Leave no rock
un-turned and no trail un-hiked on this epic hiking and camping
adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Explore some of the most iconic
wilderness in North America with a genuine local guide to make sure
you make the most of every moment and learn some amazing things along
the way. Over the course of 12 days you will get an insider's look
at four of Canada's most famous mountain national parks, including a
UNESCO world heritage area.
This guided small
group tour is perfect for anyone travelling solo or with a friend,
partner or small group, and is suitable for all skill levels from
beginner to expert. Best of all.... we provide everything so all you
need are a pair of shoes and a smile (although some clothes and a
light day pack can really help). We have taken years to perfect this
itinerary to ensure that you cover the most ground while spending the
least amount of time in a bus. Your expert local guide will prepare
a mouthwatering menu rich in healthy and fresh meals. We source our
food from local farmers, most of whom are within a day's drive of
where your tour takes place. You can count on a delicious variety of
seafoods, quality meats, Canadian cheeses, fresh fruit and produce
from Western Canada.
Your camping
adventure in the Canadian Rockies is focused on taking you off the
beaten path and away from the crowds and tour buses. Sure, we still
stop at the major attractions so you can snap a picture and cross it
off your bucketlist, but then we dive into a rich natural world
accessible only by hiking. Did you know that only 3 percent of Banff
National Park is accessible by road? The rest is left completely
wild, waiting for you to discover during the guided hikes on this
tour.
Travelling in a
small group is ideal for anyone looking to make new friends and share
an amazing adventure and lifelong memories with like minded people
from the farthest reaches of the planet. And yes, it seems that the
amazing people that join Fresh Adventures tours are among the coolest
and most laid back. We have never had a group that didn't get along
famously and most stay in touch for years after their Canada camping
adventure.
Your guided hiking
tour in the Rockies is the perfect blend of active travel, hiking,
relaxation in hot springs and scenic views. You also have the option
to join some additional activities like rafting, horseback riding,
mountain biking to name a few. By the end of the tour you will have
hiked many of the highlight hikes in the Rockies, seeing the best of
Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. We are excited to
meet you and share an amazing adventure together!
Meet your new friends as we pick you up from the Marriott Downtown Hotel at 2 pm in Calgary.
We head 2.5 hours west, deep into the mountains, which you can admire along the scenic drive.
We make a quick stop in Canmore where you can purchase alcohol and snacks as you desire.
Spend the first evening relaxing around a campfire and watching the stars come out with new friends, while talking about the exciting days ahead.
Start point
Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel, 110 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 0P3, Canada
14:00 - 14:00
Wake up feeling fresh and head out to explore the Columbia Icefield, which is the largest icefield in the Rockies and home to 30 glaciers. Most people would walk towards the base of the glacier, but you're not most people, are you?! We hike up through Wilcox Pass and come out on a ridge with an absolutely breathtaking view of the Athabasca Glacier far below us. It seems so close with its grandeur. Imagine the epic photos you can take from here. Spend the evening down by the lake enjoying the sunset and then around the campfire, roasting marshmellows and chatting about the day.
No need to go anywhere today! We are already in a hidden paradise down a secret valley that no one seems to know about. This is where we spend three nights camping. There is an incredible hike with no one on it right near our campground. Climb a secret mountain to the top of a secret ridge, with mind blowing views of all the peaks around and the shimmering blue lake far below. This is a view you won't forget quickly!
Today we pack up camp bright and early and head to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise for some incredible views and even more incredible hiking.
Capture the unreal turquoise waters at Moraine Lake, while taking some epic selfies.
We hike up and beyond the lake to a hidden valley where you will be in awe as we hike directly below towering mountain peaks with otherworldly wildflowers.
After the hike we head through Yoho National Park to the peaceful mountain town of Golden, British Columbia. Here we will be camped along the side of the Kicking Horse River for a few nights.
