Thank you for your interest in The Expedition School! If you have questions or need more information about specific trips, feel free to contact us by phone 001.512.626.6282 or email info@expeditionschool.com.
Expeditions
The Expedition School offers its own single expeditions, workshops, seminars, and camps. It also provides consultation and assistance for schools, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and groups of families or friends who may need guidance in planning or carrying out their own expedition.
Fishing in the Land of the Midnight Sun - Yukon Territory
Dates: August 17th - 23rd, 2008
Fly In / Fly Out: Skagway, Alaska
Cost: $3,650
Airport Transfer: Yes
Ages: 16+
Level of Difficulty: Novice
Ideal For: Youth, adults and families
Skills: You will learn the local flora and fauna, wilderness skills and ethics, natural history.
Description: This seven-day fishing expedition begins in Skagway, Alaska – the gateway to the Klondike Gold rush of 1898. After a well deserved Halibut or Salmon supper and a good night’s sleep in a locally owned and operated Bed and Breakfast, board the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad and head towards international boundaries: Canada! Boarding a floatplane in Whitehorse (the Capital of the Yukon), fly in to remote wilderness of the Yukon Territory and land at your rustic cabin on the lake. Spend the next four days fishing for several species of freshwater fish – and, cooking your catch for supper. Throughout your stay, you will learn the local flora and fauna, wilderness skills and ethics, natural history – and, pick up some fishing tips along the way! The cabin is equipped with a boat and an outboard motor, propane stove, refrigerator, comfy beds with pillows and down comforters, and possesses unspoken solitude of which allows even the restless of spirits to slow way down. On day six, the float plane will pick you up – lakeside – and, fly you back to Whitehorse for a delicious meal at a local restaurant before your drive back to Skagway. Your last night is spent at the Bed and Breakfast – with a high recommendation to visit the Historic Red Onion Saloon!
Sea Kayaking the Inside Passage - Southeast Alaska
Dates: June 16th - 21st, 2008 & July 26th – July 31st, 2008
Fly In / Fly Out: Haines, AK
Cost: $1,950
Airport Transfer: Yes
Ages: 16+
Level of Difficulty: Novice - Intermediate
Ideal For: Youth, adults and families
Skills: Learning sea kayak safety and rescue, paddle techniques; ocean navigation; and rolling and exiting
Description: Discover the wonders of southeast Alaska by personal watervessel in a sea kayak! This six-day expedition begins in beautiful Haines, Alaska. Your first night will be spent in a Bed and Breakfast in Haines, Alaska. Unwind from traveling by relaxing on the porch, meandering through town, roaming the docks, or stroll down the beach. The next four days are spent uncovering profound wilderness along the Lynn Canal – the deepest fjord in North America – in your sea kayak. The Lynn Canal is surrounded by chain of mountains known as the Chilkoot Mountains Range – with peaks rising from the ocean and reaching up to 7,500 feet in height. Your put in on day one is located at Chilkat State Park that possesses a protected cove that is ideal for learning and practicing sea kayak skills. Here you will have a kayak course with our expert kayak instructor, Colin Aikman. You will learn kayak terminology, safety, wet-exits, paddle technique, and rescue. As your journey unfolds, enjoy the breathtaking scenery of hanging, cirque, and valley glaciers - 3,000 foot mountains rising out of the sea, and islands harvesting wild blueberries and strawberries. There will be ample opportunity to potentially witness some spectacular wildlife – seals, steller sea lions, doll porpoise, humpback and/or orca whales, grizzly and/or black bears, bald eagles, arctic turns, mew gulls and moose. Return to Haines for a celebratory supper, a hot shower, and a well-deserved nights’ rest at the B&B.
Skills: Multi-day backpacking; 1898 Gold Rush History; Robert Service poetry; Leave No Trace principles; sea kayaking; backcountry cooking; flora and fauna of SE Alaska; bear safety, wilderness skills and ethics.
Description: This eight-day expedition leads us on an epic multi day backpacking journey that retraces the prospector’s steps of the Klondike Gold rush in 1898. Five-year veteran Chilkoot Trail Park Ranger, Seth Plunkett, is in his element –reciting Robert Service poems and revealing History while trekking through jaw dropping scenery of glaciers and mountains. Begin hiking at sea level amongst temperate rainforest – following the Taya Inlet, then up through the alpine forests, and on past the breathtaking lakes in the boreal forest of Canada. End the thirty-three mile trek by boarding your railcar on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad and ride to your final destination – and original point of origin: Skagway. Enjoy a celebratory evening at the Historic Red Onion Saloon and resting your bones and treating yourself to a hot shower at the wonderful Bed and Breakfast.
