2024 Departures: 2-12 June, 23 June - 3 July, 14-24 July, 4-14 August, 25 August - 4 September

This nine day tour down the Teslin and part of the Yukon River takes you through a landscape rich in history and wildlife. This trip is ideal for first-time paddlers looking for a less-travelled route than our classic Yukon River expedition.

The Teslin River is part of the the homeland of the Teslin Tlingit First Nation, for whom the river is still an important source of fish and moose. It’s an excellent place to spot moose, eagles, and black bears along the shoreline, and eddies offer excellent fishing for arctic grayling, northern pike and the occasional trout. Enjoy comfortable camps in wild and scenic spots along the river, meals cooked on open fires, and the company of a small group of fellow travellers. Our fun and professional guides will teach you all you need to know to paddle and camp.

This tour is scheduled to connect with an exciting road trip through some of the most scenic highways and backroads of Yukon and Alaska.  

Physical Demands- Best suited for those with a basic level of wilderness travel. You have been on a few camping trips before and have been canoeing or kayaking.

Welcome to Whitehorse! Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your downtown hotel. In the afternoon there will be time for an orientation and gear check, and a chance to pick up any last-minute supplies. (Overnight accommodation in Whitehorse)

In the morning, a shuttle van will meet you at your hotel room. We’ll head south along the Alaska Highway for about one and a half hours to our put in at Johnson’s Crossing. Your guide will teach you some basic paddling techniques, and then it’s time to hit the river. Our first day will be a short paddle to one of many possible camping spots along the river. The river is slow and gentle here, making it a safe and comfortable place to learn. (Overnight accommodation at wilderness campsite)

Over the next week we will cover more than 350km of this quiet, scenic river. We’ll encounter a winding mix of mostly gentle current with a few faster sections and riffles (all less than class II), which your guide will show you how to navigate safely. We will be camping on gravel bars and wilderness sites, leaving minimum impact on the land. Evenings are a chance to swim in the river, fish the shoreline, and enjoy campfires and fine camp cooking. If time allows, we may take short hikes into the surrounding hills to search out wild berries and sunset views. The Teslin River flows into the Yukon River at the abandoned trading post at Hootalinqua, and for the last few days of the tour we will travel on the Yukon’s most famous river. History is tangible as we pass relics of paddle-wheelers, trapper’s cabins, mines, and trading posts, now overgrown and returned to a state the first newcomers to the territory might have recognized. (Overnight accommodation at wilderness campsites)

Our tour ends at the village of Carmacks, where a shuttle van will be waiting. A short two-hour drive takes us back to Whitehorse, where warm showers, a comfortable hotel room, and a night on the town awaits. (Overnight accommodation at a hotel in Whitehorse)

On the last day of the program, you will be transferred to the airport or to a connecting program. (End of tour services) (This is an expeditionary trip, and changes to the itinerary may be necessary due to weather or other conditions. Any changes are left to the discretion of the guide.)