Guest Trip Reviews

Ride the Alberta Rockies: 5-Day Horseback Trips in Canada
Comments from a UK family shared on August 3, 2008

"Hi Claude-Jean

Having been back in the UK for a week now I have a moment to email you to let you know how our trek went.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Rockies and keep reciting stories even now. Our enjoyment and memories are due in no small part to Stan and his team of Donna and Yvonne. We felt privileged to spend time in such a stunning and awesome part of the world, seeing parts that are really only possible on horseback.

The horses were absolute stars to whom we were al well matched including 8 year old Joe.

It was lovely to be part of a small group with just 8 of us including Stan and team. The ride in on Monday was tough with temperatures up to 30C. The day we went to the Lost Guide Lake high in the mountains we had to ride back to camp through 3 hours of torrential rain which saw us all absolutely soaked through. However the cameraderie when we got back helped us all recover immediately.

A memorable and unique holiday all round. Thank you all your help in making it happen.

With best wishes

Bob and family"

Grizzly bear viewing holiday on horseback
Reviewed by Alison Reid on July 15, 2008

Watching a grizzly bear playing with her cubs, we had decided to go out with the horses for an early morning ride to see if we could spot any grizzly bears. Our guide Bernie suggested the early morning as this was the most active time for the bears. Luckily he was right and we spotted a mother and two cubs playing in a meadow. A very special moment!

The journey to the camp is quite a trek, it took us about 9 hours on the horses over some tough terrain, it is hard work and I would advise that people need to be prepared for this if they want the camp based experience in the mountains. I would also suggest that people travelling at this time of year prepare for mosquitoes. When we were there the mosquito's were quite bad, luckily we had repellant!

I think this is a very environment friendly trek, waste is kept to a minimum and local Canadians get to work at the ranch and learn new skills.

Loved the horses and I am not a horse person! Thought Bernie and Liz our guides were wonderful and very knowledgeable. Only downside is I think the camp is very basic, the shower is cold unless you spend an hour or so heating the fire to get the boiler going and the communal hut is in need of some renovation as are the surrounding areas and tents. For example there is no lighting in the wash hut and a shower using a torch is not very easy!

Thank you Alison for taking the time to share with us your comments about this camp-based grizzly viewing trip. We certainly do our best to prepare our guests for the long horse riding experience up to the camp. Some participants will take extra riding lessons ahead of time over the winter. This allows them to get ready physically and mentally for the experience. Families bond further in the process - the trip actually starts before guests leave home in a way. But no matter how much preparation people go through, there are very few settings where people get to ride up a mountain for a whole day like this... and you will feel it in your body as the hours pass. As for the mosquitoes, I find them more of a minor annoyance at camp than on the trails. Bug juice makes them more bearable as you found.

As for the camp situation. It is true that that the wall tents are rustic, the beds are rudimentary but remarkably comfortable to sleep on when using a sleeping bag. The shower is still a work in progress, I'll admit... I myself just take a dip in a lake usually. Using propane fuel in this kind of remote setting involves the consideration of hauling tanks up the mountains on pack horses... I guess one of the choices we make is to favour the ability to cook hot meals over taking a hot shower. It makes the hot shower back at the ranch on the last night all the more precious. I am glad that you felt the bear viewing opportunities were worth the journey... You both got to participate in a very special experience that very few people get to do in their lifetime. I hope you cherish the memories of this trip for years to come.

***** I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on

Gwaii Haanas - Queen Charlotte Islands Sailing Adventure in Canada
Reviewed by Sue Lorraine on June 22, 2008

Hi CJ, Yes I'm safe home but would have been quite happy to stow away on the Island Roamer and do it all again!! Told the crew I can't ever take another holiday as nothing would ever compare. It was a mind blowing holiday-we saw 50 times more whales than people around the Queen Charlotte's, a bear, sealions and such incredible undersea life it could have been the Barrier Reef - except no coral!

The crew were extraordinary-professional, Caring, skilled, knowledgeable - I could make an endless list - they were the difference between a great holiday and a truly exceptional one.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

