Transfer Option:

Sample Itinerary
The trip starts with a night in a western style hotel in the small town of Sundre, about 130km (80.8 miles) northwest of Calgary.

The next day we pack a lunch-picnic and head out on our horses, mostly Quarter-mix. The Base Camp experience is an adventurous riding opportunity which brings you closer to the horses and riding. The trails lead us through forests, flowery meadows, we cross clear streams and are watching the wild horses. Most evenings we spend around the crackling campfire, enjoying roasted marshmallows and good stories until the whispering Creek sends us to a good nights sleep, dreaming about the excitement of the next day riding through the Canadian wilderness.

Our Base Camp, nestled in the foohills is surrounded by great trails waiting to be explored in our day-rides through forest, flowery meadows and clear streams.

A day in camp starts with a rich Cowboy Breakfast. Then we start our trail passing herds of wild horses grazing in a meadow close to camp.  We enjoy a lunch picnic and arrive back in camp late afternoon. After the horses are back in the pastures, munching on their well deserved hay, there is free time to go for a walk, cool off in the creek or just relax until the bell rings for a hearty evening meal.

About the Adventure Camp
The Adventure Camp is located on a cliff above the Clearwater River surrounded by untouched wilderness, where human beings still play the second fiddle. The Adventure Camp facilities are similar to the Base Camp. We have a cook tent, a shower tent and as a special our TIPI-firetent. The only difference is the sleeping tents have outdoor carpeting instead of wood floors. 

As soon as the snow-melt is finished and the Clearwater River is low enough again, we will follow it up deep into the Rockies to read our "Adventure Camp". It is located in a non-motorized zone and our team of horses Mac and Rocket are pulling the covered wagon filled with luggage and supplies for our one week trip of adventure. Similar to Base Camp the tents in our Adventure Camp have beds, a wood stove and outdoor carpets.  There is a washtent with a shower compartment, a homey kitchen tent and our fire tent to enjoy stories, good laughter and share memories around the nights campfire.

Our wilderness trips are an unforgettable experience.  The ringing of the bells on the horses so they can't be lost while grazing near the Adventure Camp, the singing crickets and the crackling campfire are the musical background out here.  The aroma of coffee, frying bacon and hot cakes awakens you in the morning.

Discover endless adventure, with opportunities for hiking and exploring, wildlife and nature observation, and relaxing in rare solitude. Ride winding trails to alpine lakes, clear mountain streams, wide meadows and secluded campsites.  All this and much more make the memories from our weeklong wilderness trips.

If you are willing to experience more adventure in your riding and spend long hours in the saddle, the "Adventure Camp" is a 'Must-See-and-Do' experience!

            Subject to change

It is no coincidence that visitor activities in Banff National Park are as varied as the Park's climate. A year in Banff National Park would give a visitor a taste of everything in terms of weather and recreation. The summer sees sunny, warm days for such things as hiking, biking, camping, and climbing. The winter brings crisp, snowy days for tracking, skating, and alpine and nordic skiing.

It is possible to make some generalizations about the weather in Banff National Park. July is the warmest, with average highs of 22°C in the Town of Banff. January is the coldest month with average lows of -15°C, though the mercury can drop into the minus thirties. The relative dryness of the air in Banff, however, makes even extreme temperatures more bearable. In winter, visitors must be especially careful of wind chill. A temperature of -20°C on the thermometer may feel like -30°C with the wind chill. Regardless of the season, the temperature will fall about 1°C for every 200m of elevation gain.

The length of the day in Banff varies greatly throughout the year. Daylight can last as little as eight hours in December. At the end of June, the sun rises at 5:30 am and sets at 10:00 pm.

The tables below give more detailed information about temperatures, precipitation and sunlight for the Town of Banff and the village of Lake Louise.

Town of Banff (Elevation 1397m / 4540 ft)

Village of Lake Louise (Elevation 1524m / 4953 ft)

Riding apparel: We advise guests to bring whatever riding clothes you are most comfortable with. You will be riding through some thick brush where branches might rip jodhpurs, so chaps would give more protection to wear over riding pants. But we had many guests riding in their English riding gear and loving it!

Our Base Camp is located along Cutoff Creek in the Canadian Rockies. The camp includes tents with wooden floors which sleep two people, comfortable beds (with mattresses), a cozy cook tent, and even hot showers. This location offers spectacular and challenging riding opportunities.

The Adventure Camp is located further into the Rockies, about 6 hours on horseback from the Base Camp. All of the supplies are carried by horse and wagon. The facilities at this camp are similar to those at Base Camp, with the exception that the tents have carpeted rather than wooden floors. The special feature of the Adventure Camp is the teepee fire tent. Again, hot showers are no problem. The Adventure Camp may only be used weather permitting.

Showers for both camps: there is a wash/shower tent where a plastic 10gallon shower bag will be filled up with hot water (out of the cook tent) and then hung up in the shower compartment. You can take as many showers as you want, some people prefer a morning shower before breakfast, others one after the ride.

We provide an outhouse tent in both camps.
The use of sleeping bags (with fleece liners) and pillows is included at both camps at no additional charge.

If you still want to ride in the rain, it’s up to you. Otherwise the cook tent, or fire tent (where the wood stove is) and we can play cards read etc. Some people enjoy being in their own tent and read a book with a hot chocolate mug in their hands!

