BANFF Beyond Barriers with Ash Manning

TrovaTrip will provide one transfer from Calgary International Airport (YYC) between 1pm - 3pm. Please plan to arrive by 2pm. The exact transfer time within this window will be confirmed closer to your arrival, based on the flight information you provide. Travelers arriving outside of the recommended flight window will need to arrange their own transportation to meet the group at the campground. Please note, there is no parking available at the campground. If you are driving, we recommend parking your car at the airport and joining the included transfer. Bathroom stops will be made in Canmore if needed.

Welcome dinner at camp is included. Sample dishes may include tacos, pasta, gyros, curries, burgers, and stir-fries, all served with a side salad and dessert. Your camp menu will vary, with meals inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

This will be a short introduction that will flow along with the introduction to the trip's itinerary and expectations for camp, safety, and communication! This brief workshop will open and close with questions and solo challenges that Ash has assembled for you. Grab that pen and paper to write down some of these. You will be encouraged to keep a journal this trip!

Overnight near Banff town.

Breakfast at camp is included. Most mornings offer a cold breakfast, but on occasion, a hot meal is served when time permits. Typical camp breakfasts may include bagels, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

Take a 1-hour transfer from your campsite to the trailhead. This hike is one of the most famous in Banff, beginning at Lake Louise and hiking along it before heading a bit higher. You’ll pass Mirror Lake and a small waterfall at Lake Agnes before arriving at the historic Lake Agnes Tea House. Built in 1901, this hiker’s refuge is family-run and located in a valley on the shore of Lake Agnes. It still features the original windows, tables, and chairs…along with more than 100 varieties of tea and homemade food, which you can enjoy before making your way back. Trail Type: Out & Back / Distance: 4.4 miles / Elevation: 1,260 feet / Duration: 2.5 - 3.5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate

Included pack lunch on the hike. Pack lunches usually consist of sandwiches or wraps, and a variety of sides like salads, dips with veggies, crackers, fruits, trail mix, granola bars, etc. Your lunches will vary, inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

Depart Lake Louise and take a 30-minute transfer to Moraine Lake. From the Moraine Lake parking lot, you’ll walk an easy yet beautiful trail with plenty of amazing views. A perfect way to end the day’s adventures on a tranquil note! Before leaving Moraine Lake, take a quick walk up to the top of the rockpile to experience what many consider the best view in the entire Canadian Rocky Mountains! Trail Type: Out & Back / Distance: 2 miles / Elevation: 315 feet / Duration: 1 hour / Difficulty: Easy

After your hike, you'll be transferred back to your campground near Banff.

Dinner at camp is included. Sample dishes may include tacos, pasta, gyros, curries, burgers, and stir-fries, all served with a side salad and dessert. Your camp menu will vary, with meals inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

Overnight near Banff town.

Breakfast at camp is included. Most mornings offer a cold breakfast, but on occasion, a hot meal is served when time permits. Typical camp breakfasts may include bagels, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

After a short 10-minute transfer into downtown Banff, you'll pick up your bikes and set off to explore the area. Today's ride is an easy one, taking you to iconic spots such as Surprise Corner, the Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, and the Cave & Basin National Historic Site. You'll be cycling on flat, paved paths with minimal elevation gain. A helmet and bike lock will be provided for your convenience. Biking Distance: 6.5 miles / Duration: 3 hours / Difficulty: Easy

After the ride, you'll have the rest of the afternoon to continue exploring Banff at your own pace. Indulge in a meal at one of the town's many charming restaurants (at your own cost), or browse the local shops for unique souvenirs. While you're not out in the wild today, the breathtaking mountain views are never far away! In the evening, you'll be picked up and transferred back to the campground.

Dinner at camp is included. Sample dishes may include tacos, pasta, gyros, curries, burgers, and stir-fries, all served with a side salad and dessert. Your camp menu will vary, with meals inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

Body Positivity is difficult to constantly be part of, sometimes it's about love and sometimes it's about hate. Fighting those negative feelings can be difficult and exhausting. During this workshop, Ash will explore the dichotomies and relationships in balancing self-acceptance and body neutrality.

Overnight near Banff town.

