The Best of the Rockies Hiking Trip - 7 Days/6 Nights

DAY 1     Arrive Calgary, transfer to Kananaskis. Meet guide and group in evening.
DAY 2     Spectacular hiking in Kananaskis Country.
DAY 3     Hiking to Chester Lake or Burstall Pass. Don’t forget your camera.
DAY 4     "Fire and Ice"on the Stanley Glacier Trail in Kootenay National Park.
DAY 5     The Classic day hike at Lake Louise in Banff National Park
DAY 6     Sentinel Pass or Iceline Trail. On the Top 3 list of hikes in the Canadian Rockies!
DAY 7     Tour concludes with shuttle to Calgary.

Cost Includes

• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 Dinner
• 6 nights in hotels/lodges 3-star category
• Private transport in mini-van
• Professional hiking/interpretive guide
• National park entry fees and sightseeing as indicated
• All permits, sightseeing and National Park entrance fees
• Shuttle to hotel on arrival day and to Calgary airport on final day

Cost Does Not Include

• Personal expenses
• Air fares
• Travel insurance
• Meals not indicated
• Tips

How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?

This program is designed for fit walkers. No previous mountain hiking experience required.

This Canadian Rockies walking trip involves hiking for up to 6 to 7 hours per day, usually with distances of 10-14 kilometres. The final walk may be longer with a possible distance up to 21 km. Elevation gains will vary from 300 m up to 800 m. (2,800 ft) on the final day. You will need to carry a daypack large enough for spare clothing, your camera, lunch and something to drink each day.

Guides and Group Size

Your guides are experienced professional hiking guides with certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and/or from the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association. They are chosen for their enthusiasm and interest in sharing their knowledge of these mountains.

The minimum group size will be 4, maximum 8.

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation is double occupancy. Each of the lodgings we have chosen were selected for their unique character and relatively easy access to other amenities. Banff, and Lake Louise are very interesting communities and we have found over the years that most people who visit the Canadian Rockies also want to get a feel for the local culture. Kananaskis on the other hand is a little bit more remote and will provide a perfect way to connect with nature from day 1. Banff’s tourism heritage is going back to the 1880’s and Lake Louise is renown for its spectacular scenery.

We will be happy to book rooms for you before and after the tour; please contact us for the most recent rates.

All breakfasts are included as are picnic lunches and trail snacks. Dinner on the final night is included. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on your application so we can incorporate them into our lunch menus.

Transfers to and from Calgary

We will arrange a shuttle for you from Calgary or Calgary Airport to Kananaskis and from Lake Louise back to Calgary. Once the final group is confirmed your guide will plan a group shuttle departure that fits most arrivals. If your arrival does not fit this departure, we will arrange a shuttle for you with one of the scheduled services. Return to Calgary will be arranged in the same manner. Driving time from Calgary to Kananaskis is approx. 1 ¼ hours and driving time from Lake Louise to Calgary is approximately 2 ½ hours.

Climate

This trip operates during the main months of summer, though snow can linger at high elevations until well into the season. Weather is unpredictable at any time of year, but is generally quite warm in July and August. Daytime highs range from 15-25 C and nighttime temperatures can drop to 5-10 C. Temperatures in June and September can be cooler with nighttime temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. As with alpine environments throughout the globe, the higher you go, the lower the temperature becomes. Ensuring that you have the correct clothing for an alpine environment is crucial. Please see below for information on clothing and equipment requirements.

Insurance in the National Parks

Please ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary.