Canada winter adventure holiday
| country: | Canada |
| location: | Canadian Rockies, Alberta |
| departures: | This trip can depart any time to suit your itinerary Dec 1 – Mar 31 |
| price: | From CA $2780 (14 days) excluding flights. Price includes activities and accommodation. Single supplement CA $710. Price does not include goods & service tax |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Experience the best of the Canadian winter with this ideal activity package especially designed to give you vacation memories to last a life time. The activities have been graduated to introduce new skills then give you the chance to practice on full day adventures.
14 nights bed and breakfast accommodation or self catered condo at a choice of two excellent locations in Canmore.
Your exciting adventure begins here, prepare for a truly unique experience, and try a range of activities you will not get anywhere else.
First Evening - Meet and Greet: An early evening get together with the guides. This allows you the opportunity to meet the guides you will be spending time with and allows for a brief discussion on the different activities and what to expect. Snacks and beverages included.
14 nights bed and breakfast accommodation or self catered condo at a choice of two excellent locations in Canmore.
Your exciting adventure begins here, prepare for a truly unique experience, and try a range of activities you will not get anywhere else.
First Evening - Meet and Greet: An early evening get together with the guides. This allows you the opportunity to meet the guides you will be spending time with and allows for a brief discussion on the different activities and what to expect. Snacks and beverages included.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Snow Shoeing: Spend time with your guide using a historic form of Canadian travel through pristine mountain scenery. The skills are easy to learn and the pace is relaxed. Your guide will assist you in learning how to use your snow shoes on a variety of terrain at a level comfortable for you. Learn Native lore on plants and some history of the people who lived here. Enjoy a campfire lunch where you will learn traditional methods of fire lighting and how to build a fire in many different weather conditions. This includes examples of different fire types and their uses and of course, the best type of fire for keeping you warm (it’s not what you think!). |
| Day 2: | Kennel to Trail Dog Sledding: The day begins with a snack and campfire at our kennel location by Gap Lake. Here the guides will take you through an introduction to dog sledding, the history of dog sledding in the Bow Valley area and dog sledding as a sport itself. You will then have an opportunity to meet the dogs, view the kennel area, and assist the guides with the loading of the dogs for the drive up to the trail head. Once up at the Spray Valley, you will be encouraged to assist with harnessing the dogs and setting up the teams. Then it’s out on the trail! you will enjoy an exhilarating dog sled ride with breathtaking views of the Spray Valley. You will have the opportunity to drive the sled with the assistance of a qualified and will enjoy a trail lunch along the way. |
| Day 3: | Cross Country Skiing:A guided cross-country ski tour to take in the views of some of our beautiful snowcapped mountains. Terrain is easy to moderate depending on ability and comfort level. Equipment, lessons and lunch are included. |
| Day 4: | Optional Time and Night Walk: This is your day. Shop, sight-see, or check out the local history or art museums. Your hosts will be happy guide you in the right direction. *If you desire more outdoor adventure, you may choose an activity from the pick menu as an add-on to your package.After dinner, join us on an easy evening ramble to view the infinite number of stars visible in our northern sky. You will learn about these stars & constellations and the native legends around them. We may even see the Northern Lights! |
| Day 5: | Canyon Ice Walk and Night Time Dog Sled Run: With your guide, explore the ice flows and pictographs of Grotto Canyon. Here you will learn the Native story behind these drawings as to why they are there, who might have left them, and who we know did not leave them! Evening: Experience the wonders of the winter land by Dog Sled at night. Enjoy some hot chocolate while wrapped up in a warm blanket as your dog team leads you into the evening splendors of the Rockies. |
| Day 6: | Cross Country Ski Day: A guided cross-country ski tour to try out your new found skills. Options for a more challenging ski, advanced lessons or just an enjoyable day on your skis. Equipment and lunch included. |
| Day 7: | Tracking and Bushcraft-Shelters: Follow the footsteps of a traditional Canadian trapper and learn the basics of winter animal tracking. You will start by exploring your own tracks and amaze yourself at what you can learn from them. Then, you will go in search of other animal tracks in which to build upon what you’ve already discovered. Campfire lunch will be served. The Natives and Early Explorers not only survived in this chilly land, but thrived in it! Learn how they accomplished this feat by building a shelter for the winter and stoking a fire for it. |
