10 TRAVEL Let’s Go
Kiss the dragon HALONG BAY, VIETNAM
New Zealand’s Abel Tasman National Park. EUROPE
Explore fiery fiords FIORDLANDS, NORWAY Morueldr—pronounced moor-eld—is old Norwegian for “ocean fire.” The fire in Norway’s dark waters is actually natural bioluminescence, the defense response of tiny sea organisms when stirred by the dip of a paddle. In the Fiordlands, the Atlantic Ocean creates a filigree of land and water, stretching its grasp far inland along narrow, deep inlets flanked by steep cliffs and plunging waterfalls. Moreld Adventures trounces the discomforts of wet-weather camping with a luxury five-day inn-to-inn tour of the world’s longest fiord, the Sognefjord ($1,300 Cdn,
www.moreld.net).
Float through France
DORDOGNE RIVER, FRANCE In southwest France, the Dordogne River traces a path through 37,000 years of human history. Leave the tour buses and crowded train stations behind and explore the “land of a 1,001 castles” along this breathtaking waterway. A scenic four-day trip travels from Saint Julien de Lampon downriver to Limeuil, passing two of Dordogne’s most spectacu- larly situated chateaux. Many small rapids make for lively paddling past medieval villages on the way to Limeuil. Accommodation choices include riverside campsites ($15–$20/night) or traditional inns ($70+) along route. Contact Canoes Roquegeoffre for kayak rentals (
www.canoe-roquegeoffre.com).
Junk n. 1 worthless articles. 2 flat-bottomed sailing boat used in the East Indies. Fortunately, Tofino Expeditions incorporates the latter into their October seven- day tour of Vietnam’s fancifully named Halong Bay (“Bay of the Descending Dragon”). Paddle the smoky green waters into a hidden sea cave and you too will wonder if this landscape might, after all, be the progeny of mythical crea- tures. With evenings spent savouring gourmet cuisine and sailing serenely to new paddling locales, kayakers enjoy more time soaking up the scenery and culture and less time worrying about mercurial feng shui—literally: wind and water (10 days, $4,620 Cdn,
www.tofino.com/sea_kayaking_vietnam.htm).
OCEANIA
Find paradise KADAVU, FIJI Few places promote the relaxing and recreational facets of kayaking better than the tranquil blue waters and warm beaches of Fiji. The Kadavu island group is one of the least developed and most culturally intact, offering paddlers a chance to interact with the natives while plying the coral reef–sheltered waters. Keep sand and sleep separate with New Zealand-based Tamarillo Expeditions, which hosts a seven-day tour of Kadavu with stays at intimate local resorts ($1,720 Cdn,
www.tamarillo.co.nz/fiji/).
40 | | ADVENTURE KAYAK spring 2007
BY VIRGINIA MARSHALL
TEN TRIPS OF A LIFETIME to fuel your off-season fantasies ASIA
“I am the kayaker”—Ellesmere Island.
PHOTOS FROM TOP: COURTESY OF KAITERITERI KAYAKS; STEPHEN SMITH, WHITNEY & SMITH LEGENDARY EXPEDITIONS
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