Meals:
From dinner on the first night to breakfast on the last day, your meals are provided for you. Breakfast and dinner are served at camp and lunch is eaten on the trail. You will be treated to wholesome and hearty meals. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions please be sure to let us know in advance so we can accommodate these variation (we are happy to prepare meals for vegetarians, but don't cater to vegans). Alcoholic beverages are not included with meals.

Sample menu:

breakfast: toast, fried eggs, bacon, jam, honey, coffee, tea or hot chocolate

lunch: on the trail sandwich, granola bar, juice, water

supper: BBQ Steak, oven potatoes, veggies, salad, desert

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

The minimum age for this ride is 16. This adventure is not for brand new riders. Between 4 – 5 hours are spent in the saddle each day. The riding is not difficult but some riding experience is recommended. The horses are generally Quarter-mix.

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Quarter Mix, Appaloosa, Canadian
Pace:		Rough terrain on some trails require a walk. We do offer possibilities to trot an canter as much as the guests want and the trails offer, 4-6 hrs per day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(2.5 to 3 out of 5)    Low Intermediate
Age:		Min 16
Riders:		Min 1 riders	Max 8 riders

The minimum age for this ride is 16. This adventure is not for brand new riders. Between 4 – 5 hours are spent in the saddle each day. The riding is not difficult but some riding experience is recommended. The horses are generally Quarter-mix.

Passports
Passport valid for at least one day beyond the intended departure date from Canada required by all nationals referred to in the chart except the following:
(a) 1. Canadian citizens holding a Canadian Certificate of Identity, Canadian birth certificate or a certificate of Canadian citizenship;
(b) permanent residents of Canada with proof of status, ie Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, Returning Resident Permit or a Refugee Travel Document issued by the government of Canada to refugees who have been resettled in Canada;
(c) 2. citizens of the USA holding proof of citizenship (eg US birth certificate or US naturalisation papers).
Note: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced as early as 1 January 2008. For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
(d) persons entering from St Pierre & Miquelon or the USA who are legal permanent residents of the USA and hold a US alien registration card (Green Card);
(e) 3. citizens of France who are residents of and entering from St Pierre & Miquelon.
Note: (a) Children under 18 years must have information with them on the people responsible for their welfare, if travelling alone; this includes a letter of permission to travel from guardian(s), and also a letter from the custodian in Canada. (b) Depending on circumstance and nationality, certain applicants may need to undergo a medical examination in order to receive their visas; this must be carried out by a physician on Canada's list of Designated Medical Practitioners.
Passport Note
Visitors to Canada must satisfy an examining officer at the Port of Entry that they are genuine visitors, in good health, with no criminal convictions, and have sufficient funds to maintain themselves during their stay in Canada and to return to their country of origin, as well as evidence of confirmed onward reservations out of Canada. Persons under 18 years of age who are unaccompanied by an adult should bring with them a letter from a parent or guardian giving them permission to travel to Canada.

Identity/travel documents issued to non-national residents of the country of issue, refugees or stateless persons are recognised for travel to Canada.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in chart above (visitor or transit) for stays of up to six months except the following:
(a) 4. holders of passports endorsed ‘British Subjects’ and ‘British Protected Persons’;
(b) 5. nationals of Bulgaria and Romania;
(c) those visiting Canada who, during that visit, also visit the USA or St Pierre & Miquelon (a French Overseas Territory) and return directly to Canada as visitors within the period authorised on their initial entry (or any extension thereto).

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
The Government of Canada refuses admission to: (a) holders of passports issued by the UK Government entitled 'British Temporary Resident's Passport'.

(a) A single-entry visa is still valid if used to visit the USA. (b) Persons wishing to attend a course of six months duration or less, at any level, do not require a study permit. However, if there is the possibility that you will extend your period of study in Canada, or if you are a full time student and wish to work on campus, you may apply for a study permit.
Types of Visa and Cost
Visitor: C$75 (single-entry); C$150 (multiple-entry). Family: C$400 (for families of six or more persons). Transit: free. Transit visas are necessary for all nationals who require a visitor visa. Although transit visas are not required by British citizens, they may be required by foreign nationals with British passports; check with the embassy or high commission for details. For further information on payment methods, contact the high commission. Prices are subject to frequent change.
Validity
Up to six months depending on circumstances of individual applicant. The determination regarding length of stay in Canada can only be decided by the examining officer at the port of entry, but visas cannot exceed the validity of the passport and cannot be longer than five years. If no actual departure date is indicated within the visitor’s passport, then the visitor will be required to depart within three months from the date of entry. Visitors must effect their departure from Canada on or before the date authorised by the examining officer on arrival. If an extension of stay is desired, an application must be made in writing to the nearest Canada Immigration Centre at least three weeks before the expiry of the visitor visa. Multiple-entry visas cannot be valid longer than passport. Transit visas are only allocated if a national's flight/onward journey is continuing within 24 hours. Single-entry visas can be used multiple times by nationals of St Pierre & Miquelon and the USA.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission)
Working Days Required
10 days are required from receiving applications, but applications should be made at least one month prior to the intended date of departure. Certain nationals are subject to longer processing times. For urgent applications it is advised to apply in person. Same-day processing is available for applications made in person and 24-hour processing for those using the drop-in service.