“Fresh Air's Gaby and Cat were incredible mountain hosts! They were professional, always maintained positive attitudes through the entire very long days with our large group. They greeted us each morning with a delicious lunch prepared for us to pack to individual liking and many options for snacks for our day on the trail. They read our group well and planned alternate routes to cater to different interests. Driving to various hikes Gaby was incredibly informative of tidbits of history and geology. Gaby and Cat both worked hard to make it a fantastic hiking trip for us with delicious lunches. Wonderful women, I would request them for future trips!!”
“Amazing trip! Both Cat and Gabby were fabulous guides who were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They made amazing food for our lunches that considered all the dietary needs of the group. They also joined in with the excitement of the group and made us all feel so comfortable hiking the mountains.
I would highly recommend them as guides. They made our trip!”
“We had a fabulous 4 day hiking trip with Gabby and Cat at the end of Sept. They worked so hard to ensure that all our needs were met in terms of comfort, choice of hike (options of easier or harder), offering learning opportunities about the area which was wonderful. But even beyond that the personal touches of hiking up at birthday cake to help celebrate one our friend’s special day at the Teahouse while harmonizing in French song- a highlight for sure. They were always cheerful and supportive, always adjusting plans if something unexpected happened- incredibly professional. Exceptionally lovely, smart and capable girls. Gabby made for the perfect mentor to Cat, and you could tell how excited Cat was to experience this tour with Gabby and our gang. Without any reservation, I would recommend highly recommend both ladies as tour guides. Their positive energy brought the tour to another level.”
“Gaby and Catherine were outstanding guides on our private 4 day hiking trip based in Banff. They were focused upon ensuring that every member of our group had an amazing time, tailoring the hikes to our varied abilities and interests and ensuring we all had a great time. They made delicious healthy lunches. Catherine is a great driver; always felt safe with her at the wheel. Gaby knew a huge amount about the geology and history of the area and was an engaging teacher. They were both fantastic hosts- engaged and interesting; a real pleasure to get to know.
There was a fair amount of driving and in retrospect a hotel closer to Lake Louise would have allowed a little more down time- - maybe in the hot tub to soothe our sore legs!”
“I made the "Canadian Rockies 12 day hiking and camping tour" in September and I can hardly add anything to the comment by Louise Laws and Jess which have send feedback few weeks ago.
Catherine and Rosalie were a great team !! Catherine was our motivator and Rosalie the calm pole. Even after a strenuous day (hiking, planning, breakfast, lunch and dinner, etc.), she still came around the corner of the washroom with a smile.
And Catherine always came up with something new and special.
Of course what you have to know there was nearly no quite and relaxing time. Hiking, camping, driving and talking english as a non nativ speaker. But I wanted to see a lot and definitely I have
Together with our super group it was an unforgettable experience
Greetings to all of you. Thank you all 😀”
“Excellent guides (Marie-Ève Rousseau and Taylor.) Good logistics. Except for the final dinner, good food, ie. lunches, the best I have had on many hikes.”
“Had an amazing experience in the Candian Rockies. Olivier and Marie put in the hard work every day to make sure everyone in the group was getting the most of their experience. Great food, fun company (especially as a solo traveler) and saw parts of the parks I would never have known about. Highly recommend!”
“I recently completed the 7-Day Gems of the North – Yukon Guided Hiking Tour with Fresh Adventures, and it was a fantastic experience. The landscapes were absolutely spectacular, with breathtaking views from cirques and lookout points that made every hike memorable.
Our guides, Marie-Eve and Taylor, were outstanding. They kept the group safe and organized, ensured no one hiked alone, and went above and beyond by preparing lunches, snacks, and even helping to coordinate a few group dinners. Their hard work, especially managing the long drives from Whitehorse to Dawson and along the Dempster highway, was deeply appreciated.
The hikes were generally moderate in difficulty, which made them accessible and enjoyable, though I would have loved the chance to push a bit further and summit at least one peak. That said, the scenery at the lookouts and cirques after a decent elevation gain (~600m-700m) made for an incredible adventure.”
“The Canadian Rockies 12 day hiking and camping tour exceeded our expectations, it was an incredible trip (way better than what we imagined!!). Our guides, Cat and Ro were the BEST!! They gave it their all and made the most of everyday. They understood and catered to our food allergies making them caeliac friendly, egg free and peanut free, and there was no cross-contamination. The food was incredible and there were lots of snacks available. Highly recommend this tour, you won't regret it!! We will never forget it.”
“We did the "7 DAY ROCKIES CAMPING" with Storm & Olivier. Our expectations on every level were surpassed. One of us (Yonatan) was a bit hesitant to sleep in a tent for a week but it was fine. The tents were easy to put up and take down, the air mattress made a world of difference. The food was a total surprise. Olivier in a addition to being an amazing guide, is simply a genius in the kitchen. All the meals had a variety of fresh, tasty food with generous portions. Both Olivier and Storm were able to keep everybody happy with the variety of food issues from all the participants. Both of them were incredibly personable and we felt went out of their way to make sure we were all enjoying ourselves. The hiking was fantastic. Views that really take your breath away. One comment is that you do need be in decent shape. It is a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. Hiking pools recommended. Definitely would do another Fresh Adventures experience. Thank you Oliver & Storm.”
