Riding in the footsteps of Alberta’s painted warriors

Saddle up for a horse-riding trek in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies that opens up a world of First Nations culture and wilderness skills

Asage-scented breeze drifted through the foliage as we sat around our campfire in preparation for a traditional Indigenous ‘smudging’ ceremony. A short time later, my guide, Tracey, stood calmly in front of me holding a large bunch of smouldering aromatic sage.With my hands, I wafted the smoke towards my face, bathing in the heavy-scented fog and thinking good thoughts in preparation for the day ahead.

I had come to Painted Warriors, an Indigenous adventure company based on a 33-hectare ranch an hour north-west of Calgary, Alberta, to experience the traditional and modern-day lifestyle of the Cree, Ojibwe, Métis and Mohawk peoples. The company was started by Tracey Klettl and her partner, Tim Mearn, in 2010, and from my first meeting with Tracey it was clear that she was a woman of strength, both in body and mind. Born of Cree and Mohawk descent, her cascade of long, dark hair and ready smile accompanied a skillset even the hardiest of outdoors people would envy. Not many can claim to be both an accomplished riding instructor and a competitor for Team Canada in archery, winning multiple national championships along the way.

“I was born in Jasper (Alberta) and my Indigenous ancestors were the group of people who were removed from Jasper National Park in 1910,” she told me. “I grew up with traditional land-based knowledge that had been passed on from my grandmother.”

That knowledge, she explained, is woven into everything they do at the camp, which offers a mix of wilderness education, hands-on training and insights into Aboriginal traditions and stories. On the surface, Tracey and ⊲

Peak performance (clockwise from left) Travelling with like-minded travellers makes sharing that view after a long mountain hike all the sweeter, and feedback from Exodus travellers about the social element of its trips has been immeasurably positive, with people often leaving with friends for life; enjoy the iconic view above Peru’s Machu Picchu on Exodus’ The Inca Trail tour

Travel gives us so much. It allows us to witness spectacular new sights and experience unique cultures that are completely different to our own. It challenges us and it moves us – often in more ways than one. And on our return, we’re left richer, wiser and bursting with fascinating stories to tell. Start planning your 2023 travel experiences now with the help of Exodus. Here’s what to expect…

1 Immerse Yourself In Your Surroundings

We no longer want to just ‘visit’ somewhere; we want to experience it in 360 vivid degrees. We want to live it, breathe it and fully participate in the culture and the landscape. Imagine observing the rare sight of endangered green turtles laying eggs on Tortuguero beach in Costa Rica, or holding your breath during hatching season as baby hawksbill, loggerhead and giant leatherback turtles blindly fight their way out of their shells towards the Caribbean sea, all possible on Exodus’ Natural Highlights of Costa Rica tour. More nature experiences abound in this Central American country, where you’ll explore natural waterways, cloud forests and volcanoes on the same trip, spotting creatures as diverse as howler monkeys, threetoed sloths, iguanas and more.

Elsewhere, on Exodus’ Highlights of Northern India tour, you’ll take in the thrumming pulse of Delhi’s teeming streets, the rose-pink architecture of elegant, royal Jaipur, the incomparable, iconic white marble mausoleum that is the Taj Mahal, plus the imposing Red Fort of Agra. In addition, a trip here with Exodus offers the chance to spot tigers in Ranthambore, observe worshippers soaking in the holy waters of the Ganges, and see New Delhi’s Arc-deTriomphe-like India Gate.

Alternatively, you could explore the alien-like landscapes of Namibia on the Discover Namibia: Camping trip. You’ll experience lunar-like surfaces at Sesriem, Martian-red sand dunes at Sossusvlei and the mixed forest and grassland of Etosha Park. Along the way you’re likely to spot desertadapted animals, including elephants, giraffes and cheetahs.

2 Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

If you want to savour a memory forever, link it to an adrenaline rush; studies show that experiences which make you feel excited, stimulated, or even scared are more easily remembered. You don’t even have to brave a bungee jump, there are plenty of other ways to get your heart beating. For example, join Exodus on a trek to the summit of North Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Toubkal (4,167m). Located 80km south of Marrakech, ascending the tallest peak in the Atlas mountains involves hiking through small Berber villages, threading picturesque valleys and passing scenery such as the Ighoulidem waterfall. The ascent itself offers scenic views across to Marrakesh, where you’ll end your trip.

A spectacular vista will never be forgotten, such as the mystical ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, which reveals itself slowly during sunrise or emerges gradually from behind the clouds. The reward is all the sweeter after a four-day trek from Cusco at high altitude, camping along the way on Exodus’ The Inca Trail tour. En route, you’ll pass through corn fields and cactus gardens, fording cloud forests and vertiginous mountain passes all with fine views.

Or why not discover Vietnam as the locals do: by bicycle? Join Exodus’ Cycling Vietnam trip and you will be able to do just that. You will embark on a fascinating route from vibrant Ho Chi Minh city in the south to the buzzing capital, Hanoi, in the north. Along the way, you will pass through characterful fishing villages, emeraldgreen rice terraces and junglecloaked mountains.