Rocky Mountains Ride, Canada - Horse Riding Holidays and Safaris

Rocky Mountains Ride, Canada

6-9 NightsIntermediate to AdvancedFrom $3,565 CAD?Tour costs $3,565 CAD which is approximately $3,998 AUD

With unspeakably awe-inspiring scenery, incredibly diverse trails, unique wildlife encounters, savvy horses and wonderful local guides, this ride ticks EVERY box.

Canada’s Rocky Mountains are THE most remarkable globetrotting playground. With unspeakably awe-inspiring scenery, incredibly diverse trails, unique wildlife encounters, savvy horses and wonderful local guides, this ride ticks EVERY box.

Each day brings new trails to discover astride a fit, agile, mountain-bred horse. Prepare to be swept up in the otherworldly beauty that reveals itself at every turn. You’ll think it can’t possibly get any more magnificent – and then it does! 

Your hosts, the MacLaine family, are based in the foothills of the Rockies in Kananaskis country, Alberta. From the moment you arrive at their homely ranch, you’ll be treated to the very best Canadian hospitality. There are several riding itineraries on offer covering not just the Rocky Mountains, but also the prairies and foothills of southern Alberta. The rides combine cosy lodge accommodation with rustic camping in some truly heart-throbbing locations. 

Make no mistake: these are hands-on adventures where you’ll be feeding, grooming and saddling your own horse. Your gear will be carried by packhorses, allowing you to explore some seriously remote backcountry. Although packhorse days tend to be slower, rest assured there will still be opportunities to trot and canter. Bring it ON!

Whether you’re an intermediate or an advanced rider, whether you stay for six days or ten, the Rocky Mountains will capture your heart.

Fast Facts

  • Horse Breed:Many breeds including Canadian, Quarter Horse, Paint, Arabian, Morgan, Welsh, Percheron & draft.
  • Pace:Variable depending on the terrain, with opportunities to trot and canter.
  • Weight Limit:A maximum of 100kg / 220lbs. *Please contact us if you’re above this weight for a further assessment.
  • Type of tack:Western saddles, snaffle bits and split reins.
  • Seasons:June through to early October.
  • Group size:A minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests.
  • Time in Saddle:(Average per day)
    Forgetmenot, Tombstone Loop, Fall Spectacular & Mountain Prairie Combo: 4-8 hours.
    Kananaskis Longrider: 4-7 hours.
    Both Sides of the Great Divide: 2-8 hours.
    Alberta Drifter: 2-8 hours (possibly longer on some days, depending on trail & weather conditions).
  • Riding Ability:Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.
    *A high level of fitness is recommended for the Kananaskis Longrider.
    **Please be advised, this is a hands-on riding experience. You will be expected to look after your horse while on the trail, including attending to grooming, saddling and bridling duties. For those accustomed to handing your horse to a groom, this might not be the right riding holiday for you.
     Not sure what your riding ability is? Watch THIS video to find out.
  • Accommodation:All pack trips see guests spending a night or two at the ranch in ‘The Barn’ - a guest house which has 5 rooms (twin share arrangements) and two shared bathrooms, plus a common area with plenty of comfortable seating choices as well as a large dining table and kitchen.
    When out on the trail you’ll enjoy the simplicity of basic camping with dome or canvas tents (twin share). There are no showers, unless you wish to take a refreshing dip if camped near a river or lake. And the toilet will be a hole dug in the ground with a canvas barrier for privacy.
  • Ride Length:There are 7 day, 6 night; 8 day, 7 night; and 10 day, 9 night itineraries available.
  • Inclusions:

    The price includes 5% Canadian goods & services tax; round trip transfers from Calgary Airport or hotel on first and last days of the ride at set times; twin share accommodation; all meals, from first day dinner through to last day breakfast (NB: There is a surcharge of $10 CAD per day for gluten free and dairy free diets); all riding activities.

  • Exclusions:

    The price excludes international flights, travel insurance; staff tips (please budget for at least 5-10% of the ride price); alcoholic beverages (BYO is welcome).

