Discover a Little Solitude

This Adventure is Yours to Create

Solitude

The Real-Life Version of "Choose Your Own Adventure"

An Experience limited only by your imagination.
Total Length
6 hrs
Time Underground
4 hrs
2 Cavers
$499.00
Each Additional Caver
$129.00
Minimum Age
10 yrs
Group Size
2-8 Cavers
6 hrs
$499.00 (2 Cavers)
$129.00 (Each Additional)
Minimum Age: 10 yrs
Group Size: 2-8 Cavers

Grotto Mountain


HOME OF RAT'S NEST CAVE

Explain-imation

Explain-imation

Everything you need to know in one cute little video

Pour les sous-titres en français, cliquez sur CC.

Tour Description

The How, What, When, Where and Why of Solitude


Elk Run & Riot playing in the Grand Gallery during Spirit in the Mountain

The cave is a special place and spending time underground can be a life-changing experience. It's an opportunity to push your limits and face your fears, or learn new skills. It is a unique venue to embrace your creative side with music or the visual arts. Or perhaps it's a time to disconnect and enjoy the peacefulness of absolute quiet and darkness. With Solitude, it's exactly what you need it to be.

Solitude means you have the entire cave to yourself. Just you, your guide and the cave. This gives us the ability to create a fully customized experience that is limited only by your imagination:

  • Try your hand at cave photography.
  • Bring your Go Pro and star in your own action movie.
  • Musically inclined? Play in the awe-inspiring Grand Gallery. We can even arrange to have your music professionally recorded.
  • Propose to that special someone in one of the most unique ways possible.
  • Need a digital detox? Unplug and enjoy the peace and quiet of the cave.
Cave guide shining his headlamp on the ceiling of a cave passage

Prior to your tour your guide will contact you to get a sense of how best to spend your time in the cave. Nothing is set in stone and you will always have the opportunity to adjust your goals as you go. If you are hoping to bring in any special equipment like cameras or musical instruments, or if you want to plan a special event like an engagement, this is your chance to work through the logistics with your guide.

On the day of your tour you will meet your guide at the Canmore Cave Tours Office in Canmore to sign the waiver and collect your caving equipment. You will then follow the guide in convoy for a 10 minute drive to the cave parking lot where you’ll pack up your caving gear then hike for 30 minutes up a mountain trail to the cave entrance.

From this point forward the experience is yours to create based on what you and your guide have discussed. You will spend up to 4 hours underground making memories that are not to soon be forgotten!

View and Download the Waiver


packages


These packages are a great way to make your Solitude experience even more memorable and you will have the opportunity to speak with your guide before your tour to fully personalize the package if you so choose.

Don't see quite what you're looking for here? Send us your idea and if we can, we will make it happen!

Photographer

Romance

The cave is a magical place that definitely deserves to have its picture taken and there are many great reasons to have a professional do it for you:

  • Enjoy your Solitude without spending all of your time behind the lense.
  • The cave is a notoriously challenging environment to photograph, our photographers know the cave and how to shoot it well including providing the appropriate lighting.
  • Be a part of your special experience, get into the photos yourself!

Cupid himself couldn't do it better. We take a personal, private tour of the cave and add our own special touches to make it something the two of you will cherish forever. Contact Us for more details and to discuss how we can make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Perfect for:
  • Engagements
  • Anniversaries
  • Date Night

Price: Solitude + $299.00

Price: Solitude + $299.00

packages


These packages are a great way to make your Solitude experience even more memorable and you will have the opportunity to speak with your guide before your tour to fully personalize the package if you so choose.

Don't see quite what you're looking for here? Send us your idea and if we can, we will make it happen!

Photographer

The cave is a magical place that definitely deserves to have its picture taken and there are many great reasons to have a professional do it for you:

  • Enjoy your Solitude without spending all of your time behind the lense.
  • The cave is a notoriously challenging environment to photograph, our photographers know the cave and how to shoot it well including providing the appropriate lighting.
  • Be a part of your special experience, get into the photos yourself!

Price: Solitude + $299.00

Romance

Cupid himself couldn't do it better. We take a personal, private tour of the cave and add our own special touches to make it something the two of you will cherish forever. Contact Us for more details and to discuss how we can make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Perfect for:
  • Engagements
  • Anniversaries
  • Date Night

Price: Solitude + $299.00

Sample Itinerary

Planning Your Day? Here's the Breakdown.

Tour Start Time Meet your guide at the Canmore Cave Tours office.
20 min Follow guide in convoy to cave parking lot.
30 min Pack up equipment and begin hiking.
1 hr Arrive at cave entrance, safety de-brief and gear up
1 hr 30 min Let’s go Caving!
5 hr 30min Emerge victoriously from the cave - celebratory high-five!
6 hr Arrive at cave parking lot and depart

**Times given are the approximate time from the start of the tour

Frequently
Asked
Questions

What is the difference between the Adventure and Explorer Tours?

The Adventure Tour is a total of 6 hours long, 4 hours of which are spent underground. The Explorer Tour spends 2.5 of its total 4.5 hours underground. The main difference between the two is that the Adventure Tour includes an 18m rappel (no experience necessary) and the extra time allows us to explore more of the cave. Both tours are similar in difficulty and require a moderate level of fitness.

Is there a minimum age?

The minimum age for the Adventure Tour is 12 years.

Is there a maximum size?

Generally speaking, fitness is more of a concern than size. However, all participants must wear a safety harness which has a maximum waist size of 46" (116 cm) and a maximum leg size of 33" (84 cm). If you have any concerns about size please don't hesitate to contact us.

What is included and what should I bring?

We provide all of the necessary caving equipment including coveralls, kneepads, gloves, helmet & headlamp, harness & safety lanyard, and backpack. The backpack will be shared by two people and will not go into the cave.

