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Horseback riding tours
Rides in Canada
Intro to Canada
Alberta British Columbia Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon
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Clearwater Vaquero Wilderness Ride
Alberta
Canada
Mountain Camp and Pack trips to the outpost camp in the Clearwater valley
On the eastern edge of Banff National Park, in a region known as the Bighorn Wilderness Area, enjoy your weeklong adventure vacation without the crowds. The Vaquero Wilderness Ride caters to small groups of riding enthusiasts, leading you through breathtaking Canadian backcountry. Discover on horseback the wonderful Clearwater River Valley in the Bighorn Wilderness, see wild horses, maybe get a glimpse of a wolf, cross rivers and streams, or hear the majestic bugle of the elk in the fall - folks just fall in love with the 'Magic of the Mountain'. Ride winding trails to alpine lakes, clear mountain streams, wide meadows and secluded campsites. These wilderness trips are an unforgettable experience. The ringing of the bells on the horses, the singing crickets and the crackling campfire are the musical background out here. You stay in comfortable wilderness camps. The Base Camp is situated along the Cutoff Creek. Guest tents have a wood floor, wood stove and a bed with a foamy matress. If you want more adventure we will take an exursion further into the wilderness to our "Adventure Camp" 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.
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Meeting:
Caroline, AB
Airport:
Calgary
Transfer:
Calgary
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Rates and Dates for 2009
Rates include:
Lodging in luxurious tent camp at Cut Off Mtn with possible excursions to the Outpost Wilderness camp (weather permitting), all meals, horse and tack with saddle bags, 5 riding days
Gratuity:
10 %
(to be paid locally)
GST (VAT) 2.5% (5% for Canadian Resident)
Transfer Option:
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2009
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Transfer from Calgary Airport per vehicle (per group of 4), return
This is a "Group Rate" - to be paid locally
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$
350
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$300
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Pick up: between 12 noon and 4 PM - 1 group transfer
Drop off time on last day is at 2 PM.
The transfer cost is per car load (max 4)
Tour Dates
Check here for details and availability
| A |
2009
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06/14
- 06/20
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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07/12
- 07/18
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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07/26
- 08/01
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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08/09
- 08/15
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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08/23
- 08/29
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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09/06
- 09/12
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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| A |
2009
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09/20
- 09/26
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7d / 6n
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1 /
8
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Available
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Reserve
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Dates Note:
Sun-Sat
Rates do not include:
Alcoholic beverages - bring your own.
Sample Itinerary After meeting your hosts in the small town Caroline, we will head towards the Rocky foothills to reach our Base Camp after a two hour drive mostly over gravel roads. After getting settled in our cozy guest tents, which have a wood floor, wood stove and a bed with a foamy matress, it is time to get to know the horses before we enjoy a hearty dinner. 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. Feeling adventurous ? We got the right option for you - an excursion to our "Adventure Camp". After the first night in Base Camp, the next morning after a cowboy breakfast we saddle the horses, load the covered wagon, hitch up the draft horses 'Mac' and 'Rocket' and head out on a six hours ride further into the canadian Rockies. 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. The trails lead us high up the mountains on 'Forty Mile Ridge', to the glacier lake 'Lost Guide Lake', to the border of Banff National Park and a lot more spectacular places where we can get a glimpse of a wolf, follow bear tracks and more... 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
Meeting:
Caroline, AB
Airport:
Calgary
Transfer:
Calgary Pick up: between 12 noon and 4 PM - 1 group transfer
Drop off time on last day is at 2 PM.
The transfer cost is per car load (max 4)
Passport and Visa Requirements: 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 . more
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)
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Averages |
Daily High (°C) |
Daily Low (°C) |
Rainfall (mm) |
Snowfall (cm) |
Hours of Sun/Day |
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Jan |
-5.3 |
-14.9 |
2.4 |
38.2 |
8.1 |
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Feb |
0.1 |
-11.3 |
1.7 |
30.0 |
10.0 |
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Mar |
3.8 |
-7.9 |
1.6 |
27.0 |
12.0 |
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Apr |
9.0 |
-2.8 |
10.6 |
26.3 |
14.0 |
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May |
14.2 |
1.5 |
42.4 |
17.1 |
15.5 |
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Jun |
18.7 |
5.4 |
58.4 |
1.7 |
16.5 |
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Jul |
22.1 |
7.4 |
51.1 |
0.0 |
16.0 |
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Aug |
21.6 |
6.8 |
51.2 |
0.0 |
14.5 |
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Sep |
16.1 |
2.7 |
37.7 |
7.0 |
12.7 |
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Oct |
10.1 |
-1.1 |
15.4 |
18.9 |
10.7 |
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Nov |
0.5 |
-8.2 |
6.0 |
33.6 |
9.0 |
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Dec |
-5.3 |
-13.8 |
2.8 |
43.9 |
7.8 |
Village of Lake Louise (Elevation 1524m / 4953 ft)
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Averages |
Daily High (°C) |
Daily Low (°C) |
Rainfall (mm) |
Snowfall (cm) |
Hours of Sun/Day |
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Jan |
-7.5 |
-21.4 |
0.6 |
62.7 |
8.1 |
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Feb |
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