Global Travel Guide 2009: Water-based Adventure

Canada (Lake Superior)
The Big One
As an adventure destination, the northeastern shores of Lake Superior are still undiscovered gems. Miles and miles of unpopulated shoreline unfurls before kayakers, the sea-green waters at times resembling the Caribbean before dramatic slabs of Canadian Shield remind you that this piece of paradise is distinctly Canadian. You’ll have time to contemplate the novel beauty on The Big One, a seven-week trip that circumnavigates the Canadian portion of Superior (the world’s largest lake). Starting near Thunder Bay, you’ll paddle east to Sault Ste. Marie, exploring islets, islands and ancient Native Indian pictographs. Can’t spare 49 days? Choose any one-week segment.

Naturally Superior Adventures
Phone: 800-203-9092
Length/Departs: 49 days/Jul. and Aug.
Accomodation: Camping
Price: $6,890 CDN (7 weeks); $1,695 CDN (1 week)
Difficulty: Challenging

Easter Island, Pitcairn, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Tahiti
Beyond Rapa Nui

Pack a sailor’s duffle for this one-of-a-kind expedition cruise to some of the least-visited sections of the Pacific. You’ll begin on Easter Island, where enormous stone statues stare mutely inland as they’ve done for centuries. A highlight of the trip is Pitcairn Island, final resting place of the infamous H.M.S. Bounty, where you’ll also be among the fortunate few ever to have set foot on nearby Henderson Island and Ducie Atoll. From there, you’ll steam onward to the lagoons of the Tuamotus, which form a postcard-perfect archetype of the deserted isle of our imagination. You’ll go on to explore moss-covered prehistoric remains on the Marquesas, and you’ll wind up in painter Paul Gauguin’s South Seas paradise, Tahiti. Shipboard lectures from several experts will send you home educated as well as exhilarated.

Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions
Phone: 800-628-8747
Length/Departs: 20 days/Oct. 1
Accommodation: Luxury cruise ship, Clipper Odyssey
Price: $12,880 US and up (land only)
Difficulty: Easy

Belize
Paddler’s Paradise
The tiny Central American nation of Belize is indeed a paddler’s paradise. You’ll spend your trip exploring the world’s second-largest barrier reef, where the waters teem with vibrantly coloured tropical life and coral walls plunge to tantalizing depths. After an introductory kayak familiarization session in the placid turquoise waters of Silk Caye, you’ll set out to explore, armed with fins and a snorkel. In the evenings, you’ll dine on the day’s catch of fresh lobster, conch and fish, and you’ll doze away your free time wrapped in a hammock, caressed by gentle Caribbean breezes. You’ll also get to spend three nights camped on a deserted island, where the silence of a star-filled sky will tempt you with the thought of jumping ship for good.

BikeHike Adventures
Phone: 888-805-0061
Length/Departs: 6 days/Jan.-May
Accommodation: Hotels
Price: $1,899 US (land only)
Difficulty: Moderate

Antarctica
Emperors & Kings: Snow Hill and South Georgia
On this once-in-a-lifetime expedition, you’ll join renowned naturalists Robert Bateman and Birgit Freybe Bateman in visiting emperor penguin and king penguin rookeries, as well as the rookeries of several other penguin species. The journey begins with a crossing of the notorious Drake Passage and a stop at the South Shetland Islands, followed by landings on the South Orkney Islands and South Georgia. While at sea, the Batemans will speak about their lives as activists and artists, sharing incredible first-hand accounts that will supplement the in-depth educational program delivered by the expedition team. Finally, you’ll leave Antarctic waters and make a stopover at the Falkland Islands, where you’ll have the opportunity to view more wildlife.

Quark Expeditions
Phone: 800-356-5699
Length/Departs: 22 days/Nov.
Accommodation: Ship
Price: $21,890 to $35,890 US (land only)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Madagascar
Masaoala Kayak and Hike
Journey to one of the strangest islands in the world—80 percent of the flora and fauna here is endemic—and visit one of its remotest corners: the Masaoala National Park. You’ll explore “wild west” towns where the gentle Malagasy’s love for flowers, music and warm colours will ease you into slow travel mode. You’ll paddle to the old pirate’s haven of the bay of Navana, camp on the beaches of the Masaoala Peninsula, explore primary rainforest and coral reef and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of a lemur, one of Madagascar’s most famous and unique creatures. You’ll come away with a love of this gentle and unique country that exists on the fringes of Africa, but is not a part of it.