You will need to bring good footwear, warm clothing, a camera (optional) and a durable snack to keep your energy up in the cave. Cave friendly snacks are pocket-sized, are edible even if squished (you will probably sit on your snack at least once!) and include energy bars, candy bars, fruit leathers etc. Please avoid snacks that will potentially leave a mess in the cave like nuts and fruit. Also, if you will require medication during the tour it is a good idea to bring 2x what you would expect to use, just in case.

Footwear must be closed-toe and should have a sturdy tread. Hiking boots or shoes are best, but a sturdy running shoe will also work. Other options include rubber boots or winter boots (in the winter)

The cave is 5 degrees celsius, so warm clothing is recommended. Imagine what you would wear if you had to spend a few hours in a refrigerator. We recommend long pants, long sleeves, a warm sweater, hoodie or jacket. Synthetic fabrics are best as they will keep you warm even if you get wet.

Any cameras going into the cave will need to fit into your pockets. We do not allow backpacks in the cave. Small point-and-shoot cameras or smart phones are welcome but please keep in mind that the cave environment is not particularly friendly towards electronics. High humidity and dust can damage equipment, and screens can break if you accidentally sit on it. Electronics are brought at your own risk.

Is transportation provided?

No, transportation is not provided. If you do not have your own vehicle we can arrange a taxi to the cave for you at an additional cost. You can use Canmore's public transit to get to our office.

How hard is the tour?

The hike to the cave takes approximately 30-40 minutes and is uphill the whole way on a mountain trail. Most of our guests find this to be the hardest part of the day, but we do take lots of stops along the way to enjoy the scenery.

Once in the cave the pace is quite slow as we maneuver through the passages. This is not a flat walking tour. There are no handrails, walkways or fixed lighting. We climb, crawl, slide and wiggle our way around the cave so it is best to have a moderate level of fitness. Even more important though is your sense of adventure!

Are there rats or bats?

Rat's Nest Cave is named after the nests of Bushy-tailed Wood Rats found in the entrance. This species of super-cute rodents is native to the area and they use the cave as a home due to it's constantly warm temperatures and protection from predators. We rarely see the rats, and if we do there is usually just one.

Bat's are rarely seen at Rat's Nest Cave. The cave is not a hibernaculum (a place where bats hibernate through the winter). We usually only see the occasional bat in the summer as they are passing through the area.

Is This Tour Suitable For Me If I'm Pregnant?

Yes, but only up until the end of the first trimester (12 weeks).

It is always advisable to seek advice from your doctor when participating in activities like caving.

Will I need to sign a waiver?

Yes, all participants will need to complete a liability waiver. We recommend you review the waiver before booking your tour. Once you have booked your tour you will receive a link to sign the waiver online . Any minors must have their waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before participating on the tour.

View the Waiver

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Reserve Your Solitude

Book Your Tour

Reserve Online

It's as easy as 1-2-3! Simply select the date and tour time that you'd like to reserve, fill in your personal details and then make payment via credit card. That's it!

The system will automatically send you a confirmation of your tour with the relevant details and it will even send you a reminder two days before your tour so you don't forget!

Once we receive your confirmation your guide will contact you to work out the details of your Solitude experience. Please ensure to include your phone number and e-mail address when booking, as well as the preferred time for us to contact you.

Cancellation Policy

Privacy

Security

Liability Waivers

Our Cancellation Policy

For bookings of 8 or fewer we require a minimum of 48 hours notice to cancel with a full refund. Due to bank processes it may take a few days to a week to see the refund on your account. At the time of cancellation you will receive a confirmation that your reservation (or a portion of your reservation) has been cancelled.

For groups larger than 8 we require a minimum of 14 days notice for cancellation with a full refund.

In the event of extreme weather, or due to the unforeseen lack of appropriate staff we may cancel a tour for your safety, at which point we will fully refund your reservation and do everyting in our power to help you find a suitable alternative activity.

Your Privacy is Important to Us

During the booking process we will ask you for your Full Name, e-mail address, phone number, and postal/zip code. We use your contact details in case we need to update you on your reservation for some reason, and we find that occasionally some payments will not complete correctly due to a missing postal code.

We will never share any of your information with another organization, nor will you receive communication from us that does not pertain directly to your reservation. We don't like SPAM either. During the reservation process you may choose to opt in to receive our monthly newsletter, which contains stories from the cave, notional and international caving news, offers and upcoming events. You can always unsubscribe at any time.

A Secure Booking Process

When you book your experience online with us you will be able to select the date and time of the experience while on our website and then you will be asked to enter your contact details and agree to our terms and conditions.

With all of this complete, the next step will be to make your payment, at which point you will be taken off of our website to a secure page hosted by our reservation system. You can tell that the website is secure by the green lock located in the address bar. Please do not send payment information via e-mail or any other digital messaging as we cannot gurantee its safety. If you'd prefer, we can take credit card payment over the phone.

Liability Waivers

Liability waivers are an unfortunate but necessary part of any adventure activity. We recommend that you take the time before your tour, or even before your reservation, to thoroughly review this legal document.

Anyone participating in a Canmore Cave Tours activity must complete a liability waiver, including minors. In the case of minors, it is very important that a parent or guardian also reads and signs the waiver.

Once you have completed your booking, you will receive a link that will allow you to sign your waiver online. We have included a handy video to explain all of the components of the waiver and to ensure the process goes smoothly. Again, it is recommended to review the waiver prior to making your reservation and if you have any questions please contact us.

View and download our Waiver

Talk to Us!

We're always happy to help answer your questions and choose the best experience. We can also recommend other great activities or restaurants to compliment your cave tour.

Contact Us

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