Canmore Caving Explorer Tour
5
Canmore Caving Explorer Tour
By Canmore Cave Tours
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About
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 10-90, max of 8 per group
Duration: 4h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- All activities
- Expert guide
- All caving equipment
- Entry/Admission - Canmore Cave Tours
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off (can be arranged via taxi with advance notice)
- Transportation to/from attractions (transportation can be arranged via taxi with advance notice)
- Start:
- 129 Bow Meadows Crescent, Canmore, AB T1W 2W8, Canada
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 25102P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Minimum numbers apply (minimum 2). There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Caving is a moderately strenuous activity. Guests should be prepared to hike uphill for 30-40 minutes on a mountain trail, in addition to climbing, crawling, squeezing, and sliding through the cave. All participants must wear a helmet as well as a safety harness which has a maximum waist size of 46" (116 cm) and a maximum leg size of 33" (84 cm)
- Not recommended for pregnant women beyond their first trimester
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers
- If you cancel at least 3 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
- If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 25102P1
From
£86.91
per adult
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Itinerary
- 129 Bow Meadows Crescent, Canmore, AB T1W 2W8, Canada
- 1Visit Rat's Nest Cave, one of the longest caves in Canada!
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- richardsH7361XE0 contributionsAmazing Day in the Caves!We did the 6 hour adventure tour. It was amazing! We repelled down over 60 feet in a vertical shaft, went though various squeezes (one called the "washing machine", and it felt like it) and viewed large underground pools. While it was somewhat physical, but I managed fairly well considering that I was 76 years old. I was super impressed with the guides, their safety protocols and the quality of their ropes and rigging. We were provided heavy coveralls, harness, helmets and gloves. They gave us very good instructions on how to tie-on and transfer the two safety clips. All and all, it was a great day out. Well worth the cost.Written 11 December 2024
- giesbrechtclaudia0 contributionsHighly recommended!We did the Adventure Cave Tour with John as our guide and had a blast. None of our group had ever done any caving before, and this tour was a fantastic intro to the sport. John did a great job of providing humorous commentary and interesting facts about the land, nature, and the geology and history of the cave. The cave was about 5°, so I had double pants and a warm fleece sweater and a neck warmer inside and was comfortable for the duration. For the hike up, dress for the weather - it was -10° out for us, so I was dressed warm, but there was a tent to leave thick outer jackets and anything else before entering the cave. Good footwear is going to make a difference in the cave as there are slippery and wet areas. Take your time and watch your footing. Above all, go in with an open attitude - you might be out of your comfort zone, but it's so worth it! I would definitely recommend booking with Canmore Cave Tours!Written 23 November 2024
- catherinerU8113LQ0 contributionsMemorable experience thanks to Brent!My boyfriend and I had the adventurer tour with Brent and it was a fantastic experience. His demeanour, knowledge, and personality made the whole experience memorable. He gave us the confidence to feel at ease and sparked some curiosity for a new found activity. We want to thank Brent for the tour, and encourage anyone thinking about caving with Canmore Cave Tours to take the leap and do it!Written 15 November 2024
- thianh0 contributionsFun cave adventureA friend organized this cave tour and I was a little unsure of how it go. Surprising fun and educational adventure. Mainly due to the professional guides and high safety standards. I felt safe in this strange environment and enjoy the adventure. I would recommend to anyone wondering about trying this activity.Written 4 November 2024
- X6214IXjenniferl0 contributionsMost incredible experienceWhat can I say other than “WOW!”? Reflecting back on our experience with friends, we realized just how unique and incredible this adventure truly was. We enjoyed every single moment. Huge shout-out to Brent: thank you for treating us like adults who can make our own choices, without trying to instill fear or hesitation. In many tours, choices are often “suggested” based on perceived ability, but you allowed us to embrace each challenge as it came. The whole experience was educational, fun, and lighthearted—truly unforgettable. I can’t recommend this experience enough. I discovered so much about my own limits, all thanks to the supportive, carefree atmosphere you created for our group. The knowledge you shared was invaluable, and your demeanor was perfect. I felt challenged in a way that pushed me to grow without ever feeling afraid. This speaks volumes about the quality of the tour and the guidance you provided. Thank you for an experience we’ll never forget—one we’ll be talking about for years to come!Written 3 November 2024
