About the Experience
Your five day adventure begins at Snug Harbour on iconic Georgian Bay! There will be a private boat shuttle to our secret island which will serve as our basecamp for four nights. This beloved region is full of panoramas, bird life and quintessential Canadian landscape. The dramatic east side of Georgian Bay is home to the world’s largest freshwater archipelago and is a designated UNESCO site. The UNESCO Georgian Bay Biosphere consists of more than 30,000 islands that create puzzle-piece channels, sheltered inlets and deep lagoons to explore. It’s designed for the slow and serene pace of a kayak!
To add extra flavour, we’ll be joined by Chef Laurie Tester, an enormously talented, classically-trained chef. Born on the east coast of Canada, she studied in both Canada and France. Her specialties are endless, especially when it comes to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free cooking. Push aside any notion of traditional camping fare like a tin of beans and wieners for dinner! The food prepared by Chef Laurie will be as fresh as the Georgian Bay breeze and plentiful!
As an integral part of this all-natural, wild culinary experience, you will be treated to carefully curated meals created with your dietary needs at the forefront. The opportunity to cook outdoors for five days with the open-kitchen backdrop of Georgian Bay in the company of Wild Women is a true bucket list item for Chef Laurie.
On this trip, our guides Heather and Joedy, will take care of all of our needs on land and water–from the fully-equipped campsite to the kayak cockpit. Both women are skilled Paddle Canada instructors.
Heather is also a yoga instructor and each day will begin with a yawn-and-stretch yoga class before breakfast. After leisurely breakfasts and second cups of coffee our days will be spent out on the water. Depending on the group’s collective experience and confidence, we can head out for a paddle to explore another nearby island or stay closer to learn and trial new skills.
If we experience a day when the weather doesn’t cooperate (this is Georgian Bay afterall and Mother Nature often has her own agenda), we can learn how to make our own mala necklaces under Heather and Joedy’s artistic guidance. Heather is also a watercolour painter and practices meditation. If you’re intrigued, she can help you discover a meditation that may resonate with you. There will also be an opportunity to learn the fluid nature of watercolour and create your own truly indelible memory of the area.
This is a unique and intimate opportunity to combine kayaking and camping with outdoor yoga, meditation and creative workshops deeply steeped in nature. Let’s not forget the gourmand menu! If you’re seeking a rejuvenating, revitalizing experience with a few artsy forays, this is it.
About the Experience
Your five day adventure begins at Snug Harbour on iconic Georgian Bay! There will be a private boat shuttle to our secret island which will serve as our basecamp for four nights. This beloved region is full of panoramas, bird life and quintessential Canadian landscape. The dramatic east side of Georgian Bay is home to the world’s largest freshwater archipelago and is a designated UNESCO site. The UNESCO Georgian Bay Biosphere consists of more than 30,000 islands that create puzzle-piece channels, sheltered inlets and deep lagoons to explore. It’s designed for the slow and serene pace of a kayak!
To add extra flavour, we’ll be joined by Chef Laurie Tester, an enormously talented, classically-trained chef. Born on the east coast of Canada, she studied in both Canada and France. Her specialties are endless, especially when it comes to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free cooking. Push aside any notion of traditional camping fare like a tin of beans and wieners for dinner! The food prepared by Chef Laurie will be as fresh as the Georgian Bay breeze and plentiful!
As an integral part of this all-natural, wild culinary experience, you will be treated to carefully curated meals created with your dietary needs at the forefront. The opportunity to cook outdoors for five days with the open-kitchen backdrop of Georgian Bay in the company of Wild Women is a true bucket list item for Chef Laurie.
On this trip, our guides Heather and Joedy, will take care of all of our needs on land and water–from the fully-equipped campsite to the kayak cockpit. Both women are skilled Paddle Canada instructors.
Heather is also a yoga instructor and each day will begin with a yawn-and-stretch yoga class before breakfast. After leisurely breakfasts and second cups of coffee our days will be spent out on the water. Depending on the group’s collective experience and confidence, we can head out for a paddle to explore another nearby island or stay closer to learn and trial new skills.
