BOREAL RIVER TRIPS INC.

What BOREAL RIVER TRIPS INC. does

Boreal River Trips Inc. (DBA Boreal River Expeditions) is a privately held Canadian guided adventure travel company founded in 2008 by Danny Peled and Letha Henry, and headquartered in Ottawa with primary operations in Quebec. The company operates three wholly owned divisions: Boreal River Expeditions (guided whitewater rafting, multi-sport, and experiential education river trips), Boreal River Rescue (training in whitewater/swiftwater rescue and wilderness medicine, training 1,000+ students annually), and Ciel et Bois (a retreat venue near Ottawa). Its core product portfolio includes five distinct expedition offerings across Canada and Costa Rica — the Ottawa River Wilderness Expedition (4-day), the Mutehekau Shipu/Magpie River Expedition (9-day), the Ottawa River Experiential Education Trip (4-6 days for students), the Ottawa Kayarafting in the City program (3-day urban paddling), and the Costa Rica Sky to Sea Multisport Adventure (9-day). Trips are capped at 14-15 participants, supported by minimum 5:1 participant-to-guide ratios, with all guides certified as Wilderness First Responders and Whitewater Rescue Technicians Level III.

The company generates revenue primarily through per-person expedition fees priced in CAD for Canadian trips (e.g., $1,695 CAD for Ottawa River, $5,979 CAD for Mutehekau Shipu) and USD for international trips (approximately $4,495 USD for Costa Rica), with group pricing tiers, gear rentals, and optional gratuities providing ancillary revenue. Boreal River Rescue generates additional revenue through professional certification courses, and Ciel et Bois produces venue rental income. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via toll-free phone and website inquiry forms, with no e-commerce checkout; bookings require deposits (25% if 120+ days out, full payment otherwise). The company also operates through institutional partnerships with schools (Selwyn House School, Bishop's College School), non-profits (Tips of the Toes Foundation), and Indigenous communities (Innu communities in Ekuanitshit, Pakua Shipi, Natashquan, Unamen Shipu). Marketing relies on content marketing (blog, newsletter), organic social media (Instagram), SEO, and earned media — including the 2025 feature of founders in Robert Macfarlane's bestselling book 'Is a River Alive?' Founded in 2008, the company has no external institutional investment and operates as an independent, founder-led business that acquired Esprit Rafting's Ottawa River operations in 2025.

Name

BOREAL RIVER TRIPS INC.

Legal name

BOREAL RIVER TRIPS INC.

Website

https://expeditions.borealriver.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Boreal River Trips Inc. is a Canadian guided adventure travel company running whitewater rafting, multi-sport, and experiential education river trips in Canada and Costa Rica, serving individual adventurers, schools, therapeutic foundations, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Guided Outdoor Adventure Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Tour Operators (56152)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing Outfitters (THAAADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Guided whitewater rafting
• Wilderness river expeditions
• Experiential education programs
• Adventure travel tours
• Wilderness rescue training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Expedition Trip Fees: Revenue is generated through per-person fees charged for multi-day guided river expeditions. Pricing varies by trip (Ottawa River 4-day from $1,695 CAD/person; Mutehekau Shipu 9-day at $5,979 CAD/person; Costa Rica 9-day at approximately $4,495 USD/person). Group pricing tiers offer volume discounts. Additional revenue comes from gear rentals (sleeping bag kit $100-$125 CAD), transport add-ons, and optional guide gratuities. All pricing in CAD for Canadian trips; USD for international trips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Boreal River Expeditions operates guided multi-day whitewater rafting and multi-sport river expeditions across Canada and Costa Rica. The company runs standalone consumer river trips, structured school and youth experiential education programs, and a sister training division (Boreal River Rescue) that delivers wilderness first responder, swiftwater rescue, and ice safety certification courses. Operations span a private Ottawa River outpost, a Cantley retreat venue (Ciel et Bois), and remote expedition logistics to the Mutehekau Shipu (Magpie River) in northeastern Quebec and the Pacuare River in Costa Rica.