- kjgreen6120 contributionsFirst Time CaversThe wife and I are adventurous and booked this experience as we had never been caving, other than the usual guided path tours. It was an amazing experience! The hike up the mountain to the cave was an indicator that this was not your typical cave tour. After a brief rest we were ready to gear up and start our caving adventure. Our guide Brent was wonderful and patient with our group. He was thorough in his directions and detailing what to expect next. The trip through Rats Nest cave was filled with many interesting things to see as well as the opportunity to crawl on your back and belly through small openings. The rappel down a sixty feet vertical descent was exciting. Brent again was patient and thorough with his guidance to ensure everyone was confident and able to perform this safely. It was an overall fantastic experience that we heartily recommend to anyone willing to take on the adventure. I will admit it was a strenuous undertaking as I was exhausted after making it back to the cave entrance. Would we do it again? H*** yeah!Written 28 October 2024
- SurfyB0 contributionsOverall a good experience.Looking for an activity to do with my wife during our visit in the Rockies, we decided to go caving and did the adventure tour. We were a group of 8 people, which is the maximum. We enjoyed the tour and the guide was very professional and calm. However, we spent a lot of time waiting and got pretty cold as we were often not very active. The cave system has a lot of tight passages and the activity requires a lot of crawling. If you don’t feel well in tight spaces, this activity is not for you.Written 26 October 2024
- Q9511XKjoeyw0 contributionsA fun and unique experience not to be missed!A fun and unique experience not to be missed! Our guide, John, was patient, knowledgeable, and encouraged us to push past our comfort zones in a safe and empowering way. We learned so much about the history of the area and the cave and had a blast while doing so!Written 16 September 2024
- R328UEjennifere0 contributionsExplore TourMy partner and I went on the 6 hour Explore Tour for our anniversary and it was AMAZING! Our tour guide was super friendly, shot jokes the whole time, and shared great facts as we went through the cave. The guide also let us choose some paths, challenged our senses, and allowed us to test or psyche. If you are considering going, I would recommend the 6 hour tour. We got to explore more paths and it was not as tiring as you might think. Yes, coming out in the end it was nice to see the sun and rest, however, we never felt like we couldn't finish the tour in high spirits. Great adventure!Written 10 September 2024
- conroyb20180 contributionsA fun, unique experienceThe tour was fantastic. There was a diversity of features and our guide was amazing. It was also fun to get a taste of caving.Written 4 September 2024
- 240jasmins0 contributionsWould Do It AgainThis tour was incredibly fun. It was the first time we’d done anything like that, and I felt like we had endless questions that were answered so knowledgeably and easily. Our guide was amazing, she made the whole experience even better.Written 3 September 2024
- azadventurer20170 contributionsIncredible experience!As real as it gets! It is a tour but is basically wild caving in tour form. Tiffany was a excellent guide, and we had a blast. Highly recommended, much better value for the money than most other paid activities!Written 31 August 2024
- 296aiyanag0 contributionsWould recommend to adventurers and those looking to uncover a whole new world.This was an amazing experience. Not only was it an adventure, but we learned a lot too. Our guide Jaimie was very knowledge and led us on an adventure into a world I never knew existed. Super exciting and interesting.Written 27 August 2024
- X4161BSjanep0 contributionsAwesome Adventure!I have been wanting to do a tour of the Rat's Nest Cave since I moved to Alberta over two decades ago. I should not have waited so long! This was a fantastic day of adventure from the hike up and down from the cave entrance to the cave adventure itself. Not a dull moment and our guide Annie was fantastic! We were a small group and got to experience rappelling down into the cave, several squeezes as well as total darkness! I highly recommend this adventure to anyone that it appeals too!Written 25 August 2024
- AlecCalgary0 contributionsAwesome, tiring, fun adventureWe did the four hours adventure tour with our fabulous tour guide Anne. On the half hour hike she talked knowledgeable about the forest and showed us fossils. In the cave she was super supportive and relaxed, showing us how to best get down or up without making us feel inadequate. The tour itself was amazing, difficult at times but doable. We were tired afterwards but happy. Our 13 year old remarked that this tour was better than video gamingWritten 24 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
239 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
4
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1
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0
Mark S
23 contributions
From the moment we booked, Lenora communicated with us several times to ensure we were able to join the Tour on short notice. She went above and beyond to include waters and snack bars when we didn’t have an opportunity to pick them up beforehand. Kudos to you Lenora for making this all possible!
Brent (Tour Guide) communicated the pre tour checklist and made sure that all our gear was fitted properly and the shared the tour itinerary in detail. We arrived at the base of the hill and hiked just under 1km to the cave entrance. Our entire family was excited and inquisitive on several topics around the cave and it’s history to which Brent was very helpful and insightful with his knowledge (7 years as a tour guide here). The cave was very challenging but rewarding and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our time (5 hours) with Brent.
If you’re considering this tour, JUST SIGN UP FOR IT! It was well worth the experience and the only questions should be around the health of the participants as it will test you both physically and mentally! My wife and I aren’t in the best of shape so it was definitely a challenge but our Teenage son absolutely loved every second!