Explorer’s Corner
Phone: 877-677-9623
Length/Departs: 18 days/Oct.-Dec.
Accommodation: Hotels, camping
Price: $5,290 US (land only)
Difficulty: Moderate

Japan
Sea Kayak the Inland Sea
Explore Japan from an entirely new angle as you paddle an expedition kayak through the waters of the Inland Sea. The secluded beaches and primeval forests of this magical place, scattered with the peeling facades of Shinto shrines, will allow you to experience the country’s quiet majesty as it was meant to be encountered. When on shore, you’ll enjoy several essential aspects of Japanese tradition, including onsen (hot springs) and multicourse traditional meals. And you’ll explore highlights like Himeiji Castle (the best preserved medieval castle in Japan), the ancient capital of Kyoto with its hundreds of temples and shrines, and the Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima.

H2Outfitters
Phone: 800-20-KAYAK
Length/Departs: 12 days/May and Nov.
Accommodation: Western hotels and traditional inns
Price: $4,550 US (land only)
Difficulty: Easy

Chile, Argentina
Futaleufú Rafting & Multisport

Bio Bio is a top rafting company, and their Futaleufú River trip into the heart of southern Chile and Argentina is their flagship adventure. You’re sure to look back on this as a trip of a lifetime. The Futaleufú is one of the most sought-after whitewater destinations in the world. With rapids rated Class III to Class V, it offers an adrenaline rush to rafters and kayakers of all skill levels. You’ll not only plunge screaming down the Futaleufú’s legendary flow, but you’ll also raft two tributaries, the Río Espolon and Río Azul. And if that isn’t enough, you can mix things up with a bit of horseback riding, mountain biking or trekking. This is an all-in-one adventure at the heart of wild Patagonia.

Bio Bio Expeditions
Phone: 800-246-7238
Length/Departs: 10 days/Jan.-Mar.
Accommodation: Tented camps PRICE: $2,900 US (land only)
Difficulty: Moderate

FIJI
Highlands to Islands: Ultimate Fiji Explorer

Everyone knows Fiji as a tropical paradise, but few are aware of its adventure opportunities. You’ll journey to the top of its rainforest highlands, sail through the canopy on a zip line tour, plunge through canyons of Class II to Class III whitewater, kayak across the Beqa Lagoon and snorkel lively reefs. Sure, you’ll have time to relax on the beach—and you’ll need it. The hospitality of Fijians, combined with the adrenaline surge of outdoor adventure, will demonstrate why so many have washed up on these icing-sugar sands, and why so few have left.

O.A.R.S.
Phone: 800-446-2411
Length/Departs: 10 days/Jan.-Apr., Oct., Dec.
Accommodation: Resort hotels
Price: $3,795 US (land only)
Difficulty: Class II to Class III rafting

Croatia
Sailing the Dalmatian Coast
The waters of the Adriatic are a blue so pure you’d think it was faked. The crystalline setting of the sun and the flap of wind in sail canvas—these sensations are yours as you cruise the coast of Croatia in your own yacht. You’ll begin in the walled city of Dubrovnik, Lord Byron’s “pearl of the Adriatic,” and then set sail for the island of Mljet, a tiny forested paradise, before stopping over at Korcula for exploration and a winery tour. You’ll visit the bustling harbour of Hvar, cruise the uninhabited islets of the Kornati archipelago before finally returning to Trogir, a tiny island city of maze-like streets connected to the mainland.

Wilderness Travel
Phone: 800-368-2794
Length/Departs: 10 days/May, Aug. and Sept.
Accommodation: Sailing yacht
Price: $4,795 US (land only)
Difficulty: Easy

NORWAY
Kayaking Norway’s Fjords
This journey will take you through some of the most breathtaking fjords in Norway. You’ll begin in the charming art nouveau town of Ålesund, paddling and camping your way through the heart of the western fjords during days made longer by Scandinavia’s high-latitude sun. A sea kayak is the perfect way to see the Geirangerfjord, one of Norway’s most visited tourist sites. A kayak is also silent, allowing you to soak up the sounds of the place without the rumble of an engine. When nature puts on this kind of display, you learn to approach it with humility.

Tofino Expeditions
Phone: 800-677-0877
Length/Departs: 6 days/Jun.-Aug.
Accommodation: Camping
Price: $1,895 US (land only)
Difficulty: Easy to intermediate

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