Escape to Alberta in 2025: Top Experiences to Embrace Your Wild Side

Alberta is flush with wide open spaces and opportunities to let your inner adventurer roam. This is the place to go your own way and be who you want to be. Make 2025 a year of personal transformation by embarking on these extraordinary adventures.

Relish the freedom of ranch life

Alberta’s ranches were made for intrepid travellers ready to embrace unbridled adventures. At Painted Warriors Ranch, visitors dive deep into Indigenous culture, experimenting with different ways of being outdoors. Master wildlife tracking and wilderness survival skills before hitting the sack in a glamping tent.

Wildhorse Ranch is a wellness retreat set on 480 acres of forest wonderland. The focus is on land-based sustainable learning, with frontier survival skills, campfire cooking, and fire ceremonies on tap. Heart-to-heart interactions with horses to develop trust, empathy, and self-awareness are also available.

Meanwhile, Running Reins Ranch offers super cute cabins, each with its own fire pit and private hot tub set within a tipi. For the ultimate getaway, add the chef-driven 5-course meal and beverage option.

You won’t find many opportunities in life to rope a steer or learn to repair a bridle. Luckily, Bar U Ranch National Historic Site offers several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience how the Wild West once was.

You don’t have to break the law to feel that surge of adrenaline fugitives on the run do. At Red Deer’s Heritage Ranch, players skulk through 50 acres of rugged wood to evade their Ranch Tracker. (Just like the TV show Mantracker!) More sedate, but equally mind-clearing are horse-drawn carriage rides. In winter, a horse-drawn sleigh transports visitors into a fairytale-like setting with 60,00 twinkling lights.

Wellness opportunities to connect mind, body and soul

With inspiring natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage and diverse wellness offerings, Alberta is uniquely positioned to support physical, emotional and spiritual transformation.

Offering more than just a wilderness escape at the edge of Jasper National Park, Northaven provides a profound pathway to personal transformation. This get-away-from-it-all retreat centre helps visitors disconnect and rediscover their most vital selves through bio-hacking activities and ancient practices.

Head into Jasper National Park to discover the medicinal benefits of all that surrounds us in nature. Warrior Women leads Indigenous well-being and cultural experiences such as medicine and plant walks. The best part is that participants can make salves, lotions, and other products from what they’ve foraged.

You’ll thank yourself afterwards with a dip in Miette Hot Springs, the hottest hot spring water in the Canadian Rockies. Open from May to October, a soak in these thermal waters is a surefire way to melt stress, soothe sore muscles and improve blood circulation. Spa-goers emerge rejuvenated and energized, probably able to crush a lengthy nap. 

If cutting through the chatter of your mind sounds appealing, look to Forest Fix near Banff. These guided forest bathing sessions help reduce anxiety and nurture mindfulness through immersion in nature. Experiences range from walking meditation, light yoga, breath work and tapping into senses to foster present-moment awareness.

Escape to another world

In Alberta's rugged Badlands, time dissolves into a prehistoric canvas. These ancient landscapes reveal the secrets of the many dinosaur species that once ruled the earth.

Every weathered rock and bleached fossil fragment in Drumheller's Hoodoos is a portal to the late Cretaceous Period. A simple day trip becomes an extraordinary journey through time as you look for hidden clues in the sandstone columns.

Hands-on dinosaur experiences are also easily enjoyed in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The region is famed for the sheer number of complete dinosaur skeletons and the variety of species it contains. Visitors are welcome to head out on their own through the otherworldly terrain of massive fossil beds. However, the chances of spotting a dino tooth or bone fragment increase significantly when joining a guided fossil safari.

For a sure thing, view the significant findings at Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, situated in the Northern Rockies. Named after renowned Alberta palaeontologist Philip J. Currie, one of the inspirations for Jurassic Park (yes, that Jurassic Park!), the museum has interactive exhibits, life-sized dinosaur skeletons, and immersive VR experiences. It’s a not-to-miss spot for dino-lovers.

Explore the dark skies

Thanks to Alberta’s vast, untouched wilderness, our night sky is a canvas of infinite possibility. Dark sky preserves like Jasper National Park offer more than astronomical wonder. They’re a breeding ground for profound revelations, where the endless expanse of twinkling constellations reminds you how expansive your dreams can be.

An easy way to tap into this uncharted potential is at Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Held every October, astronomers of all levels converge for guided gazing, planetarium experiences and conversations with space scientists.

In Waterton Lakes National Park, Dark Sky Guides aren’t mere guides. They’re storytellers leading stargazers on a journey through the deep, vast sky. Yes, the wonders of our constellations and galaxies are revealed, but that’s not all. After heading into the backcountry of this pristine national park, explorers tap into how starlight dissolves the boundaries of everyday limitations.

We’re primed for peak solar activity in 2025 thanks to our current solar activity cycle, Solar Cycle 25. Dark sky tours with Beyond Adventures go beyond passive observation into a journey of introspection and wonder. As the vibrant hues dance across the sky, don’t be surprised to find yourself simultaneously humbled and empowered.

Foodie quests

Food tours in Alberta's urban and mountain destinations are far more than culinary experiences. These intimate cultural narratives reveal the soul of each destination through flavours, stories and traditions.