Product overview

Boreal River Expeditions is a multi-division outdoor adventure company offering guided whitewater rafting expeditions, experiential education programs, and adventure travel experiences. The core product portfolio includes five distinct expedition offerings: the Ottawa River Wilderness Expedition (4-day multi-sport camping), the Mutehekau Shipu (Magpie River) Expedition (9-day remote wilderness trip), the Ottawa River Experiential Education Trip (4-6 day student program), the Ottawa Kayarafting in the City program (3-day urban paddling), and the Costa Rica Sky to Sea Multisport Adventure (9-day multi-activity expedition). Supporting divisions include Boreal River Rescue (professional rescue and wilderness medicine training) and Ciel et Bois (event venue and retreat facility). The company operates across Canada and Costa Rica with operations since 2008.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ottawa River Wilderness Expedition A 4-day fully guided multi-sport wilderness expedition featuring whitewater rafting, camping, kayarafting, and hiking on the Ottawa River, with accommodation at the company's private roadless Ottawa Rivercamp. Designed for adults and youth ages 12+, with private group options for 5-25 participants. Priced from $1,695 CAD per person.
• Mutehekau Shipu (Magpie River) Expedition A 9-day guided remote wilderness river expedition in northeastern Quebec featuring world-class whitewater rafting, float plane access, and Innu cultural immersion experiences in Ekuanitshit. Capped at 14 participants on open trips and priced at $5,979 CAD per person, with float plane/helicopter flights, lodging in Ekuanitshit, six nights of river camping, and all meals included.
• Ottawa River Experiential Education Trip A 4-6 day experiential education program designed for K-12 and high school students that combines whitewater rafting, leadership development, wilderness camping skills, and cultural learning on the Ottawa River, with an optional urban extension in Ottawa. Delivered to schools such as Selwyn House School and Bishop's College School with curriculum-linked outcomes and optional instructor certifications in Whitewater Safety Level I and Wilderness Skills & Safety Level I.
• Ottawa Kayarafting in the City A 3-day urban experiential education program in the heart of Canada's capital featuring inflatable kayak (kayaraft) instruction on the Ottawa River, designed specifically for student and youth groups seeking a short-format paddling experience.
• Costa Rica Sky to Sea Multisport Adventure A 9-day multi-sport adventure expedition for student and youth groups traveling from Costa Rica's tallest volcano to the Caribbean coast, featuring whitewater rafting on the Rio Pacuare, mountain biking, jungle hiking, sea kayaking, and homestay cultural immersion. Operated in partnership with Coast to Coast Adventures, with airport pick-up, ground/boat transport, accommodations, all meals, and National Park fees included at approximately $4,495 USD per person.
• Boreal River Rescue Training Professional training division offering whitewater and swiftwater rescue certifications, wilderness medicine courses (Wilderness First Responder, First Aid), and ice safety training across Canada and internationally. More than 1,000 students participate annually; many Boreal River Expeditions guides serve as instructors.
• Ciel et Bois Venue A retreat venue and outdoor education facility located 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa in Cantley, Quebec, providing accommodations for team offsites, intimate weddings, retreats, and wilderness medical courses. Boreal River offers the venue free to community service organizations for up to six nights per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Max 5:1 participant-to-guide ratio on whitewater with dedicated safety kayaker on each trip
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Esprit RaftingminorOthers · 1 January 2025Acquired Ottawa River operations from Esprit Rafting in 2025. Boreal River continues Esprit's legacy under the Boreal River Expeditions banner, absorbing operational assets and customer relationships.
• Coast to Coast AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA small family-owned Costa Rican adventure tourism business with 25 years of experience. Provides logistical support, transport, lodging, and 20 local Costa Rican guides for the Sky to Sea Multisport Adventure program. Coast to Coast operates an office in San José and two camps on the Pacuare River.
• Boreal River RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company providing training in whitewater/swiftwater rescue, ice safety, and wilderness medicine (Wilderness First Responder, first aid). Runs 1,000+ students through courses annually across Canada and internationally. Many Boreal River Expeditions guides are also instructors with Boreal River Rescue.
• Ciel et BoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA venue for gatherings and overnight stays 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa in Cantley, Québec. Surrounded by woods and trails, used for work team offsites, intimate weddings, retreats, and Boreal River Rescue's wilderness medical courses. Boreal River provides Ciel et Bois to community service organizations free for up to 6 nights per year.
