Arrival in Edmonton, transfer to hotel. Meet guide(s) and other members of the group. We check over all personal equipment to make sure everyone is properly equipped and prepared. In the evening dinner and discussion with your guide(s) of the detailed tour itinerary for the following two weeks.

Early start, we must cover a distance today by van of approximately 300 km from Edmonton to Slave Lake, where we will camp for the night. We spend time practicing paddling skills on the lake to make sure everyone is ready for the upcoming river trip. Your guide gives you instructions on all the necessary skills for the canoe.

Very early start, from Slave Lake we continue approximately another 1000 km to Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories. We load up all equipment, arriving late in Fort Simpson, camping nearby. (Alternatively a flight can be booked from Edmonton to Fort Simpson meeting up with the guide and equipment on the morning of day 3.)

Charter flight from Fort Simpson to Virginia Falls with breathtaking views of mountains, tundra, and the Nahanni. We camp our first night a short distance from these breathtaking falls. Possible hike up Blood Mountain.

We spend the day portaging boats and equipment 1.25 km around Virginia Falls. We repack and put in on the first of the four canyon sections of the lower Nahanni. This 147 km stretch between Virginia Falls and Kraus Hotsprings is referred to as the "Grand Canyon" of the Nahanni with elevation differences of up to 1400 meters from water level to canyon top. The so-called “Fourth Canyon" may treat us (depending on water level) with some sections of class II to III rapids.

Today we enter the imposing Third Canyon, and aim to camp at The Gate, a key feature throughout this unforgettable stretch. Here the river makes a sharp hairpin turn, silently squeezing through a narrow chasm flanked by Pulpit Rock, a vertical limestone wall 460 meters high. A short hike to the top of The Gate and Pulpit Rock rewards hikers with magnificent views of the canyon and the Nahanni deep below.

We complete the final 35 km of the Third Canyon and paddle towards the Second Canyon. Here the Nahanni has carved its path through the Headless Mountain Range; once past the Second Canyon, the river suddenly opens as we enter Deadman’s Valley, our destination for the day. Named for the mysterious disappearance of the Mcleod Brothers, the valley is shrouded in legend and mystery, yet provides excellent camping for the night.

We run the remaining rapids of the river, known as George’s Riffle, and continue on into the final and most imposing canyon section of the Nahanni. With heights reaching over 1400 meters, the First Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hundreds of caves, some with passages over 30 km in length, dot the canyon walls along this stretch of river. We camp close to the end of the canyon or try and make for Kraus Hotsprings.

At Kraus Hotsprings we enjoy a relaxing dip. This marks the end of the Nahanni’s canyon sections and rewards paddlers with an enjoyable and well-deserved soak in the small natural gravel pools overlooking the river, with average temperatures between 35 and 37 degrees C. From here the Nahanni opens onto the greater Liard River Valley. The section of river below Kraus Hotsprings is known as the Splits. From here the Nahanni leisurely meanders another 65 km until it reaches the confluence with the Liard River and the small native settlement of Nahanni Butte.

We reach the confluence of the Nahanni and the Liard and arrive at the small native village of Nahanni Butte (population approx. 100). From here the character of the river changes completely, as one more day of paddling down the mighty but tranquil Liard River awaits us.

Today is our last day of paddling as we descend the mighty Liard, with its wide sweeping curves. By evening we arrive at Blackstone Landing.

After breakfast, unloading, and repacking all our gear, we say our last goodbyes to the river and make our two-day, almost 1300 km return journey back to Edmonton. We aim to arrive in Edmonton by late evening of day 14. We check into our hotel and are rewarded with a celebration dinner for our accomplished adventure of the past two weeks.