If we experience a day when the weather doesn’t cooperate (this is Georgian Bay afterall and Mother Nature often has her own agenda), we can learn how to make our own mala necklaces under Heather and Joedy’s artistic guidance. Heather is also a watercolour painter and practices meditation. If you’re intrigued, she can help you discover a meditation that may resonate with you. There will also be an opportunity to learn the fluid nature of watercolour and create your own truly indelible memory of the area.
This is a unique and intimate opportunity to combine kayaking and camping with outdoor yoga, meditation and creative workshops deeply steeped in nature. Let’s not forget the gourmand menu! If you’re seeking a rejuvenating, revitalizing experience with a few artsy forays, this is it.
A boat shuttle will pick our group up at Snug Harbour at 10AM. Please note that there is an additional parking fee of $10 (CAD) per day. We recommend carpooling for this reason and will create a private Facebook group for this trip to help facilitate this.
We will arrive on the island (by boat) in time for our first sumptuous meal prepared by Chef Laurie Tester and become official taste Testers! After lunch, our experienced guides, Heather and Joedy, will share everything we need to know about camp life on the island. It starts with setting up our tents! There are 2-person tents for singles and 3-person tents available for women who would like to share.
Once our camp is erected, we’ll have an introduction to water safety and get ready to experience the island by kayak.
Heather and Joedy’s unified goal is to ensure that every Wild Woman is comfortable, competent and confident in a kayak by the end of our days together. Exploring the waterways and islands around our camp is a gentle introduction to the big world and endless opportunity that paddling presents.
Tonight will be spent learning more about the onyx sky and constellations glittering above us.This peaceful, unscheduled time is perfect for meditation, chatting with new friends or snuggling up in your sleeping bag for a solid night’s sleep after a “busy” day on the water. To protect the fragile UNESCO Biosphere, a large portable campfire pit will be shuttled out with the boat so that we can enjoy the snap, crackle of a safe, forest-friendly fire together. All of the wood used is brought from the mainland to prevent unnecessary harvesting on the island. It’s a feel-good fire!
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep: Camping Tents
Each day, after salutations to the sun and a bright and filling breakfast, we’ll head out for a day of discovering and navigating the shorelines by kayak. There are endless islands where we can stop for an impromptu picnic lunch if we decide to head out on a longer day trip. We typically return to camp around 3PM so there will be ample time to relax, swim, read a few chapters or sit in on a painting class with Heather.
Georgian Bay’s time-chiselled and weather-worn rock faces, gnarly cedars and rugged isles inspired the Group of Seven for a lifetime. Heather has been painting on these islands for years too, and will share her techniques and artistic insights. A boat shuttle will bring all the supplies needed to paint our own watercolour with Heather’s guidance.
The island is also a wonderful sanctuary to explore on foot. Birders should be on high alert for pileated woodpeckers (they will always give themselves away with their maniacal laugh), cedar waxwings (they are the true bird whisperers!), red-breasted nuthatches (listen for the tinny “honk”), green herons, great crested flycatchers, American bitterns, black-and-white warblers, brilliant indigo buntings and red-shouldered hawks. Bald eagles and osprey are frequent fliers in this area as well as sandhill cranes!
Meals Included:
Day 2 – 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep:
Day 2 – 4: Camping Tents
Day 5: None
Each evening, we will wind down weary paddling muscles with a peaceful sunset yoga session, Evening practice capitalizes on all the day’s movements with lengthening stretches. We’ll work together to improve abilities and finish with a calming Vinyasa flow and meditation.
Heather will be available to help each of us develop a personal yoga practice that best suits the individual demands put on our bodies. Joedy and Heather can also help us work on particular kayaking skills and techniques. This is a pleasure trip that revolves around self-directed goals for each Wild Woman. There is no formal kayaking instruction but our guides are eager to help and coach us in any area!
Our adventure will end (sigh) mid-afternoon on Day 5. After lunch (be sure to have seconds!) we will be picked up by our boat chauffeur and returned to Snug Harbour, where we launched the trip just days before.
