Camp the Canadian Rockies

Many of the North American national parks that you'll visit have hiking opportunities where walks up to 4 hours can be an option for you. There are often easier options too. The most likely medical incidents to occur on our trips are dehydration, overexposure to the sun, and twisted ankles from walking on uneven ground. While hiking please ensure you drink enough water to remain hydrated as some hikes don't have refill stations for your water bottles. The sun (especially in desert areas in the West) can be harsh, particularly in the warmer months. Ensure you apply adequate sun protection cream and wear a hat. Traveling with sunburn can be uncomfortable.

You will need a valid passport to travel internationally. As a general rule, most countries require that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets exactly and contact us immediately if there are any errors. Intrepid recommends taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends. Most nationalities except South Africans do not need a visa for Canada, but will need to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). See http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp for details and to apply. There is a fee of CA$7 for this service. Travelers will need an eTA before they can board a flight to Canada. If you are crossing the border by road, then you do not need to apply for an eTA. Please check your individual requirements with your local embassy/consulate or visa service.

A negative COVID-19 test is NOT required before joining a trip unless it is a requirement of entry for the country. If you are unwell prior to traveling, please stay at home and contact Intrepid to make alternative arrangements. At the group meeting, you will be asked to complete a self-screening health form and report any COVID-19 symptoms as well as any close contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If you are displaying any symptoms or have any health concerns at this time, the advice of local health authorities will be followed to determine whether medical assistance, isolation or further action is required. All travelers should continue to monitor their health throughout their travels and report any relevant symptoms to their tour leader.

Some campgrounds have WiFi access, as do most hotels, although you may occasionally need to pay extra for it.

While traveling throughout North America it's not uncommon to encounter bears within campsites and national parks. Your group leader has been specifically trained for these situations and, if camping, will inform the group on how to 'bear-proof' the camp in the evenings or when the site is unattended. There's absolutely no reason to be alarmed by this possibility as it is extremely rare for bears to attack humans.

To allow flexibility in showing your appreciation, gratuities are not included. If you're happy with the service you receive, providing a tip–though not compulsory–is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, it inspires excellent service, and it's an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid destinations. Please note they recommend that any tips are given directly to the intended recipient by a member of your group as group leaders are prohibited from collecting cash for tips.

Local Guides:

Throughout your trip, you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest US$5-20 per day for local guides. Ask your leader for suggestions as to what is appropriate for a given activity.

Your Group Leader:

You should also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. Your leader works long and hard for you. He or she may well become your friend during the trip but they do need to pay their bills. If the leader's performance meets or exceeds your expectation they will gladly accept a tip from you. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, you should plan to tip your leader US$7-10 per person per day.

All luggage is carried in trailers or inside the vehicle so please don't bring more than one medium-sized bag, backpack or suitcase (20kg or 44lb maximum) per person. Your suitcase/rucksack may get some rough handling, so make sure it's a tough one. A small daypack and camera may also be carried inside the vehicle.

While traveling with Intrepid, you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. And on the camping trips, they often cook the region's specialties so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, their groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

On their trips in North America, Intrepid operates an optional kitty, where travelers are encouraged to contribute to a central fund that is used to buy groceries which then supplies meals to the entire group. In their experience, all travelers generally participate, however some with special dietary requirements may prefer to opt-out. The kitty is administered by the group and is payable per week of the trip. The cost is:

• USA - US$70 per week
• Alaska - US$90 per week
• Canada - CA$90 per week

While camping, some breakfasts, lunches and dinners are paid from the food kitty. Sometimes you'll go out for dinner and eat at restaurants at everybody's own expense.

Your leader will participate in the food kitty as well. On hotel nights (if included) the food kitty doesn't operate and everybody eats at their own expense.

Chores such as buying and cooking the food, washing up, etc. will be shared by everyone on the trip. Teams of two people will carry out the camp duties on a rotating basis. On camping nights, groups usually cook evening meals together on their own stove, or barbecue food over the campfire. Everyone usually prepares salads, grills meats and cooks pasta, rice and vegetables. For breakfast, they usually buy milk, coffee, tea, cereals, bread, jam, butter etc. Not all personal eating preferences can be catered to, however, they endeavor to provide tasty, basic meals.

Food costs are kept as low as possible by sharing the expenses. The kitty is based on the average cost from past experiences and from passenger feedback about what they are prepared to pay for shared meals. Personal beverages, lunches and snacks are not included in the food kitty. If there's any cash left over it will either be redistributed to the group or put towards paying for a group activity.

