Temagami, Ontario Canoe Trip | Fly-In Wilderness Experience
A Thoughtfully Curated Canadian Wilderness Journey.
Canoe through the deep lakes and old-growth forests of Temagami with expert guides and bush plane access to remote waterways. A classic northern lodge with restorative sauna completes this fully supported wilderness experience.
From CAD $2,740 + tax. Aug 9–14 departure — limited spots remaining.
Location:
Temagami, Ontario
Duration:
5 nights/6 days
Accommodation:
Backcountry lodge and camping
When:
July – September
(best weather, no bugs)
Activity Level:
3 out of 5
Active
Make it Private
Discover the Canoeing Mecca of Temagami, Ontario
When it comes to canoe trips in Ontario, Algonquin Park is what first comes to mind. But venture just a little farther north and the crowds fall away, the trees get bigger, the lakes get deeper and the Canadian Shield gets bolder.
karibu helps you experience this pristine wilderness through a thoughtfully curated, fully supported canoe journey, blending remote access with expert guiding, and the comforts of a classic northern lodge.
Who this is for:
This experience is ideal for active travellers who enjoy nature, value thoughtful planning, and want to experience the beauty of the Canadian wilderness without managing complex logistics themselves. It’s well suited to couples, friends, families and solo travellers. No prior backcountry experience is required.
Temagami – The Jewel of Northern Ontario
The Temagami Wilderness is a vast 12,000 sq km area of mostly wild, unmanaged land in northeastern Ontario, making it one of Canada’s most significant remaining wilderness regions and one of the finest places to experience true wilderness travel by canoe.
Temagami boasts nearly 5,000 km of paddling routes — triple that of Algonquin Park to the south. Highlights include Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park at its northern end and the Chiniguchi Waterway to the southwest. Wolf Lake is a particular favourite, home to quartzite cliffs and one of the largest remaining ancient red pine stands, now critically endangered, representing just 1.2% of their original range. The Friends of Temagami, a volunteer group with a mission to preserve and protect the area, does great work helping to maintain campsites across dozens of provincial parks and conservation areas.
Excellent guided canoe trip to Temagami wilderness!!
“This was a canoe trip to remember. Karibu meticulously organized a trip down to the last details including a unique Bush Plane trip and providing excellent canoe guides who cooked up fabulous meals.The nights before and after the canoeing trip at the lodge were absolutely lovely complete with sauna and stunning home cooked meals.I would highly recommend karibu if you are looking for a fantastic canoeing experience in the Canadian wilderness!!”
– Patrick D
Canoe camping at its best for a short trip
“I loved this trip! It was my first time in Temagami, and I was blown away by its beauty (especially the big pine trees and majestic rocky islands and cliffs). Our guides were outstanding, food was delicious and all sites were so magical.The hydro-plane transport is very special. The welcome at the Lodge was warm, sauna was steamy hot, and big dinners and brunches so delicious I could not stop eating!! I would do it again and I recommend it.”
– Elizabeth L
Temagami Fly-In Canoe Journey
Day 1
Arrival, Lodge Welcome & Sauna
Your journey begins with a scenic boat transfer to a classic backcountry lodge, your base for the first night.
Settle in with appetizers by the water, unwind in the cedar sauna, and enjoy a welcoming, home-cooked dinner at the lodge’s communal table. It’s a relaxed introduction to Temagami’s rhythm – and a chance to connect with your fellow travellers.
DAY 2
Bush Plane & First Wilderness Camp
After breakfast at the lodge, board a classic Canadian Beaver bush plane for a flight north into remote backcountry.
Touching down on quiet water, you’ll begin paddling south through the Chiniguchi Waterway toward your first wilderness campsite — a secluded stretch of sandy beach framed by red pine forest.
Your guides handle camp setup and meals, allowing you to settle into life on the water.
DAY 3
Wolf Lake & Ancient Red Pines
Today’s route takes you through a series of lakes and short portages to Wolf Lake, one of Temagami’s most remarkable landscapes.
Here, turquoise water meets pale granite and quartzite cliffs, and towering ancient red pines — among the last of their kind — line the shoreline.
DAY 4
Paradise Lagoon & Wilderness Exploration
This morning brings one of the journey’s most memorable stops: Paradise Lagoon, where clear water spills over a 30-foot waterfall into a natural swimming pool.
Later, you’ll continue paddling through quiet lakes and rocky shoreline, with the opportunity to view ancient pictographs at Matagamasi Lake.
Evening camp is set in a sheltered, scenic setting beneath the northern sky.
DAY 5
The Rock Garden, Return to the Lodge & Farewell Dinner
Your final day on the water leads through the Rock Garden — a network of narrow channels, waterfalls, and sculpted stone formations — an ideal place to pause for lunch and reflection.
From here, you’ll paddle back toward the lodge, completing your wilderness traverse.
Back at the lodge, enjoy a hot shower, sauna, and a celebratory farewell dinner.
DAY 6
Departure Morning
After a leisurely breakfast, take time for a short nature walk or one final sauna before departing.
You’ll leave Temagami refreshed, connected, and carrying the memories of a rare journey through one of Ontario’s most remarkable wilderness regions.
Explore Canada’s unparalleled backcountry this summer. Spaces limited!
Accommodations
Guests spend the first and final nights of the journey at a classic backcountry lodge, originally established as a logging camp and later restored as a northern hunting and fishing lodge. Today, it offers simple comfort, character, and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
The lodge features private log cabins sleeping two to five guests, modern shared bathrooms, a welcoming Great Room with a fireplace, and a hand-built cedar sauna with a wood-burning stove.