Skills: Multi-day backpacking; 1898 Gold Rush History; Robert Service poetry; Leave No Trace principles; sea kayaking; glacier travel; backcountry cooking; flora and fauna of SE Alaska; bear safety, wilderness skills and ethics.
Description: This nine-day expedition leads us on an epic multi day backpacking journey that retraces the prospector’s steps of the Klondike Gold rush in 1898. Five-year veteran Chilkoot Trail Park Ranger, Seth Plunkett, is in his element –reciting Robert Service poems and revealing History while trekking through jaw dropping scenery of glaciers and mountains. Begin hiking at sea level amongst temperate rainforest – following the Taya Inlet, then up through the alpine forests, and on past the breathtaking lakes in the boreal forest of Canada. End the thirty-three mile trek by boarding your railcar on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad and unloading at the scenic Laughton Glacier. There you will spend one day learning the basics of glacier travel within the Tongass National Forest under a US forest Service Special Use Permit. After your experience on the ice, board your railcar once again and ride to your final destination – and original point of origin: Skagway. Enjoy a celebratory evening at the Historic Red Onion Saloon and resting your bones and treating yourself to a hot shower at the wonderful Bed and Breakfast.
Cost: $1350 ($1450 for 15 hours of individual Spanish courses)
Airport Transfer: Yes
Ages: 21+
Duration: 6 days
Ideal For: Surfergirls
Level of Difficulty: Novice - Intermediate
Accomodations: Private house - Casa Rosada - 3 bed/2 bath –
Full Kitchen
OR Hotel Brio
Environmental Initiatives: the Zacatán Ecological Reserve - reforestation project and solar powered caretaker’s house. Hotel Brio: 10,000 gallon rain water collection system – 2 cisterns, 1,500 gallon grey water collection, comprehensive composting program, organic vegetable garden produces food for the hotel.
Facilities: 24 hour electricity and fans; private hot showers; projected movies under the stars; fishing and snorkeling
Full time house keepers and grounds staff.
Social Initiatives: 100% of paid staff at Brio are local, but with some foreign volunteer labor, English language programs for community, environmental education at Zacatan
Skills: Ocean safety, surfing, flora and fauna of Nicaragua; Leave No Trace principles; Marine Biology; NICA surfing history; weather and climate; tides and currents; fishing; and First Aid for Surfers.
Description: Oye SURFERGIRLS! Nicaragua hosts some of the best waves along the Pacific coastline in Central America - with consistant offshore winds stemming from the interior volcanoes. Join us for a 5 day/6 night surf trip you'll never forget. INCLUDES – lodging, 3 meals a day, daily surfing classes at Playa Amarillo -a 15 minute walk or 4 minute 4x4 truck ride from your beach house. Advanced surfers can rip at Colorado-another classic Nica beach break. Three boat trips offered- including one San Juan del Sur day trip for lunch, mid-day bar hopping, and/or shopping. Aside from surfing, we will shop for local hand made crafts and fine arts at the Masaya market and spend a night in the historic colonial town of Granada.
Dates: Oct 16th - 19th, 2008 Oct 23rd - 26th, 2008 Oct 30th - Nov 2nd, 2008
Fly In / Fly Out: Cancun, Mexico
Cost: $1,250
Airport Transfer: Yes
Ages: 11+
Level of Difficulty: Novice
Ideal For: Adults and families
Skills: History of the Riviera Maya; geology; kayaking or fly fishing in the UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve, Sian Ka’an; explore Tulum Ruins; snorkeling; lectures on marine turtles and coral reefs
Description: Akumal Bay possesses a marine ecosystem like no other - home to some of the best day and night snorkeling along the coastline of Mexico, we will explore by kayak the UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve, Sian Ka'an. Individuals may substitute kayaking in order to fly fish for bonefish, tarpon, permit, jack, and barracuda. Join us for an unforgettable expedition including evening lectures at El Centro Ecologico de Akumal on marine turtles and coral reefs with Director, Paul Sanchez-Navarro, and a visit to the breathtaking Mayan Ruins of Tulum. Participants stay in the beautiful beachfront cabanas.
Description: Two distinct seasons guide us in Chile: Winter (May thru August) and Summer (December thru March). Each season supplies an extraordinary expeditionary experience granting individuals ample opportunity to explore sanctuaries throughout the central and southern regions.
