A one-of-a-kind classroom
Hike and learn with Canadian Geographic Ambassadors
We’ve partnered with Canadian Geographic for this unique opportunity to hike among the mighty Cariboo mountains in the company of featured Canadian Geographic photographers.
Receive invaluable instruction and one-on-one time with esteemed explorers and adventurers during this 4-day, small-group, heli-hiking travel experience. Photograph some of BC’s wildest landscapes and feel transformed.
This is a classroom you won’t find anywhere else.
Trip Dates:
4 day trip at Cariboos
Scott Forsyth - July 22 - 25, 2024
Activity level:
All levels - beginner to advanced
Photography & Heli-Hiking
Canadian Geographic’s photographer-in-residence, Scott Forsyth is passionate about exploring the natural landscapes of Canada. Winner of the Banff International Film and Book Festival, his book The Wild Coasts of Canada depicts Canada’s epic scenery across the longest coastline in the world. Interested in storytelling, natural history, and photographic beauty, Scott enjoys sharing techniques for capturing the essence of the natural world through a lens.
Arrival Day
5:30 am
Depart via the CMH coach from Calgary, Banff or other pick-up locations and journey along the spectacular Icefields Parkway on your way to the helipad. Sit back and enjoy learning about this iconic Canadian route from an on-board interpretive guide, who will share with you the history and geography of this incredibly scenic drive.
1:45 pm
Arrive at helipad for heli-transfer to CMH Cariboos Lodge
2:45 pm
Upon arrival, you’ll get acquainted with the lodge and be provided with any necessary gear
3:15 pm
If time allows, you may hike on your first afternoon following a helicopter safety briefing.
5:00 pm
Return back to the lodge where you can enjoy aprés-adventure refreshments, a soak in the hot tub or a massage
7:00 pm
Enjoy your first CMH Cariboos gourmet family-style dinner – guides, staff, and your Can Geo Ambassador will join you for the meal each evening
Exploration Days
7:30 am
Wake up with a dynamic warm-up class
8:00 am
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast to start your day right. Pack your lunch for the day and get ready for your day of adventure.
9:00 am
First group will fly into the mountains. You will venture out to remote viewpoints with your Can Geo Ambassador.
12:00 pm
Lunch in the field
4:00-5:00 pm
Return to the lodge, where you can enjoy après-adventure refreshments, a soak in the hot tub or a massage and additional instruction from your Can Geo Ambassador if you require.
7:00 pm
Swap stories of your incredible adventures in the mountains as you enjoy a family-style dinner with your guides, lodge staff, and Can Geo Ambassador.
Departure Day
8:00 am
Enjoy a hearty lodge breakfast before heading out for your final morning hike
9:00 am
First hiking group will fly up into the mountains
11:00 am
First groups will return to get ready to leave the lodge
12:00 pm
Lunch
2:45 pm
Private coach transfer from helipad to Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, and Calgary International Airport
8:30 pm
Estimated arrival time in Banff
10:00 pm
Anticipated arrival at Calgary International Airport (YYC). We recommend guests do not book flights until the next day.
*Please note: Hiking schedule and lunch times may vary
If you have questions, our team is happy to assist.
Call us at 1-800-661-0252
Arrive early or leave later by extending your CMH stay with additional adventures in Banff and surrounding area. Our CMH Vacation Planning team can help you with the details.
Accommodations
A double occupancy room in the hotel-style CMH Cariboos Lodge for the duration of your stay, featuring a full range of inviting onsite amenities.
Food & Beverage
Three meals per day – a chef-prepared breakfast and dinner plus packed lunches, après-hiking snacks and non-premium non-alcoholic refreshments.
Heli-Assisted Guided Adventure
Professionally accredited guides will accompany you on your adventure, featuring heli flights up and down the mountains plus return flights to your lodge. Learn more about Heli-Hiking
Ground Transportation
Transportation on the CMH coach from the Calgary International Airport (YYC), Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper to the CMH Cariboos helipad, and return to Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore or the Calgary International Airport (YYC).
Equipment
Use of CMH hiking equipment, including boots, rain jackets, wind pants, day packs and hiking poles. Some of our guests opt to use their own equipment – the choice is yours.
