Adventure tour companies have plenty of adventure tours to offer when it comes to Canada. From kayaking to climbing, heli-skiing and just plain ol' hiking, Canada's natural, complex landscape is a draw for adventure seekers worldwide.
Here are some of the more popular adventure tour companies, most of which are Canada-based, and all boasting exceptional reputations.
Here are some of the more popular adventure tour companies, most of which are Canada-based, and all boasting exceptional reputations.
1. Black Feather Wilderness Adventure Company
Photo courtesy Black Feather Wilderness Adventure
Since 1971, Black Feather has been offering a range of adventure tours, including Nahanni river adventures, kayaking trips in Ontario and the Canadian Arctic, trekking in Baffin Island and dog sledding and cross-country country winter adventures.
Black Feather offers trips for women only, families and other customized excursions.
Black Feather offers trips for women only, families and other customized excursions.
2. Butterfield & Robinson
Photo courtesy Butterfield & Robinson
A Canadian-based company that is famous worldwide for the quality of its journeys, Butterfield & Robinson offers a range of adventure tours in British Columbia, Quebec and Newfoundland. Butterfield & Robinson is a well established company that specializes in biking and walking tours, including tours with kids.
3. Call of the Wild
Since 1993, Call of the Wild has been showing visitors a wilder side of Algonquin Park, which is a three hour drive from Toronto. Dogsledding, canoeing and snowmobiling are this company's specialty.
4. Canadian Mountain Holidays
Specializing in heli-skiing and heli-hiking, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) has a history of guiding visitors through the mountains of western Canada since the 1950s. CMH offers a variety of packages including those for families and girlfriend getaways. Home base for all the heli-ski adventures are at one of CMH's 12 luxury lodges.
5. CapeRace Cultural Adventures
Photo courtesy CapeRace Cultural Adventures
CapeRace is a tour company for people who generally don't prefer tours, but instead want to discover a location more authentically on their own. Participants are given keys for local accommodation, a car and a custom itinerary, with recommended pubs, nature activities and more to ensure visitors immerse themselves as naturally as possible in their new environment.
This brand of outdoorsy, soft adventure brings Newfoundland’s rich history, performing arts, and pristine wilderness together to create what CapeRace calls an "Eco-Culture Experience"™.
This brand of outdoorsy, soft adventure brings Newfoundland’s rich history, performing arts, and pristine wilderness together to create what CapeRace calls an "Eco-Culture Experience"™.
6. Cruise North Expeditions
Photo by Stephen Gorman / Cruise North Expeditions
Owned and operated by and for the Inuit of the region in which it operates, Cruise North Expeditions prides itself on cultural preservation, community investment and environmental commitment.
The vessels travel to islands in Canada’s Arctic, including sites virtually untouched for thousands of years, and those where visitors will see the almost prehistoric-looking muskox, polar bears, white beluga whales, walrus colonies and other marine mammals are common sights aboard our expeditions.
On ship and ashore passengers are greeted by Inuit hosts and visit communities where residents still live traditional lives by harvesting from the land and speaking the Inuit language of Inuktitut.
The vessels travel to islands in Canada’s Arctic, including sites virtually untouched for thousands of years, and those where visitors will see the almost prehistoric-looking muskox, polar bears, white beluga whales, walrus colonies and other marine mammals are common sights aboard our expeditions.
On ship and ashore passengers are greeted by Inuit hosts and visit communities where residents still live traditional lives by harvesting from the land and speaking the Inuit language of Inuktitut.
7. Footloose Tours
Footloose specializes in small-group adventures in the Rockies, Maritimes and Canadian Arctic that take its participants off the beaten path. Tours range in degree of "luxury," from camping to lodging accommodation. Footloose also offers special tours geared towards families.
8. Freewheeling Adventures
Since 1987, Freewheeling Adventures has been offering guided to partially guided to supported bike, sea kayak and walking tours worldwide. Canadian destinations focus on Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and other Maritime destinations as well as the Rockies.
9. G.A.P Adventure Tours
G.A.P is one of the biggest adventure outfitters in the world known for the scope of its operation and the affordability of its tours. In Canada, G.A.P offers hiking and kayaking adventures in the Rockies, Vancouver Island and Quebec.
10. Maple Leaf Adventures
Maple Leaf Adventures has been offering natural and cultural history cruises aboard a classic tall ship since 1986. The multi-day excursions offer guests the chance to explore some of British Columbia's and Alaska's most beautiful and secluded coastlines and islands, led by expert naturalists, historians, crew and chef.
11. Nahanni River Adventures
Since 1972, Nahanni River Adventures has been taking people on what is for many a once-in-a-lifetime paddle down scenic mountain, arctic and alpine rivers in Canada's Northwest Territories.
12. Ocean Quest Adventures
Photo © Ocean Quest Adventures
Ocean Quest Adventures offers marine tours, whale watching excursions, scuba diving lessons, kayak rentals, and more.
Choose from tours ranging from a couple of hours, or, even better, experience some of Newfoundland's famous hospitality and treat yourself to an extended package that includes accommodation.













