Reviews of Nahanni Wilderness Adventures (Travel Agency)

Doug Hunter

Fabulous experience with Nahanni Wilderness Adventures with guides Luke Hibbard and Tim Ross. Great experience guiding us through very challenging rapids in the Moose Ponds section as well as the rest of the awesome 562 km of the Nahanni. Wonderful gourmet meals, Luke and TIm were very friendly, always smiling, great senses of humour. Highly recommend NWA to others looking to do the Nahanni.

Kerri Blair

Nahanni Wilderness Adventures is made up of an incredible team of individuals. Their ability to create for their guests an experience that is a perfect blend of adventure and comfort verges on magical. They offer a wealth of experience, skill and knowledge that ranges from the logistical and technical to the culinary and inspirational. All of this knowledge and experience nurtures a quiet confidence with which they go about their work; and, in turn, their guests are made to feel confident and capable as adventurers. Somehow, despite (or perhaps because of) their years spent on the Nahanni, the NWA guides have not lost their reverence for the natural world or their appreciation for the value of wilderness,. Though our trip was one in a series that has spanned decades for our hosts, they (Dave, Wendy, Luke and Tim) seemed always to understand and honor the fact that, for us, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our trip with Nahanni Wild vastly exceeded our expectations. We cannot recommend them highly enough to anyone wishing to experience first-rate adventure amidst the exquisite beauty of a relatively untouched corner of our shrinking planet.

Megan Devlin

Had an incredible experience paddling the Keele River with Nahanni Wild. It was the trip of a lifetime experiencing the wilderness and beauty of Canada's remote NWT. Our guide was excellent, making the trip both smooth and safe. As someone with little whitewater experience, I learned new skills and never felt in danger. In addition to the unforgettable scenery and wildlife, the food and gear were both top notch. (Seriously, the things that came out of that dutch oven...Delicious) I highly recommend Nahanni Wild if you are looking for the adventure of a lifetime.

Sahtu Adventures Inc.

Nahanni Wild was great to work with, they are very knowledgeable in there respected tourism products. It was a pleasure shuttling them with our boats and to see how well they take care of there clients, as we transported them back to Norman Wells

Joseph Homsy

It’s not often I will go out of my way to leave a detailed review of a business; however, Nahanni Wild had a profound impact on how I think a company should conduct business. My experience with Nahanni Wild began from a friendship made in 2013 with their oldest son, Joel Hibbard. Since then I’ve gotten to know the Hibbard family, their business, and their influence on Nahanni National Park. They have long history of guiding on the Nahanni River, a deep understanding of the area, and strong relationships with it’s communities. They provided me with an unforgettable experience on the Nahanni River, which exceeded my expectations. From a surprise birthday cake on the river, to gifting me books, to sharing priceless wilderness skills, their thoughtfulness and consideration for my experience tied an already profound experience together. Above all, they prioritize conservation and people over business. Thanks guys for an incredible experience!

Ben Tuyp

I was lucky enough to be able to do business with Nahanni Wilderness Adventures this summer when renting their gear for a self-guided trip down the river. They provided an excellent 17' prospector and spray skirts as well as all the ancillary gear required to outfit myself and my partner for 16 days--the price was right and the gear was top notch and in superb condition. Their locations at Fort Simpson and Blackstone Park meant that obtaining and returning the gear using both locations was a breeze. However, David and Wendy went well above simply renting gear--their love of the park and spirit of generosity led them to assist me in arranging charter flights and troubleshooting my trip plan when I encountered difficulties. David was always keen to provide advice about the river whenever we chatted via phone (his 29 years of guiding experience there means he has plenty to give!), and it was a pleasure to be able to meet and visit with him in person on the Nahanni when we surprisedly ran into him and his group along the way. It is heartwarming to see this family-run business working so hard to protect and share the Nahanni River with everyone intrepid enough to visit it!