There were so many highlights: probably the most extraordinary was on the first afternoon when we saw the whole undersea foodchain in action before our very eyes: millions of krill eating plankton, to be in turn gobbled up by the pilchards twinkling on the water surface by their thousand, to be in turn hoovered up by tens of humpback whales, working as teams, waving their pectoral fins, diving with flukes aloft. The photos of the whales cavernous mouths are pretty spectacular! Another highlight was the incredible smell of food each time we returned to our mother boat:of superb quality and variety. And believe me, that kayaking makes you real hungry!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't take too many belongings with you as space is limited but do take lots and lots of warm layers even in midsummer: if you want to sit on deck and not miss any of the extraordinary wildlife you will freeze without warm hat, gloves, layer after layer of warmth and full wet gear. There is an enclosed observation area but it just isn't the same! If possible take a back up camera (and enough film or cards to last). There are no shopping opportunities on the trip. My wallet had a good rest! I managed to knock my new digital into the hotspring and despite valiant efforts of the crew it did not recover. So was so grateful to have my trusty 35mm backup and even my mobile phone. There is however no phone reception in the Queen Charlottes: hallelughia!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Absolutely: certainly travelling by a boat fully undersail when possible, must be ecologically sound. The crew were skilled at respecting wildlife - not overcrowding whales or sealions; not allowing us to tramp through precious intertidal areas. Our food and drink was locally sourced and in season where possible.The crew had diplomatic and respectful contacts with the Haida Watchmen and encouraged us to behave similarly. They respected their request to have only 12 people on site at once, to stick to paths and conceal evidence of our being there - eg our life jackets. The donations paid to the nature reserve must benefit its protection and the memory of the people who lived there

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

This was a truly great holiday-made exceptional by the crew who were professional, skilled,caring, knowledgable, fun -the list is endless.I told them that I can never take another holiday as nothing could ever compare!And I did threaten to stow away and do it all over again......

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"I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend"

Guest Ranch Horseback Riding Vacation in British Columbia
Reviewed 19 Apr 2008 by John Grogan

The horse sides up to the bluffs were great, with excellent views of the surrounding countryside, and the atmosphere in the ranch was very friendly, making you feel as though you fit in almost straight away.

Book for longer than the 4 day trip, at the end I regretted not going for longer. And bring your camera.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yeah, all of their facilities are close together, so apart from the drive there, you don't use cars or anything. They use horses for a lot of the work, and know what they're doing so they don't damage the environment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Superb, I only wish that I'd stayed for longer.

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Yukon dog sledding holiday, Canada reviewed by John Baker

Sledding down to 'Mud lake', about 40 miles south of the main lodge after we'd spent the night in the wall tents (they are about half way between each!) and then having lunch! And this wasn't just a sandwich affair either; we got a decent fire going and our guide Kari got some sausages on the fire going, plus she brought the mustard too!

Apart from lunch the views that day were absolutely amazing because of some lucky weather; and the route gave a few challenges too so made the sledding worth every mile.

If you go early Feb or before then take lots of middle layers; jumpers etc. It went down to -47 at night and can be quite chilly on any outhouse visits too; but even more so there's a risk of frost bite so everything has to be covered. This is where gimp masks and neck protectors etc come in; ski goggles are a good idea even though they will mist up.

As a note; if it's too cold then the dogs can only run for a few hours or they literally freeze, so you may experience some shorter days at these temps but even so just a few hours with these amazing dogs was enough; and a nice hot cup of tea was needed either way!

All my flights went through major airports so there were no special flights and all were pretty much full. Yukon is strangely not that popular around this time apart from the Quest dog sled race so any extra tourism does give a nice boost to the locals who are all more than happy to help and chat to you about what you're doing, where you're from and about local stuff going on.

Dog sledding itself is very good; no snow mobiles are sent ahead or behind the dogs. The guides cut trail (go over powder covered trails) if needed and do most of the time; the snow mobiles are only used if needed and generally not at all. All rubbish is collected and returned to Whitehorse and any rubbish at camps etc is collected and brought back. Supplies are brought up every few days but these generally coincide with guests arriving and leaving so carbon emissions are kept to as few trips as possible. All the guides and staff make sure the focus is on the environment and the dogs which is happily accepted by the guests.

Simply amazing. There's is no question that I'll be going again to Canada if not Whitehorse and the same ranch I went dog sledding. Plus it's even planted the seed of me thinking about moving there; so must have been a good trip!

The local people in Canada and even in Vancouver were all really friendly, the guides more so and had some fabulous food and recipes there, nothing to miss home about thats for sure!

There was one hiccup which taints the journey; my Air Canada flight to Vancouver was canceled and I eventually had to fork out for a new plane ticket to London as it made me miss my connections that would get me back to the UK. However, the Air Canada staff at Whitehorse did all they could and got me on the next available flight (even though it was operated by Air North) so it wasn't through lack of effort just bad luck. If anything I'd say avoid KLM/Horizon Air/NWA as their check-in staff just didn't seem to care I was stuck in their airport!

However, thats nothing to put me off Canada or going back for another dog sledding adventure!

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"I cannot think of any better service than what has been offered to me"
Reviewed by Agustin Bataille, London, England

Claude-Jean,

I wanted to thank you very much for arranging my kayak trip in August.

On the last day of the trip, Pat asked me what was the highlight of the trip, and admittedly, I had a blank. Not that the trip was disappointing. Quite the contrary. I had so many images and feelings coming to my mind that it was difficult to make a choice and say what was *the* highlight.

