Scotland has been on my bucket list of destinations for far too long, and when I received a text message from my contact at GoPro, a few months back asking if I would be interested in traveling to Scotland on a job, I immediately said yes. I would be working with @visitscotland and @gopro, capturing my journey along the way on the brand new GoPro Hero12Black.

I was told I would be able to bring a plus one, so my friend Maddy Elrick was able to come along. She has Scottish roots, so it was cool for her to be able to visit a country where she could learn more about her heritage.

The tourism board curated a detailed itinerary for us, made possible with the help of partners all across Eastern Scotland. We walked a lot, hiked, canoed, explored castles, foraged, e-biked, learned more about Tartan, went on a whisky tour, and more. Below is a day-to-day write up of what we got up to, information about the amazing partners/guides that showed us around, along with hotel and restaurant recommendations. I will also include some other suggestions for things to do in the areas we drove through/stayed at, though may not have had time for. It was a busy 8 days, and in order to slow down a bit and take it all in I would recommend the below itinerary be stretched to 10-12 days.

Currency: British Pounds – 1.65 Canadian Dollar = 1 Pound Sterling

Packing list:

Clothing:

• 1 technical water proof jacket/wind breaker
• 1 rain coat – casual wear
• 1 technical fleece
• 1 puffy jacket
• 1 casual fleece
• 2 technical long sleeves – for hiking and running
• 1 cozy pullover sweater for evenings/mornings at the accomodations
• 2 plaids
• 2 t-shirts
• 2 tank tops
• 2 casual long sleeves
• 2 pairs of leggings – 1 for running and 1 for casual wear
• 1 pair of joggers
• 2 pairs of casual pants – 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of cords
• 1 jean jacket
• Pyjamas
• Enough underwear!
• 5 pairs of socks – for running, hiking, and casual wear.
• 1 pair of casual boots – mine also worked for our small hikes.
• 1 pair of trail-running shoes
• 1 pair of casual sneakers
• 1 pair of sandals
• 2 bathing suits
• 2 toques
• Small pair of gloves

Other gear:

• 30L backpack
• Laptop
• GoPro + accessories
• DSLR Camera + accessories
• Travel adapter
• Umbrella – You just never know with Scotland
• Snacks – I brought a lot of snacks from home, but you can easily buy there too, it’s just more expensive
• Toiletries

Day-to-day itinerary

Day 1: Calgary to Edinburgh

8:20pm – We took a direct red eye Westjet flight from Calgary to Edinburgh, which is a game changer with long travel days.

Day 2: Edinburgh

We arrived in Edinburgh at 11am local time, waited for our luggage and took a tram from the airport to St. Andrew Square which was a 32 minute tram ride. The tram is SO easy to use, and it beats having to navigate the roads with a rental car, when in the big city.

Our hotel, Market Street Hotel was a 5 minute walk from St. Andrew Square. ‘Old town character meets contemporary design at this Edinburgh urban escape, and Scotland’s first member of Design Hotels. The hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the city’. The staff were amazing, laundry service was great too, and done day of. I brought a pair of pants down in the morning and they were ready by 4pm. Breakfast was DELICIOUS, I recommend getting it included.

We couldn’t check into our hotel room until 3:30pm, but we were able to drop our luggage at the hotel, and they kept it for us while we wandered around. Here are a few things I recommend doing for a day in Edinburgh:

• Royal Mile – the heart of Scotland’s historic capital
• Edinburgh Castle – the city’s iconic castle. I recommend booking this early, so you are sure to get in. It was so busy, but for good reason.
• Grassmarket/Victoria Street – former medieval marketplace. The gentle curve to Victoria Street, and colourful storefronts make it one of the most photographed locations in the city.
  • Hula’s restaurant – we went for coffee and food here at a corner restaurant at the end of the street.
• Arthur’s seat – a hill walk in the heart of the city with panoramic views (we went here during our e-bike tour).
• Calton Hill – Panoramic views, and great at sunset (we went here during our e-bike tour).

5-8pm: Evening City E-Bike Tour with EZ Bike Tours

• Starting point: 7 Newhaven Main Street, Edinburgh, EH6 4LJ
• We took the tram from St. Andrew Square to Newhaven – it was about 15 minutes. It was then a 5 minute walk to the meeting point, at the store.
• It was a wonderful guided tour through the cities most scenic and historic neighbourhoods, and even better that it was on e-bikes. We walked so much that day, so it was great having this activity be a bit more effortless.
• They offer a couple different tours, one being a coastal ride, and another more ‘sights’ of the city.

• Carol, our guide, was FANTASTIC. So knowledgeable in sharing stories, and insights about the history here in the city, along with the culture and architecture. The sunset was perfect too, up. on Calton Hill.

Dinner:

• ‘The Booking Office‘ – Which was a 1 minute walk from our hotel.
• Great vibe, burgers and drinks.

Day 3: Edinburgh

8:30am: Braids and Blackford Hills Trail Run with Edinburgh Run Tours

• Before this trip I would never have thought to sign up for a running tour, as I didn’t even know they existed! Maddy and I both love to run, so it was a great way to see more of a place, but at a quicker pace. Nice to get a work out/sweat in too.
• It was a 12km route starting at Starbucks Middle Meadow Walk, which was just over a km from our hotel, so we just jogged over. We met Scott there and headed across to Blackford Pond before following the trails around to the Hermitage of Braid where we crossed to take in the views from the top of the Braid Hills/stunning views of the city below, along with views of Pentland and the Firth of Forth. We also stopped a couple times for some blackberry snackin’.
• The route then took us back down on paths before we climbed again to the top of Blackford Hill. The route took us through a golf course, which I thought was SO different than in Canada, but was a neat experience sharing recreational space with the golf enthusiasts.
• I would consider it a moderately challenging route, and would recommend trail shoes!
• They have a number of routes you can choose from and also cater to the individual booking the tour.

Lunch – We walked over to Edinburgh Street Food

• ‘A bold and eclectic foodies paradise filled with the best independent traders in Scotland’.
• They had so many types of food to choose from. The tacos were to DIE for!

2:00pm: Visit to the Scotland Shop – 10 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, Eh2 FPG

• A 20 minute walk from the hotel
• The shop is a tartan goods retailer in the heart of Edinburgh who design, manufacture and sell their own unique collection, inspired by the colours of Scottish tartans, and blending history with fashion.
• They had SO many different items, from clothing: kilts, jackets, scarves, shoes, etc. to blankets, stuffed animals and more.
• Maddy has roots in Scotland so she was able to learn more about her Aberdeen tartan, and ordered a couple custom goods for her family back home.
• We met with Anna White, who is the founder of the shop, back in 2002. She combined her love of fashion with fabric and richness of Scottish culture. She took us through the story of tartan, and how those with Scottish ancestry can go on a journey of discovery through tartan (like she did for Maddy, my friend).

6:00pm – Johnnie Walker Princes Street – Journey of Flavour Tour

• This was located right beside the Scotland Shop, so we came back for 6pm.
• It was an immersive whisky tour showcasing the story of Johnnie Walker.
• Even if you aren’t a whisky drinker, this tour is still very fun and engaging. Interactive, and great performances. If you are a whisky drinker, you’re in luck, as you’ll receive 3 drinks throughout!

7:30pm – Dinner at 1820 Bar – top floor of the Johnnie Walker building. Beautiful views of Edinburgh. I recommend booking dinner reservations here for after your tour.

Day 4: Edinburgh to Lanrick Treehouses

8:00am: We left the hotel to head to St. Andrew Square to Edinburgh Airport to pick up our rental car.

• A 30 minute tram ride to the airport. Enterprise was only a couple minutes walk away from where we got off the tram.
• We rented an automatic, as its left side driving in Scotland, and that’s tough enough as is. It can be more expensive but I would say it’s worth it if you are worried about driving on the left hand side of the road.

From the airport we made our way to Ben A’an to experience Scotland’s iconic landscapes. It was so nice to get out of the city and into the countryside!

Ben A’an Hike – A 1:35 drive from Edinburgh – We parked at Loch Katrine Car Park

• This took around 2 hours to complete, with time spent hiking and stops.
• It is one of the most popular hikes amongst Scotlands smaller hills, so you can expect to see other people on the trail.
• The trail’s position in the heart of the Trossachs makes its viewpoint truly spectacular.

2:00pm Lunch – Brig o’ Turk Tearoom

• Just a few minutes down the street. Before heading to our accommodation for the evening.

3:30pm – Check-in to The Treehouses at Lanrick

• Five eco-friendly luxury treehouses on the banks of the River Teith, Perthshire.
• ‘The Treehouses at Lanrick offer true escapism in a stunning and private woodland setting, bordering the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, yet only an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. A stay at The Treehouses at Lanrick allow our guests to switch off from the busy outside world and find peace and tranquility living amongst our beautiful trees and the wide variety of birds and wildlife they are home to’.
• We absolutely LOVED our stay here and would highly recommend booking in with them if you are traveling in the area. From the treehouses themselves, to the wood burning fireplace inside, and woodland sauna and surrounding area, it is truly a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

4:30-5:00pm – We enjoyed the woodland sauna and plunge pool. Available to all guests, they just ask that you respect other guests and be respectful of the amount of time you spend in it, to allow others to enjoy it too.

7pm – Dinner – You can pre-order meals for your stay. Maddy and I ordered build-your-own burger kits, which were in our fridge ready for us to cook when we got there. They have a bbq and full kitchen for your use.

Day 5: The Tree Houses at Lanrick

8:30am: We left The Treehouses at Lanrick and headed to Perthshire for a day of adventure.

10am: Beyond Adventure Half Day Canoeing Adventure

• We met at their shop which was a 1:20 drive from the treehouses, and from there we followed behind Ross, who was our tour guide, to Loch Faskally.
• We paddled through the beautiful Loch, enjoying the views, reflections, and waterfall.
• It rained all morning, but was still peaceful and wonderful with it. A great way to a side of nature, that is often less witnessed.

1:00pm – Blair Castle

• It was a ten minute drive down the road from Loch Faskally to Blair Castle.
• Home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries.
• ‘The castle has had a diverse history, witnessing both turbulent and peaceful times, enlarged and adapted over 750 years. Home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists and entrepreneurs, the family history is brought to life against a backdrop of fine 18th century interiors and Scots Baronial architecture, in 30 rooms’.

2:30pm – Taste of Perthshire

• Since learning that we would be visiting Scotland we both had been dying to hangout with a highland coo, so we made sure to stop in at this place to feed the coo’s on site and have lunch.
• A bucket list experience. Highly recommend taking the time to stop here.
• ‘The Highland cow is a Scottish breed of rustic cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Western Islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, able to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region’.

It rained for the entire day, and even harder into the evening so we headed back to the treehouses for a cozy evening in. We grabbed food at a market on route back and made dinner in the kitchen.

