Visitors driving from Calgary, Alberta, to Banff National Park have been known to get sidetracked along the way. Located about a 45-minute drive west of Calgary, en route to Banff, is Kananaskis Heli Tours, a worthy diversion in the Canadian Rockies.
Adventurous travelers are rewarded with a number of helicopter excursions that are anything but ordinary, ranging from a 30-minute flight that circles the summit of Mount Sparrowhawk and Mount Allen (the site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games downhill skiing event) to a heli-snowshoeing adventure along Broken Leg Lake, complete with a half-bottle of sparkling wine.
The tour operator recently introduced a Heli Dog-Sledding adventure, which has proven to be a hit among clients. From $299 per person, the half-day package includes a 12-minute flight over the Rockies, a 90-minute sledding excursion along Bow River and a hot lunch. Another new package, which debuted in the summer of 2011, includes a 12-minute helicopter ride to the Rafter Six Ranch in Kananaskis Country, a two-hour horseback ride led by a wrangler and lunch. From $299 per person, the Heli-Horseback tour operates from May to September, depending on weather conditions.
“We have something for everyone,” said Joseph Macdonald, senior vice president of Kananaskis Heli Tours. “We launched a six-minute Introductory Tour geared toward families with young children for $69 per person, and we even offer a Heli-Yoga adventure.”
Have a client looking for a romantic way to pop the question? Kananaskis has a package for that, too. Along with its joint facility, Icefield Heli Tours, the tour operator facilitates 30 to 40 marriage proposals per year. So far, she’s said “yes” every time.
The Details
Kananaskis Heli Tours877-591-0222
www.kheli.com
