26/02/2011

Canadian Rockies Gap Year Adventure Tours

Take a gap year in Canada. If you are thinking about adventure trips across Canada for your next holiday, then you are sure to have the Canadian Rockies in mind as a destination. The whole country is renowned for its spectacular scenery, but there are few places in the world where the term 'rugged beauty' is more apt than the Canadian Rockies. This vast mountain range offers you the opportunity to get back to nature in a way that you may find difficult to imagine while you sit at your desk at work. The sheer scale of the Canadian Rockies, coupled with the stunning scenery and variety of wildlife makes it an ideal place for adventure holidays.

A camping trip is one of the best ways to experience the Canadian Rockies , as it will allow you to head off and explore the wilderness without having to worry about trekking back to civilisation to find your accommodation every night. But you should remember that such great expanses of nature are not without their dangers, so it is a good idea to use a guide to ensure you do not inadvertently stray into terrain that will put your safety at too much risk. There is certainly plenty to see and do on Canadian Rockies tours. The region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because its glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, caves, ice fields and canyons combine to make it an area of almost unrivalled natural beauty.

You are sure to want to see as much of this as possible during your adventure holiday and there are few better places to start than in Banff National Park - one of five national parks in the Canadian Rockies. It is home to the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake and part of the Colombia Icefield, together with rivers and forests. These stunning natural attractions form a habitat for both grizzly and black bears, along with elk, mountain goats, cougars and wolves. Hiking through the foothills is a great way to experience the beauty of the area and may also give you the opportunity to see some of the animals in the wild. But on foot is not the only option for adventurous holidaymakers keen to take in everything Banff National Park has to offer. There are trails for mountain bikes and opportunities for trekking by horse, while you could also choose a helicopter flight over the peaks or a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain. After an action-packed day, you can enjoy a relaxing dip in one of the hot springs before heading back to your tent.

Jasper National Park can rival Banff for scenery and adventure. Mount Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, Pyramid Mountain and the spectacular Athabasca Falls can all be found in the park, along with a wide variety of wildlife. You are sure to want to go hiking during your time camping in Jasper, as it is the best way to get up close to the attractions, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the surroundings. An ice walk or rafting expedition will certainly add some adventure to your holiday, while you could also take a trip across the Athabasca Glacier on a bus designed especially for the conditions.

If your time in the Canadian Rockies is limited, you will easily be able to fill it by visiting the natural attractions in the national parks of Banff and Jasper. However, if you have a couple of days spare during your adventure holiday, it is also worth visiting Yoho National Park. Yoho is best known as the site of the Burgess Shale, one of the most famous fossil fields in the world, but it also enjoys the same sort of natural beauty as the rest of the Canadian Rockies, with peaks such as The President and Mount Burgess providing a backdrop for huge forests and the tranquil scenery around Emerald Lake. The park is home to Takakkaw Falls, one of the biggest waterfalls in Canada, and the Wapta Falls, a spectacular spot on the fast-flowing Kicking Horse River. If you are looking for a really exhilarating experience, you can try rafting on the river - but it is not for the faint-hearted.

However you choose to spend your time on a Canadian adventure holiday in the Canadian Rockies, it is sure to be a truly memorable experience - and given how much there is to see and do, it will be one you want to repeat.

To book a tour call TrekAmerica on +44 (0) 208 682 8920.

TrekAmerica's adventure tours of USA, Canada and Mexico are aimed at travellers aged 18-38. TrekAmerica's Grand American Adventures offers similar trips aimed at travellers of all ages, including families.


Browse Gap Year 365 Travel Opportunities: Gap Year Tours
- North America Gap Year / North America Gap Year Tours
- Canada Gap Year / Canada Gap Year Tours

Trek America

Canadian Pioneer Tour

Canadian Rockies Tour

Western Canada Adventure Tour