This Tour isn’t run by a large assembly line operator, it’s small family-like operation that is very dedicated to providing the best experiences for small groups (6-8 people).
Thank you Lenora & Brent both for a wonderful day on the Canmore Caves Tour!
Brent (Tour Guide) communicated the pre tour checklist and made sure that all our gear was fitted properly and the shared the tour itinerary in detail. We arrived at the base of the hill and hiked just under 1km to the cave entrance. Our entire family was excited and inquisitive on several topics around the cave and it’s history to which Brent was very helpful and insightful with his knowledge (7 years as a tour guide here). The cave was very challenging but rewarding and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our time (5 hours) with Brent.
If you’re considering this tour, JUST SIGN UP FOR IT! It was well worth the experience and the only questions should be around the health of the participants as it will test you both physically and mentally! My wife and I aren’t in the best of shape so it was definitely a challenge but our Teenage son absolutely loved every second!
This Tour isn’t run by a large assembly line operator, it’s small family-like operation that is very dedicated to providing the best experiences for small groups (6-8 people).
Thank you Lenora & Brent both for a wonderful day on the Canmore Caves Tour!
Written 1 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alyssa Olson
3 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
This was hands down one of the coolest things I've ever done, and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for some fun and adventure on their vacation. Our tour guide, Alex was absolutely amazing and so much fun. He was SO knowledgeable, and shared all of his wisdom and experience with us on the hike up and in the cave. He made us feel 100% safe, and also ensured it was the best experience possible for us. We had so much rappelling down the cliff, squeezing through the tight spaces, and exploring the cave. The cave formations, bones, and fossils were SO cool, and the history inside the cave was amazing. We got to turn off our headlamps down by the water and just be in complete darkness and listen to the sounds of the cave, and even got to explore the last bit of the cave in the pitch black which was super cool. Everything was optional, and if you didn't feel safe or were uncomfortable, Alex would take you an alternate route. I 100% think we had the most awesome, coolest tour guide and would highly recommend this tour to anyone. Well worth the money for what you get!
Written 3 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew
7 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
My girlfriend bought the explorer tour for my birthday and I have say it was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received! A very fun experience from start to finish.
Our guide John was very fun and had a great sense of humor, and was very knowledgable about the area and the history of the cave. And like any good tour guide he was more than willing to share this knowledge with us. He encouraged us to step outside of our comfort zones and really made it an adventure rather than just a casual stroll through a cave.
The cave itself was super interesting, and definitely tested us physically (John did warn us it would ahead of time). The hike up to the cave was very mellow and easy and John maintained an easy to follow pace during it. Inside the cave was a lot of crawling and squeezing to get to the bottom which added to the excitement, and on the way out quite a bit of climbing and exhaustion. John described us as a group of heroes escaping from the depths of the Earth. I can’t say my body felt that way at the end, but it certainly was a journey that I won’t ever forget.
Thank you very much John, you’re a testament to what a good guide in adventure tourism should look like, and you were accommodating to all of us.
Our guide John was very fun and had a great sense of humor, and was very knowledgable about the area and the history of the cave. And like any good tour guide he was more than willing to share this knowledge with us. He encouraged us to step outside of our comfort zones and really made it an adventure rather than just a casual stroll through a cave.
The cave itself was super interesting, and definitely tested us physically (John did warn us it would ahead of time). The hike up to the cave was very mellow and easy and John maintained an easy to follow pace during it. Inside the cave was a lot of crawling and squeezing to get to the bottom which added to the excitement, and on the way out quite a bit of climbing and exhaustion. John described us as a group of heroes escaping from the depths of the Earth. I can’t say my body felt that way at the end, but it certainly was a journey that I won’t ever forget.
Thank you very much John, you’re a testament to what a good guide in adventure tourism should look like, and you were accommodating to all of us.
Written 8 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HJWMM1970
4 contributions
Dec 2021
Absolutely wonderful trip! We loved it (although I confess I concerned initially that we may not be fit enough!) Our guide was fantastic - very helpful and knowledgable. He made you feel totally safe and was full of great stories about his experiences and things to see in the cave. I'd never done anything like this before, but would 100% recommend it and do it again!
Written 5 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra L
5 contributions
Aug 2020
Had an amazing time with our group led by John. Felt very safe and prepared the whole time. Started with the hike and learning a little bit about the local flora. Inside the cave we hit some really amazing spots and listened in the dark for a bit which was a mind trip! I didn't wear my hiking boots and would fully recommend that to anyone who decides to do this tour, the grip would come in handy. Thanks John for the good times!