I did go for a rainy run from the treehouse, as they have lovely forested and paved trails from the site.

Day 6: Lanrick Treehouses to Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages

8:30am – Check out of the Treehouses at Lanrick

11:00am – House of Elrick – As I mentioned above my friend Maddy who joined me on the trip has Scottish roots, and with her last name being Elrick, we couldn’t not stop here.

• We went on a 45 minute tour of. the gin factory, and toured the house and gardens.
• ‘Constructed at the height of the Scottish Enlightenment period in 1720, the House of Elrick was the home of an entrepreneurial family of landowners, and has passed hands only 5 times in almost 300 years. Now home to the Ingram family the house has been returned to it’s former glory complete with a Gin distillery on the grounds’.
• Maddy was able to purchase a few bottles of gin and other goods to bring back for family members.

2:00pm – Village of Elrick

• We couldn’t not stop here for Maddy!
• Elrick (Scottish Gaelic: An Eilreig) is a small village on the A944 road, 12.1 km west of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland.

1:00pm – Castle Fraser

• A quick 15 minute drive from The House of Elrick.
• ‘Once known as Muchall-in-Mar, Castle Fraser is an elaborate, five-storey Z-plan castle which was constructed in 1575 by the 6th Laird of Fraser, Michael Fraser, although there is archaeological evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400 or 1500 within the current construction’.
• ‘The castle is located near Kemnay in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland, and stands in over 300 acres of impressive grounds’.

2:00 – Scolty Hill – Hill walk

• A fantastic short walk with steep climb to the summit of Scolty Hill where you can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the tower, which offers an even better view of the countryside. You can extend the walk by adding on the red-way marked March Trail through the woods.

4:00pm – Check-in to Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages

• Glen Dye is a private estate of around 15,000 acres and their design-led cabins and cottages sit right at its centre, surrounded by wilderness, forest and moorland on the banks of the River Dye.
• They have a shop on site where you can purchase some food items, along with other goods.
• We stayed in the Steading Cottage. 2. Photos below.
• We pre-ordered dinner for the first night, and they had it ready for us when we arrived. Various casserole dishes prepared by a chef at Glen Dye.

4:30pm – Guided walk and forage – We enjoyed a leisurely walk around Glen Dye and learned to identify some common edible plants and their uses along the way. Pip was our guide, and she was so knowledgable. *Fun fact she was on UK’s ‘Alone’*. She is their resident Wild Wellness Specialist and Wild Swimming Instructor’.

• They also offer Bushcraft, flower arranging, willow weaving, whisky tasting, and more.

7:00pm – Sauna

• You can book your own 3 hour time slot ahead of time. It takes quite some time to heat up as it’s wood burning, so be sure to book in!
• The best feeling after a long day of driving and exploring.

Day 7: Glendye Cabins and Cottages

7:30am – We departed Glen Dye and headed to Ballater, for a morning trail run.

• Ballater was a 40 minute drive from the cottage, where we met Ben, a guide with ‘Trail Running Scotland‘. They offer courses to improve your confidence in off-road running, with running technique, navigation training and tips for dealing with rough terrain. Again, it was such a wonderful way to explore a new place, and as a big trail-runner myself I was in heaven! Perhaps the highlight of the trip for me. I would love to come back to Scotland one day and run every single day.
• The drive to the trail head in the Cairngorms was 20 minutes from Ballater.
• We did the Lochnagar loop – which was a 16.7 km running route.

12:30pm – Ballater

• We spent an hour here after and went for lunch and did some tourist shopping!
• We grabbed food at the Green Cafe, which I highly recommend.
• We also made a quick stop at the market in town to grab groceries for dinner and breakfast the next day.

3:00pm – 4:30pm – Stonehaven – Dunnottar Castle

• A 1 hour drive from Ballater to Dunnottar Castle where we spent time wandering around the outside of the castle, and then toured around inside as well. One of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen. I could have sat and just stared at it for hours!
  • Perched atop a 160 foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, these dramatic and evocative cliff-top ruins were once an impregnable fortress of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over’.

We headed back to Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages for a relaxing evening afterwards.

Day 8: Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages to Edinburgh

9:00am – Check out of Glen Dye and drive to Dundee

• We took the scenic route down the coast, which added on an extra half hour, but I would recommend it, as if you take the google maps route direct you are driving inland highway.
• There are a number of small towns and viewpoints you can stop at along the way.

11:30am – We arrived in Dundee.

• We walked around for a bit, and went into a few shops before meeting for a tour at V&A Dundee.
• Before the tartan tour we wandered around the outside of the museum and inside, to some ‘free’ exhibits.

12:30pm – V&A Dundee

• ‘They are Scotland’s design museum, on a mission to inspire and empower through design. They advocate for the power of design – as both extraordinary and brilliantly ordinary, shaping our daily lives. The museum brings design from all over the world to Scotland and gives a new platform to Scottish designer’.
• We had an arranged informal tour of the Tartan Exhibition, which will be at V&A Dundee until January 2024.
  • ‘Tartan celebrates the global story of a unique pattern – how the rules of the grid have inspired creativity from the everyday to the sublime. The instantly recognisable symbol of Scotland, a global textile of tradition, rebellion, oppression and fashion, tartan has connected and divided communities worldwide, inspiring great works of art as well as playful and provocative designs. Experience dazzling objects from around the world from the high fashion of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen to Jackie Stewart’s racing helmet, from the portrait of rugby legend Doddie Weir to the MacBean tartan which rocketed to the moon. See tartan worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie and Bay City Rollers trousers handmade by a lifelong fan, together with the indigenous textiles of Indian Madras and the humble Scottish shortbread tin’.

Lunch – We grabbed food at the cafe at the museum then headed 15 minutes South for a trail run.

2:30 – 4pm – Tentsmuir National Forest – 15km loop

• Through the forest and along the coast. Starting and ending at Scotscraig Golfclub.
• From there we drove to return our rental car at Enterprise, at the airport.

5:00pm – Rental car return

• Enterprise – at the airport.
• Walked to check-in to our hotel, which was 2 minute walk from the drop-off
  • Moxy Edinburgh Airport Hotel

Day 9: Edinburgh to Calgary

• All good things must come to an end.
  • Maddy and I woke up early to go for a run from the hotel.
  • Breakfast at the hotel – buffet style.
• 10am – check-out of the hotel. We walked 15 minutes to the airport check-in.
• 1pm flight back to Calgary, Alberta.

Huge thanks to @VisitScotland and @GoPro for making this trip possible, along with Maddy (@mddyelrck) for all the help in capturing the trip along the way.

One of my favourite mountain lodges, nestled in Spray Valley Provincial Park, about an hour drive from Canmore, Alberta. We have been coming here for years, since learning about it around 7 years ago. We love it so much, we even ended up booking the lodge out for our wedding, on September 30th, 2021.

The views are amazing, the staff, the food, the dog friendliness, along with the endless adventure near by, no matter the season. From Summer to full on Winter, it’s perfect for anyone looking for a little adventure, OR perhaps you’re wanting to just get away and recharge, and take in the surrounding beauty in the mountains.

Pet-friendliness can be tough to find sometimes, so this is surely one reason we continue to come back to Engadine. They make our dogs feel so welcome, with the custom dog treats, beds, bowls, dining with your pets experience, and dog photo wall.

Accommodations

All of which offer an inclusive dining experience – breakfast, a packed-lunch, afternoon tea (charcuterie and dessert) and dinner. The meals are easily 5 stars! We have never been disappointed in the food served at Engadine. One thing I love about staying is the fact there are NO in room telephones, or TV’s, which allow you to really escape and relax, tuning in with nature.

Glamping Tents

Engadine offers 5 different canvas glamping tents. We have stayed in them few times now, as they are all dog friendly, and only in the Winter months, and find them to be so cozy and fun! Camping? In the Winter? Yes, please!

• Beautiful mountain, valley, and forest views
• King-size bed with pillow top mattress, which can be split into two twins
• Full pull-out couch
• Full ensuite bathroom with hot showers
• Private patio and deck
• Pet-friendly
• Chandelier and hardwood floors
• Gas fireplace
• Canvas walls
• Electrical outlets to charge devices

Lodge Rooms

We stayed in the ‘Moose’ suite for our wedding, which is located upstairs in the lodge and then most recently in the ‘Elk’ Suite, which is attached to the lodge but on the main level, just a couple steps away from the main entrance of the lodge. The upstairs rooms are not dog friendly, though the Elk suite is. There are a number of different sized rooms, even one called the ‘Chickadee’ which is perfect for a solo traveler! All the rooms, excluding the Chickadee offer a view of the valley.

The Moose suite is perfect for a romantic getaway or wedding suite. My bridesmaids and I got ready in the room and our photographer was able to capture some stunning photos of such. There is a pull-out couch as well, adding extra sleeping space for kids or others traveling together.

The Elk Suite has a private balcony, separate from the main deck, and a cozy reading nook. The gas fireplace, and pull-out couch are also great to have. Craig used this room to get ready with his groomsman on our wedding day.

There is also the ‘Eagle’, ‘Owl’ and the ‘Raven’, located upstairs. All which have King sized beds, and stunning views of the mountains. Keep an eye out for wildlife which tend to roam in the valley below!

Cabins

Just off the lodge are 3 cabins, with balconies overlooking the valley. I stayed in a cabin 7 years ago, during my first visit here and would love to experience them again soon. ‘Whiskey Jack’, ‘Burstall’, and ‘Birdwood’.

‘Whiskeyjack’ – ‘The perfect cabin for families or friends on a weekend getaway. Featuring 2 adjoining bedrooms – one with a queen bed, and another with two twins – you’re sure to create some unforgettable memories on and off the trails. Whiskeyjack has a private entrance, bathroom with a shower and a balcony overlooking the meadow’.

‘Burstall’ – ‘One of two rooms in our cozy meadow’s edge chalet with a stunning view of Tent Ridge. Featuring a queen-size bed, private ensuite bathroom, and a large balcony overlooking the meadow that is perfect for viewing any of the beautiful Kananaskis wildlife that may come visit’.

‘Birdwood’ – ‘One of two rooms in our chalet tucked between the forest and the meadow’s edge. This cabin features a queen-size bed, private ensuite bathroom and a large balcony that overlooks the meadow giving guests a glimpse of the picturesque Birdwood Mountain. Perfect for two’.

Yurt

One accommodation that goes a little unnoticed, as it is tucked in the trees, a couple minutes down a trail from the main lodge. Perfect for someone on a smaller budget, though it still includes an all-inclusive dining experience and full access to common areas in the lodge (bathroom/sinks etc), just like the rest of the rooms.

At our wedding a few friends stayed in the yurt. The perfect place for them to lay their head after a long day.