For the remaining three nights, you’ll stay at carefully selected wilderness campsites along the route. These secluded lakeside sites offer beautiful views and quiet surroundings and are maintained by Friends of Temagami, a grassroots conservation organization that helps care for campsites across the region.
Accommodations throughout the journey are clean, comfortable, and well-suited to traditional Canadian wilderness travel.
What's Included
We encourage guests to bring their own sleeping bags and sleeping pads. These can be provided if needed.
Not included: Alcohol, gratuities, and Sudbury airport transfers.
Getting There
The meeting point for our Temagami trip is approximately 430 km north of Toronto (a 5-hour drive) and 87 km northeast of Sudbury (1.15 hours by car). The closest town is Hagar, Ontario. A taxi pick-up can be arranged for an additional fee for those flying into Sudbury. Detailed driving instructions are provided upon booking. Please email info@karibuadventures.com or check our FAQs for more information.
Travel Insurance
Medical travel insurance is required for non-Canadian residents to participate in our tour. Your insurance plan should include full medical coverage, emergency evacuation and emergency repatriation. Travel interruption insurance is highly recommended.
Activity Level
We paddle 50 km over 3.5 days, or an average of 15 km a day. Portages are short, ranging from 100 to 500 metres.
Participants should be moderately fit and comfortable canoeing for 2–3 hours at a stretch (with breaks and lunch) and 5–6 hours a day, as well as portaging equipment. The guides carry the canoes (unless you like carrying canoes — some guests do!). No prior paddling experience is required. Appropriate for kids 12+.
Check out our Canoeing the Backcountry blog for tips and tricks.
From The Wild Life Blog
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this Temagami journey different from a standard Ontario canoe trip?
Most Ontario canoe trips begin at road-access put-ins and follow well-travelled routes that guests often organize themselves.
This journey is designed differently.
You’ll begin and end at a classic backcountry lodge, then travel by bush plane into remote wilderness — more than 50 kilometres from the nearest road — before paddling south through quiet lakes and forests.
Throughout the trip, professional guides manage navigation, camp setup, meals, safety, and logistics. All major equipment and transportation are included.
The result is a deeper, more seamless wilderness experience — without the complexity of planning and managing it yourself.
Where is the Temagami Wilderness Area located?
The Temagami Wilderness Area is a vast 15,000 sq km area encompassing 16 provincial parks and 26 conservation reserves in northeastern Ontario. Its boundaries are loosely defined by the town of Sudbury to the southwest, the town of North Bay to the southeast, the Ottawa River to the east, the Montreal River and the hamlet of Matchewan to the north, and the Wanipitei River to the west.
Which parts of Temagami are included in this canoe journey?
How do I get to the starting point?
The pickup point is 430 km north of Toronto and 90 km east of Sudbury. You can either drive, or if you fly into Sudbury, karibu can arrange a taxi pickup. Detailed driving instructions are included in your booking confirmation.
What is the sleeping arrangement at the lodge?
We have cabins that sleep 2–6 people. We have cabins for couples and families. Single guests are generally grouped together; i.e., three women in one cabin. If it sounds like adult summer camp, that’s because it is a bit.
What camping and canoe equipment do you provide?
We provide tents, paddles and Personal Flotation Devices. We recommend people bring their own sleeping bag (three season) and Therm-A-Rest/sleeping pad whenever possible. If you don’t have a sleeping bag or pad, one can be provided.
We recommend bringing a 30-litre dry bag for storing your personal effects.
A full packing list is provided with your booking confirmation.
What should I expect in terms of insects (mosquitoes and black flies)?
No. The majority of bugs are gone by late July/early August. It’s always good to have some bug juice on hand in case of a few holdovers, but it’s relatively bug-free.
Do I need to know how to swim?
It’s always better to feel comfortable in the water; however, you do not need to know how to swim. Every guest is given a life jacket, and we have two trained guides on all trips. Ultimately, it depends on your comfort level.
How challenging are the portages?
What are the different options for payment?
What is the typical weather in Temagami?
The days can be pretty warm, hovering between 20–25C and then dipping to about 13C at night.
Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, no. While we are dog lovers, not everyone is, and managing a dog on a canoe trip can be challenging. For more information about dogs on canoe trips, please read our blog: Should You Bring Your Dog Canoeing This Summer.
Is this trip good for families? Is there a recommended minimum age?
The great thing about our Temagami canoe trip is that kids, parents and grandparents can share that special summer experience of being out on the lake and communing around the campfire. Recommended for kids 12+.
Is alcohol included?
karibu does not provide alcohol on the trip. However, you are welcome to bring your own. We find guests enjoy having a beer or glass of wine with their apps on the dock or after the sauna, so please BYOB! If you like wine, we recommend bringing boxed wine as it is lighter and non-breakable, ideal for moving while on trip.
What type and size of canoes are used?
We generally use three-man Swift canoes. It helps distribute the paddling among guests, the canoes are faster, and they allow us to portage more easily. Two-man canoes are available for those who expressly want one and if it works logistically with group numbers and bush plane drop-off.
What are the bathroom facilities in the wilderness?
Is Sudbury airport transportation available?
What footwear should I bring?
What is the recommended gratuity for guides?
Do I need travel insurance for this trip?
Secure your spot on this one-of-a-kind travel adventure. Spaces limited!
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