EMBRACE
YOUR INNER
EXPLORER
EMBRACE
YOUR INNER
EXPLORER
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Adult (16+):$149 + GST
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Youth (10-15):$129 + GST
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Available:Year-Round
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Group Size:2 - 8
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Tour Length:~ 4.5 Hours
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Time In-Cave:~ 2.5 Hours
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Adult (16+):$149 + GST
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Youth (10-15):$129 + GST
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Available:Year-Round
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Group Size:2 - 8 Cavers
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Tour Length:~ 4.5 Hours
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Time In-Cave:~ 2.5 Hours
The Explorer Tour may be our shortest cave tour, but it is by no means short on fun and excitement. Your guide will introduce you to the amazing world of caves, spending approximately 2 hours underground crawling past prehistoric bones, investigating our ancient cave formations and even squeezing into places like the warm-up and challenge squeezes (if you so choose of course!).
This is a great option for families with younger members, for large groups, team building or those who don’t have quite enough time for the Adventure Tour. We promise to give you an experience you won’t forget!
How Does an Explorer Tour Work?
Sample Itinerary
Book Now!
1. Select a Date
Choose your preferred date on the calendar to view tour availability.
2. Enter Your Details
Complete the form with your personal contact information.
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, national and international caving news, offers and upcoming events. You can always unsubscribe at any time.
3. Make Payment
Add your payment details to make a reservation instantly.
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.
Our Cancellation Policy
For bookings of 8 or fewer we require a minimum of 48 hours notice to cancel. 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.
Cancellations are subject to a 3% credit card processing fee.
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.
4. Sign Waivers
Complete your waivers before your tour.
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.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADVENTURE AND EXPLORER TOURS?
- IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE?
- IS THERE A MAXIMUM SIZE?
- WHAT IS INCLUDED AND WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
- IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED?
- HOW HARD IS THE TOUR?
- ARE THERE RATS OR BATS?
- IS THIS TOUR SUITABLE FOR ME IF I'M PREGNANT?
- WILL I NEED TO SIGN A WAIVER?
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.
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 water bottle 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 water bottle 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.