Breakfast at camp is included. Most mornings offer a cold breakfast, but on occasion, a hot meal is served when time permits. Typical camp breakfasts may include bagels, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

Transfer 20 minutes to Mount Norquay for your Via Ferrata experience. This half-day excursion will take you high up on the Norquay cliffs – using ladders and suspension bridges – as you climb the Memorial, Sunrise, and Vista buttresses. No climbing knowledge is needed, as you’ll wear a harness that’s always attached to the mountain’s steel cable pathway, and you’ll be led by a highly experienced ACMG-certified Guide. All you’ll need to bring is a basic level of physical fitness and a big sense of adventure! Helmets, harnesses, and all additional climbing gear are provided. Please be aware that there is a minimum weight requirement of 88 lbs (40 kg) and a maximum weight restriction of 308 lbs (140 kg). Groups will be split into a maximum of 8 and have a staggered departure time of 15 to 30 minutes. Distance: 1 mile / Elevation: 840 feet / Duration: 4 hours

Included pack lunch after the Via Ferrata. Usually consisting of sandwiches or wraps, and a variety of sides like salads, dips with veggies, crackers, fruits, trail mix, granola bars, etc. Your lunches will vary, inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

After lunch you’ll begin the drive to Kananaskis, stopping after about 35 minutes for a shorter loop hike at Grassi Lake. It will be a gradual incline that levels out as the trail opens up with amazing views of the surrounding peaks and lakes. Fun fact: the different colors of the Grassi Lakes are due to the varying depths of each! After completing the loop and returning to the parking lot, the drive to Kananaskis will continue. Trail Type: Loop / Elevation: 610 feet / Distance: 2.5 miles / Difficulty: Easy Please wear hiking boots and comfortable hiking clothes, and bring a rain jacket, a day pack, water, sunglasses, and sunscreen

Continue your transfer from Grassi Lakes to the campground.

Dinner at camp is included. Sample dishes may include tacos, pasta, gyros, curries, burgers, and stir-fries, all served with a side salad and dessert. Your camp menu will vary, with meals inspired by your guide's signature recipes and culinary creativity!

Overnight in a campsite in Kananaskis Country.

Breakfast at camp is included. Most mornings offer a cold breakfast, but on occasion, a hot meal is served when time permits. Typical camp breakfasts may include bagels, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

Transfer 40 minutes from the campground to the trailhead. The hike begins in a forested area and gradually increases in elevation through the pines, eventually opening up to an alpine meadow. You’ll hike until reaching Chester Lake, at the base of Mount Chester, before heading back to the campground. Trail Type: Out & Back / Distance: 5.8 miles / Elevation: 1,050 feet / Duration: 4-4.5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate

Included pack lunch on the hike. Pack lunches usually consist of sandwiches or wraps, and a variety of sides like salads, dips with veggies, crackers, fruits, trail mix, granola bars, etc.

In the evening, take a 40-minute transfer from the campground to the spa, set amidst the breathtaking mountains of Kananaskis. Here, you can unwind and take in the stunning natural beauty while soaking in a heated outdoor pool or lounging in a heated hammock. After your relaxing experience, you'll return to the campground for your final night of rest. Robes, slippers, and towels will be provided for your comfort.

Included farewell BBQ dinner at camp. Your meal this evening will consist of a variety of grilled foods such as salmon, sausages, chicken, and halloumi, as well as a couple of sides and dessert. Your camp menu will vary and be decided based on your Guide's recipe repertoire! Your meal tonight will either be an earlier or later dinner as you will be spending your evening at the spa. The time of your dinner will be decided based on the group's preference.

Overnight in a campsite in Kananaskis Country.

Breakfast at camp is included. Most mornings offer a cold breakfast, but on occasion, a hot meal is served when time permits. Typical camp breakfasts may include bagels, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea. Timing of breakfast will be dependent on when the group needs to leave for YYC.

TrovaTrip will provide one transfer to Calgary International Airport (YYC) on the final day of your trip. Please ensure your flight is scheduled for after 2pm. The exact transfer time will be confirmed closer to departure, based on the flight information provided by travelers. Those departing outside of the recommended flight window will need to arrange their own transfer to the airport.

As we prepare for goodbyes, Ash will do one final short lesson on embracing yourself and what that truly means for you. Questions will arise that you can reflect on while traveling home and hopefully into the future.