We pick you up from the Calgary Marriot Downtown Hotel at 2 pm, heading out of the city and into the mountains. Along the way, you will see an endless line of Calgarians returning to the city after a big weekend, and begin to realize how meticulously we planned every details of this trip to avoid crowds.

We stop in Canmore for a quick supply stop where you can opt to buy some drinks for the coming days of camping in the Rockies. As we leave the prairies behind you will see the mountains building up to the West, until we are suddenly surrounded by majestic peaks in all directions.

We arrive at our campground in Lake Louise and your guides go over the camping equipment with you, ensuring that you are well supported in setting up your tent for the next four nights. We are camping in a spacious, forested campsite a few minute walk from Lake Louise Village, and strategically close to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake for easy access over the next few days.

We get dinner ready and sit around a campfire chatting about the days to come and all getting to know each other. as the stars come out. Enjoy sleeping in the fresh mountain air, with the crisp scent of spruce needles and absolute silence all around.

Pick Up: Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel @ 2 pm
Driving: 2 hours
Meals: D

Today we head up the infamous Icefields Parkway in search of glaciers and alpine lakes. What we find, won’t disappoint you either! On the first full day of your Banff hiking and camping tour we visit the Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier. The Columbia Icefields are the largest expanse of ice in the Rockies and an excellent place to get up close and personal with the glacier.

You have the option to head out on a guided glacier walk as an optional activity, or go for a guided hike with your guides. The guided glacier walk spends a few hours with a dedicated glacier guide, hiking out on the expanse of ice and learning about the glacier in detail— from up close! The guided hike winds far above the valley bottom to a spectacular viewpoint, where we are rewarded with an astounding bird’s eye view of the Athabasca Glacier. Both options are incredible and we wish you could do them both!

On the way back to our campsite, we stop at the famous alpine lake that line the Icefields Parkway, most notably Peyto Lake and Bow Lake. The Icefields Parkway is one of the most photographed driving routes in the world, and you will soon see why. Back at camp we enjoy a lovely camp dinner, prepared by your guides around a campfire.

Typical Hike: Wilcox Pass (10 km, 450 m elevation, 4-5 hours)
Driving: 2 hours
Meals: B,L,D

On the third day of your hiking vacation in the Canadian Rockies, we stay close to our camp and explore Moraine Lake, possibly the most famous attraction of the entire country! As a licensed operator, we have special access on the road to the lake, and we head up for a guided hike in the backcountry above Moraine Lake.

First thing’s first.. we stop to admire the impossibly blue water of the lake, with the famous ten peaks glowing in the morning sun in the background. This is one of the most sought after views in the Rockies. You’ll have time to walk the short trail to the top of the rockpile, where you get the best views of the lake.

Next we wind our way up through spruce forests, and emerge into an alpine world with views that we couldn’t possibly describe. There are some of the most dramatic peaks in the Rockies on all sides of us. Our trail leads us right below walls that stretch up to the sky, with alpine meadows filled with wildflowers and the odd squeak from a lounging marmot. We picnic with views of Eiffel Lake, and the panorama of jagged peaks and enjoy our time in the uninterrupted alpine.

On our return to camp, you can walk the short distance into Lake Louise Village to poke around, or relax in the campground until dinner is served. As the sun goes down, we relax around a campfire and watch the stars come out.

Typical Hike: Eiffel Lake (12.5 km, 600 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 30 minutes
Meals: B,L,D

Another day to explore deeper than most would ever venture in the alpine paradise of Lake Louise. Today we head over to another famous alpine lake of Banff National Park and visit Lake Louise itself. This lake is an iconic destination in the Rockies, with the chateau hotel build on the shoreline, and the beautiful views of Victoria Glacier looming above the far end of the lake.

Most people would arrive at the shore of the lake, snap some photos and call it a day, but you’re not like most people, and we’re not like most tour companies in Banff! We pass the crowds and head along the shore of the lake with the crowds quickly fading into the distance behind us. At the far end of the lake, the glacier and mountains loom larger than ever, but we’re not done yet! We hike upwards and onwards towards the glacier, with Lake Louise turning into a beautiful little speck behind us. If we’re lucky, we’ll be treated to an unforgettable spectacle of the glaciers high up on the mountains calving off and sending massive chunks of ice tumbling down their walls in a thunderous roar. This is nature at work and being able to witness it is truly a special moment.