It also has a lovely view of the valley. They say it’s even one of the best on the property.

• Open all year round
• Propane heater
• Pillows, Linens, Blanket provided in the Summer, Spring, and Fall. In winter, guests must bring their own sleeping bags
• Sleeps up to 4 People. 2 sets of bunk beds
• Pet-friendly
• A camping experience, with no plumbing or shower facilities
• No electricity 

Dining Experience

You’ll never leave Engadine hungry. The food is always 10/10, with an on site chef. They are wonderful at accommodating any dietary needs/allergies. It is great not having to worry about packing any meals when staying at Engadine, or snacks for that matter because they sure do feed you well.

There is afternoon tea served between 2-5pm everyday, complimentary to guests staying at the lodge, and open for drop-ins as well between those times. They offer coffee, tea, a charcuterie board, accompanied by a dessert. We like to arrive a bit early always, before check-in to enjoy this. $35 a person for those dropping in.

Dinner – Served at 7pm every evening. A 3 course meal. The menu is always written up on the wall beside the bar, listing the first course, main dish and dessert.

Breakfast – Served between 8-9am every morning. There is a cold breakfast bar to start. Fruit, pastries, parfaits etc. Then two options given for your main course. Different everyday. From omelettes to pancakes, waffles, frittatas, crepes and more.

Lunch – At dinner you will be provided with a piece of paper, for which you will select your lunch preference for the next day. They provide you with a sandwich, and a snack, whether that be a cookie, trail mix, or veggies and hummus. This bagged lunch is awesome, if you plan to go out adventuring during the day, it’s easy to take with you.

Coffee/tea bar – There is always coffee and tea available to guests in the main lodge. Drip coffee, Chemex, or press. A wide assortment of tea is available.

Drink bar – They have a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available on site, with a drink/wine menu available. As a wine lover myself this is appreciated.

Pet-friendly – Engadine allowed us to dine with our dogs, in the living room area, which was lovely. The dogs aren’t allowed in the main dining area, but will ask you if you want to dine with them in a space just next to the dining area. This was such a nice treat!

Sunday Brunch – Is also reopening to the public on June 1st, where you can join them from 10:30- 1:30pm for a lovely meal overlooking the beautiful mountains in the back. Smoked salmon Benedict, or banana pancakes with strawberry compote? Yes please! The menu will change from week to week. Sunday strudel will also be available from 2-5pm daily. Reservations are required for this.

Activities/Features

The lodge has a couple fat bikes, along with snowshoes available for guests to use at no cost, with trails right from the property. There is also cross-country ski trails near by, at Mount Shark, just a few minutes down the road.

No matter the season, all-trails is a great resource for researching hiking/snowshoeing trails within the area, or if you’re into backcountry skiing. Summer is endless to, with lakes near, for paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking.

The staff can also offer suggestions depending on what type of activity/level you are looking for. Pet friendly, family, experienced etc. We never get tired of the trails around in Kananaskis.

On our most recent stay we hiked to Chester Lake (pictured above), which is a few minutes down the highway, before checking in, and snowshoed on Rummel Lake Trail (pictured below), which is directly across the highway from Engadine.

In the Summer months, Tent Ridge (pictured above) s a favourite hike of mine, located just behind the lodge. We had a one year sunset photo shoot done here for our wedding anniversary. Photos taken by @lindselora.

Fire pit area – There is a fire pit area located just outside the lodge, which is a great place to gather around in the evening, after a day of adventuring.

Swings – A fun feature for guests. Two sings area available on site, one single wing farther back in the trees, and another swing for a couple people to enjoy overlooking the valley.

Weddings/Special events

Like I mentioned earlier in my blog post, Craig and I got married at Engadine, and I wouldn’t have chosen any other place for our special day. They were incredible to work with and made all my dreams come true. We rented out the entire lodge, and had friends and family stay for 3 days, 2 nights which made for a very memorable experience. Wedding days go by so quickly, so being able to spend more than one day with loved ones made it so special. Photos taken by @lindselora.

Some friends and family stayed close by in Canmore, which is an hour drive from the lodge, as the lodge sleeps up to 30 people. Immediate family and bridal party stayed at Engadine, while the rest in town.

They offer weddings, corporate retreats, romantic getaways, and other special offers depending on when you book, and providing group rates, along with mid week rates. There are also other offers available for yoga retreats, along with Fathers Day and Mothers Day.

Tap to check out their page for wedding details.

If you have any questions at all about my experience at Mount Engadine Lodge, feel free to leave a comment or email me at b7.willson@gmail.com OR you can get in contact with the lodge directly, by visiting their website.

www.mountengadine.com

Thermal Watchman Beanie

Glacier Peak Seamless Stretch Down Duffel Coat

Cabin Fleece Throw

We Wander 1/4 Zip

We Wander Fleece Vest

Crossover Winter Trail Adventure High-Rise Leggings

K-6 Boot

24-Oz Enamel Mug

Folding Trekking Poles

Adventure Backpack 2.0

Women’s Camp Slippers

Cabin Faux Fur Pom Beanie

Bygone 45L Duffel

Karakoram -30 Sleeping Bag

Guide Pro Evertherm Mittens

Stowaway Packable Waistpack

Dad Hat

Polar Fleece-Lined Pants

Mid Cairn Hiking Boot

Microtherm 2.0 Down Jacket

Thistle Beanie

Boyfriend Flannel Lined Jeans

Downlight 2.0 Hooded Jacket

Thermal Tech Crew

2022 Skyliner Duster

Severson Moc Toe – Unisex

Train Ascent Long-Sleeve Crew

Women’s Radiator Fleece Gloves

Trail COOLMAX Crew Socks

MicroTherm 2.0 Down Vest

Favorite Long-Sleeve Crewneck T-shirt

Cozy Camp Fleece Jogger Pant

I had always dreamt of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, but I never would have ever imagined I would be doing it twice, 6 weeks after the first one, and along side two incredible groups of humans.

When I learned about the mountain, many moons ago, I thought to myself, ‘How cool would it be to do this as your honeymoon’. I know it’s not the typical relaxing, romantic honeymoon people usually book, but such an incredible experience, to share with your loved one. When the opportunity came up to host a trip there, I thought ‘Okay now how do I combine this with a honeymoon’, as my husband and I had planned to get married before the trip dates. Craig was able to join me on the first dates, in July 2022, and even though the hike was spent with 14 other ‘strangers’, we then continued on for 10 days after, safariing and exploring Tanzania even more so. Best of both worlds. Having the support from a large group, summiting one of the 7 highest peaks in the world, and with your loved one, then being able to combine it with a more romantic, unique experience afterwards. We figured we would extend our stay in the country seeing as we were going to be flying WAY across the world.

Our guiding company was ‘Monkey Adventures’. They were SO wonderful. The lead guide Remmy was with me both times, and then there were 5 assistant guides as well, helping the entire week. There were 3 porters for every traveller, and then cooks etc. We had a group of 75-78 people going up the mountain.

July-September are the busiest seasons on the mountain, and for good reason. Its dry season, so you won’t be hiking in rain every single day, and the temperatures are reasonable. YES it is still freezing at the top. I will talk about that more as the blog post goes on.

Packing List

Packing for Kilimanjaro was a feat in itself. I felt I spent way too much time adding things to piles, taking things out, and so forth. By the second trip there I feel I was able to perfect it.

The following are MY recommendations and what I was comfortable in. Some other people may have more or less or different items. You can also choose to rent a lot of items in Moshi, in Tanzania. Depending on whether or not you are comfortable bringing your own gear, or maybe you are traveling for a lot longer and don’t want to haul gear around. The rental prices are very reasonable and the quality of gear is great. I personally just liked the comfort is knowing I had my own gear.

Below is a photo of the 70-90lb duffels and day packs.

The porters will carry your big bag, and you will have your day pack everyday.

The guiding company provided wonderful 4 season tents, the sleeping pads, and breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, along with coffee/tea/hot chocolate. They also provide all the cooking gear, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, so you don’t have to worry about bringing any of that. I did bring my own coffee thermos the second time around because I love mine, but they do provide one.

The guiding company also provides water purification items and first-aid supplies.

I have linked as many of my clothing/gear items. They are affiliate links and I do earn a small commission from sales, so if you do love it and would love to purchase any items, and want to support me in that, it would mean a lot to me if you used the links to do so ❤

Clothing:

• 3 long sleeves – 2 to hike in, 1 to sleep in
• 2 t-shirts
• 1 tank top
• 2 Puffy’s – One thinner and one thicker for summit day
• 3 pairs of leggings – 2 to hike in, 1 to sleep in. I made sure to bring a pair of fleece lined leggings to wear for summit day.
• 2 hiking pants – windproof/water resistant
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 ski pant for summit day
• 1 vest – I love a good vest all the time.
• 7 pairs of underwear – one for everyday
• 4 pairs of socks – 3 for day to day and 1 to sleep in
• 2 fleece – one pull over for at camp and then a zip up to hike in
• 1 pair of hiking boots
• Camp sandals/runners to wear at camp. No one wants to be in their boots ALL day. You could also bring camp booties. It felt so good to take the hikers off at the end of the day.
• 2 hats – baseball cap and a wide brimmed hat with more sun protection
• 1 rain shell
• Ski jacket – for summit day
• 2 buffs – it gets dusty, and to protect from the sun. Necessary for summit day as the wind can be intense.
• 2 pairs of gloves. 1 thinner pair for day to day and one ski glove for summit day.
• 1 toque

Gear:

• 90L duffel bag – which your porter will carry for you. This will be where you place ALL your gear – sleeping bag, extra clothing, snacks etc. Minus the tent and sleeping pad they provide you with.
• 30L backpack for day to day
• Hiking poles
• Sleeping bag (-17C or a -7/-10C with a -10 liner). I have linked two options here.
• 3L water bladder, and a 1L Nalgene bottle. I highly recommend a bladder. I didn’t pack one for the first trip and do regret it. It made it easier to stay on top of my water consumption. They won’t let you on the mountain without 3L of water space. No plastic bottles allowed either on the mountain. An insulated one is important to as the hose can freeze on summit day.
• Head lamp – make sure it works/new batteries!
• Gaiters – can be packed. I didn’t pack any but they are recommended in some packing lists.

