This 3-night trip in Banff National Park is a beginner level trip that can accommodate 28 people.

Accommodation:

We have an entire property booked that has two dorm style rooms that each sleeps 14 people comfortably (7 sets of bunk beds in each room). It is fully equipped with bathrooms, kitchen, and private lounging areas. Nestled in the forest and walking distance from stunning hikes and waterfalls, you will enjoy a rustic and immersive experience in nature during the weekend. 

The lodging reserved for this trip is located in Castle Mountain - about a 1 hour and 45 min drive from Calgary. Participants should be prepared for some driving/commuting over the course of the weekend to reach the hikes and activities planned in the itinerary.

Trip Activities + Difficulty Level:

This is a Beginner level trip - the hikes planned are slightly challenging, but can be done by participants with limited hiking experience. All Ma'wa Collective Trip Itineraries include a variety of hikes, scenic walks and/or drives, spiritual reflections and discussions, and group meals and activities. Some itinerary highlights include:

What to expect:

🥾 Guided hikes to iconic spots like Lake Louise, and Tunnel Mountain

🚗 Scenic drives with stops at incredible viewpoints to see the Bow Lake and Peyto Lake 

🔥 Group reflections, khatiras, and deep connections formed around our campfire & smores

🏞  An inspiring space to connect with like-minded Muslim women

Note 1: our itinerary may be subject to slight changes throughout the weekend due to delays, weather, or factors outside of our control. 

Note 2: All Ma'wa Collective trips are considered group trips - as a participant, you will be expected to remain with your group at all times. Participants are not permitted to leave the group and engage in activities outside the published itinerary. Any participant found in violation of this may be subject to dismissal from the trip and/or future Ma'wa Collective trips.

Important Information (please read before booking):

- Transportation to the trip location is not covered by Ma'wa Collective. It is the responsibility of participants to do their due diligence to check on travel logistics before signing up for the trip, including checking flight availability and pricing if you are not local to the area. If you will be flying in for this trip, we recommend flying into Calgary International Airport (YYC) : arrival must be no later than 1 pm on Friday, July 4th, and departure no earlier than 1 pm on Monday, July 7th. 

- Carpools: While Ma’wa Collective will assist with arranging carpools among participants, we cannot guarantee that every Trip will have local participants who can volunteer their cars and offer a carpool. In some cases, a rental car may be the only option for carpooling. Some participants will need to volunteer as drivers for the rentals, and the cost of the rental car is not covered by Ma’wa Collective. All participants are expected to split the cost of gas for the duration of the Trip, regardless of whether your carpool is a rental car or someone’s vehicle.

Begin the weekend with Jummah at Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre in Calgary, followed by check-in at our accommodation for the weekend. Enjoy a short hike to Silverton Falls for early arrivals, dinner, icebreakers, and stargazing to settle into the weekend.

Start the day with Fajr prayer and breakfast, then head out for a scenic morning hike. Choose between Lake Louise Lakeshore (beginner) or Lake Agnes Trail (intermediate). After a picnic lunch and group reflection at Bow Lake, enjoy a scenic drive with stops at Peyto Lake and panoramic viewpoints. The day closes with dinner, a campfire, and reflection.

After morning prayer and breakfast, we’ll hike Tunnel Mountain, then explore downtown Banff and nearby natural spots like Grassi Lake. The evening includes a group dinner and relaxed bonding around the campfire.

We’ll close the retreat with breakfast and pack up. On the way back to Calgary, we’ll stop briefly in Canmore before departure.