Adventure 16: Outdoor and Travel Outfitters - Since 1963

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Bears and Whales Kayaking-Hiking Multisport

Multisport in Canada with R.O.A.M.

Highlights

This trip combines grizzly bear and salmon viewing with whale watching. Participants fly into Chilko Lake for 4 glorious days of sea kayaking, river running, biking and fishing while 2 million salmon spawn at the headwaters. Hundreds of bald eagles join in the festivities while as many as 40 grizzlies jockey for position in these salmon rich waters.

This incredible phenomenon can only be topped on your next 4 days as we paddle with pods of killer whales in Johnstone Strait. This decadent and extravagant lodge-to-lodge adventure is available only through ROAM and has limited space in September.

Full Description

ROAM goes wild on this rafting/hiking/sea kayaking multi-sport with a focus on wildlife. See grizzlies, eagles and orcas on a one-of-a-kind multi-sport adventure.

This trip embodies our company name to its fullest as we'll be exploring river, ocean and mountain environments in just one glorious week. First, we'll zoom off on a spectacular plane ride over Whistler and the Coast Mountain Range to the Chilcotin. Arguably one of Canada's most spectacular settings, we will spend four incredible days watching millions of salmon migrate along with hundreds of bald eagles.

In late August and September all of the wilderness icons - grizzly, cougar, bobcat, and even the elusive wolf - come down to feed on the Mother Nature's bounty. In 2008, we had 66 grizzlies come to the corridor. Watching a mother teach its young how to fish is truly magical.

A trip to Chilko is a vacation in itself but next we'll go sea kayaking and whale watching with the orcas of Johnstone Strait. For me, the Johnstone Strait conjures up countless images of orcas spy hopping, breaching, finning and tail lobbing while just a stones throw from my kayak. These waters are the most dependable in the world for observing and paddling with these powerful but gentle orcas.

In our kayaks, we glide quietly over starfish, crab, sea urchins, purple-hinged rock scallops and a host of other marine life knowing that the comfort of our seaside resort is never too far away. To the delight of all passers-by, this archipelago has been the stronghold for the Kwakiutl nation. Their ancient masks and costumes evolve around the "killer whale" and we will learn how pivotal the land, orca and salmon have become in their folklore.

Includes:

  • Air charter from Vancouver to Chilko Lake to Johnstone Strait to Vancouver
  • 4 nights of cabin/suite accommodation at The Lodge at Chilko Lake
  • 3 nights of cabin accommodations at Farewell Harbour Resort
  • Complete professional guide service and wildlife viewing
  • Sea kayaking on Chilko Lake and Johnstone Strait
  • Whale watching trip
  • River rafting trip on the Chilko River
  • Guided mountain biking or hiking
  • Use of fishing equipment (guided extra)
  • All meals while at the lodges or on activities

Excludes:

  • Single supplement by choice or circumstance ($1500)
  • Accommodations in Vancouver
  • Liquor or sundries at the lodges
  • Optional Heli-Hiking Day ($400 per person)
  • Fishing license
  • Items of a personal nature and equipment outlined in personal equipment list
  • Gratuities

Day by Day Itinerary

Day One - Sunday

We meet for our 11:00 AM flight to Chilko Lake. Important Note for Those Arriving at Vancouver International Airport on Day One: It is essential to arrive a minimum of two hours before our 11:00AM flight. You need to allow enough time for possible flight delays, time to clear customs, and time to transfer from the Vancouver International Airport terminal to a private charter plane terminal. Please make sure your gear is packed in soft luggage (NO SUITCASES) as this will allow for easy storage. As soon as everyone’s gear is stowed, we will board our chartered plane for the incredible flight over the mountains and glaciers to Chilko Lake. Here at the headwaters of the Chilko River, we will meet our guides, check into our rooms, and enjoy the afternoon and evening at the resort. A spectacular view at dinner and an evening to go over last-minute details will help you settle into the moods and rhythms of the trip.

Day Two - Monday

Today we will explore Chilko Lake by kayak as we head into a 55-mile long wilderness waterway. Surrounded by massive glacier-capped peaks and a road-less wilderness, we will spend the day paddling the lake and picnicking on sandy beaches. There may be an opportunity for an afternoon hike and some fishing before heading back to the Lodge for cocktails and a sumptous dinner. After dinner we’ll take a tour of the night skies with resident engineer, Jaromir, and his incredible telescope.

