Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The last major hike from Cameron Lake to Waterton Lakes via Summit Lake & Carthew pass through hail & gale force winds. A close 2nd was the hike up Paradise Valley to Sentinel pass & down to Moraine Lake - an inspired Leader variation. The "advertised " trek would have rather dull.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A great father & son team - Father guide, son driver. Both very knowledgeable about the area, wildlife & Canada in general. The cooking and packed lunches were excellent - everything done with great care. Sebastian's changes to the published itinerary were inspired. The additional walk around Red Rock Canyon on the last day was a great extra.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Come prepared for all four seasons! Participation is key - the more you muck in, the more you'll enjoy it.

Suggestions

The optionals would be better listed separately at the end. It could then be made clear that they are in most cases alternatives to a trek not additions.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking through 12" of virgin snow across Cavell Meadows

Thoughts on Group Leader

They were a really great pair. Always cheerful and lots of fun

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all weathers. The nights can be VERY chilly

Most Inspirational Moment

Loads of them, fantastic views, great scenery and seeing a grizzly bear up close.

Thoughts on Group Leader

You will be very lucky if you get Renee and Catherine as your leaders.  Not only are they knowledgeable and relaxed, but also superb cooks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get yourself walking-fit before you go.

Suggestions

A good camera and an appreciation of Canadian beer are extremely useful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many highlights. All the walks were great but I really loved Valley of the Ten Peaks/Sentinel Pass, Yoho National Park and Crypt Lake. Loved the Waterton Lakes region, it was so different to the other 3 areas we camped in.Great wildlife sightings, grizzly and black bear, elk, moose, deer, sheep and pika!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Renee and Catherine were great - fun, friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. They cooked fantastic meals, and Catherines lunches were mouth watering.Renne has so much great knowledge about Canada and was willing to answer the many questions. They were the best guides I have had on any trip I have been on. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Weather is very changeable so make sure you pack clothes for layering. 

Suggestions

All the campsites were very well organised, clean and spacious, there was plenty of room for the group to spread out.A perfect holiday with a variey of hikes that are all different, and you only move campsites 4 times. You get to experience a range of different environments. A great hiking introduction to the Rockies.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the verity of rock structures

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent leader cook and driver could not wish for better

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book now

Suggestions

I was surprised out flight seets we're not booked I had three seat changes before the outward flight and 4 of our party could not get a return seat on the booked flight having to be transferred to another airport.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many WOW ! moments it is hard to single one above the rest, the views from the high points of the walks, the animals, sleeping in a tent with wild animals outside certainly got the heart racing on the first night, the sheer scale of Canada everything is SO big clean and beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Well the legend of Renee and Catherine lives on ! They are the "Dream team" of leader and assistant we have never witnessed leaders that have worked so hard from morning to night. Renee drove , lead walks , was informative about flora fauna and history,shopped for food, chopped wood, and cooked delicious evening meals, even on days that we were moving to a new campsite we had delicious buffet lunches layed out in picnic areas truly amazing The variety and quality of the food breakfast, lunch and dinners she and Catherine produced was astounding.And all of this they managed to make look effortless by working in harmony and with such delight in the countryside and us, they were a joy to be with and made a great holiday even better Renee gets my vote for Leader of the year need I say more ?

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack lots of layers as the weather can vary greatly but keep it simple don't take too much stuff it's a pain on moving day to struggle with your holdall and then have to take down the tent, as the starts are early, best plan travel light there are places to do laundry or wash out on site as you go.Take a camera with a zoom lens we didn't and missed out on photo's of Grizzly bears etc although the memory of being within 10 metres of a Grizzly will never leave me

Suggestions

It's a must do holiday, it's tiring but so rewarding it is no harder than good long days in the English Lakes. If you go I hope that you are lead by the "Dream Team" of Renee and Catherine they are GREAT !Given half a chance I would go back and do it again

Most Inspirational Moment

Each day was inspirational, you feel as of you are running out of superlatives to describe the views that appear as you climb into the mountains.  Hiking and camping in the countryside really does get you into the heart of the land, wild life encounters and spectacular scenery happen every day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Renee and her accomplice Catherine were amazing.  Nothing was too much trouble, they both went out of their way to ensure that everyone was having a superb holiday.  We all agreed that all the meals they effortlessly produced on a 2 ring burner were stupendous.  Breakfast, was often cooked, lunches were interesting and healthy and the dinners fulsome and creative.  Not a single day was repeated.  Both girls were fun and chatty, Renee in particular was a wealth of information about everything Rockie related! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for cold!  There is no such thing as the wrong sort of weather, but without the right clothing you can be uncomfortable.  The nights and early mornings especially can be cold.  Layers, hats gloves, long-johns all required No real need to bring extra food as all kinds of trail snacks are provided and the meals are substantial.  Although the campsites are in the wild, there are frequent opportunities to shop on the way home from a days excursion. 2 weeks in a small tent may not be to everyone's taste, but except for 2 nights there are flush toilets and warm showers, so the "roughing it" aspect is fairly gentle. 

Suggestions

A memorable holiday in fabulous surroundings, with a group of like-minded and fun people, what more could you ask?

