FAQ

We are currently asking for a $1,000 deposit per person at the time of booking. We will let you know the full terms and conditions at the time you book and, of course, honour those terms. If you’d like more information, please reach out to us.

We strongly advise you take out trip cancellation insurance. We cannot offer refunds in the case of family emergencies or last minute changes in the plans.

We do not usually take children under 14 years old (although may do so if they are over 10 and part of a group of four or more) or adults over 80. For our holidays to be a good fit, you should be able to hike for a couple of hours.

Our holidays are active but not strenuous. You should be able to walk for a couple of hours on varying terrain, with breaks, for our holidays to be well-suited to you.

• A decent waterproof jacket (dark or natural colour preferred)
• Synthetic or wool trousers/pants in a dark or neutral colour (we have waterproof trousers we can lend you)
• Two warm layers (that fit under your outer jacket)
• Waterproof hiking shoes or boots (not trainers)—hiking boots preferred
• Warm hat and gloves (though we have spares)
• Sunglasses (recommended for all seasons)

• Compact binoculars 
• Metal water bottles
• Hiking poles
• Gaiters
• Waterproof trousers for rafting
• All rafting gear
• Tea and coffee
• Fast wireless internet
• Telephone service
• Bird guides
• Nature library
• Towels and linens
• Gels, creams and soaps
• Hairdryers
• Crocs
• Slippers

The experience that we offer is a wilderness one. We don’t recommend our holidays for guests who will struggle on uneven terrain or who have mobility issues. We do not usually book guests under the age of 14 or over the age of 80. Some of our activities are on river rafts and we will ask you to sit out the trip if you weigh more than 120 kgs (260 lbs/18.5 stone). These limitations are for your safety. We are not set up to cater to photographers using tripods. Because we are off the power grid, we do not offer laundry services.

We have fast satellite internet for guests to use. While we do not have cell service, we do have an internet-based landline available to guests.

We can usually cater for guests with allergies and vegetarians. We would, however, ask that you let us know at the time of booking.

Yes, all guests will have to sign a legal waiver accepting risks inherent in the wilderness. We are happy to provide an advance copy of this on request.

There is always some risk associated with large wild animals but in many decades of bear viewing no commercial lodge in British Columbia has had a guest hurt by a bear. In 20 years of operation we have never even had anything approaching a close call. Your guides will brief you on how to react when you encounter a bear and will also carry bear deterrent. Your guides are all fully trained.

Around six hours from Banff, eight or nine hours from Calgary, nine or 10 hours from Vancouver and five or six hours from Spokane, WA. We will send you full details of how to get here when you book.

We have had guests from different corners of the world but most are from Great Britain, the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

We have mild, snowy winters when the temperature rarely goes below about minus 10 Celsius in the daytime and warm, sunny summers when the temperature can reach 30 degrees or more. During the spring and autumn the weather is often sunny and warm temperatures can last until the end of October. We also have rainy days.

No. So far more than 95 percent of our guests who have come during autumn bear season have seen grizzly bears and almost all our guests who have come in May have seen a bear, but with nature there can never be any guarantees. We do not offer refunds if you do not see bears.

No. You don’t need a 4×4 during any of the seasons that we are open to guests.