Hiking in the Canadian Rockies

Should weather conditions mean that particular trails are either closed or not recommended, then the local guide will adjust the itinerary to try and offer a similar alternative, maintaining group safety as paramount and re-working the order of the itinerary if necessary.

For example: several of the trekking trails are not guaranteed to open in June, they could be closed until July depending on snow levels in the mountains. In this case, the guide will arrange for an alternative trek within the national parks.

Also, poor air quality can be an issue during periods of wildfire activity, which is increasingly common across North America from mid to late summer, often resulting in hazy skies and at worst severely limiting outdoor activities. Your guides will follow the official guidance from the local authorities on how best to manage this within the national parks.

Yes, bring your swimsuit and a towel! The water will be cold, largely glacial-fed lakes, but throughout the trip you'll have opportunities for taking a dip in different mountain lakes, such as: Herbert Lake, Lake Louise, Bow Lake, and Eva Lake.

There will also be the option to rent a canoe locally at Emerald Lake on Day 6, subject to availability and weather conditions. The cost is approx. $100 CAD per hour for a Canadian canoe that typically can be shared between 1-3 people.

During this trip, you'll be camping in locations where wildlife may be present in their natural habitat. Both smaller animals (i.e. birds and rodents) and larger ones (such as bears, deer, moose, and elk) are primarily attracted to food, not humans. To protect the local wildlife, you need to ensure your food is kept out of their reach. When camping, the key is to be vigilant about not leaving any food or scented items (like toothpaste and other toiletries) in tents or exposed at the campsite. Your guides will typically designate a safe place to store these items overnight away from the tents, which campers can access if needed. Occasionally a larger animal may pass through or near your campsite, especially in areas that overlap with their natural travel routes. In these cases, just like when encountering wildlife on the trail, it's important to maintain a safe distance, respect the animal's space, and calmly make your presence known if necessary. Your guides will provide more details and directives once at camp so everyone can follow best practices camping and do their bit to help keep wild animals wild.

Drinking water is available at the campgrounds and other points during the hiking days. You will need to carry your own water supply in a daypack throughout the hikes. If you are interested in using a water filter, then you may wish to read our guide here.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

While camping, your guide will rustle up nutritious and varied meals. As it is participatory camping, your help prepping, cooking and washing up afterward will be appreciated by the guide! Breakfasts are served buffet style each day with varying items, allowing for a quick start before getting out on the trails, and typically include hot drinks, fruit juice, bread, croissants, cereal, granola, yogurt, and fruit. Lunches will be cold picnics, prepared earlier so that you can carry them with you and stop somewhere during the hikes. These usually involve wraps, sandwiches, salads, cereal bars, and fruit. For dinners, the guide will plan an appetizer, main, and dessert. The main dish is typically meat or fish with sides of rice or potatoes and vegetables. Some nights they may make a pasta or curry dish.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian

Vegetarians can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan

Vegans can’t be fully catered for on this trip, due to the limited cooking facilities in the camp kitchen and a lack of available vegan produce in the destination.

Kosher

Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative.

Halal

Certified Halal supply varies by destination and may not always be possible. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free

Gluten Free diet can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. A supplementary fee may be payable locally for the purchase of additional cost of specific Gluten-free products. Please note: Coeliacs cannot be catered for on this trip, due to the possible risk of cross-contamination.

Lactose-free

Lactose-free diet can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. A supplementary fee may be payable locally for the purchase of additional cost of specific Lactose-free products.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion, but there is an expectation in North America to tip for good service. Your host can help with advice – however, we suggest $8-10CAD per person, per day for your main guide.

It is customary in Canada to tip service workers such as taxi drivers and waiters at around 15%, depending on the quality of the service you receive. A good rule of thumb for any visits to bars is to tip $1 per drink. Tipping culture in North America can be a little intimidating to anyone without previous experience of travelling or living there, however, your host will be happy to help you through the process anytime it comes up on the trip.

No, since the trip doesn't return to the starting hotel, it's not possible to leave excess luggage there unless you have booked an additional night post-trip at the same hotel.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The summer season for hiking in the Canadian Rockies spans from mid-June to mid-September. The peak summer months of July and August are the hottest, with temperatures typically sitting between 68-77°F during the daytime but above 86°F is increasingly common. June and September are cooler, with typical daytime temperatures in the mid-60s. Temperatures drop considerably at nighttime (to around 41°F, and lower in June and September), and of course, you should expect to encounter cooler climates when trekking to higher elevations. It is possible that during the early summer dates that there will still be snow cover on some of the trails.