Typical Hike: Plain of Six Glaciers (15 km, 700 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 15 minutes
Meals: B,L,D

We pack up camp and head a little west into Yoho National Park for a day of exploration in one of the most underrated parks in Canada. The word “Yoho” mean awe in the local Cree language, and you’ll soon see why! While most of the Rocky Mountain Parks run parallel to the mountain ranges, Yoho cuts across, which makes the mountains seem just a little more unbelievable, almost as if they are directly above you (which they kind of are!)

As we head up the Yoho valley, you will suddenly be met by awe dropping views of Takakkaw Falls. This is the third highest waterfall in Canada and easily one of the most stunning. From the base of the falls, we hike up into the alpine, where you are rewarded with a bird’s eye view of the falls, and a bug’s eye view of the Emerald Glacier right above us. The combination of the sweeping mountain views, thundering waterfalls, and nearby glaciers are enough to bring a grown adult to tears… (true story, but enough about that).

At the end of the hike we make sure you get close enough to the falls to get a good rinsing, and then stop by Emerald Lake for some sightseeing before heading further west to Revelstoke.

Typical Hike: Iceline Trail (15 km, 700 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 2.5 hours
Meals: B,L,D

Most tours focus on bringing you to Banff and Jasper, which is an easy sell because it’s what people have heard of. Most wouldn’t have heard much about Glacier and Revelstoke National Parks, or the tiny mountain town of Revelstoke. Our specialty is bringing travelers like you to the most authentic destinations that offer an unforgettable and unspoiled experience, and today is the perfect example of that!

We drive up a road called “Meadows in the Sky Parkway” and park at the top, where we already begin with world class views and completely pristine alpine landscapes. Our guided hike brings us through meandering alpine trails to Miller and Eva Lakes in Revelstoke National Park. The peaks are gorgeous, and the lakes are a little different than the other lakes in the Rockies, inviting you to jump in for a refreshing dip in their crystal clear waters.

Time permitting, we may stop and give you some time to explore the town of Revelstoke, whose streets are lined with locally owned shops, and delicious snacks.

Typical Hike: Eva/ Miller Lakes (16 km, 530 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 1 hour
Meals: B,L,D

Few tours visit Glacier National Park, which is easily the most wild and free of all the mountain parks in Canada. In the winter this is the ski touring capital of Canada, beloved by ski mountaineers for its steep walls and majestic peaks. In the summer, people drive through here, but few stop to hike the endless trails that wind through the valleys and ridges of the park. Consider this our detox from crowds and tour buses as we spend the day hiking one of the best trails in search of glacier views, pristine mountain air and solitude.

Our typical hike of choice is Balu Pass, where we steadily climb a valley bottom through the world’s only temperate inland rainforest until we break free into the alpine. From here we climb to the top of a ridge where we emerge into expansive views of distant glaciers and rugged peaks.

Far below us lies Rogers Pass, where the highway and railway lie. Rogers Pass was historically and is currently the toughest travel corridor in Canada. 140 avalanche paths cross the road and rails, with a long history of destruction and tragedy. Time permitting, we stop in the visitor center where you can view films, and learn all about the storied past and present of this wild place.

Typical Hike: Balu Pass (13 km, 850 m elevation, 5-6 hours)
Driving: 1.5 hours
Meals: B,L,D

It’s now time to complete our loop of the National Parks in the Rockies as we head East towards Banff. Today we visit Kootenay National Park, which is another underdog in the mountain parks. Kootenay Park was overlooked as an option for the railroad route and as a result never had any visitation in the pioneering days of the parks. That meant that it had very little human interference, which is immediately apparent when you travel through the wild valleys. Forest fires were left to their natural process, which has left the forests of Kootenay Park very different from what we see closer to Banff and Lake Louise. The animals seem to love this area too, with plenty of bears and other mammals often around to spot as we drive.

