The Venari Partners Challenge 2026 to Canada!
We're thrilled to bring our award-winning charity initiative, the Venari Partners Challenge, back for a fourth edition. This year, a group of deserving individuals, selected via our open nominations process, will take on an eight-day hike across the Canadian Rockies.
Thank you to our 2026 travel partner for their support!
The Trek
Explore the great Canadian outdoors on some of the best wilderness trails in the Rocky Mountains.
We have space for eight nominees to embark on an incredible eight-day journey through the wild. The trek will take place from Thursday 10 September to Saturday 19 September 2026.
Everything from airport transfers and kit are provided – all that participants need is to be up for the trek and to fundraise for a charity of their choice! Please note that these campaigns are designed to be challenging, so a good level of fitness is required to take part.
How do I get involved?
As ever, we will select the trekkers through our open nominations process. The window will be open from 26 February to 30 April 2026. It is free to enter, but we want to know why you think your nominee should take part. They could have shown great bravery in difficult circumstances, overcome real adversity, or put in plenty of unsung work for little (or no) reward – whatever the reason, we want to hear about it. Remember, you can nominate yourself!
Participants will be asked to fundraise for a charity of their choice. This is your chance to raise money for a cause that's close to your heart by doing something truly amazing, so be sure to tell us what your chosen organisation means to you.
Please note that nominees should have the physical fitness and endurance to hike in difficult terrain over eight days.
What we've achieved so far...
£73,000
in charity donations collectively raised by Venari Partners Challenge participants from 2023-2025.
Venari Partners have received a number of accolades for launching this life-changing charity campaign from organisations including:
We created the Venari Partners Challenge in 2023 to reaffirm our commitment to CSR. For the inaugural campaign, which took place in Petra, Jordan, we funded a group of deserving individuals to take part in an amazing five-day trek through the deserts of Jordan. Nominated by their friends and family through our open social media campaign, the trekkers fundraised for numerous wonderful causes and were led by endurance athlete and world record holder, Sean Conway. Sean guided the group to their destination: the stunning Rose City of Petra.
The Venari Partners Challenge returned in 2024, this time to the Norwegian fjords. The group was led by Paul Harris, otherwise known as The Warrior Walker, who has walked the circumference of the UK twice. They hiked and kayaked 70km through stunning scenery to raise money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Then, in 2025, we brought the Challenge back for the toughest edition yet in the Colombian jungle. Another amazing group led by OG Petra trekker Leighton Smith completed a gruelling expedition in tricky conditions, raising over £35k for 10 different charities – a record for the Venari Partners Challenge.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms & Conditions of the Venari Partners Challenge:
Promoter details: Venari Partners Ltd. with its registered office at 145 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BX (‘our’ or ‘we’).
Please read these rules carefully. If you enter the Venari Partners Challenge selection process, we will assume that you have read these terms and conditions and that you agree to them.
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Entrants to The Venari Partners Challenge selection process must be aged 18 years or over. Venari Partners employees and their family members may not enter the nomination process. Nominators cannot select the same entrant more than once. Nominators can, however, nominate multiple individuals. The same individual can be nominated by multiple nominators.
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The selection process will open at 12:00 BST on 12 February 2026 and close at 12:00 PM BST on 30 April 2026.
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Please read our Privacy Policy, which tells you how we use any personal information we may collect about you when you enter the Venari Partners Challenge selection process.
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Incorrectly completed entries will be disqualified.
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Data will be used for marketing purposes.
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No purchase is necessary.
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The eight (8) participants will be chosen by a neutral panel from the full list of valid entries. The panel will consider the background information provided by the nominator and the entrant when deciding on the final list. The criteria can include but are not limited to, personal hardships overcome by the entrant, an inspiring story to tell, or a compelling reason to be personally involved with the chosen charity partner for the Challenge.