 

DEPARTURE DATES & RATES

NEW! Secure your saddle seat NOW with a 10% deposit - as part of our 10x 10% payment plan!
Departing AvailabilityTotal

Alberta Drifter

May 25 to June 3, 2024

10 days, 9 nights (7.5 riding days)

Limited
$5,560 CAD ?Tour costs $5,560 CAD which is approximately $6,235 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same genderBooking Request
$5,665 CAD ?Tour costs $5,665 CAD which is approximately $6,353 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own roomBooking Request

Forgetmenot

June 20 to 26, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Kananaskis Longrider

June 30 to July 9, 2024

10 days, 9 nights (8 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$5,330 CAD ?Tour costs $5,330 CAD which is approximately $5,977 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$5,435 CAD ?Tour costs $5,435 CAD which is approximately $6,095 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Forgetmenot

July 14 to 20, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Tombstone Loop

July 21 to 27, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Forgetmenot

August 11 to 17, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

Limited
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same genderBooking Request
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own roomBooking Request

Kananaskis Longrider

August 18 to 27, 2024

10 days, 9 nights (8 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$5,330 CAD ?Tour costs $5,330 CAD which is approximately $5,977 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$5,435 CAD ?Tour costs $5,435 CAD which is approximately $6,095 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Tombstone Loop

September 8 to 14, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

Limited
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same genderBooking Request
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own roomBooking Request

Forgetmenot

September 14 to 20, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

Limited
$3,650 CAD ?Tour costs $3,650 CAD which is approximately $4,093 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same genderBooking Request
$3,755 CAD ?Tour costs $3,755 CAD which is approximately $4,211 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own roomBooking Request

Fall Spectacular

September 29 to October 5, 2024

7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

Limited
$3,565 CAD ?Tour costs $3,565 CAD which is approximately $3,998 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same genderBooking Request
$3,670 CAD ?Tour costs $3,670 CAD which is approximately $4,116 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own roomBooking Request

Both Sides of the Great Divide

October 5 to 12, 2024

8 days, 7 nights (6 riding days)

SOLD OUT!
$4,195 CAD ?Tour costs $4,195 CAD which is approximately $4,704 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
$4,545 CAD ?Tour costs $4,545 CAD which is approximately $5,097 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Please note: no single supplement available when camping in tents, this is twin share only.

$50 CAD per night surcharge applies for single occupancy when at the lodge.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RIDE PRICE?
The price includes 5% Canadian goods & services tax; round trip transfers from Calgary Airport or hotel on first and last days of the ride at set times; twin share accommodation; all meals, from first day dinner through to last day breakfast (NB: There is a surcharge of $10 CAD per day for gluten free and dairy free diets); all riding activities.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RIDE PRICE?
The price excludes international flights, travel insurance; staff tips (please budget for at least 5-10% of the ride price); alcoholic beverages (BYO is welcome).

Accepted payment is by credit or debit card only. There is a 2% surcharge on all card payments. Click HERE to read our recommendations on which cards are best to use to avoid international transaction fees.

WHY IS THE PRICE QUOTED IN CAD?
With our riding destinations, the currency is dictated by our ride partner in that country. Therefore due to fluctuating exchange rates we have to quote in the same currency.

Itinerary

Expand AllCollapse All

*Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.

**With so many trails and places to visit, it is impossible to list them all. This is just a sample of what it is possible to experience on our riding holidays in the Rocky Mountains. There are many variations and possibilities.

Expand AllCollapse All
  • Forgetmenot

    A ride to remember! Five full days in the saddle (with a non-riding transit day either side) covering over 100 kilometres of foothills, forests, rivers, meadows and mountains. 

    You’ll be picked up in Calgary on the afternoon of day one and brought to the ranch for a meet-and-greet dinner. The next morning you’ll be paired up with your steed and hit the trail, wandering through the foothills for four to five hours to reach your first campsite. Days three to six take you across the aptly named Forgetmenot Range, with each day’s ride decided based on the weather and trail conditions. The trails range from easy to rugged; some sections are very technical and require good balance and careful riding.

    7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

  • Tombstone Loop

    This ride starts where the Forgetmenot trail ends: in the secluded surrounds of Elbow Valley. It’s another 100-kilometre, five-day ride (again, with a non-riding transit day either side) with a variety of trails, some straightforward and others technically challenging. You’ll move camp three times and ride through three different alpine valleys, separated by the awe-inspiring Tombstone Pass. 

    7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

  • Kananaskis Longrider

    For the hardcore adventurers among us, this 10-day pack trip is unmissable. Covering between 170 and 200 kilometres, the ride starts in the foothills and travels west, deeper and deeper into the mountains. Although you’ll ride new trails every day, you’ll only move camp four times, which means there will be days when you can leave the packhorses behind and satisfy your need for speed with free-flying canters across valleys and mountaintops. A highlight is riding to Paradise Pass, one of the most beautiful passes in the Rockies with heavenly views across the surrounding peaks.

