S2SiCanada
Itinerary
Day 1: Transit to Canada
Arriving into Vancouver City in the early afternoon you will be met by your S2Si guides who will take you by luxury 4x4 up the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler Village, deep in the Pacific Mountains. Checking into your five-star Hotel, you will be able to relax in the mountainside pool and hot tub before a three course dinner getting to know your expedition team.
Day 2: Preparation Day in Whistler, Cultural Centre and Optional Activities
This will be your preparation day and after a hearty breakfast you meet in a five-star conference room for an equipment check and briefing on the week ahead. After a mountainside lunch you will explore Whistler, the host town of the 2010 Olympic Games. As well as visiting the local cultural centre to learn about the environment you will be travelling through; today’s activity options include Bungee Jumping, Sky-Diving, a Zip-line Tour or a visit to the Olympic venue. After a three course dinner you will be met by our specialist instructors who will take you through your final briefings for the next two days.
Day 3: Start of the Expedition, Helicopter Ride, Skiing and Winter Mountaineering
The kayaks are in place, the equipment is all packed, and its go go go! Flying in by helicopter* on a spectacular ride over the Pemberton Ice field your expedition will truly begin! Landing on Exodus Peak at 2,435 m (7,989 ft) this is one of the largest peaks in the region and towers over the oceans below. Pausing on the summit to take in the view you will then ski* or mountaineer down the slopes of the mountain to the glacier below. Changing your skis for crampons you will cross the glacier ice climbing and abseiling along the way before reaching your first wild camp of ice caves and snow holes where you will spend the night! Don’t forget this is wild camping S2Si style and you will always have a great meal at the end of the day and a chilled beer!
Day 4: Summer Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Abseiling
Waking up in your very own ice cave or snow hole, today you will trek out from your glacial camp below the ice line along rocky ridges to the Blanca Lakes. After lunch by the lakes you will have the chance to experience some spectacular rock climbing and abseiling on the granite cliffs that surround them before mountaineering down the valley into the S2Si Camp 2. Here our logistics team will meet you with our fully equipped mobile campsite. After sitting down at the table in our luxury mobile dining room in the forest, you will be briefed on the next phase of the expedition.
Day 5: Mountain Biking and White Water Rafting
Waking up in the forest on the mountainside with stunning views of the valley below; today you will be swapping your mountain boots for bike pedals. Guided by World Mountain Bike Champion Shaums March, you will descend the network of single track and forest track trails on full suspension bikes down to the river bank.
After lunch you will then swap your pedals for paddles! Jumping onto your raft for your next challenge you will descend 15 km of world class White Water into the Squamish River valley. This river is one of the best in Canada and is the ultimate white water raft experience in class 4 rapids. Once completed you then relax with hot coffee (and perhaps something stronger!) as you float peacefully down the remaining section to S2Si River Camp 3.
Day 6: White Water Kayaking and Speed Boating
Waking up on the river bank to the noise of rushing river water, you will continue descending the river but this time in your own kayak! On easier white water you will be given your own white water kayak and after a coaching session by our expert instructors be taken down the river. There will be a mixture of rapids and flatter sections and after stopping for lunch on the riverbank you can take in the stunning glacial backdrop and an eagle spotting session. On finally reaching the ocean you will be collected from your kayaks by Speed Boat and taken on a fantastic eco-tour of the Howe Sound, all the way to the S2Si Beach Camp 4. Here you will be greeted on the sands with a well deserved drink, and sit down by the campfire to a hearty BBQ!
Day 7: Sea Kayaking and Yacht Sailing
Waking up on the sands of a tiny Island with the waves lapping at the beach, you will continue your journey. However this time you will have an ocean going sea kayak to paddle! In doubles or singles you will negotiate a series of tiny islands stopping on one for lunch. This area offers some of the best sea kayaking in British Columbia and there is a whole host of wildlife to see. After exploring the sound you will paddle to the end of the bay and see the towering mast of you last activity, your very own sailing yacht! Transferring into two teams of four you will be met by your skipper and settle aboard. You will learn how to crew the yacht as a team and sail it into the ocean to a local mooring. In the evening you will dine with the captain and experience a fantastic seafood buffet caught straight from the ocean. Of course you will be able to try your luck at a spot of fishing yourself during the day!
Day 8: Scuba Diving, Yacht Sailing and the Grand Finale
Waking up in the cabin of a sailing yacht with the rigging gently tinkling overhead, you will then crew the yacht into the Georgia Straights and those who are qualified will be able dive* one of the Sound’s top diving spots with stunning marine life. Once they have re-surfaced the team will embark on the final leg: sailing into the Marina of English Bay - you have done it! You have successfully travelled from the Sky to the Sea enduring every challenge along the way and completed one of the most extreme commercial expeditions ever. You will have completed 14 Activities, in 5 Environments, in 1 Week in 1 Country.
As the champagne flows onboard you will begin the biggest party of the week! After docking in the heart of the city centre, you will be whisked straight up into your five-star Hotel. After a well deserved hot tub and swim you will take an elevator to the top floor of the Hotel for a grand finale meal in one of the highest revolving restaurants in Vancouver. From here you will be able to look back up into the mountains and see where the journey all started, as well as watching a slide show of all of the memorable moments of your expedition.
Day 9: R&R and Transit Back Home
Waking up in your five-star luxury hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver, you will have one final breakfast with your expedition team before saying goodbye to the mountains and taking your flight back home. Ready to be back at work the following day!
* Diving – only open to those who have a dry suit dive qualification.
* Skiing – dependent on weather and snow conditions at time of travel.
* Helicopter – dependent on local weather conditions. If it is not possible to land, an alterntive route with similar mountain activities will be completed. Picking up the itinerary again from Day 5.
Post Trip - stay on!
There are so many exciting things to do in British Columbia, Canada after the expedition and we appriciate that for some, Canada is the other side of the world! We would always encourage people to extend their stay, afterall, you have paid for a flight and you want to maximise your time and enjoyment in Canada! The 2010 Winter Olympics will be over by the time your expedition gets underway, but you might like to go and see some of the Olymipc locations afterwards. Our in-country guides have lots of ideas as to what to do and where to stay if you want to extend your trip by a few weeks.
Therefore as a unique service, and once you sign-up, we will give you the hotline email to our S2Si Canada consultant. The possibilities are endless and the list of things to do and see is bottomless; he may even be able to tell you where the best hot springs are on Vancouver Island!
Click Here to obtain Advice & help on S2Si Canada!
Special offer: 8 limited edition places on the Pilot Expedition
Check dates for Canada 2010, or sign up now!
Flights
It is best to fly to Vancouver City and you can fly direct from most UK international airports. You can also fly to Seattle USA, which may be cheaper and is a 4 hour drive from Vancouver City.
All participants are responsible for booking their own flights / transport to the start point of the expedition. The start of the expedition is Vancouver City. We will confirm the exact time nearer the start date. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance.
The start date of your expedition is listed on the web site, or just call us! S2Si staff aim to meet you at the arrival airport in their polo shirts. We will collect you at no additional cost if you arrive up to one day before the start of the expedition, however you will be responsible for any extra accommodation or food you require before the expedition starts.
Do not forget to send us your personal flight details, call us if you have any questions or need any advice.