continental breakfast is included on both your stays here. 

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This is a wild and remote expedition, so bring along some moderate fitness, an adventurous spirit, and a love of the great outdoors

Your host has partnered up with a local organic restaurant to provide high-quality gourmet food, specifically vacuum packed for each expedition. These packs provide the base for each of your lunches and dinners on the expedition. The meals will differ each day and the chef insists on traditional Canadian meals, using lots of fresh locally grown veg and locally sourced fish. Fresh speckled trout are easy to catch during your time on the river and are delicious grilled. Your guides are also knowledgable about certain foods that can be foraged from the forest during the expedition. Breakfast is prepared by the guides each morning, consisting of fruit, bread, eggs, cereals, coffee, chocolate and tea. There'll be a poutine night, indulging on the traditional Quebecois dish of french fries, cheese curds and brown gravy which literally translates as 'mess'. Snacks and drinks are available at all times on the river to keep you fuelled.

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Your host will meet the group at Sept Îles Airport on day 1 and transfer you over to your accommodation for the first night. At the end of the expedition, you'll be picked up at your accommodation on the morning of day 8 and transferred back to Sept Îles Airport in time for your onward flight.

Internal flights

Expert, English-speaking local wilderness guides

Guides

2 nights in a hotel, 5 nights wild camping

Accommodation

Meals

Airport transfers and everything in between

Transfers

All your rafting gear, expedition tents and cooking equipment

Equipment

Permits

Expert, English-speaking local wilderness guides

2 nights in a hotel, 5 nights wild camping

Airport transfers and everything in between

All your rafting gear, expedition tents and cooking equipment


Catch your first glimpse of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec as you land at Sept-Îles Airport. Your host will meet you and transfer you over to your accommodation for the first night. Grab some dinner with the group and discuss the adventure to come...

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Arrive at Sept-Îles 

Day 1

Adventure kick-offs don't get much better. Fly over vast boreal forest and land on a lake a stone's throw from the river’s start point. Run through the all-important river safety, practice strokes, and raft manoeuvres with your guides, and then the expedition begins! Ease your way into river life with an easy few hours of paddling through the dynamic scenery before setting up your first wild camp on its banks. Grab a swim, hike to a hilltop lookout point or cast your rod into the river to nab a speckled trout or two for dinner.

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Hop in a float plane over infinite boreal forest to the start point

Day 2

Load up on breakfast, then raft down a series of class IV rapids starting with Marmot, a class IV+ cascade of white water sure to wake you up. After a thrilling series of descents, you'll reach two grade VI rapids - this is where you'll hop out and have lunch on the riverbank while your guides rope the rafts safely round. After lunch the river calms down so you can inflate the SUP and paddle your way to camp, eyes peeled for wolves, bears, moose and osprey. Sleep on a beautiful islet surrounded by beaches.

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Your first taste of big white water rapids

Day 3

Wake up on your mini island and grab a morning swim before another big day on the water. Float down a series of easy and fun class 3 rapids on the way to the mile-long class IV Saxophone Rapid, one helluva crescendo to an amazing morning. After a well-earned lunch on the riverbank, you’ll hop on a paddleboard and glide down to your next camp. There'll still be plenty of time to stretch your legs on a forest hike and take a dip in the river before dinner.

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Run a mile-long rapid

Day 4

Today you'll raft the biggest rapids of the trip: Double Drop, Ledges, Picket Fence and the 13-foot-high Trust Falls. Each one is a class IV rapid, with some calm stretches in between as you catch your breath. In the afternoon, you'll paddle across a lake to a gorge to set up camp for the evening. This is the most spectacular camp of the trip; perched on the edge of a sheer-walled gorge containing three consecutive class VI rapids forming a stunning torrent of water.

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The big ones

Day 5

Waking up at this incredible spot, you'll hike down to the base of the first falls, helping with the portage as you go. Nab a cool-down dip in the water before reaching a lake that you'll raft across to marvel at Magpie Falls. Here the entire river leaps down to a pool thirty metres below, forming an ever-present rainbow from the spray. Spend the rest of the day relaxing by the lake or taking a side hike or two by the waterfalls. You’ll camp opposite the falls and enjoy another slap-up supper around the campfire.

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Portage day + swim and camp next to Magpie Falls

Day 6

Spend some time soaking up your last morning out in the wild, relax at camp before floating down the final stretches of the river and across a lake to the take-out point at the end of the expedition. Have a lakeside lunch and enjoy one last swim before jumping in the van and heading to Sept-Îles. Back in civilisation, grab a hot shower before heading out for a celebratory dinner and a few drinks to toast a successful expedition.

