Heli Ski / Heli Hike Adventure

Itinerary

• Alberta

  Alberta has been a tourist destination from the early days of the twentieth century, with attractions including outdoor locales for skiing, hiking and camping, shopping locales such as West Edmonton Mall, Calgary Stampede, outdoor festivals, professional athletic events, international sporting competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, as well as more eclectic attractions. There are also natural attractions like Elk Island National Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, and the Columbia Icefield.  Alberta's Rocky Mountains include well known tourist destinations Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. The two mountain parks are connected by the scenic Icefields Parkway. Five of Canada's fourteen UNESCO World heritage sites are located within the province: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, Dinosaur Provincial Park and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

• Banff

  The town of Banff is the largest within Banff National Park located 126 km (78 miles) west of Calgary and 58 km (36 miles) east of Lake Louise, on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is surrounded by mountains, notably Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain; and situated near the junction of the Bow and Spray Rivers. Banff is one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, known for its hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing areas within the region. Two ski resorts are located nearby; Sunshine Village and Ski Norquay.

• • Banff
  • Lake Louise
  • The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort

  Day 1: Calgary - Banff

  You will be provided with a pre-departure package which will include all necessary information that you will need for your trip including materials such as vouchers, maps, train tickets (if relevant) etc.

  Enjoy a private transfer from Calgary (airport or downtown) to Banff. The travel time is approximately two hours.

  Enjoy a shared afternoon discovering the unexplored mountain wilderness encompassing Lake Louise which attracted the first tourists to Banff National Park. View the powerful landscape first hand on your way to Lake Louise and Bow Lake. Learn about the mountaineering history in the area and how a tragic accident at Lake Louise shaped Canadian mountain culture. Finally, visit the source of the Bow River when you stop at Num Ti Jah Lodge, a historic hunting lodge built in the early 1900's.

  Accommodation: The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort

  Few hotels in the world rival the majesty, hospitality and grandeur of The Fairmont Banff Springs resort. Styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, a National Historical Site, is located in the heart of Banff National Park; a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of the hotel in 1888 marked the birthplace of tourism in the Canadian Rockies. Where can you play in authentic winter? A place so magical you'll think you awoke in a storybook. Banff is a destination that offers 3 pristine ski resorts and 'many other exhilarating winter activities at your doorstep'. Come to The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel; unwind in luxury before an evening of unforgettable dining experiences. Breathe the crisp mountain air and marvel at some of nature's most awe-inspiring handiwork, at Canada's 'Storybook' Castle, in the Canadian Rockies! The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is just steps away from the Town of Banff. An authentic mountain town offering a great diversity of year round shopping, dining, and night life in addition to art and cultural events. Visit our Mountain Region event calendar for all the events happening in Banff.  Discover all the exciting activities in Banff.

• • Purcell Mountains

  Day 2: Banff

  After a hearty breakfast, enjoy an amazing, adrenaline filled day of heli-skiing in the Purcell Mountains! Whether you are an intermediate or advanced skier/boarder, you will love the vast slopes and untracked powder on gladed tree runs in the breathtaking Purcell Mountains. This is sure to be an exciting, often heart pounding and thrilling adventure that offers you the ultimate powder experience. You will be accompanied by a certified guide and will be given a lesson on how to navigate in deep powder so that you are comfortable. You'll be given an avalanche transreceiver and helicopter safety training. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the mountain and soak in the unparrelled views all around. You are guaranteed vertical on this tour! There is the option of doing 3 or 5 runs - please let your Sales Advisor know which one you would prefer.

  Outside of Winter months, the heli-skiing activity is replaced with a heli-hiking activity. Enjoy the thrill of being airlifted to high ground by helicopter before starting off on a guided hike for the day. Throwing your day pack on your back, with your freshly-prepared gourmet lunch and water, you’ll walk on meadows, over rock, and step across creeks, all with panoramic views. At the end of your hike, the helicopter will come and pick you up for your second flight of the day. You’ll walk as few or many hours as you’d like, stopping for photos, lunch and snacks. Your day might even include a fun bum slide on lingering summer snow! At the end of the day, the helicopter will come and pick you up to take you down to Banff again.

  Accommodation: The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort
• • Purcell Mountains

  Day 3: Banff

  Enjoy an another amazing day of heli-skiing or heli-hiking (depending on season) For heli-skiing, you can look forward to exploring the powder filled bowls and mountain faces as you spend the day with your certified guide. Both breakfast and lunch are included on your tour. On the heli-hiking option you can look forward to two short helicopter flights at the start and end of the day with a stunningly beautiful hike through lush alpine meadows, with mountain streams and the majestic mountains all around.

  Accommodation: The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort
• • Skiing in Banff area
  • Lake Minnewanka

  Day 4: Banff

  Enjoy any number of optional tours in and around Banff. Consider a discovery tour to see and learn about Banff's wildlife behaviour, habitat, and their winter survival adaptations. Visiting Banff's landmarks and historic places. Hear how the 11,000 year old human history of the Bow Valley changed when three railway workers rediscovered the Cave & Basin, now a National Historic Site. Your time will be spent enjoying the sights, taking photos, and participating in short walks to view points, on the many stops of the 3 hour tour. Consider a 4 hour hike through Johnston Canyon Icewalk on steel walkways built into the canyon walls that give an airy view of the canyon below. Travel through prime wildlife habitat on your way to the trailhead and learn the clues to how Johnston Canyon was formed. This popular walk will lead you past the lower falls and to the breathtaking upper icefalls. Consider a fun filled day dogsledding (including a panoramic flight if you wish), snow shoeing, snow mobiling, heli-skiing or heli-sightseeing or a sleigh ride. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if any of these activities are of interest.

  Finish off the perfect day by joining a shared, guided 2 km walk and campfire session at Lake Minnewanka on the outskirts of Banff. Walk the shoreline by headlamp and listen to the crackling of the frozen lake. Take time to stargaze as you make your way to the campfire site where you can try roasting marshmallows and warm up with hot chocolate around the fire as your guide entertains you with stories of the wild. Ski wear including hats, mitts, and warm boots are recommended.

  Accommodation: The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort

• Day 5: Calgary

  Enjoy a private transfer from Calgary (airport or downtown) to Banff. The travel time is approximately two hours.

  Accommodation: Depart (Int`l Airport)

Accommodation

• • The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort
  • The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort

  The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort

  Few hotels in the world rival the majesty, hospitality and grandeur of The Fairmont Banff Springs resort. Styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, a National Historical Site, is located in the heart of Banff National Park; a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of the hotel in 1888 marked the birthplace of tourism in the Canadian Rockies. Where can you play in authentic winter? A place so magical you'll think you awoke in a storybook. Banff is a destination that offers 3 pristine ski resorts and 'many other exhilarating winter activities at your doorstep'. Come to The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel; unwind in luxury before an evening of unforgettable dining experiences. Breathe the crisp mountain air and marvel at some of nature's most awe-inspiring handiwork, at Canada's 'Storybook' Castle, in the Canadian Rockies! The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is just steps away from the Town of Banff. An authentic mountain town offering a great diversity of year round shopping, dining, and night life in addition to art and cultural events. Visit our Mountain Region event calendar for all the events happening in Banff.  Discover all the exciting activities in Banff.

  • More information

The Fine Print

• Trip Operator

  Horizon & Co. (founded in 1963), is a privately-owned leading boutique travel company. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups.

• Contact Information

  Horizon & Co.
  Tel: 1-800-387-2977
  Email: admin@horizon-co.com
  Web: www.horizon-co.com

• What's Included:

  • Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

• What's not Included:

  • Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

• Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.horizon-co.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

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