Other packing items:

• Phone for photos – I kept my cellphone off the entire week, though some people chose to turn theirs on every once and a while as the mountain does have cell coverage in some locations if you are wanting to get in touch with loved ones.
• Garmin Inreach – I brought one but its not necessary. I brought it to text my husband on the second trip, at the end of everyday to let him know I was safe and sound at camp. The guiding company has devices.
• Camera – if you have a camera you want to bring. It does add a lot of weight to your day pack
• Charging blocks – you are on the mountain for 7 days so making sure you have a way to charge your phone or other electronic devices.
• Sunglasses
• Sport watch – I pack mine with me everywhere. Kept track of my mileage everyday.
• Sunscreen – high SPF. The sun is so intense.
• Lip-balm – SPF
• Medication – Tylenol, Benadryl, Gravol, Advil, Pepto, TUMS. These are some items I brought with me. Like I mentioned above the guiding company has first aid supplies, but I am always more comfortable bringing some medications for myself incase.
• Altitude medication – Make sure you book a medical appointment before you go and talk to them about altitude meds!
• A book – if you like to read there is lots of down time at camp.
• Hand sanitizer and baby wipes
• Hand/footwarmers

Snacks:

Like I mentioned above the guiding company does provide breakfast. lunch and dinner but NOT snacks. I made sure to bring a lot of things from home. There are snacks available in the town of Moshi but comfort items from home are lovely to have with you. I would put a few things in my backpack every morning. Some things I brought:

• Sausage sticks
• Gummies – sugar is key – watermelon candies, gummy bears etc.
• Corn-nuts
• Gold fish crackers & pretzel sticks
• Dried mangos
• Granola bars/protein bars – high calorie bars
• Electrolytes for your water
• Mio/Kool-aid drops to add flavour to my water
• Kuju Coffee – they do provide you with coffee, but for the second trip I decided to bring my own as I LOVE Kuju!

Common questions:

What is the bathroom set up like on the mountain?

• There are bathroom porters who haul up portable toilets and set up individual tents around them.
• They provide the toilet paper so bringing your own isn’t necessary.

Are you able to rent gear there, instead of bringing your own?

• Yes. You can choose to rent a lot of items on site in Tanzania (Moshi). Depending on whether or not you are comfortable bringing your own gear, or maybe you are traveling for a lot longer and don’t want to haul gear around. The rental prices are very reasonable and the quality of gear is great. I personally just liked the comfort is knowing I had my own gear.
• You can rent gear ahead of time – there are many different gear stores. Whichever guiding company you go with may have a recommended store you can rent through.

Is it really that cold at the top?

• YES. Don’t underestimate it. My toes and fingers froze both times. Making sure you are packing GOOD quality gear or renting proper layers will make or break your summit experience. Weather can be unpredictable and summit day is cold. The wind adds to it. Your guiding company will make sure to check ALL of your layers before you step foot on the mountain to make sure you have what you need to have a comfortable summit experience. Even though I had warm mittens and hiking boots/socks, along with hand warmers/foot warmers I still was chilly. Looking back I may have brought heated gloves/socks with me. Again this is a personal recommendation as I often have cold toes and hands!

What if you are vegetarian/vegan or have specific food allergies/preferences?

• Our company was amazing with this. We just let the company know in advance our food preferences/dietary accommodations and they cooked accordingly. I assume all other guiding companies would be the same way. Whether you are meat free/gluten free/lactose etc.

Was the altitude a big issue for you?

• Altitude sickness is a real thing. It can effect anyone, especially if you are not use to higher altitudes, and hiking. Making sure you book an appointment with your doctor before you go/pharmacist is necessary. They will go over your current health, and make sure you are fit to climb, and if you are approved to take altitude medication. If you are good, you will be prescribed altitude medication, that you will then take daily there.
• My husband and I booked an appointment at a local travel clinic, which was a huge help. They went over the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness.
• The guiding company also checks 02 levels and heart rate daily, and carry oxygen tanks with them incase of emergency.

Is a visa necessary for Tanzania?

• YES. You can google how to do this. Depending on what country you are coming in from, the type of visa you will apply for will vary. As a Canadian we had single entry (ordinary) visas, but as a United States citizen they had multiple entry visas.
• Visa Link – it took ten days to come in.
• You can also apply for it upon entry, but I advise doing it in advance, in order to avoid any delays at the airport.

Was it cold at night?

• This will depend what time of year you go. It only got below freezing one night I think for us.
• The guiding company provides 4 season tents which were lovely!
• The thicker sleeping pads were great keeping us off the group. You can also opt in for a double thermarest for $10 extra for the week.
• A -17C degree sleeping bag is ideal. Or a -7/-10 with a heated liner to make it -17.
• I comfortably slept in tights and a long sleeve every night and with a toque to keep my head warm on the even cooler nights.

Did you share a tent with someone?

• They pair you up – 2 people to a tent.
• The first trip I shared a tent with Craig, but second time I was on my own as the company I hosted for had me by myself. I suggest sharing a tent for warmth, or you can opt in to have your own for a bit of a higher cost. This will change depending on the guiding company you are with.
• Remember the porters carry all this gear up, so sharing a tent with someone will also allow for one less tent needed to be carried, which helps.

That is the water/washing situation like?

• Everyday you will be provided with 3L of clean, filtered drinking water.
• Between my bladder and a nalgene this was perfect.
• At camp you are provided with hot cleaning water, in a tub outside your tent. This is where a pack towel comes in handy. You can have a little ‘towel bath’. I did this and used body wipes every day.
• The only camp you’re not provided hot water at is base camp, because there is no water source, so only drinking water is ported up to the camp.

How did you train for the hike? Was it hard?

• I always find this question a bit challenging to answer. Yes you do have to have some some sort of baseline fitness. It really is ‘pole-pole’ which means ‘slowly, slowly’. They have you go slow, never hiking at a fast speed, it’s just for longer durations and the altitude really does start to effect people. I found it to be more mentally challenging than anything. Day after day, throwing on that bag and putting one step in front of the other. I also have a lot of hiking and running experience, endurance and elevation wise.
• Training at altitude would be helpful but some people don’t have that option, with where they live. If there are no mountains then resorting to the stair climber at the gym, or stairs in the area would be a great backup. Biking, swimming, yoga, jogging are all great ways to get ready for the hike. ‘Gym activities including step aerobics, treadmill,bicycling, or elliptical trainers to name a few. A modest weight training program focusing on the muscles that support the ankles, knees, back, and shoulders is also beneficial’ – TrovaTrip.
• Getting out for longer walks/hikes on mixed terrain/rocks would be a good idea. Being sure to break in your hiking boots/trainers before the hike. Increasing the weight on your backpack too when you go out. On the hike you will be carrying no more than 20lbs. Having a backpack that fits you properly is important, as I did find my back to even start to get sore as the days went on, with the weight everyday, and having it on for many hours at a time. Train with it 🙂 ‘Start with short hikes (1-hour in length) with a light daypack. From week to week build the length and difficulty of your hikes and gradually increase your pack weight until you’re comfortably able to hike 6-8 hours a day carrying the weight you’ll have on your trip (refer to your trip packet for exact pack weight). Unless you’re in great shape it is ideal to begin your training at least 12 weeks prior to your trip’.
• There are quite a few training plans that can be found online, for Kilimanjaro, that you can follow.

Did you tip the guiding company? The porters?

• The guiding company does rely on tips. Their income is not very high, so tipping after the trek is expected. I will attach a link here that will help guide you with tipping. It depends on group size (how many travellers are with you), and how many there are helping guide/support the group (lead guide, assistant guides, porters, cooks, etc). These are recommended numbers, to guide you, but if you feel the local teams have added to the experience, you can always tip more.
• With our group of 16, the recommended per person tip to the group was $250USD, though some gave more. This can all be placed in an envelope at the end of the trek and given to the lead guide, who will then disperse it amongst the group.

Vaccinations?

• For vaccination info: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania

Travel insurance?

• ‘Due to the trek’s high elevations, travel insurance covering high-altitude treks is required to be purchased before departure. TrovaTrip recommends World Nomad’s Standard Policy which covers treks up to 19,685 feet (6,000 meters)’. TrovaTrip is the company I hosted the trip with: www.worldnomads.com

Where did you stay in Moshi? Before and after the hike?

• We stayed at Lindrin Lodge – We loved it here. Highly recommend it.

Day to Day on the Hike

We took the Machame Route up the mountain. There are 7 different routes linked here. I also attached a photo below to show the various routes on the mountain.

Here is a day to day break down of what things were like for the 7 days. You can do the route in 6 days but 7 is recommended. Some people go directly from Baranco to Bafaru camp (basecamp), and skip Karanga. So your day 5 would be 9kms instead of 5kms, then 4kms. There does tend to be a higher success rate, so i was told for those who stay at Karanga. This helps with altitude acclimatization and more time to rest.

‘The trek begins in the south-west area of the mountain at Machame Gate. The descent is down Mweka, on the south-east side of the mountain. Because of the ascent in the west and descent down the north, Machame offers great vistas of Kilimanjaro. Additionally, Machame visits stunning places such as Shira Plateau, Barranco, and Lava Tower. Machame is ideal for those who want a more difficult climb, and are confident in their ability to hike over extended periods of time on sometimes steep terrain. Climbers using Machame place a premium of varied scenery, but also accept heavy traffic’ – Kilimanjaro Routes.

Day 0 – Lindrin Lodge

• The lead guide and a couple assistant guides came to meet our group in the evening before we started the trek.
• They went over the entire trek, how it would look day to day and then had us all bring our duffel bags and day packs/items we planned to bring on the hike with us, to show them what we had.
• If they felt as though we had to much weight, or not enough gear/had to rent certain items they made a list and tracked down those items for us/anyone who needed specific things. This helped prep the group and made sure everyone would be comfortable on the 7 day trek. Example, making sure everyone had a headlamp, and batteries charged, and proper layers for summit day.
• Then we enjoyed a welcome dinner.

This entire break down of the 7 day trek below was taken from: https://kilimanjaroroutes.com/machame-route

DAY 1

Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation: 5,380 ft to 9,350 ft
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

The drive from Moshi to the Machame Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As we leave the park gate, we walk through the dense rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge until we reach the Machame Camp.

Below are photos from the first day. Starting at Machame Gare and the trail to Machame Camp. I have mixed in photos from both my July trip & my September trip.

Above are photos from the morning at Machame Camp, before starting our trek for the day. I do recommend getting an earlier start the first day if you are going at a peak time. The gate gets VERY busy and paper work there and organizing the crew does tend to take a long time. Both times we left a bit late and ended up getting to camp when it was dark.

DAY 2

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Elevation: 9,350 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Heath

We leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge. On the Shira Plateau, we pass through heather and open moorlands, then cross a large river gorge to Shira 2 Camp.

DAY 3

Photos below are from the morning at camp to the Lava Tower. Every morning they would check out O2 levels and Heart Rate.

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Distance: 3 km
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

DAY 4

This was one of my favourite days. I loved the Barranco wall! We left camp a little bit later in the morning to allow for other groups to get through the wall, that way we wouldn’t have to wait for them. It was a shorter day anyways to the next camp, so made sense to wait longer.

Below are photos from the morning at Barranco Camp.

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

Below are photos from the trek to Karanga, and at Karanga Camp.