“The guides Marie and Taylor were very friendly and enthusiastic throughout the trip and faced challenges with certain clients along the way but remained professional
The one major downside is the driving to and from Dawson over 3days is way to much especially with all the roadworks I would charge a bit extra and fly in and out from Whitehorse and get a third party to do drop offs and pickups for the hikes”
“We’ve just been dropped off by our fabulous guides Rosalie and Catherine after a fantastic 12 day hiking and camping tour in the Canadian rockies. We loved everything about the experience and can’t praise them enough.
Of course it goes without saying that the scenery in the Rockies is beautiful. Catherine and Ro used their skills and knowledge to take us on wonderful hikes each day. Although I’m fit I’m not an expert hiker but I felt totally safe at all times and was reassured that Rosalie and Catherine were checking the ability of all members of the group to ensure that everyone was included. The hikes were challenging and enjoyable, always with incredible views at the top. And often with a surprising treat - homemade lemonade with an ice cube, cheese fondue! Their backpacks were like Mary Poppins’ bag!
On the subject of food and drinks, I was astounded at the quality of meals we were provided with. We didn’t have any dietary requirements ourselves but a few people in our group did and Catherine and Ro worked hard to ensure that everyone had the same quality and variety of meals three times a day every day. I was amazed that we even had filter coffee for breakfast every morning!
In a situation where eleven strangers come together in fairly intense circumstances, there is the possibility of tension with different people having different needs, desires and priorities. Catherine and Ro showed great skill in monitoring the situation and adapting the itinerary accordingly and I was not aware of any such difficulties.
Sure, the mosquitos in Golden were awful. I know the team is aware of this and I don’t need to say anything else about it here. This holiday was everything we hoped it would be. That’s partly down to being in such an amazing part of the world but very much due to having Rosalie and Catherine as our guides. Such enthusiastic, thoughtful and accomplished individuals and such fun to be around! A huge thank you from us!”
“The Canadian Rockies 7 day hotel tour was an excellent experience. The hikes were well planned and guides Taylor and Jeremie made a good team. They set the pace for the group well so that the hikes were challenging but manageable. There were grand views on every hike.
I considered the camping tour but so glad I opted for the hotels. Nothing better than my own hot shower, comfy bed, and not having to wake up to cold mornings of not wanting to get out of my sleeping bag. 😁”
“Canadian Rockies hiking/hotel based tour was amazing! Our guides Taylor and Jeremie really made the experience with their enthusiasm, knowledge, encouragement and communication. They really tried to make sure everyone was having a good time. They were happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions and always had suggestions for local restaurants. The hikes were breathtaking but not for beginners. Be ready to hike challenging, technical hikes and pack for all weather conditions.
I really appreciated that there was a hotel based option. I’m at the age where I’m over camping. The hotels were clean, centrally located and the beds were comfortable. My only complaint was that our last hotel, The Fox Hotel, didn’t have air conditioning or a window that could really open and cool the room. Maybe book a different hotel in Banff.
This truly was one of my favorite trips! I highly recommend it”
“We were lucky to have Jeremie and Taylor as our guides. Both are very knowledgeable and their love for the mountains was very obvious. They were very accommodating and made the hikes a lot of fun! Highly recommend this tour. 😊”
“Experienced and personable guides Marie and Taylor were dedicated to making the 7-day experience safe and enjoyable for all. They handled all the communal equipment, planned and shopped for meals and snacks (considering a special diet), cooked, and met significant driving and trailer-hitching challenges with calmness and efficiency. They tweaked the basic itinerary to accommodate desires for more/less strenuous hiking trails as well as the options for glacier walk and whitewater rafting.
From the pre-trip information, I thought we’d have a single campsite (Lake Louise) for the entire week. We moved to Golden, B.C. for days 4-7. There were pluses and minuses to each campground.
I had also expected the opportunity for a short hike on the morning of day 5 (rafting option in the afternoon); a visit to the Golden historical museum and a stroll through the business district was only mildly interesting.
However, my overall satisfaction is very good! I would travel again with Fresh Adventures.”
“Overall a great trip and experience.
Our guides Taylor and Marie are amazing women - strong, friendly, organized, fun and knowledgable.
The campsites were beautiful as were the hikes and excursions. The amenities at Golden are luxurious compared to those at Lake Louise. Bring a hand towel for that small bathroom and expect to do dishes without a sink.
The food was great and plentiful - tons of snacks - pastries, meat sticks, chips etc. a good mix of vegetables, sausage and chicken for the dinners - if you love beef you may want to request that before hand.
