Basically, there are three types of tidal bore experiences depending on the strength of the incoming tide. The intensity varies with the phases of the moon with the highest tides during new and full moons and the lowest at half-moon. The start of the incoming tidal bore can be predicted with great accuracy and it begins about forty minutes later each day. The first thing to decide in booking a tidal bore rafting trip is just how much excitement you can handle. River Runners is the tidal bore rafting company closest to the mouth of the river and your journey with them actually starts on the Bay of Fundy. If you have an afternoon departure, I highly recommend arriving early and visiting this museum to learn more about Nova Scotia’s ship building heritage. Maitland was once one of the biggest ship building communities in North America and it was here that the largest wooden sailing ship ever built in Canada was launched. The trip I describe in this review was with Shubenacadie River Runners which operates out of the historic village of Maitland almost right across from the W.D.Lawrence house which is now a provincial museum. The operators co-operate with each other and make sure that every group gets a number of runs through each set of rapids. There are currently five companies providing tidal bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River and they all provide an excellent experience as each takes you to the same sets of rapids. In fact, some people like to shoot the rapids without a raft. The raft is propelled upriver by an outboard motor and if you fall overboard it’s no big deal as you are not going to hit a rock or get jammed under a submerged log. You do not need to wear a helmet while tidal bore rafting and you don’t need to paddle. The rapids are ephemeral and are whipped up and last for only about fifteen or twenty minutes at each site. With tidal bore rafting the rapids are not caused by underling rocks, but rather by the force of the salt water being pushed upriver with the incoming tide colliding with the freshwater flowing seaward. If you fall out of a whitewater raft or it tips over you will be swept downriver and depending on the severity of the rapids, you could be in serious peril. Participants need to wear helmets and are expected to paddle to assist the helmsman/guide. Tidal bore rafting is completely different than whitewater rafting which involves going downriver over rapids created by rocks and other obstructions in the river. The absolute best way to experience the Bay of Fundy tides is to go on a tidal bore rafting trip on the Shubenacadie River. The huge amount of water is forced into an ever-decreasing space which means that it has only one place to go – up. The reason the tides are so high is that the bay is shaped like a funnel with two openings, Chignecto Bay and the Minas Basin, that get narrower and narrower near their ends. That’s the equivalent of a five-story building. Twice a day the bay receives an injection of sea water equal to the flow of all the rivers on earth as the water rises as much as fifty feet from low to high tide. In addition to this credit, there will still be a $5 per person booking fee.The world’s highest tides occur in the Bay of Fundy which separates the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. If you need to reschedule during the cancellation period, you will be charged the same as if you were cancelling, but the fee will be applied as credit for the new date. Cancellations within 24 hours of departure will be charged in full. Any cancellations made less than one week prior to the tour, will be charged 50% of the total invoice. Large groups (8+ people) must give at least one week’s written notice of cancellation. Cancellations done within 24 hours of departure will be charged in full. Any cancellations made past the 72 hours will be charged 50% of the total invoice. We require 72 hours’ notice of cancellation. Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be done with written notice to Policy:Īll cancellations must be done with written notice to cancellations and reschedules are subject to a fee of $5 per person. We also have a variety of beverages and snacks for an additional charge. To qualify for group rates you must have to have 8 people or more. Note, children are classified as 12 years and under when applying it to our pricing format. An additional $3.50 per person will apply if paying by Debit/Visa/MasterCard.
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