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At a glance

Duration
9 days
Cost
£4295
Arrival Airport
Sept-Îles (YZV)
Grade
river grade
Air Temp
24°C (75°F)
Water Temp
16°C (65°F)
Camping
6 nights
Hotel
2 nights

Overview

We are very excited to offer you the chance to join us on this gem of a trip on the truly spectacular Magpie River. For years it has seemed but a dream but now we can’t wait to share this departure with you this year. In terms of dramatic scenery, untouched wilderness, stunning camps and numerous class IV/V+ rapids, the Magpie is hard to beat. Enjoy a stunning helicopter flight into the river to this area of immense beauty. Without question one of the top whitewater rafting destinations in North America and the World, you are going to love this adventure. Come and join us on one of Canada’s best trips.

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Destination Map & Video

What you will be up to

1

Arrive into Montreal and fly up to Sept Isle where we spend the night at Chateau Arnaud.

No meals included.

2

After breakfast this morning a gorgeous one hour drive past dramatic sea cliffs and waterfalls, takes us to our rendevous point with the helicopter. After an amazing flight we camp at Magpie Lake.

Included: All meals

3

After breakfast we paddle a few minutes to where the Magpie River spills from the lake. The day is filled with numerous class IV rapids. Our final rapid is Marmot, a class 4+. The upper Magpie looks a lot like a Norwegian river with granite, lichen, moss and black spruce trees. We camp just below Marmot Rapid in a tucked away cove.

Included: All meals

4

This morning we run a series of class 4 rapids. We reach two grade VI rapids and have lunch in between them as guides line the rafts through them. The afternoon sees the river ease off and your opportunity to try an inflatable kayak or stand up paddle board. We spend the night on a beautiful little island, surrounded by beach, in the middle of a miniature lake,

Included: All meals.

5

This morning we raft a series of class 3 rapids down to the mile long class IV Saxaphone Rapid after which we have a sumptuous lunch. More opportunities this afternoon for people to  paddle in inflatable kayaks in the rapids down to camp.

Included: All meals

6

Today contains the biggest rapids of the trip including Double Drop (IV), Ledges (IV), Picket Fence (IV) and the 13 foot high, class IV Trust Falls. In the afternoon we paddle across a lake to our gorge camp for the night. This is one of the most spectacular camps in the world. The camp hangs on the edge of a sheer walled gorge containing three class VI rapids.

Included: All meals

7

This morning we take a hike to the base of the first falls in the gorge and take time for a swim. Meanwhile a helicopter will arrive to portage our gear down to to our final night’s camp below the gorge. After hiking down the gorge we have the chance to paddle our kayaks across the lake to marvel at Magpie Falls where the entire river leaps down to a pool thirty meters below and an ever present rainbow from the spray. Our camp for the night directly across from the falls is simply breathtaking.

Included: All meals

8

This morning we paddle the sea kayaks or stand up paddle board down to our vehicle. A 45 minute drive takes us to a trail head where we embark on a 2 hour hike to the spectacular 130 foot high Manitou Falls. In the early aafternoon we arrive at Sept Isles and check into our hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner.

included: All meals

9

After breakfast we will transfer you to Sept Isles Airport for your flight home.

Included: Breakfast

Speak to a WBN Advisor

UK +44 1709 802 203

USA +1 303 261 8896

Book Trip

Dates & Prices

DatesDuration
Friday 15 August 2025 - Saturday 23 August 20259 days£4295€4995$5250

Your trip starts and finishes in Sept Isle (YZV), Quebec. In order to give you increased flexibility for your holiday please call our UK or US office’s for advice on who to book your flights with. Many airlines offer flights to Sept Isle (YZV), from the UK via Montreal.  We  recommend contacting Trailfinders for your best flight options or the excellent and competitive folks at Exito Travel. Many operators also offer flights from the US, but we suggest for the best deals check out Skyscanner.  If you need any help with flights, please dont hesitate to contact us.

Please ensure you DO NOT book your flights until your trip is CONFIRMED.

We have price and departure information about the following trips in Canada (river prices only – flights not included).

In order to secure your place pay your deposit  of $900 per person. This can be paid and booked via our website. See our Terms & Conditions for full payment terms.

Get in touch & we'll get back to you

What you should bring

River wear:

  • A pair of Chacos / Keens or similar sandals. (Sandals with a closed toe are ideal)
  • 2 pairs of river shorts (longer leg length) shorts can be purchased from our online shop.
  • 2 swimming costume or bikini for ladies.
  • Long sleeved thermal top and bottoms to wear under your life jacket. Capilene, Polypropylene or Merino wool is best. (not cotton)
  • A rash vest (not cotton) as an alternative to the thermal layer.
  • A baseball cap for under the helmet to keep sun off – can be purchased from our online shop. (remove the button from the top of the cap – sometimes your helmet presses down on it, causing discomfort)
  • Sunglasses.
  • Chums for fastening your sunglasses to your head – can be purchased on line or from your river crew.
  • 2 x 1 Litre Nalgene / Sigg or similar water bottle.
  • Carabiner for fastening water bottle to your boat.
  • Waterproof camera such as GoPro for the ‘action’ shots
  • Waterproof sunscreen and lip balm SPF30 minimum.

Download equipment file

Magpie River reviews

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Magpie River Expedition

26th August 2022

Those words are forever etched in our minds as we reflect on our Magpie River Expedition!! This was not your ordinary river “trip.” It was a true expedition in every sense of the word. The commitment began immediately.

Our guides totally rocked. Their smiles were contagious, no task was too difficult, and every guest felt special. They wore many hats working seamlessly as a team to create an unparalleled experience:

Julian (Trip Leader/safety coordinator/story teller/,) Raphael (safety kayaker/ gourmet chef) Vince (paddle boat captain/ “Oh Yeah”), and Andrew( gear boat manager/gourmet chef) They were a well oiled machine.

After our scenic helicopter ride to Magpie Lake, our expedition included EPIC whitewater, amazing campsites, gourmet meals, inflatable kayaking, standup paddle boarding, hiking, fishing, canoeing, whitewater canoeing, numerous unrunnable majestic waterfalls with portages through lush forest terrain, and not least of all…cold beer and other libations.

All of the guests on the expedition were seasoned Water By Nature veterans, and we quickly meshed as family. We can’t think of a better group of crew and guests!

We leave the Magpie River behind with lasting memories and new friends!

Sheri

Incredible Adventure

9th March 2019

My wife and I did the Magpie in August ’18. We had an absolutely wonderful time. The river was so challenging and provided incredible scenery. The guides were wonderful. All our needs and more were met with a smile everyday and night. The meals AND the camaraderie were above our expectations. Living in the USA we had no idea such a great wilderness ( outside of our party we didn’t see another person for the entire trip) adventure was so close. We highly recommend the Magpie.

Henry Cole

Ready to take the next step

Download a copy of our trip brochure or book your trip online

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