A Rocky Mountain Explorer Adventure

10 days / 9 nights

The focus of this adventure tour is hiking and camping in Canada’s Rockies.

Designed for those who want get off the beaten path and get into the park, the Rocky Mountain Explorer enables travellers to hike and walk some of the most scenic trails in the Canadian Rockies. Our "off the beaten path" takes us on an overnight canoe trip in Wells Gray Provincial Park. We explore six provincial and national parks and a wide variety of terrain including spectacular alpine meadows, sweeping glaciers, hanging valleys and mountain forests and streams.

Join us as we camp in the shadow of snow capped peaks, soak in hot springs and canoe on a crystal clear mountain lake.

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Activity Level : Moderate. Hikes range from one to four hours in length
Maximum Group Size: 8 people
Accommodation: Camping and lodge/hotel (two nights). Hot showers are available on all hotel and camping nights except on the overnight canoe trip.
Meals: Food kitty on all days (local payment to tour leader of $160).

Tour Dates (2008):

Tour 1 : June 15 - 24
Tour 2 : June 29 - July 08
Tour 3 : July 13 - 22
Tour 4 : July 27 - August 05
Tour 5 : August 10 - 19
Tour 6 : August 24 - Sept 02
Tour 7 : September 07 - 16
Tour 8: September 21 - 30

All tours depart on a Sunday and return on a Tuesday.

Departs:

Vancouver, BC (Day 1 @ 8:00 AM)

Returns:

Vancouver, BC (Day 10@ 5:00 PM)

Price:

$1,445 CDN (July and August departures)

$1,345 CDN (June and September departures)

- Hotel Single Supplement (2 nights): $190

- Hotel and Tent Single Supplement: $280

- An additional local payment of $160 for meals is required (see above).

Included:

Services of a driver/leader.
All guiding fees
All accommodation as listed on the itinerary
All camping gear and cooking equipment except sleeping bag.
All National, Provincial, State and Wildlife Refuge fees
Overnight canoe trip
Entrance Fees: The Jasper Tram, Miette Hot Springs, Gondola at Lake Louise
Buffet Lunch at Ten Peaks Lodge.

Not Included:

Optional activities, sleeping bag, gratuities, and 6% GST.
Optional Activities:

Icefield Parkway: Snow-coach or guided Ice walk along Athabasca Glacier $35.00 - $65.00
Emerald Lake in Yoho: Boat or Canoe Rentals $25.00 - $35.00
Yoho: horseback riding $50.00 - $100.00
Yoho Kicking Horse River: whitewater rafting grade 2 to 3 and 3 to 4, $85.00 +
Columbia River Valley: jet boat safaris $75.00 +