Our guided walk takes us on the Stanley Glacier Trail, climbing into a hanging valley with dramatic cliff walls on all sides and a magnificent glacier to admire. This is one of a few very special places in the Rockies, where a layer of ancient seabed rose to form the high mountain ridges and revealing their remarkably well preserved fossils.

After the hike we continue on to the town of Banff, setting up camp with a beautiful view of Mt Rundle just outside the town. Time permitting, we aim to go for a soothing soak in the local hot springs, whose mineral waters have been soaked in by weary nomads for thousands of years.

Typical Hike: Stanley Glacier (11.5 km, 600 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 3.5 hours
Meals: B,L,D

Today we head South of Banff for a day of exploration and hiking just outside the world renown parks and into a virtually unknown land of solitude and tranquility. While others are loading up into tour buses and fighting for parking, we’ll be travelling through moose country on a dirt road without a crowd in sight! We’re heading for Bow Valley Wildlands, where cows range free, mountains reach high and we have the place all to ourselves.

Your Canadian hiking guides will be taking you on the Picklejar Lakes Trail, which cuts across panoramic alpine meadows and enters a peaceful valley in the alpine, lined with crystal clear lakes and surrounded by a cirque of dramatic mountain walls. The scenery is stunning and the clean mountain air and grassy shores of the lake, makes for the perfect setting for a picnic.

Time permitting, we stop in Canmore for a stroll and some time to explore Banff’s lesser known and far less touristy neighboring town before heading back to camp for dinner and a campfire.

Typical Hike: Pickle Jar Lakes (11 km, 700 m elevation, 4-6 hours)
Driving: 1.5 hours
Meals: B,L,D

Today we stay close to home, hiking a trail near Banff. We’ll most likely hike the Bourgeau Lake Trail, which climbs steadily through spruce forest until arriving in a hanging valley, complete with world class mountain scenery and a gorgeous lake. You’re welcome to swim in the lake as we enjoy an alpine picnic, and some may feel like pressing on a bit further to get to the top of Harvey Pass.

In the evening we enjoy another delicious camp meal and if you feel up for it, perhaps, a short walk to enjoy sunset from the top of Banff’s most accessible mountain!

Typical Hike: Bourgeau Lake/ Harvey Pass (15 km, 950 m elevation, 5-6 hours)
Driving: 1 hour
Meals: B,L,D

Typical Hike: Chester Lake (10 km, 400 m elevation, 4 hours)
Driving: 1.5 hours
Meals: B,L,D

Typical Hike: Grotto Canyon (5 km, 200 m elevation, 2 hours)
Driving: 1.5 hours
Meals: B,L
Drop Off: Calgary Airport @ 2 pm, Calgary Downtown @ 2:30 pm

• 12 days guiding and transportation in 15 passenger van

• 11 nights (double occupancy) camping accommodations

• Daily guided hikes with expert local guides

• Park passes

• Hot spring entry fees

• All meals & snacks from pickup to drop off

• Flights/ Travel To The Tour

• Optional activities:

  • Rafting- (if available)

  • Horseback riding ~$125

  • Guided Glacier Walk ~$125

• Travel insurance

• Personal alcohol

• Guide gratuities (optional)

  • $10-20 per person, per guide, per day is typical

Level 3- Active

Hiking on established trails with a light daypack. Covering 10-18 km (6-12 miles) with elevation gain up to 1000 meters. Typically hiking for 3-5 hours per day.

You should be prepared to spend extended periods walking, on inclined trails with uneven and loose surfaces. It is not uncommon to be out of breath and to sweat, but that’s what makes the views that much more rewarding, right?!

Despite Canada’s reputation for ice and polar bears, the Rockies are actually a summery slice of heaven between the months of June- September.

You can expect sunny skies and very little rain during your tour. Typical temperatures are 25 degrees Celcius (82 f) during the day, and 15 degrees Celcius (60 f) at night.

Rain is rare, but be prepared for it anyway.

You won’t have to carry your luggage while hiking, so you can pack however you like. A suitcase is fine, and there is lots of room in the trailer.

