A Rocky Mountain Excursion: The Canadian Rockies Made Accessible

7 days / 6 nights

Wondering how to get to those remote Rocky Mountain Lodges when you’re short on time? This circle tour from Vancouver stays in lodges and other unique accommodations, many of which are located in spectacular areas less travelled by other tourists. We explore four national parks, home to vast glaciers rimmed with ice, deep forests, and emerald green lakes - some of the most majestic mountain scenery on earth. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to easy walks and hikes, narrate the natural history of the area, and make sure you take in the best of the Canadian Rockies on each day we travel on this excursion.

Activity Level : Easy
Maximum Group Size: 8
Accommodation: Lodge / resort / guest house
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Tour Dates (2008) :

Tour 1: May 25 – 31
Tour 2: June 01 – 07
Tour 3: June 08 – 14
Tour 4: June 15 – 21
Tour 5: June 22- 28
Tour 6: June 29 – July 05
Tour 7: July 06 – 12
Tour 8: July 13 – 19
Tour 9: July 20 – 26
Tour 10: July 27 – Aug. 02
Tour 11: August 03 – 09
Tour 12: August 10 – 16
Tour 13: August 17 – 23
Tour 14: August 24 – 30
Tour 15: August 31 – Sept. 06
Tour 16: Sept. 07 – 13
Tour 17: Sept. 14 – 20
Tour 18: Sept. 21 – 27
Tour 19: Sept. 28 – Oct. 04
Tour 20: October 05 - 11

Departs:

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

Returns:

Vancouver, BC (Day 7 @ 5:00 PM

-Tours depart on a Sunday and return on a Saturday

Price:

$1695 CDN (June 22 to September 7 departures); single supplement: $325

$1595 CDN (all other departures); Single supplement: $275 CDN.

Included:

6 nights accommodation
services of a driver/leader, included guided hikes
transportation (15-passenger van)
entrance fees to provincial and national parks
entrance Fees to Hells’ Gate and the Sulphur Mountain Tram

Not Included:

Optional activities, gratuities, and 6% GST.
Optional Activities: float rafting on the Columbia River, horseback riding

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:
1595.00 Can./Person
0.00 U.S./Person

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Location: British Columbia/Alberta
Weather: High 24
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Day 1

Salmon Arm, B.C.

Departing Vancouver, an hour’s driver takes us along the agricultural belt of the Fraser Valley, through the lush environs of Hope to the scorching, near desert conditions in the Fraser Canyon. We stop at Boston Bar, the site of the narrowest passage of the Fraser River, and descend in an air tram to the edge of the river to view 1,100 miles of river squeezing through 110 foot wide thundering rock passage. We turn east at Lytton where the mighty Fraser and Thompson Rivers meet. Arriving at Salmon Arm in the late afternoon, we check into our Lodge on the shores of the Shuswap Lake. We can relax on a sandy beach, hike nearby trails or swim in the warm lake waters. Optional canoeing and horseback riding are available.

Accommodation: Resort
Meals on own.

Day 2

Golden, BC, via Glacier National Park and the Columbia River Valley

On our way to Golden, we stop at Roger’s Pass Discovery Centre in Glacier National Park. Here, In the heart of the Columbia Mountains we learn more about the fascinating engineering that went on to build the trans Canada railway and highway over this rugged and treacherous mountain pass. A short drive from the summit takes us to a nature interpretive walk through an old-growth grove of giant cedar and hemlock.

We arrive in Golden early in the afternoon. Located in the southeast corner of the province of BC, Golden is nestled between the spectacular Rocky Mountains of Yoho National Park to the east and the Purcell Mountain Range to the west. Before checking into the lodge, we’ll have time for an optional jet boat safari on the mighty Columbia River.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

Kootenay National Park, BC.

Travelling south-east along the Columbia River Valley, we drive through the dramatic entrance of the west gate into Kootenay National Park. The iron rich cliffs tower over the road as we drive through a narrow gorge into Sinclair Canyon. En route passengers have the option to stop and take a soak in the hot and cool mineral pools at Radium Hot Springs. Turning onto a gravel road, we travel into the back country to find our secluded wilderness mountain retreat on the edge of Kootenay National Park. We stay in cabins surrounded by 100 acres of secluded pine trees, mountain views and plentiful wildlife.

Accommodation: Full service Wilderness Lodge and Cabins
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4

Kootenay National Park , BC.

Today is set aside for guests to relax while wandering the great selection of trails to tranquil alpine meadows, secluded forests, and glacier-fed lakes and rivers.

This area offers some of the finest and most spectacular alpine walking and hiking in the world. The trails range in ability from very easy strolls, to short day hikes, to full day hiking. Many trails lend themselves well to mountain biking and bikes can be rented from the office. This is an excellent area to view and find signs of birds and animals unique to the Canadian Rockies. Abundant wildlife near the cabins include deer, moose, elk, coyote, rabbits, grouse, squirrels, chipmunks, pine martens and the noisy whiskeyjack. Cutthroat trout, bull trout (dolly vardens), rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish are native to rivers and streams in the area. Fishing rods are available at the office.

Accommodation: Full service Wilderness Lodge and Cabins
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5

Banff, AB.

On the way to Banff National Park we stop at several interesting geological formations in Kootenay National Park, including Marble Canyon and the Paint Pots. After a tour of the townsite of Banff,we take a gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain to a spectacular elevation of 2,451 metres. Perched near the summit, the Sulphur Mountain Teahouse offers guests panoramic west and east views of the Bow Valley. A boardwalk on the north side provides access to the summit ridge to the top of Sanson Peak (2256 Metres).

After our visit to the Gondola we’ll sample village life for one night and check into our lodge in Banff, overlooking the Bow River. The rest of the day is spent at leisure to enjoy the town of Banff, or partake in optional activities including boat tours of Lake Minnewanka, Cave and Basin Museum, horseback riding and helicopter sightseeing.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

Revelstoke, B.C via Lake Louise

After our breakfast we take the less traveled secondary highway to Lake Louise. En route we’ll watch for elk, bear and moose and stop at Castle Mountain, Johnstone Canyon and Moose Meadows. At Lake Louise we take a stroll along the lakeshore and tour the Chateau Lake Louise. We’ll take time to relax and enjoy a refreshment on the patio overlooking the lake.

We then carry on west, stopping at Yoho National Park and Takakkaw Falls. Here we’ll stroll along the 1.5 km trail to the base of the waterfall and feel the mist on our face. Our last stop today is Emerald Lake for a one hour nature walk before we reach our final destination near the mountainous town of Revelstoke.

Accommodation: Guest House / Lodge
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

Return to Vancouver

Our final drive from Revelstoke to Vancouver takes us through the sunny and scenic Nicola Valley. We stop at the town of Merritt before continuing on over the Coquihalla Highway to Hope and then onto Vancouver. We arrive in Vancouver at approximately 6:00 pm.

"A Rocky Mountain Excursion: The Canadian Rockies Made Accessible"