Pedalling your way along Edmonton's culinary landscape with Edmonton Food Bike Tours is part gastronomic discovery, part urban exploration. As you wheel from one tantalizing stop to the next, you'll sample everything from craft brewery bites to farm-to-table delicacies while burning off those calories and uncovering the city's hidden flavour gems.

Also in Edmonton (and Calgary), Le Petit Chef dishes out a combo plate of immersive theatre and dining.

Those with an appetite for discovery will find stories of mountain terroir and local passion on Jasper Food Tours. Nibbling through artisan treats, wild-foraged ingredients and hearty mountain cuisine, this mouthwatering expedition captures the rugged spirit of the Rockies in every delectable morsel.

Alberta Food Tours offers a self-guided experience where solving clues through Calgary's Kensington neighbourhood leads to delicious encounters. There's also an Eat the Castle tour through Fairmont Banff Springs, allowing foodies to experience the tastes, architecture and history of one of Canada's most storied hotels.

Wildlife viewing and encounters

There's something about watching wildlife that makes city stressors melt away. If you've never been caught in a bison traffic jam, prepare for the possibility at Elk Island National Park. Open year-round, this sanctuary played a key role in bringing bison back from the brink of extinction. It's also home to one of the highest densities of hoofed mammals worldwide, making it a fantastic spot for wildlife viewing.

Jasper suffered a devastating wildfire in July 2024, and one of the best ways to support the community's social and economic recovery is with a visit. Respectfully learn the resilience of wildlife with Sundog Wildlife Tours. Spot elk, moose, deer and, if you're lucky, lynx and wolves in their natural habitats.

Replace the erratic pulses of urban life with the rhythms of nature with Discover Banff Tours. Wildlife are most active at twilight, so taking an evening wildlife safari increases your chances of an encounter.

Over 50 wild wolfdogs have been rescued by Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. The facility welcomes visitors curious about wolf behaviour. Part dog, part wolf, the wolfdogs can be visited on interactive tours and immersive experiences inside their enclosure. Or, simply stroll along the Sanctuary Walk and say hello to these naturally cautious creatures.

Cultural connections

Go from passive observer to active, respectful engagement when seeking out these cultural journeys.

With a Cree guide, Mahikan Trails invites inquisitive guests to follow in the footsteps of the Kwarakwante people. Learn how to identify plants, make simple medicines and use plant first-aid.

Over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo and Blackfoot culture have been preserved at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This UNESCO World Heritage gem is one of the world’s oldest and best-preserved buffalo jumps. Set in dramatic sandstone cliffs, the interpretive site offers a first-hand look at how the Blackfoot people sustained themselves.

Tucked away in Lethbridge, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden delivers a breath of tranquillity, transporting visitors directly to Japan without ever leaving Alberta. Meticulously designed with Japanese landscaping techniques, the garden invites contemplation and connection amid the carefully pruned trees, smooth stones and calming water features.

For adventures that guarantee challenge and growth, look to Girth Hitch Guiding. Under the helm of Métis guide Tim Taylor, Indigenous mountain experiences and ice climbing are some of the adventures even those without experience can try.

Deepen your understanding of Métis culture at Métis Crossing. See through the eyes of the hunter with archery experiences or paddle the North Saskatchewan River in a voyageur canoe. Then, stay overnight in a sky-watching dome, luxury lodge or campsite.

Indigenous voices and perspectives have been gathered in an immersive Fort Edmonton Park exhibit. The Indigenous Peoples Experience relates the histories, cultures and experiences of the region’s First Nations and Métis peoples.

Extraordinary accommodations

Accommodations can be more than just places to rest. From glass-domed wilderness pods to Indigenous-owned eco-lodges that blend sustainable design with cultural storytelling, these unique stays invite travellers to shed their everyday personas.

Surrounded by towering trees and the stillness of Alberta's Boreal Forest, the clear panels of Glamp Good's geodomes connect guests to the outside world. When the sky transforms into a starlit masterpiece, front-row access to the Milky Way is delivered from the warmth of your bed.

At Twin Butte Silos, you can sleep in a grain silo (don’t worry, it’s been glamp-ified), minutes from Waterton Lakes National Park.

Get away from it all at Aurum Lodge, a cozy mountain retreat. Here, you can fall out of bed and head into adventures ranging from canyoning to ice climbing to viewing ice bubbles. Afterwards, feast upon the views of turquoise Abraham Lake and chef-inspired casual cuisine at the lodge’s new restaurant.

It's easy to drift off to dreamland with a stay at Charmed Resorts with their fairytale glamping experiences. Winter is the perfect time to let your hair down in Rapunzel's Cottage or tuck the tots into Tinkerbell's Treehouse for a getaway never forgotten. In addition to whimsical storybook-inspired decor, cottages are kitted out with bathrooms, kitchenettes and private hot tubs.

With no light pollution, Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village is a sublime spot for stargazing. It's also the only place in Canada to watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your own tipi.

At Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, your accommodation isn't just a place to rest—it's a portal to another time. Imagine falling asleep to the soft crackle of a campfire, snug inside a canvas tent that protected fur traders and Indigenous explorers centuries ago. Hunker down in a rugged trapper's tent, seek shelter in a historic cabin or curl up in a tipi that connects you to Indigenous traditions.