YUKON | JUNE 2028
The river sets the pace
By canoe down the Yukon, through boreal forest and tundra, under a sun that never sets.
The story of this expedition
You fly from Brussels to Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. From there a bus takes you to the water, where the canoes are waiting. What follows is an expedition of ± 12 days in which the river sets the rhythm and you adjust to it, not the other way round.
The Yukon flows at four to eight kilometres an hour. You do not paddle to move forward, you paddle to steer. Every day you read the water: where the main current runs, where a gravel bar turns shallow, where a side river comes in murky. Fight the river and you tire. Go with it and you get further than you thought.
You camp on gravel bars and riverbanks, among spruce and birch. No jetty, no sign telling you where to be, no safety net. Where the river widens we head inland and climb to open tundra with a view over a valley that runs to the horizon.
In June the sun barely sets. That changes everything: you travel when it feels right and you sleep when your body asks for it, not when the clock says so. For anyone used to a diary in thirty minute blocks that is the first real disruption, and usually the most useful one.
We deliberately choose June: the ice is gone, the river runs high and fast, the mosquitoes are not yet at full strength and the sun barely sets.
The story of
this expedition
You fly from Brussels to Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. From there a bus takes you to the water, where the canoes are waiting. What follows is an expedition of ± 12 days in which the river sets the rhythm and you adjust to it, not the other way round.
The Yukon flows at four to eight kilometres an hour. You do not paddle to move forward, you paddle to steer. Every day you read the water: where the main current runs, where a gravel bar turns shallow, where a side river comes in murky. Fight the river and you tire. Go with it and you get further than you thought.
You camp on gravel bars and riverbanks, among spruce and birch. No jetty, no sign telling you where to be, no safety net. Where the river widens we head inland and climb to open tundra with a view over a valley that runs to the horizon.
In June the sun barely sets. That changes everything: you travel when it feels right and you sleep when your body asks for it, not when the clock says so. For anyone used to a diary in thirty minute blocks that is the first real disruption, and usually the most useful one.
We deliberately choose June: the ice is gone, the river runs high and fast, the mosquitoes are not yet at full strength and the sun barely sets.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
Once we are on the water we are beyond the reach of shops, roads and help on demand. Everything the group needs is in the canoes: food, fuel, tents, equipment and communication. You filter your water from the river, you cook yourself and you set up your own camp. Self sufficient, but never alone.
You learn survival basics, energy management, navigation and outdoor decision-making under the guidance of an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support in Canada.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a detailed evacuation plan and local support in Canada.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
Once we are on the water we are beyond the reach of shops, roads and help on demand. Everything the group needs is in the canoes: food, fuel, tents, equipment and communication. You filter your water from the river, you cook yourself and you set up your own camp. Self sufficient, but never alone.
You learn survival basics, energy management, navigation and outdoor decision-making under the guidance of an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Picture this: a river that carries you, gravel bars where almost no one camps, a spruce forest running to the horizon and a sun still above the hills in the middle of the night.
During Expedition Yukon you step into a world that is not arranged around you. No road, no signal, no alternative plan. What there is: a group, a river and the time to discover how you decide when no one does it for you.
Picture this: a river that carries you, gravel bars where almost no one camps, a spruce forest running to the horizon and a sun still above the hills in the middle of the night.
During Expedition Yukon you step into a world that is not arranged around you. No road, no signal, no alternative plan. What there is: a group, a river and the time to discover how you decide when no one does it for you.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready to hand over the pace?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“On the water the diary falls away. What I see in groups is that after three days they talk to each other differently than they ever do at home. That is exactly why we do this.”
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