I definitely remember seeing the eagle flying back to his nest day after day, waking up in the morning and watching the morning fog dissipate, falling asleep listening to the sound of waves, eating fresh (!) strawberries after a few days, watching the evening fire take off thanks to the cedar that Pat had meticulously chopped in tiny pieces, kayaking on several meters high waves, executing top notch surf landings under Pat's instructions, and many more.

The landscapes and nature I have discovered on the various islands were simply breathtaking. My friends had always told me I should visit Canada, but now I can barely understand why it took me so long to have actually done so. It is simply a lovely country. In days of global warming, tsunamis, water restrictions and growing waste, amongst others, visiting a country with such a fantastic and well preserved environment is mind-blowing.

As for the logistics of the trip, I cannot think of any better service than what has been offered to me. From a flexible start to accommodate a few unfortunate sick days, through excellent quality equipment (what a kayak!), delicious food, nice journey schedule, sea lions, to, last but not least, a professional and super enthusiastic guide, absolutely everything made my trip an unforgettable one.

It was really one of those memorable trips and I can tell you I have recommended Great Excursions to one of my colleagues already.

Kind regards,
Augustin

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"I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on"
Reviewed by Graham Dury, United Kingdom

Our family, including 3 boys of 14, 12 and 10 have just returned from one of your pack horse trips in the Clearwater Valley area of the Canadian Rockies. We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the experience and benefited from such an unusual holiday. We were not expecting to see quite such a beautiful, unspoilt landscape. We felt privileged to visit such a pristine, well cared for area.

Our guides really made us feel welcome with their hospitable and relaxed attitude. We felt we were in safe hands throughout the trip and they did their best to take us to areas of the back country which would otherwise have been inaccessible to us. The camp and facilities were simple but well organised and blended in with the forest setting. We felt we did no damage to the tranquil environment and came home feeling inspired, refreshed and ready for new challenges.

By travelling on horseback we got further into the mountains than we had hoped, and the horses worked as a happy team following in an orderly line which made the trip relaxed, enjoyable and safe. Thanks for putting us in touch with such a great experience. We thought it would be a 'once in a lifetime' experience, but we are hoping to do it again soon.

I didn't think that at 45 I could change much as a person. How wrong I was. The week we spent in the Rockies was truly a life-changing experience. We all feel so much better for it, physically, but more important, mentally. Thank you so much for arranging it all. And could you pass our thanks on to Stan, Dave and Donna, who were everything we hoped they would be and more. Our three kids had a mental picture of Stan long before they met him, and he has had such an influence on them. I honestly believe they'll remember him as long as they live.

Take a closer look at the trip Graham and his family went on here...

"My 7-day camp-based grizzly viewing trip started with such a warm welcome at the ranch it was like being greeted by old friends. Immediately I knew I was in good hands and was to be looked after by people who wanted me to have a great experience, perhaps even more than I did myself.

All of the staff members - from kitchen hand to wilderness guide - reflect
in their enthusiasm and professionalism the dedication of this operation to
the environment, to the wildlife, and to the expectations and desires of its
visitors. The guides don't like this land or this life; they love it with a
passion that oozes from their pores. They really are the life, and they're
committed to sharing it at every opportunity.

High in the hills and mountains above the ranch is magic, pure and simple:
almost otherworldly.

The Chilcotin Mountain scenery is dramatic and spectacular - stealing one's breath at every turn of the trail, every hilltop arrival. From deep and dappled woods, to lush meadows, to snow capped mountain tops and naked shale ridges, there was a never-ending flow of sights and sensations, though it took me some considerable time to stop pinching myself and realise that I was actually here, in the middle of it - it was mine to behold! Grizzlies, deer, marmots and mountain goats all came out to play for us, to remind us that there's another way to live on this earth, where nature creates harmony, health and simplicity. All this heralded by the spooky call of the Loon at dawn each day from the beautiful lake where we camped in wilderness style.

The Cayuse horses, though somewhat unpretty for one more used to
Thoroughbreds and Arabs, are incredible creatures. Unflinching and never
tiring, they could go all day (and did) to take us further into this land.
I trusted my steed with my holiday and my life, and she never let me down
for a moment.

Ah, yes, but the grizzlies - they were what I came for. For as long as I
can remember I've wanted a real-life encounter and my dream was fulfilled on this journey. Those that we saw "up close" showed us their majesty, their rippling muscles and glossy fur, their curious expressions. I thought this was what I needed to see to really know them. Imagine my surprise to find out that it was the ones that we didn't really see at all who filled me with true awe! Tracks and scat on the trail, overturned logs in the meadows, made me realise I was wandering through their backyard and filled me with a sense of privilege. And that magnificent bear through the binoculars, high on a ridge where there is no food or shelter, he really had no business to be there, rolling, playing, running and leaping - he showed me his shyness, his pride, his playfulness, his nature. For that, and for Great Excursions, I will be forever grateful for making my dreams come true."

Jill Quigley
Auckland, New Zealand

Take a closer look at Jill's trip here...