Day Three - Tuesday

Today you will be transferred to our rafting put-in point. Floating the top 21 miles of the pristine Chilko River we will see millions of sockeye salmon and a fair number of Chinook salmon spawning in the river. Bears abound along with countless eagles. At the end of an exhilarating day you will be transferred back to the Lodge for a hot tub or short walk before watching the sunset over our private trout pond.

Day Four - Wednesday

For those choosing the heli-hiking option, today our helicopter will lift us up to the incredible alpine surrounding the park. High up above Chilko Lake nestled in the spectacular Coast Mountains we will hike through endless valleys of wildflowers. This rich carpeted terrain makes for easy walking and will allow us to cover great distances. The 360-degree scenery will make you feel like the gods as you wander among the mountaintops where very few mortals ever go. Those not feeling up to a full day heli-adventure can hike Mount Tullin or explore Green Lake with one of our guides. There may also be time to enjoy some fishing at Chilko Lake. Our guides can teach you how to fly fish or you can use spin rods all on your own. Or perhaps set off for an optional afternoon horseback ride or get a massage – the choice is yours. Tonight we will feast outdoors, roast marshmallows and have a sing along around the campfire.

Day Five - Thursday

This morning we can ride, walk, fish, hike, kayak, canoe or simply immerse oneself in a good book. Everyone can pick their own pace and get organized for flights to the Johnstone Strait. This afternoon we’ll go over sea kayaking instructions and get ready for the following day’s adventure. Tonight we’ll have seafood feast on the oceanfront and soak up the views of this impressive marine park. Don't be surprised if you catch an early sighting of harbor seals and orcas.

Days Six and Seven- Friday and Saturday

Proper ocean kayaking techniques are quick to learn and the boats are easily maneuvered with a rudder controlled by foot pedals. Each participant is outfitted with neoprene kayak skirts to keep the boats watertight, and separate cargo holds allow you to store cameras, binoculars – whatever you might want to take with you for daily outings. By mid-morning, we are ready to head off on an exploratory paddle around the surrounding islands and coves. Meanwhile, back at our home base, our chef will be preparing for another delicious meal. The northerly latitude of the Strait means that daylight hour’s stretch well into the evening - so spectacular sunsets are often served up with dessert and digestives. Early risers can do their own exploring in the calm morning waters when wildlife along the shore is often most active. Early morning walks around the islands are also an option. Our daily distances can fluctuate depending on weather, tides and activities en route. The Johnstone Strait is subject to large tides and their associated currents. It doesn’t take long to adjust your clock to these natural cycles. Kayaks are an excellent springboard to amazing scenery and intertidal wildlife viewing. In addition to the orcas, we are often entertained by the hijinks of Daal porpoises. Dozens will converge on herring and cod stocks in the area and will celebrate their feasts with amazing aerial leaps and friendly social behavior. The Robson Bight Ecological Reserve is nearby and the many islands provide a labyrinth of coves and inlets.

Day Eight - Sunday

Today we will have a morning to paddle or explore on foot before getting ready for flights back to civilization.

About The Operator:

R.O.A.M.

Headquarters:

Nelson, BC, Canada

Established:

January 1986

After working the rivers and coastlines in Canada, United States, New Zealand and Australia, we founded a wilderness rafting and kayaking operation called Rivers & Oceans Unlimited. For more than 15 years R&O facilitated first class expeditions throughout Western Canada and Alaska.  In 1999, we changed to the R.O.A.M. umbrella, which better reflects the mountainous nature of our travel and began to carefully develop a variety of international locales.

Although we are still a small family-owned operation, ROAM has facilitated trips for O.A.R.S., Mountain Travel Sobek, GORP, American Express, World Wildlife Fund, Butterfield & Robinson and Virtuoso, to name a few. Our style of trips has revolutionized the adventure industry in a positive manner as we’ve continually raised the bar for levels of service and creativity.  

From the inception of R&O to the foundation of R.O.A.M., we have been the industry leader in providing the best guides, gear, and highest level of service and comfort without compromising the integrity of the locales we visit. We encourage you to contact about our trips so you can make a date for an adventure of a lifetime.

We are committed to the preservation of North America’s wilderness habitat. Our excursions are designed to promote an understanding of the delicate ecosystems that make our province unique while preserving their fundamental integrity. We ask participants to share our concern for the environment by practicing low impact touring in this sensitive area. ROAM operates on a “no trace” policy meaning we travel in a self-contained manner, carrying in what we require and carrying out all garbage and human waste. We believe the survival of the natural environment and the wildlife it supports depends on establishing an economy beyond simple resource harvesting. Our goal is to immerse our clients in vast natural beauty that, in turn, supports eco-tourism as a viable, economic choice.