Come and see why this area is name "Kicking Horse" and see if you get kicked by the horse yourself! Today you have the option to raft down the Kicking Horse River or go for a hike with your guide. Rafting is really cool and a great way to spice up your tour with some exhileration and professional guides to take care of you.
Put on your leather shorts because we are headed to Lake Louise for a magical hike and to learn about the Swiss history and influence in the early days of tourism in the Rockies. We head to Lake Louise where you can take some more selfies and see the mighty Victoria Glacier towering above the lake. From the lake we hike along a trail that winds its way up towards that same galcier, getting surprisingly close. From here you can appreciate the massive mountains on either side of the valley and in the morning sun, you can often see and hear massive chunks of ice crumbling off the glacier in an earth trembling roar! This is very special to see.
We arrive at a historic alpine tea house, where you can get some tea while we prepare a picnic for you. Today we feast on Swiss fondue as we appreciate the swiss influence in Lake Louise. How fitting!
While Glacier National Park is totally off the radar for most people and virtually every other tour on this website, we add that extra bit of local flair by bringing you to the true heart of the mountains. There is a scandal here though... you are no longer in the Rockies. We venture into the Columbia Mountains, which are actually on the continental plate that crashed into North America some 200 million years ago. While the mountains are still mountains, you may notice some changes, like more coastal plants and more cedars. This is because you are now in the only inland temperate rainforest in the world!
Glacier National Park has some of the most epic hikes and views in the world, though it is still so undiscovered. But we like it that way, don't we?!
You will hike through some amazing mountain terrain, where those same Swiss mountaineers surveyed the route for the railroad that brought our country together, from coast to coast!
While we are heading back to Banff today, we have two options. Most likely, your guide will be taking you through Kootenay National Park, where you have the chance to hike through some amazing scenery. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as you pass through Kootenay Natioanl Park. This area is less visited and less tampered with by humans, since the railway never passed through this valley. As a result this area is much less disturbed.
In the evening you will set up camp in Banff, enjoy a tasty dinner and head to the local hot springs for a well deserved soak in the ancient healing waters.
We are finally exploring Banff and all that is has to offer! We head south to Kananaskis Country, where we will be travelling right next to the continental divide with some stunning views of majestic peaks and mountains in all directions. This is one of our favourite areas to explore. We will be hiking on one of a few different trail options today, with rolling alpine meadows filled with wildflowers and not many people around as well!
Since Kananaskis is so wild and gorgeous and uncrowded, we figure we might as well go right back there for some more amazing hikes in the backcountry!
Today you will do another hike in the area and have some time in the afternoon to explore the town of Banff.
This is our last day to soak in those mountains and explore some new terrain! We head out for a hike nearby, reaching a hidden alpine lake and beyond to a panoramic alpine ridge!
Once we are back down we hang out at the campsite, chatting about our favourite moments of the tour around a campfire. We can't wait to hear your favourite parts of your adventure!
Today we pack up camp and have a last breakfast together before hitting the road. Though this is the last day of the tour, the fun is not over yet! We stop at a local canyon for a quick foray up the narrow canyon with impressive rock walls towering above us and get to a special place with some pictographs on the wall from ancient nomads leaving their story some 1300 years ago!
We aim to drop you off anywhere in Calgary by 2 pm.
End point
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
13:30 - 14:30
11 nights camping accommodation with quality sleeping pad and tent (double occupancy). 3 person tents for 2 people
Internaitonal flights are not included
Expert local guides
Typicaally 2 guides per tour (8:1 max ratio)
3 gourmet meals per day from pick up to drop off
Other activities and services are not included
Park passses
Hot pring entry fees
Use of our quality camping gear (Tent and sleeping pad. Sleeping bag is optional)
Personal alcohol
Optional activities
Optional personal transportation around town during free time
Getting to and from the tour
Trip cancellation/ travel medical insurance (highly recommended)
Single tent upgrade, sleeping bag rental
Guide gratuities- $10 per person, per day, per guide or 10% of trip cost is typical
Transportation from pick up to drop off in van and trailer
Canada
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