Canadian Rockies & Calgary Stampede
(group 1)

We’ll start the morning with breakfast and a slow, easy start to the day, taking some time to look around the ranch in daylight. The property—17 hectares in size, which is quite small by Canadian standards—has a truly authentic and charming atmosphere. Before noon, we’ll get changed and head to the horses. Our guides will give a short introduction to the Western riding style, explain the training of their horses, and familiarize everyone with the saddles and tack used here. Then, horses will be paired with riders, we’ll saddle up, and head out from the ranch for our first introductory ride. The surrounding land stretches endlessly in every direction, offering countless trails to explore. Today’s ride will be an easy “warm-up,” adjusted to the group’s condition after the long journey and any lingering jet lag. We’ll make a loop around the area surrounding the ranch to get our bearings and then ride toward Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, beyond which lie completely wild and untamed territories. Established in 1912, Ya Ha Tinda Ranch is operated by Parks Canada and is the only government-owned horse ranch in the country. It trains horses for national park wardens across Canada and also serves as a sanctuary for wildlife. We’ll return to base in the late afternoon, unsaddle our horses, and enjoy some time to rest. In the evening, we’ll gather for dinner and a cheerful night of storytelling—naturally, about horses. 🙂

We’ll start the day with a hearty breakfast and then get ready to hit the trail. Once our horses are saddled, we’ll set off toward a scenic viewpoint known as Sheep Cliffs. We’ll begin by following the river to Big Horn, where we’ll cross it before continuing along a forest trail that leads up to a mountain plateau. There, we’ll stop for a break and a picnic. From the Sheep Cliffs, a breathtaking panorama opens up over the entire area: the rugged, inaccessible peak of Warden Rock, the Red Deer River Valley disappearing between the mountains, the Ya Ha Tinda range, and—far in the distance—our ranch. Other than that, as far as the eye can see, there’s no trace of human presence. The view from the cliffs reveals the immensity of this land—so vast that one could spend a lifetime exploring it on horseback. After we’ve taken in the scenery and rested, it will be time to head back. We’ll descend a gentle slope into dense forest, cross the Red Deer River once more, and follow the open plains back to the ranch—arriving just in time to relax and enjoy dinner.

After breakfast and getting ready for the ride, we’ll set off for another day of adventures. We’ll leave our base and cross the land of Canada’s only government-owned ranch. The first part of the route is fairly flat, but we’ll once again need to cross the river. Following the Wolf Creek Trail, we’ll ride partly along the Red Deer River and the main Ya Ha Tinda Road, heading toward Labyrinth Mountain. The terrain will gradually become steeper until we reach Wolf Creek, where we’ll stop for a break by the picturesque waterfalls. If the weather is good, there’s even a chance to take a refreshing dip in the river. After some rest, we’ll saddle up again and start our return journey. We’ll cross the Red Deer River at a different point and ride onto a dirt road, from which we’ll turn uphill toward Eagle Lake. By late afternoon we’ll return to our ranch and tend to our horses. It’s a good idea to start packing this evening for the next few days, which we’ll spend in another part of the county. As always, we’ll end the day gathered around the table for dinner and good company.

In the morning, we’ll have breakfast and make sure we have everything we need for the next four days. We’ll leave the ranch by car—about a 2.5-hour drive awaits us. Some of the horses will travel with us in a trailer, while the rest—brought by our hosts the evening before—will already be waiting for us when we arrive. There, we’ll meet the second hosting team, our guides from Clearwater Basin, who will lead us behind their horse-drawn wagons to their extraordinary wilderness camp. We’ll saddle up and set off, following the wagons. If we feel like it, we can let the wagons get ahead and then catch up to the convoy cantering. Along the way, we’ll stop for a break by a scenic stream, then continue until we reach 40 Mile Cabin, from where it’s just a short ride to our destination. Soon after, we’ll arrive at the beautiful forest camp that will serve as our base for the next few days. We’ll unsaddle our horses, water them in the river, and secure them for the night. Once the horses are fed and settled, we’ll set up in our large tents and join our host family for dinner. The evening will be spent around the campfire, sharing laughter, stories, and perhaps a surprise or two! We’ll spend the night in spacious, multi-person tents.

The course of this day will depend on the weather. If the forecast for the day and night ahead looks good, we’ll prepare both our riding horses and the pack horses, which will carry a portable camp into the mountains. Canadians have a fascinating approach to backcountry camping—they tend to bring along generous amounts of… well, everything! With their extensive experience in pack trips, they take the process very seriously: depending on how much gear they decide to bring, there can sometimes be as many pack horses as riders. Once everything is ready, we’ll set off. The trail leads mainly through forest, occasionally opening onto wide meadows covered in low vegetation, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. After about five hours of riding, we’ll reach our destination—Lost Guide Lake, an absolutely stunning mountain lake nestled in the shadow of a massive, semi-circular peak. There, we’ll stop for a trail lunch and set up camp for the night. It’s possible to take a refreshing dip in the lake and wash off the dust from the day’s ride. In the evening, we’ll start a campfire, prepare dinner together, and spend the night in tents in this extraordinary place.
If the weather turns unfavorable, we’ll switch to Plan B: we’ll still ride to Lost Guide Lake but return the same day, or choose one of the beautiful trails in the area around 40 Mile Patrol Cabin and Scalp Peak instead.