• Ottawa RiverkeeperminorOthersRiver conservation organization advocating for the Ottawa River (Kichi Sibi). Boreal River supports and raises funds for Ottawa Riverkeeper as part of its environmental commitment.
• SNAP QC (SNAP Québec)minorOthersQuebec's largest nature parks network organization. Boreal River supports and raises funds for SNAP QC's campaigns, including efforts to protect the Mutehekau Shipu.
• Maison de la Culture Innue (Ekuanitshit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural centre founded by Rita Mestokosho in the Innu village of Ekuanitshit (Mingan). Hosts Boreal River groups for cultural immersion including history discussions, traditional bannock and berry jam, and meaningful engagement with local Innu community members. Boreal River pays community members for guiding and cultural programming.
• Sur la Pointe des Pieds (Tips of the Toes Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA foundation that takes young people living with cancer from across Canada on outdoor adventure therapeutic retreats. Boreal River designs and delivers custom multi-day rafting expeditions for foundation groups, including medical support logistics and emotionally appropriate pacing.
• Kitigan Zibi (Indigenous Educator)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn educator from Kitigan Zibi provides Indigenous culture and history programming for Ottawa River Experiential Education trips, supporting land-based education outcomes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): NOLS is a wilderness education institution running multi-day backcountry expeditions and wilderness medicine certifications. It directly overlaps with Boreal River's combination of guided expeditions plus the WFR/wilderness medicine training delivered through Boreal River Rescue.
• Rios Tropicales: Rios Tropicales is a long-established Costa Rica rafting operator running multi-day Pacuare River expeditions. It is the most direct competitor for Boreal River's Costa Rica Sky to Sea Multisport Adventure, operating on the same flagship river with a comparable multi-day product.
• Hydra River Guides: Hydra River Guides is a Canadian whitewater rafting outfitter running multi-day expeditions in British Columbia. It is comparable to Boreal River in offered activities (whitewater rafting, multi-day camping), target customer (experiential travelers and groups), and Canadian operating geography.
• Outward Bound: Outward Bound is the leading global experiential education provider, running multi-day wilderness expeditions for schools and youth groups. Boreal River's school and experiential education programs serve an identical use case (curriculum-linked outdoor trips with measurable personal development outcomes) using a similar small-group, high-guide-ratio model.
• Kumsheen Rafting Resort: Kumsheen is a Canadian whitewater rafting resort operating multi-day rafting expeditions on British Columbia's Thompson and Fraser rivers. It is a direct Canadian peer in terms of multi-day guided rafting products, English/French bilingual operations, and accommodation-inclusive trip structures.
• Pacuare Outdoor Center: Pacuare Outdoor Center is a Costa Rica-based adventure lodge and rafting operator specializing in Pacuare River multi-day whitewater trips. It directly competes with Boreal River's Costa Rica operation in the same destination and end-customer segment.
• Madawaska Kanu Centre: MKC is an Ontario-based whitewater paddling school and outfitter on the Madawaska River, offering multi-day whitewater kayaking and rafting instruction. It is one of the closest North American peers to Boreal River in terms of guided whitewater instruction, small-group coaching, and Canadian market positioning.

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: G Adventures is a large global adventure travel operator offering multi-day small-group trips across 100+ countries, including Costa Rica and Canada. It is a broader incumbent in the same multi-day adventure tour category, but with a wider geographic footprint and a more intermediated distribution model.
• REI Adventures: REI Adventures is a multi-day guided adventure travel brand from REI Co-op, offering rafting, hiking, and multi-sport trips. It competes in the same multi-day guided adventure category as Boreal River, with a broader portfolio and a much larger consumer membership base.

Others

• Wilderness Medical Associates International: WMI is a wilderness medicine training organization that partners with Boreal River Rescue to deliver Wilderness First Responder and First Aid courses. It is a direct comparable to the Boreal River Rescue training division and an incumbent ecosystem partner in the same wilderness medicine certification market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzKJv2eLtCdKlcU3XqNI6cQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boreal-river
• Instagraminstagram.com/borealriver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BOREAL RIVER TRIPS INC.