DAY 5

Morning at Karanga, then the hike over to basecamp.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy lunch to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Photos of basecamp below. You will see my summit attire layout pictured in one photo. We arrived at camp at around 1pm, ate lunch and then went to bed, sleeping from 2-10pm. 8 hours of rest and then the guides woke us up and we had a later dinner, and packed up and prepared to hike to the summit.

DAY 6

We started hiking to the summit at midnight. Below are photos from the hike to Uhuru Peak and then back down to basecamp.

This was a VERY long day. I found my July summit to be much harder than my September, maybe because I knew what to expect, but also feel I was more acclimatized. It was VERY cold. I had hand-warmers, and foot warmers in my mitts and boots.

Our guides/porters kept us so motivated and positive. It was a long 6 hours in the dark, before the sun started to rise. They sang, they took our backpacks, they helped us with our poles/gear if we looked like we were struggling. They were overall just SO amazing.

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you  will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

When we got back down to basecamp, we had 2 hours to rest up before waking up, eating lunch and heading down to Mweka Camp. The reason they don’t allow you usually to stay another night at basecamp is to try to get you down to lower elevation ASAP. We were SO tired and it was hard waking up and getting going but as we descended it felt GREAT!

Below are photos from basecamp to Mweka Camp. Arriving just as the sun was setting both trips.

DAY 7

We woke up early on the last day and had a 2.5 hour hike out to Mweka Gate. Breakfast and then our lead guide had the entire group get together for some introductions, along with a final ‘hurrrahhhh’ song and dance.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

Gate photos/certificates below.

It is extremely difficult to put these two trips into words, summarizing what an incredible experience it was, both times. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t extremely challenging for me to go back the second time. Both trips I was quite ill (a whole other can of worms to open up with that one), but I powered through and can say I summited Kilimanjaro twice, and so close together.

It would not have been possible without the people in the groups, along with the most supportive local team. They were all incredible hard working, caring humans. I would highly recommend Monkey Adventures to anyone wanting to climb Kilimanjaro in the future.

If you have any questions about the above, whether its gear related, travel, or on the hike itself please feel free to leave a comment, or email me at b7.willson@gmail.com. Or you can always send me a DM on Instagram @brookewillson.

Thanks so much for reading! ❤

After the July trip, Craig and I headed out for an 8 day safari. This will be a whole other blog post COMING SOON!

After the September trip, Danci (a traveller on my September kili group), a friend Tara, who lived in Las Vegas (who came on my Alaska trip), and I all went to Egypt for 3 days. Again this will be a whole other blog post also COMING SOON!

February 17th – 24th, 2022.

The trip finally happened, and was worth the long wait! After a couple postponements due to COVID-19, the trip was finally a go. I had 15 travellers join me. I hosted the trip through a travel company called ‘TrovaTrip‘, where trips are designed and hosted by topic experts. This was my 3rd hosted trip, the first being to Peru in 2019, and to Patagonia in 2020. Iceland was originally supposed to be in February of 2021, but the world had other plans. I like to say that it was all meant to be and that the timing, and travellers were all meant to travel together for a reason.

I am going to be sharing a detailed packing list of what I brought with me on a Winter trip to Iceland, and then go ahead and share a day to day itinerary of what we did, along with some tips for traveling in the country.

Iceland in the Winter is no joke. It’s cold. The temperature may read a certain degree, but then add in the wind and humidity and it does chill you to the bone. Having appropriate layers, and quality gear will certainly help you enjoy your trip a bit more. No one likes to be cold! My bag weighed in at 43lbs (with a 50lb cap at the airport).

Iceland is a country you can travel to and easily use a larger wheeled suitcase for it. Everyone in my group had a large suitcase, as Winter packing is more bulky and heavy. I used this Expedition 34 Duffel 2.0 from Eddie Bauer.

Packing list:

Jackets:

• Parkas – I brought two with me. Both Eddie Bauer. One shorter red one (Superior 3.0 Down Parka) and one long one (Glacier Peak Seamless Down Duffle Coat). I was going to only pack the shorter red one but was VERY happy I brought a longer one as well, which covered more of my legs, and I found I wore it a lot more walking around the city. With the unpredictable weather having outerwear that is reliable is important, and both good to at least -40C. Both are storm repellent (waterproof) and VERY warm!
• Down Jacket – I brought a down jacket for hiking (Downlight 2.0 Hooded Jacket). This was a lighter option (which is great as it doesn’t take up weight when packing). It is good to -28.
• Windbreaker/Rain shell – I packed a jacket for this, but didn’t end up having to use it as I planned to have it incase it rained while hiking, and needed to put it over my down jacket (above).
• Arcteryx LT Hoody – I packed this to wear on my morning runs. If you don’t plan to run at all I would stick to one ‘puffy jacket’ you would use for hiking/adventuring.

Tops:

• Fleece – I packed two – one thinner 1/4 zip, which has a 4 way stretch and breathable and another thicker 1/4 zip, ultra-soft and cozy.
• Long-sleeves – I packed two casual cotton long sleeves which I wore in the evenings with jeans, just walking around, and to dinner. I also packed two Lululemon long-sleeves for exploring/running. I did get out for morning runs a few times so used one for my runs and then one for my adventures/exploring/hiking.
• Plaid long sleeve shirt – Perfect to throw over a t-shirt or hoodie (also great for photos if its warm enough some days).
• T-shirts – I packed two t-shirts to have to wear under my plaid, or under a hoodie for a bit more warmth.
• Hoodie – I wore a hoodie on the plane (there and back) and would toss it on in the evenings when at the hotel. Can’t go wrong with a cozy cotton hoodie!

Bottoms:

• Leggings – two Lululemon align leggings, and one fleece lined long pair of leggings, from Eddie Bauer.
• Fleece lined pants – also Eddie Bauer. Polar Fleece-Lined Pull On Pants. Storm repellent, which sheds moisture. SO warm. These pants over top of a pair of leggings and you’ll be cozy in the cold.
• Windbreaker pants – I brought a pair of Eddie Bauer Guide Pro pants to wear over top of a pair of leggings. Perfect for hiking/day to day adventuring.
• Jeans – I brought two pairs with me to wear in the evenings.

Shoes:

• Hiking Boots – Eddie Bauer K-6 Hiking Boot is what I brought over with me. Make sure the hiking boots are water proof and warm, with good grip.
• Day to Day warm boots – Soft-Moc Fleece Lined Slip-Ons – To wear when not adventuring or hiking/around town. Easily to slip on and off and warm with the fleece. Anything waterproof and fleece lined/warm would be good. There are plenty of options out there, but the waterproof is necessary as it does get wet and chilly.
• Running Shoes – Waterproof
• Crampons for your hiking boots – The ice is no joke. Packing a pair of crampons was needed, as we wore them almost daily, t different locations throughout the day. You can rent them in Reyjkavik but if you have your own I advise you bring them!

Other items:

• Swimsuit – If planning to visit any hot springs or if your hotels have a hot tub/sauna.
• Underwear – Can never have too many I always say! Packed 10 for a week.
• Socks – I packed 5 pairs for a week. GOOD wool socks that breathe, and I packed a couple running socks.
• Toque/beanie – I brought a couple different ones – as we wore them every single day.
• Mitts/Gloves – I brought two good pairs, one thinner pair of gloves for our hikes and another pair of VERY warm mitts to wear day to day. I made sure my mittens were waterproof!
• Head Buff/ear warmers- I don’t go anywhere without one or two. Versatile Buffs.
• Ski goggles – This may seem silly, BUT we all wish we had a pair for the snowstorms/insanely windy days.
• Hiking poles – depending on how much hiking you plan to do. I didn’t bring mine because the hikes we were doing weren’t ‘crazy’ long or difficult, and I wasn’t planning to have a heavy pack on.
• Towel – A lighter one if you plan to do your own hot spring visits. Blue Lagoon provides them for you if thats the only one you plan to visit, though there are private hot springs all around the island you can visit too!
• Backpack – 30L is a good size. I always bring a backpack traveling, on the plane, for my camera gear, laptop etc. I used my backpack everyday for layers, snacks and water.
• Fannypack – for day to day. I never go anywhere without my fannypack these days.

Most hotels have a blow dryer, if this is something you need (you can check this in advance too – most hotels list this on their amenity list).

Camera gear:

• Full frame camera – Canon mirrorless RP. With extra lenses. Extra batteries and charger.
• GoPro – Extra batteries and necessary cords.
• Iphone – & charging cord.
• Power adapter – make sure you have the correct one for Iceland!

‘The power outlets used in Iceland are Type F. This type of outlet is recessed; meaning the faceplate of the outlet is deeper in the wall. Type F outlets and are round with two small holes that fit a Type F electrical plug (also known as a Schuko plug). The Type F plug fits into the outlet has two 4.8mm round pins spaced 19 mm apart. The Type F outlet and plug type are commonly used in Northern European countries. Type C plugs are also used in Iceland and are similar in appearance to Type F, although they are being switched out more and more for Type F.

Electricity in Iceland is 230 Volts with alternating electric currents of 50 cycles per second (50 Hertz).

If you are traveling from the United States or Canada it is important to note that the electrical outputs are half that of Iceland. For example, electrical devices from the United States are usually 120V and 60 Hz so be sure to check the voltage range on your devices. This information can usually be found labeled on the back or bottom of electronic devices.’ – Power Adapter

Day to Day Itinerary

February 17th – Day 1 – Arriving in Reyjkavik – Skuggi Hotel

630am – We all flew in first thing in the morning and got a shuttle to our hotel. TrovaTrip pre booked shuttles for the group, though this can easily be done online. We arrived at our hotel at 8am, which was well before check-in. If you plan to arrive at this time, and are coming from a ways away, with quite a bit of time change, I would advise you email about a potential early check- in to your hotel, OR even pay for a night before so you can check in and get cleaned up, organized, unpacked etc. Our group wasn’t able to check in until 3pm that day, and most coming from 7/8h hours time change, so we were walking zombies around town for 7 hours. Many hotels also serve a buffet breakfast which is convenient!

We loved Skuggi Hotel as it was right in the heart of downtown, and you could easily walk to all the shops and restaurants.

Morning – Walking tour of Reyjkavik. Some people booked ahead of time, though ended up paying more then we did when we booked in person, as we weren’t paying a third party. This was a 3 hour walk, about 5kms of easy terrain, in a small group with a great guide.

Lunch – at Kaffi Loki. Located across the street from the Hallgrimskirkja church in downtown Reyjkavik, where the tour started. A traditional Icelandic home style restaurant serving classic Icelandic cuisine.

We checked into our hotel at 3pm and freshened up before dinner. I suggest having a day in the city before you start touring around, and a full day after incase you’re wanting to grab any souvenirs and rest before flying home.

