An active 2 week trip in the Canadian Rocky Mountain wilderness, one of the world's greatest adventure playgrounds. The first section of the tour focuses on one week of day-hikes exploring the pristine beauty of Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, with their awe inspiring landscapes of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, rivers and lakes. The second part of the tour is an unforgettable 5-day wilderness canoe expedition down the Athabasca River. It's an ideal combination of physical challenges and a genuine desire to get close to nature.

Demands: easy to moderate mountain hikes with light day pack, no experience necessary for the canoeing. Your guide has the required qualifications and licenses and accompanies the group on all hikes.

Calgary - If you are arriving at Calgary International Airport, a complimentary hotel shuttle is provided.  Details on how to catch the shuttle will be listed on your Tour Voucher. 

Meet your Tour Leader and fellow travellers at 6.30pm at the meeting point.  The Tour Leader will give a tour briefing at dinner, which is included.  Overnight at the group hotel. (D)

Banff National Park - After breakfast we leave camp for a full-day hike into the mountains.  There is a  7.5 km (4.7 miles) trail with a 725 metre (2,378 ft) gain in altitude to a hidden lake with an extra 2 km (1.25 miles) into a mountain pass reaching a total of 2,470 m (8,101 ft) above sea level.  On returning to the campsite we will have dinner and then the option of visiting the small town of Banff and relaxing in the Upper Hot Springs, or browse through the shops and boutiques.  Walking time 5 – 7 hours.  (B, L, D)

Yoho National Park - Well known for its outstanding network of trails to snow fields, waterfalls, fossil beds and other wonders in the high alpine, Yoho has a variety of hiking options.  For example there is an 18 km (11 miles) loop with 880 metres (2,886 ft) gain, traversing through two mountain passes before reaching a point with a bird's eye view of the turquoise coloured Emerald Lake.  Walking time 6 hours.  (B, L, D)

Alternatively, if you want to take a day off from hiking, you have the opportunity to go White Water Rafting (optional) down the glacier fed Kicking Horse River, one of Canada's best rivers for this activity.  Set in spectacular scenery, the river offers rafting for beginners to the more experienced making it both fun and challenging. 

Jasper National Park - No trip to Jasper NP would be complete without a visit to witness the pristine natural beauty of Maligne Lake, one of the most picturesque spots in the Canadian Rockies.  We start with a short drive from camp before venturing on an 8 km (5 miles) circuit through flower covered alpine meadows to an elevation of 2,160 m (7,084 ft) with the added option of hiking even higher to a peak at 2,789 m (9,147 ft).  Trail rides or a boat cruise on the lake can be arranged as optional activities, or you can rent a mountain bike to explore the surroundings.  Walking time 2 to 6 hours.  (B, L, D)

Canoe Training - In the morning we pay a quick visit to Maligne Canyon, a narrow gorge carved out of the limestone rock by the fast flowing Maligne River to a depth of 50 metres (165 ft).  Then a short drive to a pretty lakeside campsite where we will set up camp and have lunch.  The rest of the day is spent preparing ourselves for our canoeing adventure down the Athabasca River over the next few days.  We spend the afternoon training in Canadian canoeing techniques, involving the basic paddle strokes, emergency procedures and signals. No previous canoeing experience is necessary. The river stretches are not dangerous, even for the beginner; but the currents, numerous rapids, and gravel bars demand some vigilance. Experienced canoeists will find plenty of challenges in this wilderness setting. Safety and comfort of the participants are the primary concerns of the guide. We will also receive advise regarding camping in the wilderness, personal equipment and work sharing of the crews.  (B, L, D)

From the River to Edmonton - Our final day on the Athabasca River.  In total, we will have covered 160 km (100 miles) of the river by the time we reach our end point in the early afternoon.  The van will be waiting with our belongings and will transfer us to our hotel in Edmonton, arriving at approximately 5.30pm.  Time for a hot shower and then head into downtown Edmonton for dinner and a celebration!  (B, L)

Executive Royal Inn West

10010 – 178 Street

Edmonton

Alberta T5S 1T3

Tel: +1-780-484-6000

This tour is operated in conjunction with our local partners in Canada.  You will be joined by other Kumuka passengers as well as travellers who have booked through other agencies.

The itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However, this tour visits areas that can be unpredictable and there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to abnormal weather patterns, the presence of wild animals, or any unforeseen local conditions that are out of our control. Please be flexible and respect the changes that your Tour Leader may have to make during the tour.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your North America trip. The Kumuka website www.kumuka.com provides visa information, yet entry regulations can change without notice.  Further consultation with your Travel Agent or nearest Embassy is recommended.

Each client is solely responsible for obtaining all necessary visas and entry requirements before joining a tour. Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Important: If your travels involve entry into the United States, please read the following:

Beginning 1st August 2008, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be accessible via the internet for citizens and eligible nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to apply for advance authorization to travel to the United States under the VWP.  The ESTA system becomes effective on 12th January 2009.  All VWP travellers will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP.  Full details are available at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov 

We recommend that you bring your personal funds in local currency (including small denominations), travellers cheques, and/or use an ATM card to withdraw cash as you travel. ATMs are widely available, and Credit Cards are accepted in almost all shops and restaurants.

The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from it, after all, group tours are all about participation. You will be expected to get involved with the daily duties and to assist the Tour Leader with setting up camp, pitching your own tent, preparing camp meals, washing up, and keeping a clean camp. The most successful tours are those where people become involved and it's also the best way to get to know your fellow travellers.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.