| Day 8: | Optional Time: This is your day. Shop, sight-see, or check out the local history or art museums. Your hosts will be happy guide you in the right direction. |
| Day 9: | Mount Nestor Viewpoint Dog Sledding: The day begins with a snack at our trailhead at Driftwood on the Spray Lakes. Here the guides will take you through an introduction to dog sledding, the equipment, and dog handling. You will then have an opportunity to meet the dogs and assist the guides with harnessing the dogs and setting up the teams. Then it’s out on the trail! You will enjoy an exhilarating dog sled ride with breathtaking views of the Spray Valley. This trail takes you out over the frozen lake then up into the trees to navigate an exciting trail around Mount Nestor to our backcountry campsite. Along the trail you will have the opportunity to drive the sled with the assistance of a qualified guide. At our backcountry campsite, a campfire lunch will be served. Here you will have a chance to warm up by the fire and learn a little about the history of dog sledding in the Bow Valley area and discuss dog sledding as a sport itself before heading back down the lake. |
| Day 10: | Bushcraft Tool Making and Natural Crafting: An amazing array of tools can be made from natural items found in the forest. From making your own bush saw and backpack to learning how to take down a tree using only a knife, you can imagine yourself as an early explorer in the Canadian wilderness! After a campfire lunch, continue with some natural crafting of items such as water containers, baskets and wooden utensils. |
| Day 11: | Caving: Explore the intricate channels of Rats Nest Cave in Grotto Mountain. Expert guides lead you through a wild, undeveloped cave system etched and sculpted through geological history by running glacial water. Move from twisting passageways to large underground chambers complete with mineral formations, animal bones and fossils. A great introduction to this exciting underground world! |
| Day 12: | Snow Shoe Adventure: Spend a glorious fun-filled day out on your snow shoes mastering your new found skills. This adventure will take you through some of the most breathtaking and unique scenery the park has to offer |
| Day 13: | Navigation and Evening Meal. To add to your knowledge of the native people and early explorers of this land, learn the unique ways in which they were able to find their way through this rugged terrain. Using traditional navigation techniques, as well as, more modern methods, you will spend the day exploring the trails as you never have before. Evening: Join your guides for an evening meal at one of the many fine restaurants in Canmore. A nice wrap up with the guides and hosts for a fond farewell. |
| Day 14: | If staying at the Bed and Breakfast a full breakfast is served before preparing for your journey onwards. |
how this holiday makes a difference
We recognize that the culture, environment and economies of our area are fragile, requiring a sustained commitment from us to ensure that we have a lasting positive effect. Tourism can be a real help to our local community providing income, positive cultural exchanges and the financial incentive to protect the natural environment.
We will aim to ensure that our type and scale of tourism is appropriate to local conditions and operate within the limits set by local appropriate infrastructure and carrying capacity. We use locally owned and run services by preference and accommodation is locally owned and operated. In addition we support local income generation and small business enterprises by supporting locally owned shops and restaurants, and using local guide services.
We encourage clients through our leaders, the literature and presentations to act in a responsible way and with an insight and understanding of our area. We will provide financial support for local economic and environmental projects that will benefit the local communities. Thereby actively encouraging local community involvement in Tourism Projects.
We will aim to ensure that our type and scale of tourism is appropriate to local conditions and operate within the limits set by local appropriate infrastructure and carrying capacity. We use locally owned and run services by preference and accommodation is locally owned and operated. In addition we support local income generation and small business enterprises by supporting locally owned shops and restaurants, and using local guide services.
We encourage clients through our leaders, the literature and presentations to act in a responsible way and with an insight and understanding of our area. We will provide financial support for local economic and environmental projects that will benefit the local communities. Thereby actively encouraging local community involvement in Tourism Projects.