Dinner – Bastard Brew & Food – A 10 minute walk from our hotel.

February 18th – Day 2 – Golden Circle

6am – Solo morning run to explore Reykjavik. I like being able to move my legs a bit before a travel day starts, its also a great way to see new places.

9am – Left the hotel with all our luggage as we were moving to a new hotel for the night.

Thingvellir National Park – We started at Bingvellir, where we got to see the only place on Earth where tectonic places split apart (here at the pace of almost 2cm per year). This area of Iceland is made up of mountains, lakes and forests (which are no where near like the forests we have in Alberta). You can also find the ruins of historic buildings.

Our group hiked to a Pigvellir waterfall along the trail, which allowed us to stretch our legs a bit.

Geysir Visit – We walked around a geothermic area, and observed and photographed several water sprouts from Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland.

Lunch – at the local restaurant across the street from the geyser.

Gullfoss – This was our last stop of the day, where the milky Hvita river drops into a volcanic fissure, displaying Gullfoss, a very powerful waterfall! We spent time walking around it and taking in the views. In the Summer you can walk down closer to it, though in the Winter the trail is blocked off due to the snow and ice/danger below.

Transfer from the waterfall to Land Hotel – 1:15 minute drive. On the way we stopped to see some Icelandic horses, which you can see all over Iceland. Many people refer to them as Icelandic ponies but locals don’t love when you call them that. They are indeed ‘horses’. Fun fact: once a horse leaves Iceland it can’t ever come back!

Land Hotel – We LOVED this hotel. It is relatively new, opening a few weeks before COVID hit. The perfect place to watch the northern lights, if the sky is clear and the aurora is on high alert! They have a sauna, and are soon opening a gym. They have a great selection of food at the hotel restaurant too.

February 19th – Day 3 – Lava Fields

Our journey continued along the south coast of Iceland. Due to the weather our itinerary had to change a little bit. If you plan to travel Iceland in the Winter you have to come with an open mind and flexibility because plans can change at any time, due to road conditions and weather. I will write up our original plans here:

Breakfast – Complimentary at the Land Hotel.

Lakis Lava Field Sightseeing – The original plan was to do a short afternoon hike in Skaftafell National Park Area, but the weather didn’t allow us too. We instead stopped quickly and walked out onto the lava fields. I recommend hiking here if the weather calls for it and you have the time.

Skogafoss – We did have the opportunity to visit Skogafoss, even though it was crazy winds we were able to get out and see the falls and hike up to the top. I highly recommend crampons, if hiking here in the Winter time. The stairs are quite steep to the top, but it is great seeing it from both angles. The group were such troopers throughout this weather madness.

‘When visiting Skogafoss Iceland in Winter, you must be extremely careful. The combination of the water, snow, and cold coat the rocks at the base of Skogafoss Waterfall with dangerously slippery ice. It is still possible to walk on the ice to reach the base of the waterfall, but you must be aware and be super careful’. – Iceland Trippers

Checked into Hotel Skaftafell at around 5pm. Dinner at the hotel. I went for a little walk around the property with Miguel after dinner.

February 20th – Day 4 – Skaftafel Hotel

The weather was WILD during our time in Skaftafel, with winds up to 200+km/hr, and snow blowing for 2 days, so we ended up changing the itinerary around a little bit, and having to skip out on a couple hikes. We were supposed to hike Svartifoss and in  Hveradalur for a hot springs hike. Even though we had to pass up a couple hikes we made the best of the days!

Morning – I woke up and looked out the window only to see our van trailer flipped over. The wind was blowing so hard all night and we knew we probably were going to be stuck at the hotel all day. THIS ended up being the case.

Breakfast – Skaftafell Hotel

After breakfast I headed back to my room for a little full body workout.

As a group we all played some games like ‘Heads Up’ and ‘Fruit Bowl’. Drank a lot of coffee and ate snacks and had some great conversation in the lobby/gathering areas!Lunch – Skaftafell Hotel

Some of us decided to go outside and brave the elements for a little ‘yoga’ session (pictured below), and attempt hiking up a tiny hill. The winds were so strong that I was able to ‘sit’ on the wind. I am sure from the inside of the hotel, looking out some people in it thought we were CRAZY, but we didn’t mind, it was just nice to have some fresh air time and laugh A LOT. It is tough to even put this experience into words (my group can speak to this). Not everyone came for this part, but they all did join on a little hike before dinner.

Fagurhólsmýri Hiking trail – The best part of the Skaftafel hotel is their hiking trail right behind it that leads back to the glacier. It’s about a 15-20 min hike along a well-marked trail to where you can see the glaciers and small lagoon with the mountains in the background. With the wind speeds it took us quite a bit longer to reach the end of the trail. Again everyone in the group joined and together we made it to the top view point. People falling over from the wind speeds, and helping each other up. What memories!

February 21st – Day 5 – Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajokull National Park

7-8am – Breakfast at Skaftafel

9am – Meet in lobby to depart to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

‘Jökulsárlón literally means glacial river lagoon and that is what Jokulsarlo glacier lagoon is, a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. It developed into a lake when the surrounding glaciers started receding into the Atlantic Ocean. Huge blocks of ice break off the glacier and float on the lagoon’. – Iceland Trippers

We wandered around for a bit, took some photos and then 45 minutes later met up with our Ice Cave tour guides for an ice cave adventure! The Ice Cave visit was an optional add on, though everyone chose to partake. The guiding company was ‘Local Guide‘, which I highly recommend.

Lunch – At Glacial River Lagoon – there is a small shop that has sandwiches and hotdogs/drinks.

After visiting the ice caves we had to quickly hop over to ‘Diamond Beach‘, which is on the other side of the highway from the glacial river lagoon. The weather window was small, as a storm was rolling in so we maybe had 20 minutes to explore the beach. SO happy we were able to see it, even if it was for a short time. This was one of my favourite parts of Iceland, when I visited it 7 years ago.

We then headed to a new hotel ‘Foss Hotel‘. Checked in and then all had dinner together, and stayed up later playing cards and chatting. I love these trips and the conversation!

February 22nd – Day 6 – Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Vik

Morning workout – A few of us decided to get up early to get a workout in before breakfast.

Kirkjubaejarklaustur Waterfall – Our first stop of the day.

Fjardárgljúfur Canyon – a 2 km (1.24 mi) long canyon in the South-East Region of Iceland. The canyon is about 100 meters deep and through it runs a small freshwater stream. It’s known to be one of the most picturesque places in Iceland.

Fun fact, it is best known as the location of Justin Bieber’s video, “I’ll Show you.” Since the video was released, the visitation numbers to this canyon have increased by A LOT!

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – I was so excited to get back to this beach. A must stop. From the black sand itself to the rock pillars/formations it is extremely picturesque. Watch out for the tide, it likes to sneak up on you. I could have easily spent hours here hanging out.

Lunch – The town of Vik – Just down the road from Reynisfjara, is the little town of Vik. A great stop for lunch. We stopped at Smidjan Brugghus, a brew pub, after going up to Myrdal Church, an awesome lookout point above the town.

Seljalandsfoss – A waterfall along Iceland’s southern coast is fed by melting water from the famed glacier- capped Eyjafjallajokull volcano. This powerful waterfall cascades into a pretty meadow. However, the path that runs behind the curtain of water is the main attraction. There you can enjoy a truly unique viewpoint of the waterfall’.

In the Winter the path behind the waterfall is closed due to ice/snow and dangerous conditions.

Drive to Reykjavik – After our stops we then started our drive back to the capital, to check into the same hotel we stayed at the first night.

Farewell Dinner

February 23rd – Day 7 – Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon

Morning run – I love running when I travel, as I am able to see more of the areas in which I am visiting. Myself and two others from the group went for a little 6km in Reykjavik before getting ready for the last day at the Blue Lagoon.

Breakfast – Skuggi Hotel

Blue Lagoon – ‘When visiting Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is the perfect place to unwind after busy days sightseeing. Don’t risk the chance of tickets selling out, and instead, guarantee your spot by pre-booking an entry ticket. This flexible experience allows you to choose from Comfort or Premium packages, and add on transfers if required. Once you get the Blue Lagoon, spend hours relaxing in the mineral-rich geothermal water pools. Guarantee entry to the Blue Lagoon by pre-booking a ticket Spend time relaxing in geothermal outdoor pools Flexible experience—choose from Premium or Comfort entrance Entry includes a towel, drink, face mask and other perks with premium entry’ – www.viator.com

This was the perfect way to end the week trip to Iceland. A way to unwind and just to soak in all the memories and enjoy a few laughs, drinks, and face masks. I never had the chance to make it to the Blue Lagoon during my first trip to Iceland, so this was a treat.

There was a handful of us who decided to stay one more night, so a group got an air bnb together downtown and myself and a friend got a hotel not far from them. We wandered the city together, got hot dogs and reminisced about the week. The group got along so well, which always makes my heart happy! These trips are about connecting with like minded folks. So many come on group trips because they are unable to find others willing to travel with them, or just aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to planning trips, and then finding others who may feel the same.

If you have ANY questions about Iceland, or about group travel in general, feel free to comment on this blog post OR email me directly at b7.willson@gmail.com.

Happy travels!

Prepare yourself for a long blog post… so much to write about during my trip to Peru! From how it all came about, to the itinerary, the experiences, the memories, the accommodations and more.

To start let me tell you how this trip even came about…

Back in August of 2018 I got an email from Trova Trip (@trovatrip), a new group travel company asking me if would be interested in hosting an international trip. At first I didn’t think too much into it and was hesitant but then I said to myself ‘How cool would it be, getting a group of ‘strangers’ together, with similar passions for adventure, somewhere around the world.’ So I emailed back asking for more information and details as to how exactly it would roll out and what my options were for destinations, timelines etc. What would my role be and expectations on the trip.

They had said that they would like to do a poll with my audience saying ‘If I were to host a trip somewhere internationally, would you be interested in joining!?’ So I did that and the responses were quite high, so after that we decided on two destinations that my audience may be interested in going to, we ended up deciding Peru and Costa Rica, so I did another poll asking ‘If I were to host a trip, where would you want to go, Peru or Costa Rica?’ Majority responded back saying Peru, sooo….. we chose some dates that would work for me and chose some dates (July 15-22nd, 2019). Once the itinerary was lined up, I threw up the sign up page and eventually had deposits rolling in.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about hosting a trip, I wasn’t sure if anyone would actually sign up, spending money to come travel with me, with other random strangers etc. but I ended up getting 20 sign ups (which is the max). By the time the trip came around there were 14 people who came. Due to the sign ups being months before the actual trip took off, some people had things come up/changes personally, with work, etc. where they had to opt out, though that is life, it can be hard to plan months in advance!