This “soft kayaking and camping” trip is designed to encourage future paddling trips–and thanks to Chef Laurie, this opportunity is full of flavour and watercolour memories to treasure!
Click here to see upcoming trip dates to book your spot!
You are responsible for transporting yourself either in your personal vehicle or making arrangements to carpool to the Georgian Bay kayak put-in at Snugg Harbour, just west north of Parry Sound, at the end of Hwy 559.
Arriving By Car
Snug Harbour is access off Hwy 400 taking the Hwy 559 exit just north of Parry Sound.
Drive approximately 20km to Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant and Marina where you can park your vehicle for the duration of the trip (~$10 per day) and where your group will be catching a boat shuttle to your Georgian Bay base camp.
If you are traveling to Parry Sound from out of province and choose to fly, it’s best to fly to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and either arrange to carpool with another participant driving from the Toronto area or rent a vehicle from the airport. There are also buses from downtown Toronto to Parry Sound with Ontario Northland.
Group Rendezvous Point
- Date: Day 1
- Time: 10:00AM
- Location: Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant and Marina
- Google Maps Location Link
If you would like to arrive a day early, we recommend Harmony Outdoor Inn. Enter WWE10 as the promo code for a 10% discount! Subject to availability.
For additional accommodations in Parry Sound please check here.
Once you return to the landing at Snug Harbour, you may depart in your personal vehicle, or with your carpool buddy, at your leisure.
Drop-Off Point:
- Date: Day 5
- Time: Mid-afternoon (departure after lunch)
- Location: Gilly’s Snug Harbour Restaurant and Marina
- Google Maps Location Link
If you wish to stay locally after the trip you may book post-trip nights at the Harmony Outdoor Inn. Enter WWE10 as the promo code for a 10% discount! Subject to availability.
For additional accommodations in Parry Sound please check here.
You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements.
Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:
Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel Travel Specialist
Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel
Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.
Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. For these reasons, we encourage you to consider arriving a day early, which will also help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!
- Passport
Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.
US citizens at land and sea borders have other options, such as an enhanced driver’s license, permanent resident card or NEXUS card. See Canada Border Services for approved identification documents.
- Visa
Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter Canada. Those who are exempt require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA; $7 USD), with the exception of Americans. This must be applied for prior to traveling and can be completed online. It usually takes minutes but can take days. See how to apply Electronic Travel Authorization.
Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.
There is no obligation to tip your guides, but many participants do when they feel they were provided great service. We are often asked what an appropriate amount is; most participants who provide a gratuity for their guides have each tipped in the range of 8 – 15% of the trip cost. The guides usually share a gratuity equally between them, though people may prefer to offer a separate amount to each guide.
- Rooming Arrangements
All accommodations are based on double occupancy – two women per tent. If you do not have a travel companion and prefer not to share a tent, a solo tent can be provided free of charge upon request.
- Toilet Facilities
At the campsite, there will be ‘outdoor facilities’ in the form of an ‘open air’ wooden box (we call them ‘Thunderboxes) that are placed over a dug hole.
While day tripping in your kayaks, you may need to do your business ‘in nature’ and your guides will explain the best, low impact, way to do this.
- Potable Water
During our trip we will be using the water from the lake. The water is very clean, but we still need to take precautions to make sure we are safe! While at our campsite we will hang a water purification system and let gravity push the water through a ceramic filter, providing clean water to drink and cook with. Boiling water is another effective treatment and occasionally we will bring iodine as an additional treatment option for during the day, while en route.
If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!
Outfitter Tents
Our kayak retreat will take us along the rugged shoreline of the Georgian Bay, around islands and through secret passages. After we arrive at our campsite, we will set up a kitchen area and tarp for cooking our delicious meals, and small groups of women (2 per tent) will set up their own tents. We supply high quality, 3 person tents.
Sleeping Items Required
Often referred to as the sixth Great Lake, Georgian Bay features more than 30,000 islands and 2,000 kilometres of shoreline. Georgian Bay’s beauty is serene. Windswept pines, majestic towering cliffs, endless beaches and clear blue water all create a one of a kind destination.
