About the Expeditions
We take tremendous pride in our attention to detail to ensure that our guests have the finest possible experience - our commitment to safety and comfort, our superb and highly skilled professional guides, and our gourmet meal selection, are what makes all the difference between a good trip and a great one!
Handcrafted itineraries
Each of our trips has been carefully crafted to capture the best of a particular destination. This means timing trip departures so as to correspond with optimal wildlife abundance and with the best weather, travelling at an appropriate pace, choosing the ideal campsites, and simply knowing those hidden, off-the-beaten-path places that make for an exceptional journey. Whether in the field or at our Alberta home office, we are experts in the art of itinerary design. Leave the logistics to us and be confident in the knowledge that a great deal of thought and 22 years of experience have gone into planning every adventure.
Getting you ready for adventure
As a company of dedicated travellers, we love sharing insights gained from our own adventures. We are always ready to help you decide which trip is right for you and how best to get prepared. Then, well before you leave, you'll receive detailed pre-departure information for your trip, including equipment lists, medical information, and specifics on everything from visas to photography. We also include reading lists to fire up your imagination for the journey ahead.
Finally, we oversee all of your arrangements, including air travel and trip extensions, from your first discussions with us until you're safely home again. So you can focus on enjoying your trip and leave the legwork to us.
Travelling safely
Your safety on our expeditions is our prime concern. With this in mind, we provide you with highly competent guides and quality equipment. Our guides are trained in emergency wilderness first aid and have special knowledge of the trip's environment. While your guides will make all final decisions, everyone has an integral role in contributing to the group safety by listening carefully to instructions given by the guides. Once you sign up on a trip, you will be in good hands every step of the way - from the pre-trip preparations until your safe return home.
Who travels with us?
Our typical group sizes range from 8 to 10 participants, small groups presenting a wonderfully diverse mixture of people. Active and enthusiastic travellers, our trip guests consist of singles and couples from all walks of life. All share a vibrant curiosity about our world, a love of the outdoors and delight in the pleasures of exploration and discovery.
Why group travel?
Travel to remote wilderness areas with seasoned wildlife biologists can open up new dimensions of learning and enjoying an area: planning such a trip on your own can become expensive and a full-time job. By letting us take care of the details, all you have to do is get packed, make the plane, and enjoy! You will make new friends, learn from expert guides and experience new wilderness areas in an in-depth, intimate manner that would be difficult or unlikely to duplicate on your own.
What experience do you need for sea kayaking?
The main consideration for our trips is that the participant enjoys living in the outdoors, likes camping and comes prepared for whatever weather comes our way. Our sea kayaking expeditions utilize two person kayaks. These kayaks are remarkably stable and seaworthy craft which are especially designed for expeditionary travel in ocean environments. There is no established requirement in terms of a specific level of prior kayaking experience for these trips. Each expedition begins with a comprehensive introduction from your guides. During this orientation, the guides review equipment, safety measures and rules, demonstrate paddling strokes and discuss rescue procedures. After this introduction, we find that people who are adequately prepared are able to adapt to the paddling skills required. Nevertheless, the individual and collective success of our expeditions depends upon each applicant assessing his or her own abilities in deciding whether participation in any given trip is appropriate.
What's involved in the kayaking trips?
Our trips are, to varying degrees, inherently exploratory in nature, requiring from participants a sense of group unity and a willingness to overcome the unexpected. On most days - travelling conditions permitting - we will break camp and move on to a new site and this means that one can expect to hike or paddle a number of hours between camps. The guides will do all the food preparation unless persons particularly wish to be involved; however, camp chores such as dish washing are tasks shared by the whole group. After initial instruction, all persons will be responsible for erecting and maintaining their own tents and working as a team to launch and beach the kayaks. Furthermore, the expedition always travels as a group and although most activities are partaken by the entire group, there is ample time for each individual to enjoy a substantial amount of personal space if they so desire.
Most of our expeditions are rated as "moderately demanding." This means that each participant must expect the possibility of paddling or hiking for sustained periods of time (some 3 to 5 hours per day on average, although this time may vary depending upon conditions). Although our intention is not to travel during rough weather, we cannot guarantee that we will not encounter changes in conditions while travelling. All participants must be prepared for adversities such as strong winds and temperature fluctuations; accordingly, each person must insure that he or she is personally prepared and equipped to meet these challenges.
What's included in the trip price?
Trip prices include all air charter flights, all group equipment such as tents, kayaks, paddles and lifejackets, all meals while out in the field, two fully qualified expedition guides, a camp library, repair kit, first aid supplies, and communication equipment.
Eating well
The success of a trip can depend as much on the food as on the scenery. On our adventures we put a lot of effort into making sure that you are well fed. We strive to offer camp meals which are healthy, filling, and delicious. You'll be amazed at the creativity and skill of our wilderness gourmet guides.
Travelling responsibly
Over the past 25 years we have been successfully guiding active wilderness adventures; our aim has been to educate and connect people to nature and the outdoors through natural history based expeditions.
Whitney & Smith Legendary Expeditions/ Explorers' Corner diligently promotes cultural preservation and environmental awareness from our pre-departure information to our practices in the field. As our guests explore the wonders of our world, we hope to help everyone gain new insights and perspectives on other cultures and environments as well as our own and foster a sense of our interconnectedness.