Travel & Preparation

Lodge Location

Mountain Trek is nestled in the lush mountains of British Columbia, overlooking Kootenay lake and the Purcell mountains.

Located in the village of Ainsworth Hot Springs, a beautiful forty-five minute drive up the lake from the world-famous bohemian town of Nelson, British Columbia, Mountain Trek’s lodge is easily accessible, yet removed from it all.

3800 North Street
Ainsworth Hot Springs, BC
V0G 1A0 Canada

Travel To The Lodge

There are many ways to get to the lodge. Often, guests consider coming a couple days before or after their retreat to explore our beautiful town of Nelson, and/or the other wonderful natural places in British Columbia that are just a drive away, such as; Fernie, Golden, and Banff National Park—one of the most stunning landscapes on earth!

To support getting to the lodge, we offer a free shuttle from the two closest airports:  Spokane, WA (GEG), and Castlegar, BC (YCG). To maintain program timing, our shuttles operate at specific times only—if your flight is delayed, missed, or cancelled beyond the shuttle departure time, arrival to the lodge is your responsibility.  Note: car rentals are available from Spokane and taxis are available from Castlegar.

The Spokane shuttle departs the airport at 1:00p sharp on the Saturday of your start date. We recommend flights that arrive before 12:00p, as the shuttle is unable to wait for delayed flights.

The shuttle returns to the airport the following Saturday by 12:00p, so flights departing after 1:00p work well.

The Spokane airport shuttle is approximately 4-5 hours with the border crossing.

Our Castlegar (YCG) shuttle services all flights arriving and departing between 10:00a and 3:00p. Castlegar is only 75 minutes from our lodge, but is a small regional airport that is more prone to delays and cancellations. If arriving into Castlegar, please note you will first be transported into the lovely town of Nelson, where you can walk around the shops and restaurants (view our Guide To A Saturday In Nelson), and then at 4:00p (once we have fully cleaned and sanitized every room) you will re-board the shuttle and drive out to the lodge.

If you are driving or renting a car, check-in time for the lodge is between 5:00-6:00p. Please see the lodge address above.

What to pack

Bring layers, leave fancy attire at home—this is your time to recharge in comfortable clothing. Complimentary daily laundry service is provided so you can pack light (you shouldn’t need to pack more than a carry-on) and in your room you will find; organic shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion, a hairdryer, and a spa robe. We also provide your backpack and hiking poles for the week.

! NEW for 2024 !

As we continue our effort to reduce material waste, please bring your own 3L water bladder and 24-32 oz / 750 mL – 1L insulated water bottle from home.

If you don’t have either, you can purchase our favorites when at the lodge and then bring these essential hiking items home.

How to Layer

Base layer
This is your sweat-wicking first layer that has direct contact with your skin. Good fabrics include polypro, merino wool and silk. Cotton is discouraged—it will keep you damp.

Middle layer
Your insulating layer that traps body heat. Polar Fleece and wool are preferable.

Outer layer
Your shield from wind and rain. Gore-Tex, or something similar, is best—it’s waterproof yet breathable.

What to leave at home

Tobacco
Candy
Coffee
Alcohol
Perfume
Strongly-scented deodorants, lotions and aftershave

How to prepare

Our nutritionist and kinesiologist recommend adopting the following guidelines leading up to your retreat, ideally beginning one month prior:

Eat fibrous breakfasts
Consume smaller, low-carb dinners; breakfast and lunch should make up 2/3 of your daily calories
At least 2 fruits and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day
Less caffeine
At least 8 glasses of water daily
Fewer refined carbohydrates, such as white breads and pasta
1 multivitamin daily
Less salt when cooking and snacking
Increase your cardio activity
Aim to hit at least 10,000 steps daily
Increase leg strength when possible, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator

Why no Caffeine

For the week or two you are at Mountain Trek, you will not have sugar, alcohol, or caffeine. While the sugar and alcohol might be obvious, cutting caffeine might be perplexing. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine. Higher and prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream have been shown to have a negative effect on raising the metabolism, altering blood sugars and blood pressure and decreasing muscle tissue and bone density. It has also been shown to increase the deposit of belly fat for a significant percentage of the population. We offer substitutes at the retreat that will satiate your coffee needs.

Travel & Medical Insurance

It is required that all guests have medical insurance. If coming from outside Canada, please ensure your current health insurance covers travel or purchase travel-specific medical coverage.

It is highly recommended that guests purchase trip cancellation insurance. The Mountain Trek program is non-refundable and last-minute emergencies or medical issues do sometimes arise. Please visit your local travel agent to do so, or purchase insurance online.

Spa Services Menu

With each week’s stay at Mountain Trek, you receive three 50-minute therapeutic massages. Many guests choose to add additional services to further customize their stay.

Review Additional Spa Services Menu

COVID Protocols

Please find our latest COVID protocols here:

Mountain Trek Guest Covid Protocols