Written 29 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jude S
3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Wow! What an amazing place with a deep and rich history. Our guide was a wealth of knowledge but not overwhelming with facts. We even sat in the “Grotto” in complete serenity and darkness, an absolute must if you get a chance. What makes this destination even more epic was that Canmore Cave Tours opened a tour just for us! By accommodating our tight travel itinerary these fantastic stewards facilitated sharing my love of caving with my wife in an easy paced exploration experience. Definitely made a repeat customers that hope to see a certain cute little rat (or offspring) again.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisele p
1 contribution
Jul 2022
This was mine and my husband's first time cave exploring and it was one of the best experiences of our Alberta Trip. Our guide Max was not only knowledgeable but knew when to take breaks without anyone asking. Max also expertly took us around the cave and showed us cool passageways and was such a pleasure to be around. I highly recommend Canmore Cave tours
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline P
Quebec City, Canada20 contributions
Aug 2022
What an amazing, unique experience for any explorer at heart! our family of 3, our son is almost 10 was paired with a family of 5 with teenagers kids and we had a blast.
The experience includes safety and technical instructions as the exploration is mainly “vertical” and you are hooked to safety lines secure to your harness. It is challenging but not difficult (think as a 10 year old can do it). Our guide Sarah was exceptional: cheerfull, attentive, full of information on geology and history of the region, the cave the fauna, the flora, the fossil. And making sure we were having fun safely.
There are different level of the cave, finishing in the “grotto” the lowest chamber accessible to the public where stalagtite and stalagmites are still forming at 1cm per x hundred year (sorry Sarah I draw a blank :-)). Where we also took a serene moment to experience total darknest in silence. WOW! Thank you for our co-explorer Family for being so great and patient with us!!! We can now brag we have been “in” the Rockies for real.
The experience includes safety and technical instructions as the exploration is mainly “vertical” and you are hooked to safety lines secure to your harness. It is challenging but not difficult (think as a 10 year old can do it). Our guide Sarah was exceptional: cheerfull, attentive, full of information on geology and history of the region, the cave the fauna, the flora, the fossil. And making sure we were having fun safely.
There are different level of the cave, finishing in the “grotto” the lowest chamber accessible to the public where stalagtite and stalagmites are still forming at 1cm per x hundred year (sorry Sarah I draw a blank :-)). Where we also took a serene moment to experience total darknest in silence. WOW! Thank you for our co-explorer Family for being so great and patient with us!!! We can now brag we have been “in” the Rockies for real.
Written 28 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa K
2 contributions
Jul 2021
What a rush! Our guide helped us navigate some tight squeezes and tricky climbs back out of some spots. This all added to the experience. It was challenging for a heavier person like me who does some hiking but doesn't have a lot of upper body strength. Sara was very competent at adding her advice and expertise to make the navigation through the cave system feel safe and fun. If you have been thinking about doing this, well..what are you waiting for? Just the right amount of challenge and adventure.
Written 4 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
778rebecca
Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
We had a fantastic time on our tour. It really lived up to the ‘adventure’ in the title, with lots of climbing, crawling and sliding. Much more of an involved experience than any other cave tour I’ve done.
Extra thanks to our guide, Annie, who was lovely and very knowledgeable. It felt like she tried to tailor the tour to us, and despite there only being two of us we had easily a full two hours inside the cave.
With the new health regulations in place, they’ve done really well to make everything feel safe without impacting on the quality of the tour.
Extra thanks to our guide, Annie, who was lovely and very knowledgeable. It felt like she tried to tailor the tour to us, and despite there only being two of us we had easily a full two hours inside the cave.
With the new health regulations in place, they’ve done really well to make everything feel safe without impacting on the quality of the tour.
Written 14 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, would this cave tour be okay for someone with claustrophobia? Are there alternate routes to avoid any tight spaces or having to squeeze through tunnels?
Written 17 June 2023
How stressful is the cave tour on someone who had knee surgery years ago?
Written 23 June 2022
We were crawling on our hands and knees a lot. Also when we had to climb up some big rocks it took a lot of leg strength. Might be a bit stressful on knees
Written 24 June 2022
How stressful is the caving on people who have had knee surgery years ago?
Carole
Written 23 June 2022
I have children age 6 and 10, they are tall for their age but we are an average family. Would they be ok to do this tour?
Written 21 March 2022
When my Daughter and Son were that age, I wouldn't have an issue having them try this, However, this could be a little scary in the sense of the darkness (All you have is your helmet light) and the climbing and sliding down some tight areas.
The guide we had though (Brent) was amazing. He and I'm sure all of the guides would make sure they were safe and have a fun time. It would be a great experience for them. They would be learning about caves and how they are formed etc.
Hope this helped?
Written 22 March 2022
Bonjour, est ce accessible aux enfants et si oui à partir de quel âge ?
Merci d’avance
Mélanie
Written 5 April 2021
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