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Banff National Park Sightseeing & Activities, Calgary Sightseeing, Glacier National Park Lodging & Hotel
Yoho Park Vacation, BC Tourism, Rocky Mountain Adventure Tours, Canada Wilderness Vacation Tours
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7 Day Rocky Mountain Multi Activity Adventure
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Nature Activity Tour #08 Rocky Mountain Multi Sport
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So much fun in so little time! On this exciting "quick escape", we'll take full advantage of all the enticing attractions of the Canadian Rockies: snowcapped mountains, magnificent glaciers, verdant forests that are home to moose and elk, and a variety of hiking and horseback riding trails that we have all to ourselves. It's all the fun of an outdoor vacation but with a comfortable place to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
Our "base camp" is a lodge, a rustic country hideaway situated in a glacial valley north of Golden, British Columbia. Here we'll enjoy great hospitality and all the comforts of home (and sumptuous gourmet meals that rival any fine restaurant!).
From the lodge (reserved exclusively for our groups), we can take pleasantly challenging hikes up to lush mountain meadows bright with Rocky Mountain wildflowers, and go horseback riding along riverside trails with the lodge's own stable of horses. A helicopter will whisk us away to hike among high alpine ridges and glaciers, and we enjoy an adrenaline rush as we brave the rapids of the nearby Kicking Horse River. Optional fly-fishing and other activities are also available.
At day's end, we can relax around the lodge's cozy fireplace and curl up with a good book or swap tall tales with our fellow travelers. No previous rafting or horseback riding experience is required - just an appreciation for the wilds and a taste for adventure! |
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| Day |
Itinerary |
| 01 |
Calgary - Golden
Rendezvous with the guide at the Calgary Airport at 1:30 p.m. and drive west through Banff, across the Rockies to Golden, British Columbia, and to the Lodge. This is a very scenic four-hour drive up and over the mountains, giving us a good introduction to the region. The lodge is a rustic log building with four upstairs bedrooms, a half bath on that level, and two bathrooms and two showers on the lower level. The rooms are basic but clean. The lodge also has three rustic adjacent cabins with full baths. The lodge has a homelike, family atmosphere and is known for delicious, gourmet meals. There’s a large sitting room with a fireplace. Additional amenities include a large hot tub and a game room with pool table and dartboard. Hockey games, badminton and horseshoes can all be played outside in the enormous yard. After an orientation meeting, we have a gourmet dinner at the lodge. D
(If you choose to arrive early, you can make reservations in Banff or Lake Louise, about 1 1/2-2 hours from the Lodge, where you can easily tour the town on your own. Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in the afternoon. Early transfers to Banff or Lake Louise are your own responsibility.) |
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| 02 |
Orientation hike
Today we take an easy to moderate five-mile hike along the glacier-fed Blaeberry River. After enjoying a picnic lunch beside roaring Thompson Falls, we return to the lodge. The remainder of the day is free to relax, take walks in the nearby fields, or ride mountain bikes along the country roads. At the end of the day we can relax around the fireplace and enjoy a gourmet dinner in the rustic dining room. B,L,D |
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| 03 |
Rafting the Kicking Horse River
Today it's up close and personal with a mountain river. We begin the day by driving through the winding Kicking Horse canyon, traveling up the river valley, then take a short hike (1 1/2 miles) to Wapta Falls. The river derives its energy and anger from this tumbling thunder, and boils and roars from here to the town of Golden. After a quick lunch the moment comes to raft this wild river. Hang on and paddle! Tranquility and delicious food at the lodge await at the end of the day. The truly adventurous have the option to raft the lower canyon at the end of the trip for some serious whitewater! B,L,D
Note - If you don't want to raft, you can take an all-day canoe trip on the Columbia River, or do a morning birding tour, then canoe in the afternoon. No paddling experience is needed. The river is flat water with only a few places where the current picks up. There's no white water. |
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| 04 |
Heli-hiking
After breakfast, a helicopter lands on the lodge grounds and flies us high up into the mountains. By avoiding a steep ascent through the dense forest, we have time to explore the alpine ridges on a hike to Diamond Lake, a small mountain tarn with turquoise waters. Mountain goats inhabit these higher slopes in the summer, and with luck we'll spot a few of these elusive animals en route. (Grizzly bears inhabit these meadows too, but they're extremely difficult to see, so it's rare that we get a glimpse of one.) The views in the high alpine zone can be breathtaking, and with luck we'll see not only the vast Rocky Mountain Trench formed by the Columbia River, but also the Columbia Range to the west. Return to the lodge by helicopter in the late afternoon. B,L,D |
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| 05 |
Horseback riding
An all-day trail ride through the backcountry of the Blaeberry Valley. The ride begins from the lodge, and our leader will instruct us in the fundamentals of backcountry riding. The historic David Thompson trail leads us along the river, flowing leisurely at this point. Occasionally, we stop to stretch and take pictures as we travel through a forest rich in wildflowers, lichen, and green mosses. As the river changes character and rushes past, we head deeper into the woods to skirt the steep banks, then back down to the water's edge and a picnic spot along a shoal. After relaxing around the campfire at lunch, we ride the horses back to the lodge, with views of Goat Mountain in the distance. (The hot tub awaits our weary bones!) B,L,D |
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| 06 |
Hiking
After an hour's drive up the valley to the trailhead, we head up through an old growth forest on foot, with trees towering above us that were here before the first Europeans arrived. It's quiet, dank and lush, rich in mosses, lichen, and wildflowers. Far in the distance we can hear the thundering Mummery Falls and catch brief glimpses of the glacier. We continue on through the boulders dropped by retreating ice from the glaciers thousands of years ago, and eventually emerge on the open gravel of the glacial moraine. From here, there's a spectacular open view of Mummery Glacier. We continue across rock worn smooth and shiny by the tons of ice that once covered it, and stop for lunch in sight of the falls. In the afternoon, we'll explore the glaciated area, then head back down later. This evening we have a farewell dinner and our last night around the cozy fireplace. B,L,D |
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| 07 |
Transfer to Calgary
After breakfast, depart for Calgary and flights home departing after 2:00 p.m. If you choose, we can drop you off at Lake Louise or Banff, where you can enjoy a few days of independent travel. Transfers back to the Calgary Airport can be arranged at most of the hotels. B |
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Rates per Person in CAD$
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| Dates |
Departures |
Rates |
| June - September |
On Request |
$1680.00
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Services included
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• Professional Guide Service
• Max 16 Participants
• Accommodation at the Lodge
• Horseback Riding, Hiking, Helicopter-Hiking, Rafting, Activities as per Itinerary
• Meals as per Itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Group Transfers to and from Calgary Airport
• Local Transfers
• Basic Medical and Evacuation insurance
Note on itinerary - Some of the activities may be scheduled on other days due to weather or prevailing conditions
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