Yukon Family Adventure > Detailed Itinerary

 


This family-friendly 7-day experience is designed for those who enjoy really getting to know a place well, and would rather not spend half of their vacation traveling by vehicle. On this adventure you will get a chance to sea kayak, raft, canoe, hike, fish, and yes, even time to relax! We will set up a comfortable base-camp on the shores of stunning Kusawa Lake, a forty-mile long mountain-lined lake that is known for its physical beauty, cold deep waters, excellent fishing and fantastic hiking.


Note: All meals included in this itinerary are listed as: ( B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner )

 

 

Day 0: WHITEHORSE, YUKON

Hopefully you enjoyed your travels and have arrived safely in Whitehorse, the capital city, nestled among the wilderness.
Please arrive in Whitehorse in time for an orientation meeting at 8:30 pm the night before our departure. Guests are responsible for accommodation and meals while in Whitehorse. Whitehorse is a splendid little city and we recommend booking some additional time at either the beginning or the end of your trip to see Whitehorse.  If you wish to fish on your trip but, have not had a chance to purchase a Yukon fishing license, you should do so this evening.  Your guides will let you know where they can be purchased.

Please Note:  Often our guests choose to come to the Yukon several days early, or to depart several days after their wilderness vacation.  Therefore we don't include accommodation in Whitehorse in order to provide flexibility for our guests. If you prefer, we can easily arrange your hotel accommodations in Whitehorse and add these details to your itinerary.

Day 1: ( L, D)

8:00 am – Pick up guests from their hotel in Whitehorse. Please have your breakfast (not included) finished by this time. Any unnecessary gear or luggage can be locked in our secure facility in Whitehorse before we depart. Anyone who wishes to fish during the trip and has not purchased a Yukon fishing license will be given the opportunity to do so at this time. (There will be many opportunities to fish during this trip.) After taking care of any final details we will drive a short two-hour shuttle west of Whitehorse to Kusawa Lake, where our adventure unfolds.

 

On the shores of Kusawa Lake we will set up a camp and if the lake is calm we can begin our activities with an afternoon of fishing for the lake trout or grayling that Kusawa Lake is famous for. We believe in keeping a small amount of our catch to enjoy at meal time, and releasing the rest to keep populations healthy for the future. We will enjoy a barbeque dinner on the shores of majestic Kusawa Lake, awaiting a sunset that will seem to never come, for this is the land of the midnight sun!

Day 2: Rafting Float Trip (B, L, D)

Today we will inflate our whitewater raft and head off down the Takhini River for a floating day-trip. We will paddle and drift through the Takhini River Valley letting the river carry us, as it does the glacial waters that pour out of  Kusawa Lake. There will be opportunities to fish for arctic grayling along the way, and we will have a picnic lunch over the campfire beside the river. There is one class II rapid along the route for a little excitement, but in general the day will be tranquil, as we move at a more natural pace, set by the land and flowing water.

Day 3: Day-Hike (B, L, D)

Today we will put on our sturdier boots, fill our day-packs with everything we need to enjoy a hike in the surrounding mountains. There is an option to stay in the alpine over night, returning to camp the next day. This overnight option is only recommended for children twelve years of age and over and guests in moderate to strong physical conditioning, due to the fact that we will have to carry loaded pack-backs in order to stay out for the night comfortably.

 

Day 4: Sea Kayaking (B, L, D)

Today we will put on our paddling gear and after introductory lessons on the basics of sea kayaking, we will head off on a paddling tour to the inflow of the Primrose River, as it tumbles down from the mountains, bringing with its cold glacial water. We may be lucky and see eagles as we enjoy a hot lunch over the fire at the mouth of the river and fish for grayling and trout. Don’t worry, we have doubles kayaks that will allow adults to take a younger child with them, and based on skill levels, we can bring our support Zodiac along for the day to ensure that everyone is safe and comfortable.

Day 5: Flex Day: A day to rest or a day to fly! (B, L, D)

Today the theme is rest and relaxation. After a lazy start to morning and a late lingering breakfast, we will begin our day of rest. From the comfort of our wilderness camp we will do things like drink coffee, read books from the library, tinker around camp or make a traditional craft near the fire. After the rigors of the morning we will play a game of cards, or perhaps even drift away into peaceful dreams of a wilderness nap, with the sound of waves lapping on shore. The day is yours and your guide will help you enjoy it however you wish.

 

OR………

 

For an additional charge, today could also be a day to fly above the glacial fields of Kluane National Park, the largest sub-polar ice fields in the world. After breakfast we will boat back to the put-in, transfer to our vehicle and drive approximately 1.5 hours to the town of Haines Junction, at the doorstep of Kluane National Park. At the local airport we will meet our pilot who will fly us deep into the Kluane backcountry for a glacier-viewing flight. Our one-hour-and-fifteen-minute flight will see us soaring among 15,000 ft peaks, gliding over glaciers the size of cities and skimming across azure-coloured glacial lakes. You will get a very up-close vista of the largest non-polar ice field in the world! After our flight ends, we will go to Kluane National Park Visitor Centre, have a picnic lunch, stop at the local bakery for a treat, and by late afternoon we will be on our way back to Kusawa Lake , to our wilderness camp.

* contact Cabin Fever Adventures for pricing as it will be dependent on the number of participants and the flight option chosen.

Day 6: River Canoe Trip (B, L, D)

Today we will go for a river canoe trip. By now your guide has taught you the basics of canoeing around camp, and today we will challenge ourselves with moving water on the Takini River. After a refresher of our skills, we will head down the river, practicing how to maneuver our boats in the gentle current of the river. A picnic lunch along the way will keep our energy and spirits high. Don’t worry parents, younger children can travel in the canoe with the guide, where they don’t need to paddle at all, if they are little.

Day 7: Kennel Tour (B, L)

Today after breakfast it will be time to pull down our wilderness camp and pack up. Kusawa Lake is beautiful so it will be sad to go! On the way home we will stop for a kennel tour at Muktuk Kennels, where you will get a chance to meet more than 100 fun-loving Alaskan huskies and Frank Turner, legendary Yukon musher and racer. After the kennel tour is completed we will have only a short drive into Whitehorse for the completion of our itinerary by around d 4:30 pm.

Dinner and hotel not included

 

Please Note:  This trip operates in an expedition format and due to the variables of weather, and the needs and safety of the participants, Cabin Fever Adventures can not guarantee that the itinerary will proceed as listed above.  The itinerary may be modified at the discretion of the guide.


Cabin Fever Adventures expressly suggests that participants book at least one additional day in the Yukon at the end of their trip to avoid problems associated with delays such as, but not limited to:

Cabin Fever Adventures can not be held responsible for any expenses you may incur associated with delays of our wilderness trips.  Delays could be several days in length under severe circumstances.


What if this itinerary doesn’t quite fit your needs?  Cabin Fever Adventures is more than willing to modify an itinerary to fit your needs. We can:

 

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