River Spey Canoe Expedition

Secure a place with £100 (non refundable) deposit and our instalment payment option.

Dates & Requirements

3rd to 7th October 2025

We welcome all abilities, however, you need to have some experience of paddling a canoe and a moderate level of endurance and determination. (compare it to hill walking for 6-7 hours with a light bag!) . Some experiece of white water paddling would be benefical.  Feel free to contact us to discuss further as we can help bring your skills up to speed.

Please contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list. We are back running this trip for 2026 to infinity and beyond. If you are part of a group, family or club that would like to make a private booking for our expedition destinations then please drop us a line.

This river journey incorporates 5 days of paddling from the stunning Loch Insch with the Osprey nests down through Aviemore following the whisky trail. The first stretch allows you ample time to develop your moving water skills as we navigate small riffles and rapids as the river picks up speed. Boat of Garten, and Grantown on Spey and other river side towns are perched above the river with some locations offering a walk to explore.  Further down the river we pass Advie Bridge our launch point on our Best of Scotland and head to the iconic Blackboat Rapid fondly known as the 'washing machine'.  Usually we have time for some coaching, ferry gliding and breaking in and out on this faster water with our coaching team.

We pass by Knockadoo rapids, the home of the Scottish Slalom training site and paddle on downstream towards Spey Bay. There is still plenty to enjoy with a mixture of small rapids and faster drops as well as peaceful paddling through stunning scenery with high gorge like banks. There is great wildlife with sand martins and birds of prey soaring above the river.  You will have plenty of opportunities to improve your paddling skills with our qualified and experienced coaches eager to share their knowledge. This is the perfect place to work on 'breaking in', 'breaking out' and ferry gliding as well as boat handling such as trim, edge and dynamic forward paddling.

Our nights will be spent wild camping on the riverbank, on islands and other hidden locations enjoying our free-range evening meals, and sharing stories around the campfire with our wilderness guides.

Included

• Expert tuition from professional experienced guides who have run expeditions and adventures all over the world
• Breakfast and evening meal
• Hire of drysuits is available on a first-come-first-served basis (we have plenty)
• Craft, BA’s, Cags, Trousers, Helmets, Drybags, Paddles, and safety equipment

What you will need to bring

• Personal Kit
• Sleeping Bag and Roll Mat
• Cutlery, Cup, Bowl, Knife and Fork
• A Sense of Humour!

Trip Plan

Meet us near Aviemore, you can drive, fly and bus or talk to us about a shuttle

Day 1: Starting near Loch Insch - The Perfect Warm-up and Introduction

Join our exciting canoeing adventure starting near Loch Insch, famous for its ospreys and other bird life

Day 2: Paddling down past Aviemore and Boat O Garten

Riffles, rapids and sharper bends as you learn skills paddling down the river.

Day 3- 4: Onwards to the Grantown on Spey, Washing Machine, Knockandoo and bigger rapids

Wild camping on islands and river banks, run the bigger rapids of the Washing Machine and Knockandoo led by our white water canoe leaders and coaches

Day 5: The joy of finishing in Spey Bay after an epic canoe journey

Onwards down to Spey Bay with more rapids and then arrival in Spey Bay for the shuttle back to the Cairngorms. A job well done.

Bid farewell to your paddling buddies having shared an adventure of a lifetime! That is until the next thrilling expedition, cherishing the memories made along the way.