Tackle the Sentinel Pass and Bow Lake trails in Banff National Park, summit Mount Fairview (2744m) and camp near Lake Louise
Trek by the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, and hike the backcountry trails on Mount Revelstoke for panoramic views of the Columbia Valley
Hit the paths less trodden in Yoho and Glacier National Parks, hiking by stunning Emerald Lake and taking on the Balu Pass
Swim in pristine alpine lakes, journey along the epic Icefields Parkway and keep your eyes peeled for bears and elk
Day 1
Arrive at Calgary Airport and jump on the complimentary shuttle to the Element Hotel. Check in, meet up with your host and head on into Calgary together for welcome dinner at a local craft beer market. Get to know your fellow adventurers and then head back to the hotel to rest up, refreshed and ready for an early start tomorrow morning!
Day 2
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 08:00 and get ready to hit the road. Drive from Calgary to Moraine Lake, which sits within the impressive Valley of the Ten Peaks, where your first hiking trail begins in Banff National Park. The path climbs up through forest with occasional viewpoints over the turquoise waters of the lake below and the jagged mountain peaks that surround the valley. After emerging at a beautiful meadow with three alpine lakes, the trail then steepens for the ascent to Sentinel Pass. Enjoy spectacular views down to Paradise Valley before beginning your descent. Head to the campground at nearby Lake Louise for a quick crash course in how to set up camp, then settle in for the evening.
Day 3
Starting from Lake Louise, today's off-the-beaten-track hike takes you up Fairview Mountain (2744m), climbing almost 1000m to find an astounding viewpoint at the summit. Be wowed by the views down on Lake Louise and out across the Banff National Park. The final 1-2 km of the ascent involves a steep incline to reach the top. Stop off for a well-earned drink in Lake Louise, take a dip in the lake if you're feeling brave, or head straight back to the campground.
Day 4
Explore another area of Banff National Park today. After a short drive north along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic roads, you'll hit the trail at Bow Lake and climb up to Lake Helen through alpine wildflower meadows. Take in the stunning vistas of Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and Cirque Peak along the route, as you continue on the trail to arrive at Lake Katherine. Cool off with a swim in Bow Lake after your hike if you like, then back to camp to rest before an evening out in Lake Louise.
Day 5
Continue the drive along the Icefield Parkway. You'll stop off at some classic viewpoints along the way, including Peyto Lake and the Athabasca Glacier. Stop at the trailhead for today's hike – the Wilcox Pass trail, at the southern end of Jasper National Park, this is a moderate hike to alpine meadows which reveals incredible views of the peaks and glaciers on the edge of the Columbia Icefield (if the trail is closed due to snow, you'll instead hike the Parker Ridge Trail or similar). Return back to Lake Louise for your final night at this campground, before heading west tomorrow.
Day 6
Today, you’ll head west to Canyon Hot Springs Resort and Campsite in Albert Canyon, your base for the next two nights, nestled between Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. En route (between Lake Louise and Golden), you’ll detour off Highway 1 to visit the dazzling Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. After a few big days on the trail, today’s all about taking things a little easier. You can enjoy a gentle walk around the lake, the largest in the park, or, if you’re up for it, hire a classic Canadian canoe (approx. $100 CAD per hour) and paddle across its surreal, glacial-green waters. From there, you’ll cruise through the mountain town of Golden and over the dramatic Rogers Pass, flanked by towering peaks, before arriving at your next campsite. Dinner will be served back at camp this evening - feet up, stars out.
Day 7
This morning, you’ll leave camp and head for Mount Revelstoke National Park. The day kicks off with a scenic drive to the summit of Mount Revelstoke (1,939m), where sweeping views of the Columbia Valley set the tone nicely. From here, you’ll lace up your boots and hike the Eva Lake Trail – an out-and-back route through pine forests and past crystal-clear alpine lakes (ideal for a refreshing foot soak). After your hike, you’ll wind your way back down the mountain to the historic railroad town of Revelstoke for dinner at a local spot, before returning to camp for a well-earned rest under the stars.
Day 8
Leaving Canyon Hot Springs behind this morning, you’ll head east once more through Rogers Pass and into another gem, Glacier National Park, where the spectacular Balu Pass hike awaits. This lesser-known trail winds through prime grizzly bear country, offering a wonderfully varied and scenic trek. There’s a decent challenge involved too, as you climb steadily to the high pass nestled between Cheops Mountain (2,517m) and the aptly named Grizzly Mountain (2,730m). Back at the trailhead, you’ll jump in the van for a 2.5-hour drive to the world-famous mountain town of Banff – your base for the final two nights. It’s a fitting end to the journey, with some of the most iconic views in the Rockies. Once the tents are pitched, dinner will be served back at camp.
Day 9
For your last day of hiking in the Rockies you’ll tackle the Cory Pass Trail. This circular route around Mount Edith offers epic views of Mount Cory. It begins with a steep section as you head up through the forest, and once above the tree-line you’ll be on more rocky terrain. This route includes a short section of scrambling, your guides will show you the way and by this point in the trip will understand everyone’s abilities well. After the rewarding challenge of today’s hike, grab a shower at camp, and then head into Banff this evening to celebrate an unforgettable adventure in the Rockies!
Day 10
After breakfast it’s time to pack up camp for the last time. Say goodbye to the Rockies as you drive back to Calgary Airport.
Katie P. June 2025
Liz June 2025
Simon M. December 2024
Katja G. November 2024
Estelle November 2024
Oliver W. September 2024
Stephanie K. September 2024
Miss E. September 2024
Abel T. September 2024
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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 hire a canoe locally at Emerald Lake on Day 6, subject to availability and weather conditions. The cost is approx. $100CAD per hour for a Canadian canoe that typically can be shared between 1-3 people.
No, as the trip doesn't return to the starting hotel it isn't possible to leave excess luggage there, unless you have booked an additional night post-trip at the same hotel.
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.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. To help budget, 5 to 10 CAD per day for your driver/guide would be a recommended tip.
During this trip, you'll be camping in locations where there can be wildlife 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 to 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.
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.
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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:
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 20-25°C during the daytime but above 30°C is increasingly common. June and September are cooler, with typical daytime temperatures in the mid-teens. Temperatures drop considerably at nighttime (to around 5°C, 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.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre program, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 152kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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