If you have questions, our team is happy to assist.
Call us at 1-800-661-0252
If you’re thinking of a trip or have already booked and are looking for additional information, check out our Trip Information.
Creature comforts in the middle of nowhere
Our hotel-style lodge is perfectly perched at 1,100m (3,600 ft) in the rugged Cariboo Mountains, about 100km (62 mi) west of Mount Robson Provincial Park in east-central BC. Cradled by thick cedars, ageless glaciers and loaded with creature comforts, it’s an ideal home base in the high country.
Don’t let the laid-back feel fool you – we’re attuned to every little detail in this incredible retreat. From the temperature of the hot tub to the contents of our well-stocked bar and wine cellar, we go out of our way to make sure everything about CMH Cariboo Lodge is warm, inviting and unforgettable.
Single supplement is available by request on a space-available basis, depending on the lodge and the number of nights in your stay. As a solo traveller you may book on a twin-share basis, and we will attempt to match you with a same-gender roommate. If we are unable to do so, you will not be charged for the upgrade to single occupancy.
All prices are $CAD ($USD prices shown are based on currency rates available from www.bankofcanada.ca and are subject to change).
Group travel options
Book an entire lodge or bring your group and mingle with other guests. Plan a corporate retreat, a family reunion or a special celebration, and let us help customize the details. Learn more
Your CMH adventure starts with a journey on a route listed as 'One of the Most Scenic Drives in the World' – the Icefields Parkway. Choose to self-drive and take your time to explore the grand scenery, or hop on our private coach to simply enjoy the bucket-list view out the window. An interpretive guide onboard the coach will highlight the area's history and geography throughout the drive, deepening your experience of this iconic Canadian route. Upon arrival at the helipad in Valemount, BC, you'll take a quick ride above the treetops to our hotel-style lodge in the high country, loaded with luxurious amenities.
Parking at the helipad is available at your own risk. CMH assumes no liability for vehicles parked at the helipad.
Self-Driving Directions (via Banff)
CMH Area Map
Enjoy private coach transportation from Calgary, Banff and other select locations and takes you along the Icefields Parkway on your way to the CMH Cariboos helipad. Ascend through verdant forests, mammoth peaks, alpine lakes and plunging waterfalls on your way to where the mountains meet the sky.
It’s “all systems go” as you prepare to take to the skies for your first helicopter flight. After watching a safety video, you’ll disembark your coach for the first helicopter trip of your journey to CMH Cariboos Lodge.
You’ll experience all CMH has to offer - and then some. Our Canadian Geographic Adventure trips include exceptional guided wilderness hiking, with the addition of a Can Geo Ambassador to enhance your experience. Pick their brain, listen to their stories, learn from them and wander the wilds with some of the most travelled people on the planet.
You’ll have ample opportunity to connect with your Can Geo Ambassador. You’ll hike together during the day and enjoy dinner and drinks together inthe evening as a group. You can also join a pre-trip virtual meet-and-greet with your Can Geo Ambassador.
We’ve partnered with Canadian Geographic to deliver these signature Canadian Geo Adventure trips – a curated offering of experiences that draw readers off the page and into the field. Guests who voyage with us on these specialty escapes are embraced by the fabric of their surroundings and the people within them. A portion of the fees from every Canadian Geographic Adventure booked is donated to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to further its important programming.
Due to the high mountain environment, expect to experience various conditions. The weather can be sunny and warm, but be prepared for cooler temperatures, rain, wind and possibly snow.
Mountain weather can change with very little warning. Temperatures range from highs of 10˚C to 35˚C (50˚F-95˚F) and lows of 9˚C to -3˚C (48˚F to 26˚F).
Whether it’s a hike, walk or amble, each heli-hiking day is tailored to all levels of fitness, experience and age. We split the group as necessary, so that everyone can stay within their comfort level. The only requirement is a thirst for adventure.
Your Canadian Geographic Ambassador will host a special evening during your trip, where you’ll get to kick back with a post-dinner beverage and enjoy a thought-provoking feature presentation by your host. Soak in highlights and stories from their adventures travelling the world, ask questions and learn from the experiences of these world-class explorers.
The below featured experiences are not guaranteed and are weather dependent:
