Perfect for people who don't have a lot of time, but would still like to enjoy a taste of the back country and turn three days into a memorable mountain experience.

Take a horseback ride from Banff to Mystic Valley. Enjoy hiking or fishing on your first day there. We'll ride to Mystic Pass on day two - more great fishing on Mystic Lake! Two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners are included. Specific dates for trips are listed below, please be sure to look over them carefully and choose the date that works best for you. When choosing date on availability calendar, be sure to choose the starting date for your vacation.

This rate is only for the months of July and August. For this same event in September, please order 3-Day Mystic Valley Tenting Horseback Ride from Banff-September. Sorry, no children allowed on September trips - they are for ADULTS ONLY.

3-Day Mystic Valley Tenting Horseback Ride from Banff Length: 3 days  Prices - including tax Our Retail Rate: $921.95 Our Internet Rate: $871.95 Savings: $50.00 Time: 8:30 am -Fridays -July and August **This rate is only for the months of July and August. For this same event in September, please order 3-Day Mystic Valley Tenting Horseback Ride from Banff-September. Sorry, no children allowed on September trips - they are for ADULTS ONLY.  Summary: Hotel pickup and transportation to the check-in point in Banff are NOT included. Rates are per person in US dollars and include taxes. There is no child discount for this tour. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 800-719-2185. ** You will receive an E-Ticket for your tour/activity. We attempt to provide your E-Ticket within 72 hours (if your tour/activity is in less than 10 days). If your tour/activity is within the next 72 hours, your E-Ticket will be processed as quickly as possible. You will need to print your E-Ticket at www.reserve123.com/tickets; you must have your E-Ticket, or you will be charged again with no refund. There is a $3.95 processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order.

2008 Departure Dates

July: 4, 11, 18, 25
August: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

For this same event in September, please order 3-Day Mystic Valley Tenting Horseback Ride from Banff-September. Sorry, no children allowed on September trips - they are for ADULTS ONLY.

Sample Itinerary

Mystic Valley Camp is located 10 miles north of Mt. Norquay, situated on the banks of Forty Mile Creek. After a picnic style lunch prepared by your guide, the ride will continue on to Mystic Valley Camp where you will be greeted by the cook and shown around. In camp, guests can relax in the kitchen tent, take a short hike, or try their luck at fishing in the creek.

On the second day, after breakfast, guests enjoy a day ride to Mystic Pass. On the way to the pass there will be a stop at Mystic Lake for anyone who wants to try their hand at fishing. When the riders return from the pass, everyone will gather for a hearty western meal and after dinner, spend the evening gathered around a cozy campfire or the warmth of the wood stove in the cook tent.

After breakfast on Sunday morning, it'll be time to begin the trail ride homeward. Arrival time at Mt. Norquay is about 4:00 p.m.

Important Notes

With a herd numbering over 300 horses, we can accommodate just about anyone but please note that some restrictions on age and weight may apply.

Check-in is in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Transportation to Banff is not included in this tour. After check-in, you will be taken to our pack station by van, where you will meet your guide, who will explain some basic trail riding guidelines.

Banff is only 80 miles (130 km) west of the Calgary International Airport and is easily accessible by shuttle bus or rental car. Shuttles depart 7 days a week from the airport, three times daily. It is important to call to confirm all shuttle departure times and prices. Most major car rental agencies have offices at the airport. Your extra luggage and valuables may be left in our care in Banff. You can leave your vehicle at our stables (directions given upon check-in). We do not recommend leaving anything of value in your car while on your trip.

The Canadian Goods & Services Tax is included in your ticket price. Also included in the ticket price is a $20.00 Parks Canada backcountry user fee. This fee is to help offset the costs of maintaining a national park visited and used by over 2 million travelers every year. Your contribution will help to cover trail maintenance and repair, warden services, wildlife monitoring, and public information and safety.

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel, health, and cancellation insurance. Each rider will be required to sign a liability waiver. Safety experts recommend hard hats and narrow boots.

Gratuities - not included in your ticket price - are customary and very much appreciated.

What to Bring

It is essential that our guests be prepared for all kinds of mountain weather. We have had many years of personal experience dealing with Mother Nature up here, so please take our list to heart! Mother Nature can be unpredictable up here in the mountains, so our guests need to come prepared for every type of weather. Clothing that is easily layered works the best. You can always remove what you don't need, but you still have it just in case. Also, bring your most comfortable gear -- this is not the time to break-in new boots or a new hat.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
May: High...14C/57F...Low...2C/34F
June: High...19C/66F...Low...5C/41F
July: High...22C/71F...Low...7C/45F
August: High...22C/70F...Low...7C/44F
September: High...16C/60F...Low...3C/38F
October: High...10C/50F...Low...-1C/31F
These are average temperatures at an elevation of 4538 feet. Temperatures will drop at higher elevations.

When packing your gear, keep in mind it is being packed out on a mule and our animals' comfort is very important to us. By following our guidelines, you can help us ensure that.

You must pack your gear in a soft-sided, cloth or nylon bag. It can not have any hard edges, frames or wheels. Your gear is restricted to a TOTAL MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 30 POUNDS (sleeping bag, thermorest pad, and your duffel). It's a good idea to line the inside of your bag with garbage bags for waterproofing. Your coat, rain gear, hat and gloves are packed separately from your duffel and are either worn or tied with saddle strings to the back of your saddle. Saddlebags, rain gear and other essentials that you are taking on your horse with you are not included in the 30 lbs weight restriction.

If you would like to bring saddlebags (we don't supply them), please fill them only with essential items that you would need during the day, such as lip balm, your camera, sunscreen, etc. We reserve the right to limit the amount of gear in the saddlebags for weight. Fanny packs (a small pack that ties around the waist) also work well. Daypacks, backpacks or other bags are NOT allowed -- they are hard on your back and hard on the horse's back, and do not tie properly to the saddle.

The length of your trip will alter what you need to bring. The list below details ESSENTIAL items ideal for a 3-day trip.

- A warm sleeping bag -- We recommend a bag rated to -15 degrees Celsius or 5 degrees Fahrenheit. You may not need it, but it sure comes in handy if you do. To further keep you snug and warm, we also recommend that you bring a flannel sheet or non-bulky blanket that fits inside your sleeping bag.
- A treated canvas tarp -- used to wrap under and around your sleeping bag to help keep you warm and dry during the night. This can also be used during the day to waterproof your sleeping bag (see instructions below on how to make a bedroll). Tarps can often be found at army surplus stores. Heavy cotton found at a fabric store can be waterproofed and serve the same purpose. Although canvas tarps are what we use and recommend, you are welcome to bring the bedroll of your choice.
- A mattress -- A self-inflatable mattress (e.g. Thermorest) works the best to ensure a comfortable night's sleep.
- A warm coat -- Essential to ward off chilly nights or a windy day. Also bring a heavy sweater (wool is a great insulator) or a fleece jacket.
- Rain gear -- A raincoat and rain pants, and if possible, coverings for your boots and hat. Please DO NOT bring rain ponchos, they flap in the wind and spook the horses. If you have one, we recommend an oilskin slicker.
- Shirts -- 1 Sweatshirt, 1 long-sleeved shirt (turtleneck if you prefer) and 2 t-shirts.
- Jeans -- We suggest one pair for riding in over the six days and one other pair for wearing around various camps at night. Also important is a pair of long underwear for chilly nights.
- Riding boots -- A boot with a heel that can easily slip in and out of stirrups. Alternatives would be a narrow style of hiking boot or solid sneaker. For safety reasons, clunky hiking boots are not recommended. Plastic bags inside your boots can help to keep your feet dry on rainy days.
- Sneakers -- or an extra pair of shoes for wearing around camp, an extra pair of DRY socks is also recommended.
- Toiletries -- towel, facecloth, biodegradable shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razors, etc. Please note that we do not have any electricity at the camps. WE SUPPLY TOILET PAPER AND HAND SOAP AT ALL CAMPS.
- Flashlight -- Remember to check your batteries!
- Hat -- A cowboy hat offers the most protection from the elements. Baseball caps or canvas-type hats are also fine. Please ensure that your hat fits snug and will not blow off in the wind,
- Gloves -- Lined leather or suede gloves provide protection from the elements and a sure grip on the reins (bring two pair just in case one gets wet).
- Scarf -- A silk or cotton scarf is recommended for extra warmth.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and mosquito repellent.
- Your camera -- Don't forget extra film.
- Liquor -- Please make sure that all bottled liquor is well-wrapped in plastic and placed in the middle of your duffel to prevent it from breaking. Plastic bottles are preferred. Please pack canned beer separate from your duffel. Canned mix and beer is available for sale in all of the camps. Please remember that alcohol is included in your 30 lbs weight limit.
- Water bottle -- for refreshment while you are riding. - Cellular phones do not work in the areas where you'll be riding, so leave them somewhere safe.

How to Make a Bedroll

Lay out your canvas tarp on the ground. Lay your thermorest in the middle of the tarp with the air valve pointing to the top of the bedroll (open the valve so that the air will escape as you roll). Line your sleeping bag with a flannel sheet or extra blanket. Place your closed sleeping bag in the middle of the tarp, on top of the thermorest. Put a pillowcase in the middle of your sleeping bag. (Once you are ready for bed, you can use your warm coat inside the pillowcase as a pillow). Fold one side flap of the tarp over the sleeping bag. Fold in the other side of the tarp over the sleeping bag. Fold the bottom flap over and start rolling towards the top of the sleeping bag. Once you are near the head of the sleeping bag, reach in and close the valve on your thermorest pad. Fold in the top flap of canvas tarp and finish rolling. Using a rope with a slipknot, tie the bedroll securely.

Hotel pickup and transportation to the check-in point in Banff are NOT included. Rates are per person in US dollars and include taxes. There is no child discount for this tour. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 800-719-2185.