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed every single thing about this holiday.  My favourite walks were Sentinel Pass and Crypt Lake, not just for the summit, but for the challenges they offered up, above and beyond the hiking! We had some great bear/bear cub sightings and were lucky enough to see Elk, Moose, Marmot, Osprey and a Bald Eagle – and of course many gophers! The thunderstorm at Waterton deserves a mention, at the time, I pretty much thought the world was ending, and it was reassuring that the residents of Waterton town were equally impressed with its ferocity the following morning!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Renée and Catherine were outstanding. Professional, knowledgeable, patient, organised and great fun.  They worked so hard to cater for everyone’s needs, and yet it all appeared so effortless.  I know it’s been mentioned in other reviews, but the food really is fantastic! A special mention for Catherine’s lunches; the joy of getting to the top, and then the added bonus of one of her sandwiches … perfect!!  Snacks are provided on all the hikes; you will definitely not go hungry on this trip!They also organized Lemon Meringue Pie, complete with candles, for my birthday - a lovely thought!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all weathers, I got a little sunburnt one day, the next day we experienced a hail storm! Bug spray is a must, but probably worth buying when you get there as Catherine’s brand was far better than the brands we’d brought from the UK.  I was never let down by following Renée and Catherine’s lead re clothing for hikes … they never got it wrong!!

Suggestions

My favourite group tour to date; I travelled with a fantastic group of people - lots of fun, up for the hiking challenge and happy to get stuck in with camp chores. With hindsight I’d probably look at adding a few days either side of the tour to further enjoy the country.  I will definitely be going back!  

Most Inspirational Moment

There was no one moment just lots and lots of fantastic moments.  Every day brought something new and  I loved the diversity of the weather as it made each hike individual.  One day we were hiking in shorts and t-shirts and the next day every layer is on and it's snowing!  Wow ..... I am from Scotland which has 4 seasons in one day and the Rockies were still a wow factor for me.I suppose I am a sucker for sunsets and the sunsets (and sunrises) in Waterton were some of the best I have seen.  The sky at night and magnitude of stars were also amazing.The hikes were "awesome" and we often got a 360 degree view of the most amazing mountains and scenery ... oh Moraine lake and Valley of the 10 peaks ... just stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Renee and Catherine ... what a team ladies.  You were well-organised, fun, knowledgable, caring and the food you guys cooked was just amazing.  Cheers to both of you as you worked hard from morning to night and you made this trip for me - thank you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Packing - Layers, layers, layers.  The weather was so changeable so expect the unexpected.My advice is to take enough clothes for one week as when we visited Jasper there were laundrettes and we had time to go and do laundry. Jasper was probably about half-way into the trip.Sleeping Bag - Take a good one!  Mine was a 3 season one and I had to buy a blanket as it got down to -3 one night as you are sleeping at high altitude.Tents - The tents we had were 4-man tents which were shared by 2 people or by one person if they had paid single supplement (or you were lucky as a single person who hadn't paid the supplement and there was no person of the same sex to share with ;o).Time - this trip is packed full of hikes and travel so don't expect too much time to yourself.  Obvisouly each evening you can have your me-time after dinner but as it was cold we all spent most evenings round the camp fire and as it got dark early (and cold) we tended to have early nights. Charging phones/cameras - most of the toilets/showers had electric sockets for charging and there was a USB charger on the mini-bus too.Hikes - The hikes were on great paths and were challenging but achievable and the ascents for a day were normally around 700m - 900m.  There were even well-maintained outhouses (long-drop) toilets at the start of every hike. 

Suggestions

I LOVE CANADA.  Simple as.This was my first, and I hope not my last, trip to Canada and specifically to the Rockies.  The scenery was out of this world and some of the best I have ever seen.  The people were lovely and the locals had so much respect for their country and environment - it was so refreshing and the level of cleanliness was admirable.And last but not least - cheers to the great group of people who made this trip memorable for me.  It's great to get together with like-minded people.So if you are reading this and are thinking of booking ........ Just Do It!!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspirational moments I cant choose one. Every hike revealed the most stunning scenery I've ever seen and its impossible  to choose a favourite hike or place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were lucky enough to get Renee and Catherine to guide our group. I cant speak highly enough of them. They are so professional and knowledgable, there was nothing they hadn't thought of and they made it an easy holiday.The meals they produced were amazing, not what I expected in a campsite! They were delicious, imaginative and well presented as well as plentiful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all conditions. We had snow and warm sunshine but mostly I needed my cold weather stuff. I'd taken a good 3/4 season sleeping bag, thermals and a down jacket and was glad I did.The only thing I lacked were waterproof gloves, mine got soaked and my hands were cold a couple of times.Dont take your best stuff! You'll be sat around a campfire each evening so you'll smell of smoke the whole time and might get 'sparked'.Ladies  I wouldn't bother with makeup or hairdryer either, we pretty soon stopped bothering with any of that... although Catherine did bring a hairdryer and we were all welcome to borrow it.

Suggestions

I just had the most fabulous time on this holiday, the group was great, the leaders were great and the Rockies?What can I say about them....more than stunning!This is the only bit of Canada I've seen but its such an easy place to be. Everything is so well looked after and Canadian people are so polite.I booked this holiday because it was graded challenging and bits of it were but in my opinion moderate would be a better description. Thats not a complaint though, I have no complaints about this trip. Knowing what I know now, I'd book it quick...whatever the grading.Exodus deserves its great reputation.