• 2 complete warm layering systems that are not cotton (think fleece, polyester, merino wool etc, for top and bottom) It is best to dress in layers so you can adapt to changing weather. A light base layer, with a warmer layer on top and rain jacket will help you stay warm.

• Rain jacket (anything wind and waterproof will work) Rain pants are helpful too.

• Comfortable hiking boots (Anything comfy, stable & blister free & don't mind getting dirty/ wet)

• Bathing suit and towel (for swimming, hot springs and showers along the way)

• Socks and underwear (you knew that though I hope)

• Small day pack to carry your personal items on hikes

• Any medications you need (like epi pens, asthma or heart meds, insulin) Very important!

• Suitcase/ duffel bag or back pack for your luggage (we have lots of room, bring whatever works- you won't have to carry it)

• Hiking poles if you feel you might need them to protect your knees on rocky paths

• Sunscreen, bug spray, sun glasses, lip chap all help

• At least one 1 liter water bottle (two is ideal)

• Travel pillow (or bunch up your sweater) & Sleeping bag rated to 0 degrees C (unless renting ours) This is for camping tours only.

• Headlamp or flashlight (helps during the midnight dash to the toilet)

• Camera for the epic views

• Roughly $4 per day in loonies and quarters to use any showers which are coin operated

Hiking

Our Rockies camping tour is beginner friendly, though you should have a reasonable level of fitness.

Expect to be walking 4-6 hours per day at a moderate pace on an incline or decline. Trails are well maintained, though you should expect uneven surfaces.

We always have a guide in front of the group and one behind the group, to ensure that everyone is well looked after. We do our best to ensure that everyone is able to hike at a comfortable pace and have time to enjoy the scenery.

Camping

Camping is beginner friendly and your guides are there to help every step of the way.

That being said, guests are expected to set up and take down their tents, with some helpful tips from your guides. Our tents are easy to set up, usually within 5 minutes.

Our sleeping pads are second to none. Your pad is an inflatable pad, 3.5 inches thick, which you can make hard or soft to suit your comfort level.

Campgrounds have hot showers and flush toilets, along with some cell service at most campgrounds.

Unlike most tour companies, we don’t like to cater to a specific age group and we find in common a sense of adventure and passion for life, rather than just a common age.

Typically our guests are between 30 and 75, with an average age of 50.

There are roughly an even split between travelers aged 30-50 and 50-75.

Our groups are usually 40% male and 60% female and typically 50-70% of our guests are traveling solo.

Over the years that we have run these Banff camping tours we have noticed that groups who participate in the day to day camping activities have a far better experience and we are able to deliver a superior tour. Our goal is to create the perfect blend of relaxation and comfort, with a mix of expedition and adventure elements into one unforgettable week for you.

During your tour there are times that we ask for your help to ensure we can run a smooth tour. Below is a rough idea of what you can expect on our camping tours.

• Setting Up Tents: Each time we move camp, you will be responsible to set up and take down your tent. Your guides will be right there to support you and make sure you know what you are doing, and campers usually work together on this to make light work of it. Each tent typically takes less than 5 minutes to set up or take down, even for an inexperienced camper. This will happen 3-4 times on your tour.

• Meal Prep & Dishes: While your guides work to whip up a gourmet meal each day, we ask for a little bit of light and casual help in the kitchen a few times during your tour. The kitchen is where most people hang out and enjoy a beer or glass of wine at the end of a big hiking day, and the most social part of the campsites. We simply ask you to help chop a few veggies, grate some cheese etc while you hang out during a few meals. A few times over the course of your tour, you will be asked to help with the dishes, working in teams of 2-3. This is likely to happen 3-4 times over the course of this tour and shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes each time.

• Departure Day: On the last day of your tour, your guides will come by and help you quickly shake any debris out of your tent.

Please remember that we want this to be as relaxing an experience as possible for you. You always have the right to refuse to help, though we have found over the past two thousand travelers we have guided in the Rockies, that the most helpful groups have a better experience overall by a longshot. As things get done quicker, your guides have more time to surprise you with desserts, or squeeze in extra sights to go and see!