Your group leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics and camp responsibilities. They will work to make the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travelers. Intrepid's North American trips are built around the co-operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. On their camping trips, your leader will show the group how to set up and use the camp equipment, and form workgroups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping. Everyone is expected to participate and carry their share of the workload, making camp chores easier. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier and more fun.

Your leader will provide basic information about the sights and cities you'll be visiting but please note that leaders are not 'tour guides' in the traditional sense. They are adventure travel specialists and are there to organize your trip, arrange activities and help with questions or problems you may have while on your tour. Your leader will provide you with all the important information you need to embark on your own explorations.

They are also responsible for driving the van and navigating across the country. The allowable driving times for drivers is strictly controlled in North America. This ensures every driver is well-rested and not over-tired from too many hours on the road.

While your group will have a minivan for all included activities on the trip, please note that the services of the van and the driver may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.

They aim to provide the services of an experienced leader however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

It's strictly forbidden for non-qualified rangers to present any information about some National Parks in North America, therefore we adopt a system (as requested by the park rangers) where our leader will encourage travelers to visit the information centers in the National Parks for details about the site.

Essential:

• Sleeping bag. Please bring one from home or purchase one before your trip starts–you may not have time once you're on the road. Sleeping bags can easily be bought in the US and Canada at big stores like Walmart, Kmart, Target or at sports and camping supply stores. Renting sleeping bags isn't possible on Intrepid trips. As they offer trips throughout the year and travel in diverse climate zones, they recommend that you carefully consider the weather and choose an appropriate sleeping bag. Please bear in mind that nights can be very cold even in the warmer months. You can experience temperatures as low as -5C and even snow.
• Towel
• Travel pillow
• Reusable water bottle. They recommend at least a 1.5-liter capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. Tap water in the US and Canada is safe to drink and there are many places to fill up along the way, so please save plastic by bringing your own water bottle.
• Sun protection: Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Clothing you can layer. You may encounter a wide variety of temperatures en route due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions–so be prepared! Make sure to pack a warm fleece and a waterproof jacket. They suggest you check the expected temperatures en route and bring clothing that you can layer.
• Closed-in shoes. As this trip includes camping and/or bushwalking, they highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in this environment.

Recommended:

• Power adaptor
• Insect repellent
• Spare camera battery. You should have access to electricity to charge your battery most nights, but as some of the places you'll stay are a little isolated, it is always a good idea to carry a spare.
• Swimwear
• Head torch
• A simple plastic bag/waterproof toiletry bag (that can hang on a nail on the back of a door) will be useful to keep your clothes dry inside basic camp shower structures.
• Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but they recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, anti-diarrhoeal, antibacterial gel, wet wipes, bandaids/plasters etc.

Optional:

• Sleep sheet. If you are traveling during the hot season you may wish to also pack a sleep sheet so you will be comfortable no matter what the weather.
• Thermarest. While Intrepid provides a basic camping mattress for each client, some travelers find they like the extra comfort of a double layer.
• Earplugs to guard against a snoring tent-mate.
• A good book, a journal or an iPod for the long drives.

• Airfare
• Meals: No meals are included on this tour
• Airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges
• Travel insurance (mandatory and must be taken out at the time of booking)
• Optional activities and all personal expenses

As Canada is a huge country, this trip covers a lot of ground. Please be prepared for some long days of driving. You'll be traveling in a van with a group, so conditions may feel a little cramped. Most feel that this is all part of the adventure of road travel, and friendships form fast in tight quarters.

As you're traveling through the mountains, the weather can be unpredictable. Wearing layers is advised in all seasons in case conditions change during the day. They really can’t stress this enough–even in the warmer months, the temperature can be very low in the mountains.

While this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, for you to get the most out of the included and optional activities they do recommend that you are moderately fit. The hikes are a real highlight of this trip and give you access to some fantastic scenery as well as the chance to see native flora and fauna.

This is a participatory trip. That’s a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride–you are part of a team! You know the phrase ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’? Well, that’s extra true on this trip. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help with camp activities like food prep and washing up.

That teamwork also extends to your optional food kitty of approximately CAD 90 per week to cover the cost of meals. This kitty saves you worrying about stuff like where to get food or what exactly sales tax is and helps keep your costs down. Instead of paying individually as you go, it means your group can bulk purchase items and cook for the team–though there’s always the chance to use it for the occasional pizza night! The kitty is optional and for your convenience, so if you've got specific dietary requirements you can opt out and purchase (and cook) your own food.