We did two big hikes and a few walks. Taylor and Marie were flexible about splitting our group for those who wanted more challenging hikes vs more flat and shorter. All are beautiful. Our days were full despite less hiking than planned. The itinerary is transparent and accurate about the amount of driving. I was personally happy to give up some hiking hours in lieu of more sleep and a more relaxed schedule.
Note that part of the camping experience is team work. You will help out with organizing things, making your own lunches and rotating who does dishes after dinners. Nobody does everything, and nobody does nothing. Expect dish duty 3-4 times depending on group size. Single use items aren’t a thing in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Tents are super easy to put up. I was very comfortable on the self inflating pad and sleeping bag.
Mosquitos were insane in Golden. Bug spray without DEET is worthless. Even with DEET, be prepared with thick clothing and to cover all exposed skin including your face otherwise you’ll be miserable. They weren’t as bad at lake Louise. This is the new normal there according to the locals.
Overall I’d consider this a great introduction into camping for beginners.
Thanks again to Taylor and Marie, and Fresh adventures for a lovely trip I’ll never forget and will always cherish.”
“The biggest issue is the misleading info on the website. The cost is high so we thought it will be a premium camping experience, meaning that bags will be carried for us, nicer tents and equipment, and good food and coffee. The thing is, most of the days you will be pressured into washing dishes, doing your tent, carrying all of your bags. Food is well made but mostly veggies. I missed a good burger, and without meat, I didn't have as much energy.
Also, most of the activities are free parks and hiking. If you want anything a bit fancy such as hot springs, surfing, etc, the cost is additional - by the way, we did the 7 days Vancouver Island tour.
All women too. Nothing wrong with that, just not for me...
Our guides are wonderful. They are young and full of positive energy. I enjoyed them around, and they worked hard and did their best. So, 5-stars for both of them. Cheers for Catherine and Hubert!
Cheap tents, but easy to build. Great camp sites, beautiful trees and hot showers, but all the other campers had better tents, better equipment. I got a bit jealous seeing what they had.
I think Fresh Adventures have a wonderful business vision. But it's not good to over-promise and under deliver, especially the cost is high for customers.”
“We just got back from the 9 day hiking/camping trip of the Canadian Rockies with Fresh Adventures (FA). So that I can offer enough context, this review will be in 3 parts - 1. Highlights 2. 'Good to know' for future travelers 3. Feedback for FA management team.
1. Highlights:
Our guides - Annabelle and Jeremie (J) were AMAZING! They were respectful, communicative and very hard working, they set clear expectations and made sure we were having fun through all the hikes and excursions.
The food - Anna and J really brought a lot of variety to our meals, there was always fresh fruits and veggies, snacks, beverages and dessert to go around a big group of 11. They accommodated our request for vegetarian friendly options.
The hikes and (optional) excursions - We did some really rewarding hikes, the views were amazing. No one can control weather, we got some surprise showers in July, but our guides were able to adapt well in order to give us the best experience. There were optional excursions (for an additional cost) like rafting, glacier walk, buffalo ranch etc. that gave people the option to not hike.
Our group was AMAZING! We had more than one curveball thrown at us, think mosquitoes, freezing rain, unexpected chores, aches and pains, but our group kept things positive and helped pick each other up.
2. ' Good to know' for future travelers
This is not a 'beginner friendly' hiking tour. We covered a lot of distance and elevation, some hikes were very technical. You need to have hiking experience to fully experience and appreciate this trip.
You ABSOLUTELY need hiking poles, hiking boots, a daypack, camping slippers (for showers), hydration pack. Some items on the packing list are 'optional', but they are necessary. You CANNOT do the hikes wearing trail or running shoes.
In addition to taking down and setting up your tents/sleeping pads/sleeping bags in 3 camp sites, you will do a lot of chores - e.g. dishes for the whole group (plus lunch boxes, pots/pans, prep bowls, silverware, etc.) The group takes turns doing them, but it does take 30-45 mins twice a day to do so. Some of our tour mates that did the 12 day trip also helped clean the van and trailer at the end of their trip.
3. Feedback for the FA management team
Some of the information on your website is misleading. Having done guided camping/hiking tours with other companies, you do not provide a realistic perspective of what this trip really entails. We had people in the group that had never camped before, they were surprised/disappointed on a daily basis. For e.g. the packing list needs to be more thorough, you need to be more clear/detailed about the chores, state the fact that sleeping bags are not washed between use, only the liners are etc. The website makes the trip sound more 'premium' than it is.
Why Golden? Having been through all the hikes and excursions, driving routes and logistics, our group was really confused as to why you picked a campground in Golden where you know that the mosquitoes are HORRENDOUS and facilities are far and sparse? We were driving 1-1.5 hours every day, couldn't we have done that from Banff? Doing dishes without running water (or a sink) and electricity was really hard. Why take us to a swamp in July?
It is better to overcommunicate and set realistic expectations upfront, before the trip, so on the ground, your guides are not facing the brunt of our questions/disappointment. They are doing their best with what they have at hand. We understand that you are a new-ish company and trying to find your footing, so we hope that this review gives you our perspective and helps you get better, we are rooting for you.”