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The eight (8) participants of the Venari Partners Challenge will be notified on or before 15 May 2026 via the email address they provide on registration; they will need to confirm their attendance by 22 May 2026. Two additional reserve participants will be notified on or before 15 May 2026, and they will need to accept their reserve position by 22 May 2026. As soon as a main participant withdraws from the process, the reserve participants will be contacted to be moved onto the main participants' list.
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The decision of the organisers is final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the Venari Partners Challenge selection process judging and organisation.
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The participants will be required to provide Venari Partners with the personal details required to book flights, such as identity and passport information. All ground costs (meals, accommodation, transfers, guide, tips) will be included and paid for by Venari Partners.
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Travel insurance is not included. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver in their Account Area confirming that they have insurance that will cover the adventurous nature of the challenge.
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Participants will need to be physically able to fly to Canada and take part in the Challenge, which consists of 80km of hiking. Participants must meet all relevant entry requirements including any health or medical screening requirements.
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The Venari Partners Challenge is non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. The Challenge may only be undertaken by the selected participants.
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The Challenge dates may not be changed; the Challenge duration may not be extended, and the hotel may not be changed by the participants.
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All passengers must have a valid passport to travel and must meet all relevant visa and/or other entry requirements.
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Entrants’ details will be used to administer the selection process and choose and contact the participants. Details will be used in accordance with the Venari Partners privacy policy (see https://www.venaripartners.com/privacy-policy).
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When entering the Venari Partners Challenge selection process, entrants will be required to opt in to receiving marketing from Venari Partners. Their details will be retained by Venari Partners for marketing purposes.
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When entering the Venari Partners Challenge selection process, entrants agree to their story, image, and voice being used in future Venari Partners marketing content.
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Where Venari Partners makes any changes to the Challenge or dates of travel, no compensation or cash equivalent will be available. Venari Partners will not be liable for any cancellations or changes to the Challenge, or for any loss or damage participants suffer as a result of entering the selection process provided that nothing in these terms shall exclude or limit the liability of Venari Partners in relation to personal injury or death caused by Venari Partners’ negligence or for fraud.
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The schedule for the Venari Partners Challenge will comprise:
Day 1: Touchdown in Calgary
Arrive at Calgary Airport and jump on the complimentary shuttle to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the evening at leisure, relax and perhaps have a dip in the swimming pool. The adventure starts tomorrow morning!
Day 2: Sentinel Pass Trail and Lake Louise
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 08:00 and get ready to hit the road. Drive from Calgary to Moraine Lake, which sits within the impressive Valley of the Ten Peaks, where your first hiking trail begins in Banff National Park. The Sentinel Pass Trail climbs up through pine forest, with occasional viewpoints over the incredible turquoise waters of the glacial lake below and the jagged peaks that surround the valley, such as Mount Allen (3310m). After emerging at a beautiful meadow with three alpine lakes, the trail winds its way beneath the flanks of Mount Temple (3544m) up towards Sentinel Pass. Stop at the highest of the three lakes, Lake Minnestimma, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and rest up before beginning your descent back down to the trailhead at Moraine Lake*. Then, head to the campground at nearby Lake Louise for a quick crash course in how to set up camp, and settle in for the evening.
*If there is time and conditions allow for it, your guide may suggest pushing on for the top of Sentinel Pass (a further 200m above) for a glimpse down into Paradise Valley.
4-6 hrs · 11km · 792m up · 792m down
Day 3: Mount Fairview Summit Trail
Starting from Lake Louise, today's off-the-beaten-track hike takes you up Fairview Mountain (2744m), climbing almost 1000m to find an astounding viewpoint at the summit. Be wowed by the views down on Lake Louise and out across the Banff National Park. The final 1-2 km of the ascent involves a steep incline to reach the top. Stop off for a well-earned drink in Lake Louise, take a dip in the lake if you're feeling brave, or head straight back to the campground.
4-6 hrs · 9.3km · 955m up · 955m down
Day 4: Katherine Lake Trail
Explore another area of Banff National Park today. After a short drive north along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic roads, you'll hit the trail at Bow Lake and climb up to Lake Helen through alpine wildflower meadows. Take in the stunning vistas of Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and Cirque Peak along the route, as you continue on the trail to arrive at Lake Katherine. Cool off with a swim in Bow Lake after your hike if you like, then back to camp to rest before an evening out in Lake Louise.