The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve is a globally-important region designated by UNESCO in 2004. Eastern Georgian Bay is the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, or groups of islands, that provide a variety of habitats for species at risk.
The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve is an area of 347,000 hectares that stretches 200 km along the eastern coast from Port Severn to the French River, in the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, also known as the 30,000 Islands. The unique geography and geology of the area create more than 1,000 distinct habitat types which support a variety of rare species, including plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Visitors can explore a mosaic of open waters, sheltered bays, coastal wetlands, exposed bedrock shores, sand and cobble beaches, riparian vegetation and upland forests.
The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve model aims to integrate core protected areas (such as provincial and national parks), surrounding buffer areas (mostly Crown Lands) and an outer transition area of communities that support sustainable development. The biosphere reserve does not affect existing jurisdictions but creates a forum for cooperation and operates through community partnerships.
Parry Sound has a humid continental climate highly influenced by the large Lake Huron. Summer is the warmest and the most popular time to visit Parry Sound. From early July to early September, the weather is moderately cool and cloudy during the day (15-24°C).
The sun can be very strong when out, so long sleeves, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential. Winds may become brisk as the day warms up. Morning paddles often take advantage of the early calm of fair weather days. Our guides are familiar with the local weather patterns and will choose routes between camps appropriately. We may not reach all of our intended destinations, but the journey will be wonderful all the same.
Check out Environment Canada Forecast for the most up to date forecasts:
Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.
- Currency Exchange Offices & Banks
Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter
We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.
Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.
A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.
Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense.
Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.
As this is a water-based trip where kayaking is the main activity, please notify Wild Women Expeditions if you are a non-swimmer.
This trip is suitable for beginners and the location does have fairly protected waters, however, there may be a couple of short open water crossings, depending on where the day trips take place.
It is a good idea to be in reasonably fit condition and be mentally prepared if some winds do come up. You can build up your flexibility and strength by using weights for upper body strength and Yoga poses for flexibility.
Your group will be paddling 2 – 4 hours each day but plenty of time is available to travel and see the sights, so the group will be going at a comfortable pace and enjoying the changing scenery and views.
Wild Women Expeditions recommends that in the months leading up to your adventure, you prepare yourself by walking regularly and exercising your arms – carrying items, paddling, using rowing machines etc., as well as increasing your level of fitness with cardio and/or weight training.
Getting Fit
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.
That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.
Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:
- Take every opportunity you can to be active.
You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!
- Take every opportunity you can to paddle before the trip.
Try to get out paddling or take a lesson or two with a local kayak outfitter in your neck of the woods. Even a pool session is good! This will further boost your kayaking confidence which will allow you to enjoy your trip that much more.
- Rev up your ticker!
Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.
- Join a local walking or running group.
This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.
- Warm up, cool down and stretch.
If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.
- Work on your upper body and core strength.
Weight lifting, yoga and pilates can help with this.
- Hydration.
When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
- Nutrition.
Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!
- Have fun!
The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.
Check out this website for an array of paddling exercises that will give you some ideas for building up core strength, stamina, and flexibility so that you can prepare for the course and the trip. Please let us know of any limitations with regard to lifting boats or paddling beforehand on your registration form and at the launch.
-
BOOK NOW -
Starting At$2,995Deposit$495Duration5 DAYS
- 🇨🇦CAD PRICEFOREIGN EXCHANGE FEES MAY APPLY
-
RISK FREE GUARANTEE!
Sign up now with a deposit to book your spot and it’s fully refundable for the first 7 days after your booking! This gives you a week to sort out flights, vacation time, etc… and ensure that no one else takes your spot!
What's Included
- A classically-trained chef who will prep unforgettable meals from lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 5
- Two female certified kayak guides
- Daily yoga instruction
- Private boat shuttle to and from the island site
- 4 nights accommodation in spacious 2 or 3-person tents (Thermarests and sleeping bags not included)
- High-end touring solo kayaks
- All necessary paddling gear including PFD’s, sprayskirts, paddles and required safety gear
- All necessary group camping gear
- An en plein air watercolour painting session on the island
- A mala necklace workshop with meditation