Banff Women's Retreat // June 19-25, 2024
Banff Women's Retreat // June 19-25, 2024
Join us in Banff & Jasper National Park in June 2024 with Taylor from Wandering Michigander!
We are so excited to host this incredible retreat in support of survivors of human trafficking. By you joining us for this week-long excursion, this trip (if filled) will pay for an entire weekend getaway for survivors of human trafficking from a safe house to join us for a retreat focused on whole-body health and wellness. We will summit a mountain with them as the physical representation of the emotional and spiritual “mountains” women have been climbing over the course of their programming.
During our time together with safe house residents, we also focus on art therapy, nutrition education, trauma-informed massage, and other coping mechanisms, teaching the fun side of healing alongside a supportive community of women.
Thank you for giving back with your travel - we are so honored you’d choose to adventure with us in Banff National Park, truly one of our favorite places on earth.
We’ve been to the Banff/Canmore area 5 times now, and fall deeper in love with the scenery with every trip. We know the best restaurants. We’ve scoped the best hiking spots. The best views. The best accommodations. We can’t wait to share this area with you.
Please note that because we have women joining us from across the country, flights are NOT included.
This trip is all-inclusive. All accommodations, transportation to/from the airport and to every excursion, guided hikes, canoeing, gondola rides, and meals are included. The only thing you should bring extra spending money for are any souvenirs you buy, and any alcohol you purchase while on this excursion with us.
Sample Itinerary:
*Please keep in mind that weather in the Bow Valley can be unpredictable and exact days may shift for each activity.
June 19: Welcome dinner in Canmore
June 20: Banff Gondola first thing in the morning, summit Tunnel Mountain to see some incredible views of Mount Rundle in the afternoon. We’ll eat in Banff for dinner with some time to shop and explore.
June 21: Wake up early and head to Johnston Canyon, where we’ll hike to the lower and upper falls. We’ll continue on to see the Ink Pots, as well, and enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the most beautiful hikes in Banff. We’ll take a shuttle this afternoon to Moraine Lake and have time for an optional canoe trip on the beautiful blue. Dinner in Banff.
June 22: Today, we’ll drive to Jasper National Park to hopefully catch a glimpse of some wildlife, and hike to Peyto Lake in the morning. We’ll head back to Canmore for lunch together, and give you time to explore the quaint town in which we’ll be staying. Wildlife water rafting trip down the Bow River at 6pm.
June 23: We’re heading to Banff’s most infamous lake today: Lake Louise. We’ll also hike up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, where tea blends have been crafted from plants found in the Canadian Rockies, and delicious pastries and sandwich ingredients have been hiked in fresh. Dinner altogether in Canmore.
June 24: Brunch at one of our favorite spots in Canmore will kick off our last full day together. To recover from all our hiking, today we’re heading to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa for some hydrotherapy in hot springs. We’ll drive to Banff for any last minute shopping later in the day, and enjoy a goodbye dinner together at a distillery we absolutely love.
June 25: Everyone Flies home!
By the end of this trip, you will have:
Hiked to Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots
Been on the infamous Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
Summited Tunnel Mountain
Canoed down the Bow River
Experienced the beauty of downtown Banff & Canmore, Alberta
Hiked to a tea house nestled deep in the Canadian Rockies
Seen Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - the two most famous lakes in Banff National Park
Hiked to Peyto lake in Jasper National Park
Eaten at some of the best restaurants in the Bow Valley
Stayed at a 4-star hotel with a hot tub that has incredible views of the Three Sisters mountain range
Met some incredible women who are passionate about supporting survivors of human trafficking, hiking together and creating lifelong friendships
And, $1,000 of your trip cost allowed you to provide an entire scholarship for one woman to join us on a retreat. You’re welcome to write her an encouraging, personal letter, and we’ll send you a little gift from our retreat with her safe house letting you know how it went, with photos to tell the story.
We’ve got two options for this trip.
A room all by yourself. Queen bed, incredible views, your own bathroom.
You share with a friend. Two queen beds, same incredible views, shared bathroom.
You’ll be able to select your choice at check out. If you have a friend you want to share a room with, be sure to put her name in the space provided at checkout when the form prompts you to do so.
PAYMENT PLANS:
For the single occupancy, the total trip cost is $4,450. We’ve broken payments down to 5 payments total over the next year, each being $890.
For the double occupancy, the total trip cost is $3,950. We’ve broken payments down to 5 payments total over the next year, each being $790.
Schedule Example:
Deposit: $890
October, 2023: $890
January, 2024: $890
April, 2024: $890
June 1, 2024: $890
If you have any questions about this trip, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@freedomadventures.org. We’re happy to support in any way we can!
Please note, that the deposit is refundable up to four months from our departure date. Because we put down hotel deposits four months out, and pay for excursions ahead of time, there are parts of this trip that we can not refund back to you after they’ve been paid for. Thank you for understanding!
We’ll provide a packing list as we get closer, as well as a fundraising template if you want other people to rally around our cause and help you raise $1,000 of your trip cost. You’ll be hiking approximately 23 miles during our time together, so feel free to ask for support as if you would for a marathon or 5k! We will provide you with more information on how to do this, as well.