Canadian Rockies: The Ultimate Active Outdoor Adventure

Arrive at Lake Louise
Lake Louise is world famous for its vibrant turquoise lake and dramatically beautiful mountains. Lake Louise, also named Lake of the Little Fishes by the Stoney Nakota First Nations people, is a glacial lake within Banff National Park. Banff, Canada’s first national park, was established in 1885 to help preserve the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

During your adventure, you’ll get to know your expert Canadian guide, who will help you discover the local history, mountain names, glaciers, and caves. You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner and hear from your guides about the exciting upcoming adventures for the week.

After checking in and settling into your room, enjoy a welcome walk with a view of Lake Louise.

Dinner

Overnight: Lake Louise Inn

Lake Louise
Travel to the dazzling Columbia Icefield, the largest mass of ice in the Rocky Mountains which drapes across the North American Continental Divide and covers 125 square miles. From its melting snows and many glaciers, waters flow across North America to the Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Pacific oceans. Your ice-walk adventure is on the Athabasca Glacier, a three and a half-mile tongue of ice that flows from the icefield, giving you the chance to peer into ice canyons and crevasses. It is a world few people ever see, let alone experience firsthand. Enjoy lunch on the way.

Enjoy dinner as a group tonight at Lake Louise Station.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Lake Louise Inn

Lake Louise to Kananaskis Country
Head to Rat’s Nest Caves to explore an amazing network of underground caverns. With no lights, no handrails, and no walkways here, you’ll get to experience it like the explorers who first discovered it! Your explorations will take you through ‘the Box’, then on to the Five Way Chamber, the Grand Gallery, and finally the Grotto – a chamber full of stalactites and stalagmites with a crystal-clear pool at the bottom of the cave. You will need to crab-walk, fit through small spaces, and have decent upper body strength for this excursion.

Enjoy lunch along the way.

Enjoy dinner as a group this evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Pomeroy Kananaskis

Kananaskis Country
Set off on a beautiful mountain bike ride on a stunning path through the mountains. This activity is catered for all abilities, so hop on your bike and go!

Enjoy lunch after your biking adventure.

Have dinner with your new friends at the Kananaskis Forte, or enjoy room service if you’d prefer some alone time.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Pomeroy Kananaskis

Kananaskis to Banff
Head to Chinook Rafting headquarters for whitewater rafting! The river is renowned as one of the best in the Canadian Rockies for whitewater rafting. The canyons and thrilling whitewater are just right for first-time adventurers and more seasoned paddlers too. Once you are fitted with a government-approved life jacket, helmet, wetsuit, booties, gloves, and spray jacket (all clean and dry) your guide will go over safety procedures and paddling techniques you will use on the river. The rapids, a jump in the river, and being in the middle of Hollywood movie sets are sure to leave you with big smiles. You will not soon forget this excellent river adventure.

Enjoy time to explore the picturesque and historic resort town of Banff, your home base for the next two nights. If you wish, take an optional soak in the world-famous hot springs (at your own expense).

Dinner is on your own tonight in one of Banff’s many restaurants.

Tonight after dinner you will meet with Lynn Martel, a local photographer from Canmore. Lynn will teach you some techniques about how to turn a good landscape photo into a GREAT landscape photo.

Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Royal Canadian Lodge

Banff
You can choose from either the 6-mile, 1,700-foot elevation gain Larch Valley hike, or the Sentinel Pass hike, which traverses 7 miles with a 2,375-foot elevation gain. Both hikes start in the dreamy Valley of the Ten Peaks at Moraine Lake and lead through a peaceful larch forest and up to a high alpine meadow filled with carpets of alpine wildflowers. Continue to the sparkling waters of Minnestimma Lakes, which reflect the sapphire skies and towering peaks of the ten attendant mountains, an awe-inspiring panorama. Today’s lunch will be picnic style and enjoyed while en route.

Lynn, the photographer from Canmore, will join the group today to give tips and tricks while you practice your newly learned photo skills!

Those who are up for it can continue to the summit of the majestic Sentinel Pass, where 360-degree panoramas make for impressive “we were here” photos! The views are spectacular. Paradise Valley and the breathtaking peaks of the Continental Divide unfold to the north, while the glaciated spires of the Ten Peaks fill the horizon to the south. This is one of those mountain destinations that almost defies description.

Gather for a delicious farewell dinner to celebrate the end of this fantastic and fun week in the Canadian Rockies!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Royal Canadian Lodge

Depart Banff
All adventures must come to an end, but it’s just the beginning of great memories!

Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home. One group transfer is included; please don’t book any flights departing before noon!

Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.