If we spent the previous day in the mountains, we’ll start the morning with breakfast and then break camp. We’ll need to prepare the pack horses for the journey, saddle our mounts, and head back down toward our remarkable base camp. The ride will take about 4–5 hours, as we’ll be guiding the pack horses along with us, reaching camp in the late afternoon. After a late lunch, we’ll have some time to rest before our hosts hitch their horses to the wagons and give us a lesson in driving. We couldn’t ask for better teachers—the family has been traveling through this region with their wagons for years, in all weather conditions and seasons. In the evening, we’ll enjoy our final dinner in this extraordinary place, followed by a festive campfire gathering. If we didn’t spend the previous night at the mountain lake, then in the morning we’ll set out on horseback along one of the scenic trails toward Clearwater Mountain, and in the late afternoon we’ll have our driving lesson.

It’s time to leave our extraordinary camp in Clearwater Basin and set out on our final stretch on horseback. After breakfast, we’ll pack our belongings, saddle the horses, and begin our ride back. We’ll pass 40 Mile Cabin, follow a forest road, and cross a stream before reaching a broad, even trail—perfect for a bit of cantering. As we get closer to base, we’ll turn toward the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch area and ride to the stunning Hidden Falls waterfall. There, we’ll take a longer break, enjoy our packed lunch, and rest by the roaring, dramatic cascade. Once we’ve soaked in the beauty of the place, we’ll mount up again and ride back toward our base. In the late afternoon, we may head out to visit another beautiful spot nearby—or use the time for a bit of training. This marks the end of our horseback expedition, but we’ll reunite with our horses in two days—for the parade! In the evening, we’ll gather for a final dinner and celebration at the ranch, spending the night in our cozy cabins.

We’ll spend the last day—or rather, part of it—rafting down the Red Deer River. We also have a few extra ideas and surprises for you. 🙂 If we choose to go rafting, we’ll divide into two groups. While the first group sets off on the river, the second will have time to pack up (and then we’ll switch). The river isn’t particularly fast-flowing, so the trip will be quite calm and relaxing. It’s a wonderful opportunity to admire the area we’ve explored from horseback—this time from a completely different perspective. In the afternoon, we’ll have our final lunch at the ranch, load our luggage into the cars, and head for Calgary, a drive of about three hours. Once there, we’ll settle into our hotel and meet up with the second group of riders, who will be arriving in Canada that very day. Together—united as one cheerful team—we’ll head out for a jolly group dinner. We shouldn’t stay up too late, though—tomorrow we’ll have to get up early for a long and exciting day ahead!

An exciting and truly unforgettable day awaits us! After an early breakfast we’ll head to downtown Calgary, where at 9:00 a.m. the Opening Parade of the Calgary Stampede—one of the largest and most extraordinary equestrian events in the world—begins. And we’ll be part of it! 🙂 Some members of our group who wish to do so will ride on horseback in the parade, while the others will join on foot. The parade is broadcasted across Canada and the U.S., and taking part in it is an absolutely once-in-a-lifetime experience. After the parade, we’ll make our way to the Stampede Grounds, where this ten-day, massive event officially kicks off. We’ll spend the first half of the day exploring its vast grounds. It’s easy to get lost at first—but we’ve been there and done that before, so we’ll guide you throug it. 🙂 Several arenas and exhibition halls will be hosting different events simultaneously, we’ll help you choose the most interesting ones to see. Lunch and dinner will be on-site—there are countless food stalls and vendors, so everyone will find something they like. In the late afternoon we’ll head as a group to GMC Stadium to watch the chuckwagon races and, most importantly, the spectacular Grandstand Show, an evening performance that’s one of the highlights of the entire Stampede. We’ll return to our hotel for the night, full of impressions from an incredible day.
Note: those willing to participate in the parade must be registered by us by December 2025. Participants who sign up for the ride after that date will still take part—as spectators.

In the morning we’ll have breakfast and head back to the Calgary Stampede. We’ll have some free time to continue exploring this enormous event and to watch a few more of its incredible shows. In the early afternoon, we’ll return to the stadium—this time for the rodeo! A few thrilling hours await us as we watch the competitors take on classic rodeo events such as barrel racing, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, and, of course, riding bucking horses and bull riding. After the rodeo, we’ll still have plenty of time to explore other performances and attractions. Between arena performances and exhibitions, we’ll keep wandering the lively Stampede Grounds, where something exciting is always going on. As on the previous day, lunch and dinner will be enjoyed on-site amid the festival atmosphere. In the evening we can go to one of the concerts (the Stampede lineup is quite something) or just keep exploring the event, there’s always something to see and do there. This will be our last evening in Canada, so we’ll be sure to celebrate it properly. 🙂 We’ll return to the hotel for the night, full of memories and stories to share.

It’s time to say goodbye to incredible Canada. Depending on our flight schedules, we may still have time for breakfast at the hotel before heading to the airport to begin the long journey back home.