5-7 hrs · 14.3km · 1075m up · 1075m down
Day 5: Wilcox Pass Trail and the Icefields Parkway
Continue the drive along the Icefield Parkway. You'll stop off at some classic viewpoints along the way, including Peyto Lake and the Athabasca Glacier. Stop at the trailhead for today's hike – the Wilcox Pass trail, at the southern end of Jasper National Park, this is a moderate hike to alpine meadows which reveals incredible views of the peaks and glaciers on the edge of the Columbia Icefield (if the trail is closed due to snow, you'll instead hike the Parker Ridge Trail or similar). Return back to Lake Louise for your final night at this campground, before heading west tomorrow.
3-4 hrs · 9.8km · 409m up · 409m down
Day 6: Emerald Lake and Yoho National Park
Today, you’ll head west to Canyon Hot Springs Resort and Campsite in Albert Canyon, your base for the next two nights, nestled between Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. En route (between Lake Louise and Golden), you’ll detour off Highway 1 to visit the dazzling Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. After a few big days on the trail, today’s all about taking things a little easier. You can enjoy a gentle walk around the lake, the largest in the park, or, if you’re up for it, hire a classic Canadian canoe (approx. $100 CAD per hour) and paddle across its surreal, glacial-green waters. From there, you’ll cruise through the mountain town of Golden and over the dramatic Rogers Pass, flanked by towering peaks, before arriving at your next campsite. Dinner will be served back at camp this evening - feet up, stars out.
1.5 hrs · 6km · 25m up · 25m down
Day 7: Eva Lake Trail and Revelstoke National Park
This morning, you’ll leave camp and head for Mount Revelstoke National Park. The day kicks off with a scenic drive to the summit of Mount Revelstoke (1,939m), where sweeping views of the Columbia Valley set the tone nicely. From here, you’ll lace up your boots and hike the Eva Lake Trail – an out-and-back route through pine forests and past crystal-clear alpine lakes (ideal for a refreshing foot soak). After your hike, you’ll wind your way back down the mountain to the historic railroad town of Revelstoke for dinner at a local spot, before returning to camp for a well-earned rest under the stars.
4-6 hrs · 16.1km · 549m up · 549m down
Day 8: Balu Pass Trail and Glacier National Park
Leaving Canyon Hot Springs behind this morning, you’ll head east once more through Rogers Pass and into another gem, Glacier National Park, where the spectacular Balu Pass hike awaits. This lesser-known trail winds through prime grizzly bear country, offering a wonderfully varied and scenic trek. There’s a decent challenge involved too, as you climb steadily to the high pass nestled between Cheops Mountain (2,517m) and the aptly named Grizzly Mountain (2,730m). Back at the trailhead, you’ll jump in the van for a 2.5-hour drive to the world-famous mountain town of Banff – your base for the final two nights. It’s a fitting end to the journey, with some of the most iconic views in the Rockies. Once the tents are pitched, dinner will be served back at camp.
4-5 hrs · 12.8km · 780m up · 780m down
Day 9: Cory Pass and Banff
For your last day of hiking in the Rockies you’ll tackle the Cory Pass Trail. This circular route around Mount Edith offers epic views of Mount Cory. It begins with a steep section as you head up through the forest, and once above the treeline you’ll be on more rocky terrain. This route includes a short section of scrambling, your guides will show you the way and by this point in the trip will understand everyone’s abilities well. After the rewarding challenge of today’s hike, grab a shower at camp, and then head into Banff this evening to celebrate an unforgettable adventure in the Rockies!
5-7 hrs · 16.9km · 1323m up · 1323m down
Day 10: Goodbye Rocky Mountains
After breakfast it’s time to pack up camp for the last time. Say goodbye to the Rockies as you drive back to Calgary Airport.