    10 days, 9 nights (8 riding days)

  • Mountain Prairie Combo

    If you thrive on variety, this is the ride for you. It’s a 10 day itinerary with seven riding days. The first five days give you a thrilling taste of the mountains (following the Forgetmenot itinerary),  then you’ll be transferred to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to discover a totally different side of Alberta! This park contains the most significant concentration of First Nations’ petroglyphs and pictographs (rock carvings and paintings) in the Great Plains of North America. It is a huge privilege to be able to explore this ancient prairie on horseback. 

    The cherry on top is that you’ll be partaking in Border Coulee Competitive Trail Ride – a one-day event that will leave you filled to the brim with Canadian cheer!

    10 days, 9 nights (7 riding days)

  • Alberta Drifter

    Another 10-day itinerary full of diversity, with two days in the Rocky Mountains; three and a half days riding point-to-point through the vast expanse of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and the surrounding prairie (see above description); and two days traversing the historic Cypress Hills. The trail follows in the footsteps of the First Nations, European explorers, mounted police and cowboys. You’ll come away with a deep appreciation for Alberta’s history, hospitality and scenery, not to mention your trusty steed!

    10 days, 9 nights (7.5 riding days)

  • Fall Spectacular

    The only ride where every night is spent in the cosy comfort of ‘The Barn’, this week-long itinerary embraces the ethereal beauty of the fall season. Golden forests of aspen, fresh air, crisp, clear skies and a dusting of snow on the mountains – what more could you want? With five full days in the saddle, you’ll have ample time to traverse the constantly changing scenery within a day’s ride of the ranch. And on day five, you’ll trailer the horses further into the mountains for a thrilling ride in the Upper Elbow Valley, in the shadows of magnificent snowy peaks, with the icy water of the Elbow tumbling beside the trail.

    7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days)

  • Both Sides of the Great Divide

    If you want to explore the mountains of Alberta AND British Columbia but you’ve only got time for one riding holiday, here’s your answer: an eight-day vacation with three days’ riding in each province! 

    First up, you’ll be accommodated in ‘The Barn’ while you ride through the wilderness surrounding your hosts’ ranch in the Rockies. You’ll see the ‘best of the best’ in terms of scenery. 

    Then you’ll load the horses onto the trailer for a stunningly scenic drive through Banff and Kootenay National Parks to Nipika Mountain Resort in BC. Here you’ll spend two nights in beautifully situated log cabins while exploring the mountain-lined, densely forested Kootenay River Valley. Finally, you’ll travel back to the Rockies, arriving in time for a hearty dinner on day 7 and a good sleep before you head home in the morning.

    Bonus: this itinerary runs in the fall, so you’ll see those beautiful aspen forests in their full golden splendour!

    8 days, 7 nights (6 riding days)

  • Transfer Information

    A round trip transfer service from Calgary Airport or hotel is included in the ride price at set times on arrival and departure days only.

    The local shuttle company used to conduct the transfers is called ‘Calgary Corporate Shuttle’.

    Pick up on day 1 is at 4pm from the Calgary International Airport (pick up from a hotel can also be arranged, after 4pm). Please plan your travel itineraries accordingly and ensure your flight lands with plenty of time to clear customs, collect your luggage and meet the transfer.

    Meeting location at airport: at the large 5-horse statue on the arrival level of the International Terminal.

    On the last day, the group will be transferred back to Calgary after breakfast, with expected arrival at Calgary International Airport by 11am. We kindly ask that you arrange your travel itineraries accordingly, so if booking an international flight home today ensure it’s after 2pm so that you meet your 3-hour check in window. 

    Transfers at any other time or day other than the group transfer can be arranged but will be an additional cost.

    If you plan to arrive by your own means of transport, please contact us for detailed driving directions.

The Rocky Mountains ride, Canada, Globetrotting horse riding holidays

Catherine Dimaline

‘This was my first ever solo trip due to personal circumstances.  I hovered over the computer thinking it’s always been a dream, do I? Let me say, I am so pleased I hit that ‘yes’ button! The team at Globetrotting were super professional and helpful, and the riding experience was simply just WOW. It exceeded all my expectations. A lovely family business that made us very welcome, the horses were matched perfectly, and the countryside was just breathtaking. We enjoyed good food and chats over a campfire until we retired to our tents. We were in great hands with Robert and Jackie and thank them enormously for a fantastic time. Would I recommend this experience? Hell yes!’

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RIDE OR WHICH IS MOST SUITABLE FOR YOU?

CONTACT US DOWNLOAD FACTSHEET