Frequently asked questions

What is adventure travel? Adventure travel is an exploration of the outer world that takes place in a remote, exotic or wilderness setting. A wide continuum of adventure activities, from sea kayaking to wilderness survival, enables travelers to experience varying degrees of risk, excitement and tranquility. Adventure travelers also seek the inner world of personal challenge, self-perception and self-mastery
What type of adventure travel is emphasized? Our soft adventure trips are for alternate travelers who don't have the time or experience to discover remote places by trial and error. Compared to hard adventure, our tours require less physical risk, little or no experience and provide more convenience in terms of sleeping arrangements, and cuisine. Our main objective is to have fun and enjoy the outdoors! We also ensure people are informed about the land they travel in -- our tour leaders are knowledgeable in the area's environment, natural history and culture.
What areas do you travel in? We explore wilderness areas, parks and protected areas in Alaska, Yukon Territory, the Rocky Mountains and Vancouver Island. Our scheduled tours depart from Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC; Edmonton, AB; Calgary, AB; and Whitehorse, YT.
What kind of vehicle will I be traveling in? We drive fully optioned, late model 15-passenger vans. Our vans are commercially inspected and certified every six months and come equipped with full length roof racks and tarpaulins. While the vans seat 15 people, we travel with no more than 11 in BC and 13 in the Yukon and Alaska.
What's Included? All our tours include accommodation, transportation, an experienced driver/leader and all park entrance fees. Camping tours include all camping gear, except sleeping bags. Each tour also includes some activities while on tour. Read each tour description for more information.
What's Not Included? Meals, accommodation before or after the tour, optional activities, gratuities for the guide and GST are not included in the price of the tour.
What kind of accommodation can I expect? The type of accommodation varies according to the tour, from hard shell to camping. Hard shell accommodation includes "simple hotels" (clean, generally smaller character hotels with basic amenities) and hostels (some with private rooms, all with communal facilities for cooking, socializing). Camping facilities also vary according to the tour. As examples, the campgrounds we stay at in the Rocky Mountains generally come complete with showers, flush toilets, picnic tables - some even have Laundromats. Generally, the further north we go on our Alaska and Yukon trips, the fewer frills we encounter. This often means drop toilets, hauling water from streams and foraging for our own firewood. While our tents are sized as three person tents we limit two persons per tent.
How do you arrange meals on your trips? The inclusion of meals depends on the type of accommodation provided on the tour. While meals are often included on some days in our tours that involve hotels, passengers generally purchase their own (more specifics are provided in our pre-departure information). Our hostel tours do not include meals, but the hostels we stay in have access to central cooking and dining facilities. On camping tours we use a "food kitty", where a contribution of $12 per day buys three meals per day. Contributions are paid to the tour leader/driver at the beginning of the tour and are not subject to Canadian GST of 6%. On these tours, everyone participates in meal preparation and daily chores. Travellers enjoy barbeques and a wide choice of pastas and salads, meats, vegetables, fruits and deserts.
How would I fit in as a first time camper? Don't worry! Our tours come complete with all the gear you need, from camp stoves to cutlery. Just bring your sleeping bag, personal gear and the items listed in your pre-departure information (eg, suntan lotion, camera, film). Our tents take less that five minutes for one person to set up. Your Midnight Sun tour leader will make you look like an expert camper in a few days!
What about cultural considerations? Please don't let language or culture be barriers to enjoying our splendid country. Our tour leaders are well traveled outside of Canada and sensitive to the challenges of visiting a new country. No matter what language you speak, or what diet you have, we will take the steps to maximize your comfort level. And provide you with a great time!
What is the best time to visit western Canada and Alaska? The season varies according to the area you want to visit. The season on Vancouver Island begins in April and ends in mid-October. In the Rocky Mountains, we begin our tours in early June. The season in the Yukon and Alaska is from early June to mid-September.
When should I start to plan to take my trip? July and August are peak months for travel in western Canada and Alaska. If you plan to travel with us during this months, we recommend you book by April to avoid disappointment.
Who goes on your tours? Everyone with an interest in the environment who wants to see wildlife and have fun at an affordable price. Some clients have limited camping experience and some have lots of camping experience; all prefer to travel with like minded people.
Are couples welcome? Of course! On average, we tend to have one to two couples on every tour. The majority of our customers tend to be single.
What is the average age range and gender balance of people on your tours? On average, our clients tend to be between the ages of 24-54, and are in average physical condition.
When is the best time to go to see bears (wildlife)? While nature is unpredictable, the best time to see bears is usually in the early spring or late summer. Opportunities also depend on when the salmon are running. The many areas in which we travel have different salmon runs -- different species of salmon have runs at different times. You will have to ask the office closer to the time of your travel to get a better idea about bear viewing opportunities. However, we have been delivering tours since 1996 - and if anyone can help you spot a bear - we can!
Are there mosquitoes, what should I bring if I don't like to use deet? Depending on the area you tour in, you may encounter mosquitoes. Our Vancouver Island tours see very few if any mosquitoes as the ocean breeze tends to keep them away. While hiking in the Rockies you may encounter a few while hiking near stagnant lakes in the peak of the hot season (late July early August). In the Yukon and Alaska you will see mosquitoes from late June to early August. Near the towns there are few if any. But more tend to appear when we are camped near the tundra or muskeg. Deet is the best to keep mosquitoes away, but should not be applied directly to your skin. If you do not like to use deet you could use a natural product call "Natural-Repel" or "ZZZZWAT". This product can be applied directly to your skin and is 100% natural and environmentally friendly. There are many other products on the market with various combinations or citronella in them that are all deet free.
What kind of a sleeping bag should I bring? We suggest a four season sleeping bag rated to -3.

Package Price:
1345.00 Can./Person
0.00 U.S./Person

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Location: Banff, Jasper, Yoho National Parks
Weather: Warm summers
cold winters

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Day 1

Clearwater, BC.

Departing Vancouver we drive through the Fraser Canyon, following the mighty Fraser River before turning north near Kamloops. As we follow the North Thompson River we enter Caribou Country, a region of rolling hills and prairies, thick forests, granite-walled canyons and impressive river valleys' Here ranching, logging and mining are the mainstays of the local economy. We arrive in the late afternoon just outside of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Wells Gray is more than 520,000 hectares in size and encompasses most of the Clearwater River watershed in the Caribou Mountains. After dinner we'll prep for our overnight canoe trip at our hotel. In the evening we'll take a walk along the volcanic ridge top of Sphats Falls.

Accommodation: Local hotel or motel.

Day 2

Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC.