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The home stretch

Day 7

Sadly the adventure is over as your host drops you off at Sept-Îles Airport in time for your onward flight home.

Bid farewell

Day 8

Catch your first glimpse of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec as you land at Sept-Îles Airport. Your host will meet you and transfer you over to your accommodation for the first night. Grab some dinner with the group and discuss the adventure to come...

Adventure kick-offs don't get much better. Fly over vast boreal forest and land on a lake a stone's throw from the river’s start point. Run through the all-important river safety, practice strokes, and raft manoeuvres with your guides, and then the expedition begins! Ease your way into river life with an easy few hours of paddling through the dynamic scenery before setting up your first wild camp on its banks. Grab a swim, hike to a hilltop lookout point or cast your rod into the river to nab a speckled trout or two for dinner.


Load up on breakfast, then raft down a series of class IV rapids starting with Marmot, a class IV+ cascade of white water sure to wake you up. After a thrilling series of descents, you'll reach two grade VI rapids - this is where you'll hop out and have lunch on the riverbank while your guides rope the rafts safely round. After lunch the river calms down so you can inflate the SUP and paddle your way to camp, eyes peeled for wolves, bears, moose and osprey. Sleep on a beautiful islet surrounded by beaches.  

Wake up on your mini island and grab a morning swim before another big day on the water. Float down a series of easy and fun class 3 rapids on the way to the mile-long class IV Saxophone Rapid, one helluva crescendo to an amazing morning. After a well-earned lunch on the riverbank, you’ll hop on a paddleboard and glide down to your next camp. There'll still be plenty of time to stretch your legs on a forest hike and take a dip in the river before dinner. 

Today you'll raft the biggest rapids of the trip: Double Drop, Ledges, Picket Fence and the 13-foot-high Trust Falls. Each one is a class IV rapid, with some calm stretches in between as you catch your breath. In the afternoon, you'll paddle across a lake to a gorge to set up camp for the evening. This is the most spectacular camp of the trip; perched on the edge of a sheer-walled gorge containing three consecutive class VI rapids forming a stunning torrent of water.  

Waking up at this incredible spot, you'll hike down to the base of the first falls, helping with the portage as you go. Nab a cool-down dip in the water before reaching a lake that you'll raft across to marvel at Magpie Falls.   Here the entire river leaps down to a pool thirty metres below, forming an ever-present rainbow from the spray.  Spend the rest of the day relaxing by the lake or taking a side hike or two by the waterfalls. You’ll camp opposite the falls and enjoy another slap-up supper around the campfire. 

Spend some time soaking up your last morning out in the wild, relax at camp before floating down the final stretches of the river and across a lake to the take-out point at the end of the expedition. Have a lakeside lunch and enjoy one last swim before jumping in the van and heading to Sept-Îles. Back in civilisation, grab a hot shower before heading out for a celebratory dinner and a few drinks to toast a successful expedition. 

Sadly the adventure is over as your host drops you off at Sept-Îles Airport in time for your onward flight home.  

Canadian Dollar

Pre/post trip accommodation in Sept-Îles

Pre/post trip accommodation in Sept-Îles - Single room

Pre/post trip accommodation in Sept-Îles - Double/Twin room

Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade

Private Transfer Sept-Îles Airport to Château Arnaud

Get dropped off by a float plane in the middle of nowhere, and then raft, hike and wild camp your way back to civilisation

Canadian Wilderness Expedition

Gaze down over boreal forest as you fly into the wilds for a week of true Canadian backcountry adventure

Take on exhilarating white-water rapids and stand-up paddle board along the remote Magpie River

Wild camp on riverbanks, islands and gorges, swim in lakes and rivers and catch your own trout for dinner

Gaze down over boreal forest as you fly into the wilds for a week of true Canadian backcountry adventure

Take on exhilarating white-water rapids and stand-up paddle board along the remote Magpie River

Wild camp on riverbanks, islands and gorges, swim in lakes and rivers and catch your own trout for dinner


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Canadian Wilderness Expedition

Canadian Wilderness Expedition

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

EXPERT LOCALGUIDES

YOUR MONEYIS SAFE

TOTALFLEXIBILITY

A COMPANY YOU CANACTUALLY TRUST

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

YOUR MONEY
IS SAFE

TOTAL
FLEXIBILITY

A COMPANY YOU CAN
ACTUALLY TRUST