Calgary is easy to get to by air, rail or road. If you are flying to Calgary (YYC) to join the retreat and arriving a day early, a pick-up is available at the Acclaim Hotel.

If you are driving to the retreat, from Calgary area:

1. Take Hwy 1A (Trans Canada) to Hwy 22 (north)

2. Turn left (west) onto Township Road 312 (Mountain View County)

3. Turn right (north) onto Range Road 51

4. Drive approximately 1.24 mi (2 km) and 'Painted Warriors Ranch' is on the right

Group Rendezvous Point:

There are two possible rendezvous spots for this trip:

Acclaim Hotel

Date: Day 1
Time: 9 AM
Location: Front Lobby (Acclaim Hotel is at 123 Freeport Blvd NE, Calgary, Alberta)

Painted Warriors Ranch

Date: Day 1
Time: Approximately 10:30 AM
Location: Please refer to the driving directions above.

Notes about Pick-Up

You will be met at 9 AM at the Acclaim Hotel. Your guide will then drive you and the group to the Painted Warriors Ranch located 1 hour from Calgary.

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you plan on arriving early, Wild Women Expeditions recommends the Acclaim Hotel. This is the hotel where you will be picked-up on Day 1 of the retreat, if you are not driving independently.

It is near the Calgary International Airport (YYC) and there is a free 24-hour shuttle from the Calgary Airport to the hotel. After you retrieve your baggage, head to the customer service desk in the baggage claim area or find a host in a white cowboy hat and vest (white hatter) and ask for directions to the hotel shuttle pick-up location at the airport.

DEPARTURES FROM CALGARY

Book your return flights after 2:00 PM.

Drop Off Point:

Date: Day 6
Time: Approximately 12 noon
Location: Calgary International Airport (YYC)

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you plan to stay and explore or continue your adventure from here, Wild Women Expeditions recommends the Acclaim Hotel.

For other options, please visit the Calgary tourism website: https://www.visitcalgary.com/

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

US citizens at land and sea borders have other options, such as an enhanced driver’s license, permanent resident card or NEXUS card. See Canada Border Services for approved identification documents.

Visa:

Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter Canada. Those who are exempt require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA; $7 USD), with the exception of Americans. This must be applied for prior to traveling and can be completed online. It usually takes minutes but can take days. See how to apply Electronic Travel Authorization.

If you would like additional assistance in securing your visa, we recommend you consider using the services of CIBTVisas.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

Retreat guides and staff tips are included in the price of you retreat.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

All accommodations are based on double occupancy – two women per canvas wall tent.

Potable Water:

Potable water is readily available at the ranch. All tap water is good to drink (deep well water that has been tested). Please bring 1-2 water bottles with you.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Canvas Wall Tents at Painted Warriors Ranch:

Painted Warriors Ranch offers quiet, sheltered canvas wall tents equipped with cots with mattresses.

There is a campfire-pit nearby, where some of the programming will take place.

Bathroom facilities, including flush toilets, showers, and sinks, are a short walk to the main building (less than 100 m) from the tents.

Most meals will be served in the main building, as well as the cooking classes and some yoga sessions (yoga may also be offered outdoors).

QUICK FACTS ABOUT ALBERTA

Climate & Weather:

Check the local weather before your trip:

Calgary, AB – 7 Day Forecast – Environment Canada

Calgary, Alberta 7 Day Weather Forecast – The Weather Network

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Useful Websites:

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Work on your upper body and core strength.

Weight lifting, yoga and pilates can help with this.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].