Of the 14 people who came, 2 were from Canada (Calgary and a friend from Red Deer who is also a teacher), and the rest from the U.S. There were two trip managers with me as well, Hope and Belen. Usually there is only one with @trovatrip, though it was Belen’s first trip so Hope came along to guide her and for support. We also had a local tour guide, Yuri, who spent the 8 days with us, touring us around Peru.

From Left to Right: Tara, myself, Jill & Julie

I had been to Peru about 4 years prior, with another group travel company, I acted as their social media promoter and photographer. This was with a group of 20, and I found it to be a ton of fun. The bonds made and experiences shared are ones to remember. Though the timelines were way different. My first time in Peru I spent 20 days with the group, with TrovaTrip it was only 8 days, which I feel is more then enough time to see a lot of great things, our itinerary was FULL to say the least, and tiring, but well worth it.

Peru is FULL of colour, culture, food, history and endless adventure. I truly believe it is a destination that suits all passions and ages. Whether you are into hiking everyday, or hanging out in colourful markets, or touring temples, museums and studying the history of Peru, you can stay very busy. Our itinerary was a mix of it all. The group trip didnt start till July 15th, but myself and Dessee left on July 9th in the evening, and had a few days to travel around and see some other things before meeting up with the group.

There following is our itinerary broken down day by day:

July 10th: 

Dessee and I at YYC International Aiport

Our flights down to Peru involved over 24 hours of travel. We got to the airport at 1030pm July 9th, flights were out at midnight, and then we didn’t arrive in Lima Peru until around 1130pm on July 10th. We had layovers in Toronto and Mexico City, and then we flew to Lima. We booked a hostel in Mira Flores, a downtown district in Lima, which is a popular place for tourists to stay, as it is close to most things (the ocean, hostels, restaurants, shopping, sight seeing etc.) We arranged for someone from our hostel to meet us at the airport, to avoid any hassle of trying to figure out transportation to the airport/our hostel. We finally got to our hostel around 1am and crashed quickly! We booked with Inka Life Hostel, which was about a ten minute walk to the ocean and close to so many things.

The hostel was $90 USD for two nights for two of us.

July 11th:

We woke at around 8am , got changed and didn’t want to waste anytime. We were only giving ourselves 24 hours in Lima, to explore, get organized and figure out our bussing over the next couple days. I didn’t plan anything in stone for us in advance cause I know how easy it is to book things once you get to your destination – and if you are anything like me its WAY easier to talk to people in person and book then try to do it online or over the phone.

We went straight to a local historic sight (Huaca Pucllana), that’s popular for tourists in the area, about a 10 minute walk from our hostel. They are ancient ruins in the middle of modern high rises.  We did a one hour tour from 11-12 and then headed down to the shoreline to find a place to each lunch. Last time I was in Peru I remembered going here and really wanted to visit again, so I led Dessee, myself and two friends we made at the tour down to this on the ocean restaurant for Ceviche and Pisco Sours (Peru’s local drink)

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The colours are so vibrant!

Our walk down to the ocean, Lima.

Below is the restaurant we had lunch at (La Rosa Nautica) – which I highly suggest visiting if you have the chance, along with photos of the ceviche, which is a South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood, typically garnished and served as an appetizer (but I think I ate it daily for lunch or dinner as well). I LOVE it, but it can be an acquired taste.

After we decided to head to Peru Hop – a bus tour company to book our bus to get to Huacachina, which is located five hours south of Lima. The desert oasis is home to an extraordinary adventure tour of dune buggying and sand-boarding. I really wanted Dessee to get to experience this! We endedup booking a ‘Get to Cusco Quick’ bus tour, which was going to end up dropping us in Cusco, with stops to Paracas along the way (around 2 hours South of Lima, and then 3 more to Huacachina). The bus is a hop on hop off type deal and there are a variety of options you can opt in on depending on what route or how many days you are wanting to stay in Peru. I do highly suggest them as a company to book through, for the convenience (even though it in not necessarily cheap). The bus picks you up from your hostel and drops you off at your hostel in the next destination (or a bus stop and has a taxi arranged to drive you the rest – if certain places have roads to narrow for a bus to get through).

We ended up meeting up with Paige and Brittany – who were both booked in on the group tour, but also decided to fly in a couple days earlier to visit Lima and Huacachina as well. We met them for a later lunch down by the water, at ‘Mango’s’, another little restaurant I advise poppin’ into if you have the time.

After dinner we headed right back to our hotel and were in bed by 830 as we knew we had an early morning, our bus was picking us up at 6am, we were the first – and had to be waiting by 530am in the hostel lobby.

July 12th:

We didn’t end up leaving Lima till 7am by the time we picked everyone up and got on the highway. We arrived in Paracas (Southern Peru – a beach town) at around 9am and had a boat tour booked to tour Ballestas Island. The town is becoming more and more popular with travellers heading South of Lima, and a great little pit stop. You can book your tour through Peru Hop or on your own once you get to Paracas, depending on what you do for transport. They also do day trips from Lima if you plan to go back to Lima after.

Once we were done the boat tour we had lunch in Paracas and then were on our way to Huacachina.

Paracas

We arrived in the afternoon and got settled in at our accomodation. I had booked La Casa de Bamboo weeks prior to ensure we had a place to stay as there are a limited amount of accommodations. Though once we started to talk to other people we realized how easy it was to just book your accommodations even a day or two before. If we were to rebook I would have chosen to stay at Banana’s Adventure Hostel, which was just across the street from Bamboo. Banana’s is a cute little hostel with a pool and many food options on site and also very affordable. Bamboo was also very affordable at only $30USD for a double occupancy room.

Once we were checked into Bamboo we got changed and made our way to the dunebuggy/sandboaring tour which started at 5pm – it was a sunset tour meaning we would watch sunset from out in the sand dunes.

After the dunebuggying, we went for dinner, the hostel had their own little restaurant and we ate there out of convenience, though there are multiple options all within walking distance around Huacachina. We went to bed around 9pm and then were up early the next day.

July 13th: 

We decided to do a little hike up the sand dunes the next morning, when it was a bit cooler. We headed up around 8am and took in the oasis from an aerial view, it only took about 45 minutes to hike up to the top of the dunes from our hostel (pictured below).

Huacachina

We hiked back down and walked around the town for a while – and were stopped by a school group. The group was practicing their English and asked if we would help the students out and ask them some questions – they had to ask us and respond in English. As a teacher I found this so awesome, as the students were out chatting and interacting with the tourists in the area.

Huacachina

We left the town at around 3pm that afternoon – on the Peru Hop bus that was going to take us to Cusco, we were going to be doing a night bus. From Huacahina to Cusco it is 17 hours direct, though with Peru Hop it ended up taking us almost 27 hours to get there, with the stops and the ‘detour’ to drop other people off in a different town.

We stopped at the Nasca Lines – which are about 200miles Southeast of Lima – we stopped here in the evening and they allowed us a few minutes to get up high on top of a tower to view them. In total, there are over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 animal and plant designs, also called biomorphs. Some of the straight lines run up to 30 miles, while the biomorphs range from 50 to 1,200 feet in length (as large as the Empire State Building).

Nazca Lines

Peru Hop would stop at various places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So after the Nazca lines we stopped for dinner before continuing to Cusco.

July 14th:

We spent the entire day on the Peru Hop bus again! So not much to say other then that it was a very very very long day. Many people opt to fly from Lima to Cusco to avoid the bussing. The persons who choose to bus also break it up into a number of days and make more stops in between. Some people stay over night in Paracas, then in Huacachina they spent more then one night, then often will stop in Arequipa, a place we decided to skip due to being limited on time and the group tour starting on July 15h.

I would highly suggest stopping in Arequipa and visiting Colca Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world, second to the Grand Canyon. Last time I was in Peru we spent time hiking in the canyon and stayed overnight at the bottom of it which was such a neat experience.

Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon

We did not get to Cusco until around 630pm – and checked into our hostels and then I went and met up with Belen and Hope, from Trova Trip to chat about what the next 8 days were going to look like. It was nice to finally meet them after months of anticipation waiting for the trip to start. We were in bed by around 930!

July 15th:

I woke up early and took a little morning stroll through some of the streets of Cusco, grabbed a coffee and then met Belen and Hope in the lobby of the hostel at around 10am, as we were going to pick up a few of the group members from the airport, where we were going to begin our journey!

Kathryn, Reimon, Kaitlyn and Kayla were all being picked up, then we headed towards Pisac, a town where we were going to be spending our first night together as a group!

There were some other group members that had already been in Peru for a while, traveling around and had already had the opportunity to meet one another. A couple had been in Cusco days before and were planning to make their way to Pisac on their own, so we ended up meeting them a little bit later in Pisac, so the 5 of us explored a bit on our own then joined up with them.

After we got checked into our hotel (which was my favourite accommodation of the entire trip) we headed out to explore the town a bit, scoped out some of the markets and potential coffee shops (always scouting those out) and some restaurants. There was a celebration going on in Peru – so the streets were filled with colour, dancers, music etc. They were celebrating Virgin Carmen, this continued to other towns we ended up passing through and staying at during our time in Peru as well.

When we got back to our hotel around 4pm, we met up with some of the other group, and the final few made their way to the hotel from the airport (Britt and Paige who had flown from Lima to Cusco – instead of bussing).

It was SO nice to have the entire group together, and meeting face to face for the first time though it was weird, it also felt like we had known each other for a while already. I had created an instagram group chat as members joined the group so people had been chatting prior to leaving, and also some had the opportunity to travel a couple days together before.

We had dinner all together in the evening, making sure to do some introductions, got rid of some of the initial nerves and gave the group opportunity to ask questions and get to hear a bit more of what the week was going to look like together.

Due to the long travel day for some we went to bed at a decent time, in order to get some good sleep and prepare ourselves for our first full day together!

July 16th:

Born To let Go: Quebec Trip

I received a message from Bella during the early Summer asking me if I would be interested in joining in on a trip to Quebec with herself and 4 other women, to explore a few regions within Quebec (through @tourismequebec). I immediately jumped on the opportunity, as I had never spent much time in the province, other then when visiting Montreal and Quebec City years ago. The trip was set for August 26-31st which was perfect timing, right before the school year started up and once things kind of slowed down for me during the Summer. I have spent a lot of time traveling internationally, though little time exploring other provinces, especially when it comes to the East coast of Canada.

The other 4 women on the trip were Bella (@bellabucchiotti) from Vancouver, Krystle (@dineandfash) from Toronto, Isabelle (@allons.y) from Toronto, and Julia (@juliathompson) also from Vancouver. Braedin @braedin came as the photographer on the trip, helping us with content (photos and videos) along the way, he is also from Vancouver!