The drive to our canoe put-in takes us along the scenic Wells Gray corridor of rushing rivers and million year old geological rock and volcanic landforms. In the morning we’ll see Helmcken Falls, Canada's fourth highest waterfall, and one of it's best-kept secrets. Plunging 141 meters in a straight drop, this waterfall is about three times higher than Niagara Falls. Splendidly photogenic, the fast flowing Murtle River shoots over a volcanic cliff at Helmcken Falls directly into a gorge in a roaring, misty display. After the falls, we head for Clearwater Lake, one of the premier canoeing lakes in British Columbia. At the lake we’ll meet our canoe guide for a safety talk and then board our canoes for an an overnight trip into the heart of Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 3

Jasper National Park, AB.

After a morning exploring wilderness shorelines we return to our point of origin at Clearwater Lake. We continue our drive, rejoining the North Thompson River to meet up again with the mighty Fraser River near Mt. Rob son Provincial Park. This park, the second oldest park in British Columbia’s park system, is truly one of the world's crown jewels. The 3,954 meter high mountain for which the park is named guards the park's western entrance. We stop for a 1.5 hour hike to glacier fed Kinney Lake. Our day concludes as we cross into Alberta and Jasper National Park.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 4

Jasper National Park, AB

Spanning 10,878 square kilometers of broad valleys and craggy mountains, Jasper is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks. On Day 4, We'll take the Jasper Tram to the mountain's upper terminus where much of the Canadian Rockies can be seen as far away as 80 kilometers. Later in the day we visit Maligne Lake and hike Maligne Canyon and the Bald Hills. We end our stay in Jasper with a therapeutic soak in Miette Hot Springs, the hottest hot spring in the Rocky Mountains. Accommodation: Camping

Day 5

Banff National Park & Lake Louise, AB.

A full day of sightseeing along the Rocky Mountains Icefield Parkway will take your breath away. The Columbia Icefield is the largest of the chain of ice fields along the Great Divide separating Alberta and British Columbia. This 325 square km. accumulation of ice feeds six large glaciers. You can see three of them - the Athabasca , the Dome, and Stutfield - from the Icefields Parkway. In the late morning we arrive at the Athabasca Glacier. In the company of certified mountain guides, clients will have the option to strap on crampons and join a naturalist for a two hour guided walk on the surface of the Athabasca Glacier, a massive river of ice riddled with an estimated 30,000 crevasses. Afterward, we’ll have free time to visit the Icefield’s interpretive centre. Other scenic stops include Sunwapta Falls and Mystya Canyon. In the late afternoon we arrive in Banff National Park. Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometers of mountains, glaciers, forests and alpine meadows.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 6

Johnston Canyon

We start the morning of Day 6 with a one hour hike of Johnston Canyon. After a brief stop at camp we'll head out to world famous Lake Louise. Here we'll board the Gondola and ascend to an elevation of 2088 meters where we'll enjoy a buffet lunch at Ten Peaks Lodge. After our visit to the Lake Louise area we'll stop at the townsite of Banff, where travellers will be given free time in the late to explore Banff on their own and take dinner at their own expense. Other highlights of the day include Bow Falls and views of Castle Mountain. Optional highlights include Sulphur Mountain Tram, Tour of Banff Springs Hotel or horseback riding.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 7

Yoho National Park, BC.

The native expression for "awe" and "wonder" is Yoho. In Yoho National Park, we stop at Spiral Tunnel before visiting Takakawa Falls, the highest in the Canadian Rockies. After the falls we'll continue on to Emerald Lake for a 2 hour hike. Later in the afternoon passengers will have the option to hone their paddling skills with an optional canoe paddle. Jet boat tours are on the Columbia River are also available.

Accommodation: Campin

Day 8

Yoho National Park, BC.

On Day 8 travellers can pursue a number of nature-based optional activities including: white water rafting on the Kicking Horse River, horseback riding from our campground, a wetland wildlife safari or a visit to the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary at Kicking Horse Resort. The Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge operates a wilderness centre for research, education, and conservation. The 22-acre sanctuary is the largest protected enclosed grizzly bear refuge in the world and provides a home and a second chance at life for orphaned grizzly bear cubs. Passengers not wishing to take part in the optional activities can take either the Leanchoil Hoodoo or Wapta Falls Trail, a 2-3 hour hike.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 9

Shuswap Lake, BC.

Today we will travel the through several mountain passes, including Roger's Pass at Glacier National Park. Here we'll stop and tour the visitor centre and enjoy the local nature trails in the area. We then continue on through the Monashee Mountains before arriving at our last stop along Shuswap Lake. Our last night is at a First Nation resort located on the shores of Salmon Arm, where passengers can enjoy a swim in the lake or soak up the sun on a white sandy beach. Optional spa facilities are available. Dinner at lodge is at client's expense.

Accommodation: Lakeside Resort

Day 10

Vancouver, BC.

Our last leg of the journey takes us along the Trans Canada Highway from Salmon Arm to Kamloops and over the scenic Coquihalla Highway to Hope. We arrive in Vancouver, bordered by the majestic Coastal Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

"A Rocky Mountain Explorer Adventure"