Summer: -Drive La Ruta del Vino (The Wine Route) – Central Zone Santiago and surroundings or stopping at local vineyards and wine tasting along the way -Hike Volcan Villarica (2,847 meters) -Fly fish -White Water Raft Class -Hike in Huerquehue National Park -Soak in hot springs -Take individual or group Spanish language courses
Winter (Weather permitting): -Drive La Ruta del Vino (The Wine Route) – Central Zone Santiago and surroundings or stopping at local vineyards and wine tasting along the way -Snow Ski -Hike Volcan Villarica (2,847 meters) -Soak in hot springs -Take individual or group Spanish language courses -Hike Huerquehue National Park -White Water Rafting
Costa Rica Surfing Expedition
Dates for 2008 July
August 21st - 28th September November - thru December 11th
Dates for 2009 beginning January 8th thru the end of March
Program start date: Thursday Program end date: Thursday
Fly In / Fly Out: San Jose, Costa Rica
Cost: $2450 ($2600 for individual Spanish lessons)
Airport Transfer: Yes
Ages: 21+ or / youth groups 16+ / or families with children 11+
Duration: 8 days
Ideal For: Families and Women
Level of Difficulty: Novice - Intermediate
Accomodations: Locally owned and operated hotels – all rooms based on double occupancy.
Environmental Initiatives: Recycling, Leave No Trace Ethics; beach clean-ups
Facilities: A/C; internet access in San Jose hotel; 24 hour electricity and fans; private hot showers; Full time house keepers and grounds staff.
Social Initiatives: 90% of staff are local costariccenses; Cruz Roja educational outreach programs for communities of which we travel.
Skills: Ocean safety, surfing, flora and fauna of Costa Rica; white water rafting; volcanism; plate tectonics; Leave No Trace principles; Marine Biology; Costa Rica surfing history; weather and climate; tides and currents; fishing; and First Aid for surfers.
Description: Explore two sanctuaries of Costa Rica: the Highlands – including Volcan Arenal and, the Southern Pacific Lowlands – including phenomenal surf breaks in Playa Hermosa. We will pick you up at the airport and overnight in San Jose – then, begin our travels north – stopping in a key artisan town of Sarchi. Lunch at a local posada and spend the afternoon shopping for hand carved wooden utensils, bowls, and plates – along with other handicrafts such as masks and jewelry – which celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of Costa Rica.
Our route ends at the base of Volcan Arenal – an active Volcano. The energy from the volcano goes unsurpassed and you can feel the difference immediately. Soaks in natural hot springs; hikes in the cloudforest near Volcan Arenal; and a twilight safari aboard your whitewater raft – all await in this magical region of the country.
After two nights and two days in the cooler climates, we will journey to the beach. Breathtaking picturesque views of both mountains and ocean appear as we slowly descend into the Southern Pacific Lowlands. Enjoy celebratory cocktails and supper at sunset at Villa Caletas on Sunday night.
Next, you will spend three days honing your surfing in Playa Hermosa. During your off times, you have the option to hike, attend yoga classes, receive a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure – or, study Spanish.
3 Day Surf Camp Package includes: - Lodging for 4 nights at Hotel Terraza del Pacifico - 3 Meals a day - Surf Instruction and Equipment - Yoga Daily - Hikes - Horseback riding OR Canopy tour (they can do both for $60 extra) - 1 Hour Massage - Pedicure - Rejuvenation Facial - 6 Liters of Water + Welcome Snack
On Thursday, you will be transported back to San Jose for your return flight home.
Custom Built For: Adults, families, youth and school groups 17 years or older
Description: Ocean, volcanoes, rivers, and rainforests - Costa Rica offers a multitude of opportunities for exploration and hands on learning. This multi-day expedition may take us on explorative hikes through the “most biologically diverse” area in the world, Corcovado National Park; climbing the tallest volcano in Central America, Volcan Chirripo; surfing the waves along the pristine coastline of the Pacific Coast; night hikes to view the lava flows of Volcan Arenal; theatre performances at Teatro Nacional; and, whitewater rafting down class IV and V rapids on El Rio Pacuare. The entire time we travel, we are accompanied by a costarricense - who not only gives insight to the true pulse of this country, but also assists you with your Spanish language skills with daily individual and group lessons. Participants stay in locally owned and operated cabanas and hotels throughout the trip.