From left to right: Bella, myself, Krystle, Julia and Isabelle

August 26th:

We all flew into Montreal on August 26th, in the later afternoon and once we all arrived we made our way to our first region, The Laurentians, where we stayed at Camping du Domaine Lausanne (@campinglausanne), the ECO-CHIC Outdoor Centre they say is characterized by its mountains, it felt as though we were completely immersed in nature.  We stayed in a floating cabin, which was the neatest thing, as I had never had the experience to do so before.

August 27th: 

The next morning we woke up early so we could catch sunrise on the water – which was around 6am. The fog that ended up rolling in on the lake made for such a neat mood and for some great morning shots. We ended up walking down to a dock further down the lake and had some coffee and breakfast before getting picked up for 8am.

Our drive was only an hour, to Mont Tremblant National Park (@parcmonttremblant), where we were going to be doing some hiking. We dropped in at the visitor centre where we met up with our guide. We learned that within the park there are 40 mammal species, 6 rivers and more then 400 lakes and streams, which makes for a canoer’s dream! When we were hiking, we were able to spot some canoer’s down below enjoying the water. I was a little jealous and hope to be able to return one day to spend more time within the park, and get out on the water as well.

The hike we did was titled ‘La Corniche’, one of the most popular in the area and for a very good reason. It is only 3.2km round trip, can be done year round and offers wonderful views of the lake down below.

La Corniche hike

After the hike we headed to lunch, at The Resto Pub, a restaurant at Hotel Mont Tremblant (@hotelmonttremblant) , which is within the heart of Mont Tremblant Village. We hung out in the sun and enjoyed a little break before we headed off again to go scootering. The scootering was self guided, though we did a little ‘intro session’ to begin before they let us go off on our own. This was done with the company Geo Explora (@geoexplora). It was another different experience, where we were given i-pads that directed us on the road, and once we arrived at certain locations we had trivia questions to answer. These trivia questions had us learning about the history of the area, all while exploring the back country roads.

Geo Explora 

After the scootering we had only a one hour drive to our next accommodation, in the upper Laurentians, a place which I was very excited about staying at. Les Toits du Monde is the name of the location, offering a variety of ‘accommodations’ such as a tipi, tree houses, a Mongolian yourte, and a hobbit house. Braedin stayed in a tipi, while the rest of us stayed in the yourte, though even though we all slept there we were able to get out and explore/see some of the other cute accommodations. The enchanted setting is perfect for couples traveling, families, or just any adventurous person wanting something a little different then your usual hotel or cabin. The owners of the property were SO welcoming and had everything prepared for us when we arrived. You have to park your vehicle in a main parking lot and they provide you with little ‘wagons’ where you load your stuff in and then ‘hike’ to your accommodation, which are all different lengths of time away. It took about ten minutes to get to our yurt where we were able to get settled in.

Mongolian Yourte

Below are photos of the other accommodations on site. Their newest treehouse was finished just recently (which we visited the first evening right after we arrived), whereas their older cabin they have had for almost 8 years (we visited the next morning)! They have built the accommodations themselves and are very proud of their enchanted forest, which they have created for people to come and enjoy from all over.

The second treehouse they built on site

After stopping in at the newer treehouse we headed for a little sunset hike (Rocher Capitaine), which the owner took us on. The hike started just across from the property. We enjoyed a beautiful view of the lake, and had some wine and snacks which he carried up for us. His pup Yuka also joined in on the fun, their husky who lives on site as well (photos by @braedin).

Once we got back down from the hike we enjoyed a nice dinner, which the owner had prepared for us, a cheese fondue, salad and home made bread! The yourte did not have running water, which means yes no running water for showers or washing dinners. We had to boil water to wash dishes, and they also provide you with a kettle, so can boil water if you are wanting to shower/rinse off – there is a shower ‘bag’ and area you can do so if you please, though we did opt out of that. Some of the other accommodations on site have running water, just the yurt did not. After dinner we enjoyed a fire, and yessss we made smores!

August 28th: 

Again we woke up early (a usual thing everyday on the trip). It was a cozy night in the yurt, as we fell asleep to the sound of rain. It was raining in the morning as well, but was kind of nice, as we were pretty covered in the forest. We decided to make our way over to the other accommodations, the tree house, and the hobbit house (both pictured below).

Hobbit House

The first treehouse they built on site

At 10am we departed to our next region, Abitibi-Temiscamingue (@tourismeat). This was a long driving day. We drove for approximately 2.5 hours before stopping for lunch, then after we continued another 2.5 hours on the road before arriving to our next stop, Refuge Pageau (@refuge_Pageau), a place that has an incredible relationship with animals, they take in lost or injured wildlife, and are rehabilitated and then returned once they are safe to do so, or are provided long term shelter. The diversity of wildlife within the refuge is incredible, from bald eagles, to owls, foxes, wolves, bears, porcupines, squirrels racoons and more. Photo’s by @braedin.

Once we were done at the shelter we continued onto Rouyn-Noranda, a town where we stayed for the night. We slept at the Quality Inn, rested up, showered and enjoyed a complimentary breakfast before another long driving morning. When I got to the hotel that evening I decided I was in much need of a work out so I hit up the hotel gym, to get ‘back on track’, sometimes a person just needs a little sweat session, a good shower and a comfy bed to feel like a million bucks again!

August 29th: 

After breakfast at the hotel we headed for Opemican National Park. This was another very long driving morning, but well worth it. We stopped for lunch in Ville-Marie, where we enjoyed a nice meal at Chez Eugene. I would be lying if I said I loved long drives… as beautiful as the scenery is and the endless lakes and lush forests throughout the regions as we drove, I get motion sickness quite easily so was poppin’ the gravol to keep my head on straight.

After lunch we continued another few hours and arrived at Opemican National Park (@parcnationalopemican) . We checked into our accommodations for the night, which were brand new ‘Ready-To-Camp’ Etoile, cabins on Kipawa Lake. When we got there we went and asked about renting paddleboards, canoes, bikes etc. which are all available for anyone staying in the area. We checked into the cabins, got settled then headed back to the visitor centre to grab paddleboards, and headed out for a bit on the water. We also got bikes, to ‘bum’ around on from the cabin, to the water, to the visitor centre etc. everything is within walking distance of each other, though having a bike sure makes it that much easier.

After we had dinner we headed back down to the water for a little paddle in the canoes. We weren’t too sure of the weather we were going to have, but decided to hope for the best and enjoy whatever it is that we were given. It drizzled a bit, though there ended up being a beautiful rainbow of which we got to enjoy. After we headed back to our cabins, and started a fire which we hung out by for a while, though again we had another early morning next day so I headed to bed at a decent hour. Sunrise was waiting for us again!

August 30th:

We woke up at 545 to check whether or not the sky was clear to shoot sunrise, though it wasn’t… but we were up anyways. The bus was also picking us up at 7am, so we rose, cleaned up around the cabin, had breakfast and I headed down to the water on the bike to take in some of the morning light. We got on the bus at 715 and prepared ourselves for another long drive. 5 hours to our next stop!

We were off to our third and final region of the trip – Outaouais (@outaouais) . At 12:30pm we arrived in Chelsea, where we popped in at the visitor centre. We met up with Christine, a tourism employee who was going to show us around this region. She took us over to lunch across the street at a little restaurant called Biscotti & Cie (@biscottichelsea). The meal was DELICIOUS! Nothing like a good iced chai latte, charcuterie and a tofu kale salad to perk a person up during a long drive. Oh and there desserts are to die for – there selection in store was endless!

After lunch we headed for Pink Lake, which was in Gatineau Park. The hike was only 2.5km but was the perfect little after lunch ‘leg stretch’.

After the hike we headed for our final accomodation, Fairmont Montebello (@fairmontmontebello), which was a one hour drive.

This was the PERFECT place to end the week, after ‘glamping’ and bussing, and late nights and early mornings, spending a evening and morning relaxing at Fairmont Montebello was exactly what we needed. Since I am often so busy during the days when I am exploring or in the mountains I rarely stay in hotels or even cabins, where instead I am often sleeping in a tent, in my SUV or a cost friendly accommodation. So this was a nice treat. The Fairmont is conveniently located between Ottawa and Montreal, which makes it a nice pit stop for those traveling in between the two. It is the largest log castle in the world, making it even more special to stay at. I could have spent hours just hanging out in the lobby (pictured below). It is known for its rustic, yet luxurious accommodations, and it excellent service.

When we arrived we got checked in, and enjoyed a drink and snack on the patio, before we had some free time before dinner. I chose to go for a run, which helped as we have had some longer travel days. There are some great trails throughout the property, a 3 and a 5km loop. I did the 5km loop, came back showered up and got ready for dinner.

The dinner was AMAZING, I was blown away and surely went to bed with a full stomach. It was a BBQ out on the terrace – with a lake view. They had ALL the options.

August 31st:

We woke up early yet again, around 530 in order to get down and meet in the lobby for 550, we had a little coffee (as always) and then headed outside to find a spot to catch sunrise on the water. It was the perfect way to start the day! After some of the group went for breakfast, while I chose to get another run in, an 8km around the property – circling the 5km loop and then adding on the 3km loop. After I got showered up and headed down to the buffet breakfast for some food. They had it all – name any breakfast food and it was there.

We left the Fairmont at around 9am, in order to get to Omega Park (@parcomega ) for 930am. It is a place to discover Canada’s wildlife in their natural habitat. Animals such as moose, elk, bison, wolves, bears etc. The park offers several activities for all ages such as animations, picnic areas, hiking trails, everyday of the year. You can drive your vehicle right into the park, and observe from the comfort of your own seat, or choose to get different types of transport such as ‘caged’ trucks (where you are in a metal cage and driving amongst the animals), or a safari bus (which we took). As you enter the park several deer and elk will greet you, where you are able to feed them carrots, which can be purchased from the Park House. The drive is 15km by car throughout the park and takes about 1.5 hours, to ensure your safety though they ask you remain in the car at all times, besides one point where you are able to get out and feed the deer (this was my favourite part).

At the end of the tour they took us to visit their new ‘Wolf cabins’ they have on site – where you can rent your own cabin and sleep behind a giant glass window where wolves are roaming. If you are a wolf lover like me you could be all over this, though others may be right freaked out! They currently only have two cabins ready to go, though are building 4 more due to increased interest in the experience.

Once we were done at the cabins we headed for the airport where we said our goodbyes and parted ways. What an experience it was to get to travel through three regions of Quebec – @tourismelaurentides , @tourismeat and @outaouais , with all of these ladies! Like I said at the beginning, I have traveled a lot, and more so internationally, having left my own country on the back burner a bit too much. I am already dreaming of returning to Quebec and exploring even more so. The endless lakes, lush forests, and adventure experiences is endless.

Thanks again to Braedin (@braedin) for helping us capture all the beauty through your photos and video on the trip.

If you have any questions at all regarding our itinerary, where we stayed, what we did, feel free to reach out!

Thanks for reading,

Brooke

@brookewillson