Nancy Henderson

“Good things come in small packages” and “small is beautiful” are common adages. Both hold true in the case of my recent paddle with Nahanni Wild down the Broken Skull River in the NWT. The Hibbards, owners and operators of Nahanni Wild are a small and incredibly tight family. Each member has their own unique strengths and together they have carved a special niche into the northern landscape. Their shared love of wild and remote places coupled with their incredible work ethic is evident in every aspect of the planning and execution of their trips. Communication, organization, quality of meals, regard for safety and expertise of guides are big things when choosing a company that plans and guides expeditions. Nahanni Wild gets top marks for all of these. However, it’s the many small considerations that raised the bar for me, and made the trip truly exceptional. Creativity and thoughtfulness comes in many forms be it the ritual passing of the the Burt’s Bees hand salve at the water’s edge each morning, the “spa bag” one takes along to the loo, a toilet design befitting Queen or King, the clever, simple and effective wash station, a carefully crafted cookbook, (a hands down best seller should it ever be published), knot tying tutorials, family stories, sharing the Dene and Dehcho culture and history, a well stocked library that celebrates not just northern natural history, but it’s poetry and indigenous authors, early morning Bailey’s coffee passed through one’s tent flap....the list is endless. One recognizes the warm Hibbard sense of humour and far ranging curiosity is inextricably embedded in many of these seemingly small but meaningful endeavours. Small as northern rivers go, the Broken Skull River might be considered relatively short compared to the larger and longer northern rivers like the Thelon and the Coppermine. It’s a slender, often shallow mountain river that twists and turns playfully down through a riveting landscape, home to a jaw dropping large and diverse amount of wildlife. Small and fast. Crystal clear. And so, so much fun. Small too were the number of bugs. Small is the amount of time over a lifetime that most of us have to plan and take part in expeditions to remote, wild places. It’s important to choose well, both in destination, and those with whom we travel. One thing is for certain. If you do decide to trip the light fantastic down the Broken Skull with Nahanni Wild, the number of stories and memories to treasure at the journey’s end will be anything but small. #new

Kathryn Twyman

Awesome experience with NWA! Wendy as incredibly friendly and knowledgeable in answering all of our questions! NWA provided excellent support for the self-guided trip of our small group, providing all the rental equipment required and advice on gear (including all details, such as fuel for our stoves). They were also able to take care of the complete logistics, arranging and booking transportation (including flights from/to Yellowknife, float plane access to the Nahanni national park, and road shuttle pick-ups).

Jacob knight

Rent from someone else Canoes are in rough condition as are the spray skirts. Not sure it's the safest option for a trip of this size. They also tried to charge me an additional cleaning fee even after we spent 45Min cleaning all the gear ourselves after our trip. Really disappointed.

Leah Jean Travis

The August ’17 rafting trip weather was glorious and sun-drenched but the riffles still churned the water white. The river can be demanding but under your guidance and care, we had nothing to fear from this fabulous, wild and implacable place which you know so well. We loved it and love it still. It haunts the mind and enthralls the heart. Thank you for an experience we will never forget - and a special thank you to Wendy for her gracious welcome and care at trip’s end.

Christopher Lepa

For over 30 years I dreamed about paddling down the Little and South Nahanni Rivers and this past July I and eight other individuals embarked on a 3 week self-guided adventure to canoe in one of the most beautiful places on earth. None of this would have been possible without the excellent logistical support of Nahanni Wilderness Adventures. It wasn't only the transportation and gear provided, but the little personal touches that made it great. The Hibbard's are easy going people aiming to please and catered to all the groups needs, big or small. Whether it was tailoring the itinerary for the two day drive from Fort Nelson to the Flat Lakes, or arranging to get us back on track on the South Nahanni after some hard times on the Little Nahanni, they worked really hard to ensure that our trip was a success. Their experience in the North was quite evident and, when I return to finish what I started on the Little Nahanni, I look forward to working with the Hibbard's once again to make it all happen!

Larry Keen

Fab joint 60th birthday experience, a great wakeup call for the boys. Guides were very knowledgeable, entertaining and excellent cooks. Spectacular scenery although fewer wildlife than expected. Even got to see the northern lights! Special thanks to Guides Rachel & Liam! Magic.

Sheila Patterson

We are just returned from a classic 12 day canoe trip from Virginia Falls on down through the stunning wilderness river that is the Nahanni We felt privileged to be there. Novice canoeists were we, gasp! Really! we have never canoed in our 60s and tho fittish had zero experience with whitewater. NWA coached us all the way. Our safety was paramount and we always felt supported and confident. The guiding was superb. Excellent leadership. And the food... well there were times when we were wet and we were dry and cold and we were hot all in one day. These extremes engendered an appetite! NWA are amazing food providers. Campfire Nanaimo bars?!?, fresh Dutch oven bread? Glory bowls riverside for lunch? Chicken pot pie how is this possible on a 12 day river trip!?! Anazing! Did I mention really good coffee in the morning Thank you NWA!