About Us & Your Canada Vacation

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined"
- Henry David Thoreau.

Since 1992 Fresh Tracks has had one mission: to invent amazing experiences in Canada & Alaska -- so our clients can live their dreams, and create memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Summary

• Fresh Tracks is a travel company for people who are interested in living their dreams.
• Fresh Tracks specializes in Canada & Alaska - it's all we do.
• Fresh Tracks serves young & old; rich & poor; the relaxed and the adventurous!

If you are the kind of traveler who wants to have your very best experience in Canada or Alaska, our team of passionate experts will understand and share your dream - and make it a reality.

Philosophy

"Insist on yourself; never imitate... Every great man is unique"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

For reasons of history (below), Fresh Tracks as a company has always been a proud maverick.

We don't like to do what everyone else does; we don't like to be 'tourists'. Instead, we strive to innovate and find new ways to experience the world, gain new insights, and see with fresh eyes.

So our goal is not to be the biggest - it is to be the most unique. We serve those who don't like to follow the crowd - who want to go confidently in the direction of their dreams.

History

To see if we are your kind of travel company, it helps to know just a little of our story.

Fresh Tracks was founded in 1992 in Vancouver, British Columbia, by an immigrant from Africa called Charlie Richardson - who frankly knew nothing about the travel industry.

Charlie was just amazed by the wilderness and wildlife he found here - which he always said was just as amazing in its own way as anything in Africa - and he wanted to tell the world about it.

In 1995, current CEO John Parker, took over - and he knew nothing about the travel industry either!

Not, perhaps, the most auspicious start - but, as we have learned, there are advantages in looking at things with fresh eyes.

(Although we do sometimes wish we had a dollar for every time we have been told: 'you don't understand - you're not a proper travel person!')

 "Charlie and I got on well because we both essentially got into the travel industry by accident," says John. "We had travelled widely. We didn't like being 'tourists'. And we had all the gusto and naivety of men who drink a lot and think they can run a pub."

John's first foray into the travel business had come in 1992 when with two friends he started running expeditions to raft rivers in Nepal.

"Looking back on that first expedition, I think we must have been mad. Somehow we had taken it into our heads to raft this major whitewater river that had hardly ever been rafted before. We assembled rafts, kayaks, local guides, several tons of food and equipment -- and a small army of porters to lug it all over several mountain ranges to the put-in point - and we dragged along 25 of our friends and family, most of whom had no idea what they were letting themselves in for...

"I learned a lot - and it was the trip of our lives. That was it for me - I was hooked on the idea of giving people experiences they would never forget. I loved inspiring people - and seeing them blossom and live large in the wilderness..."

So at Fresh Tracks we hesitate to say our trips are 'the most amazing' or we are 'the best company' - that seems like hyperbole to us. What we do say is every trip we sell has to be our style; it has to be inspirational; and it has to be - even in some small essential way - unique.

Why Canada & Alaska

A great vacation is a time where you live life is as it should be; where each day is outstanding; where you are the best you can be; and where experiences create memories that last forever.

We believe Canada & Alaska are unique places in which to have such a journey - because of their power to move people; because of their vastness, their wild-ness and their beauty.

Here you can breathe, and find peace and solitude, and beauty that is unsurpassed; here you can discover your spirit of adventure, your own call of the wild; here you can have experiences like these:

• A sudden view of the Rockies -- a vast forested valley spread out before you, with snowy peaks all around, and - in the middle of it all - a lake of brilliant turquoise blue...
• Sitting by a cedar fire on a wilderness beach you have kayaked to, cradling a cup of tea or a glass of wine; the sea lapping nearby and a swathe of stars overhead...
• Cycling a country road through picturesque villages, the warm air sweet with the smell of leaves, and the colors of Fall everywhere you look - vivid foliage of red, orange and gold...
• The vast echoing stillness of the far north; the European flair of the east; a lobster dinner in a simple café in the Maritimes...
• The sound of a loon over a still lake ... the call of an elk ... the snuffle of a bear ... the yelp of sled-dogs ... the swoosh of your skis deep in powder snow...

Over the years these memories of beauty and wilderness will comfort and inspire you; the adventures you had will excite you; the feelings of joy and togetherness you felt will come flooding back with each re-telling of each funny episode, each magic moment...

This is why we are passionate about what we do.

Why Fresh Tracks

A lot of factors go into producing a truly amazing travel experience - people, money, research, technology, long-standing relationships with suppliers - not to mention knowledge, expertise, experience, judgment - and the feedback of more than 10,000 passengers over 16 years. 
But several things stand out for your consideration if you are wondering who to book with:

• We know our expertise makes a difference - from the literally thousands of testimonials we have received, just a small sampling of which you can see on this site.
• We are experts in Canada & Alaska - we live and work here, and we don't sell trips to other places. Chances are one of us at least has been anywhere you want to go. We travel often and we are constantly learning.
• We don't sell itineraries that are exactly the same as any other company's - we always strive to find a new and better way to experience the world - even if it is just a few vital tweaks that make the experience more interesting, more satisfying, and more inspiring.
• We always strive to find the hidden places, the unique experiences, the magic moments, that make a journey truly memorable. 
• We use the best local providers wherever we go - and we have fine-tuned this list based on the feedback we have received over 16 years. Many are old and trusted friends.
• Above all, every trip we sell has to inspire us - because if we are not excited about it and we would not spend our hard-earned cash doing it, we are certainly not going to sell it.

Why We Have A Trip For You

We are not like some companies that only cater to rich folks, or backpackers, or middle-income folks - we are a 'broad church'. We only sell Canada & Alaska - so we strive to serve everyone who has a passion to experience the best of Canada & Alaska, according to their own unique needs. So in each category of trip we sell you will usually find a range of options:

• Expensive luxury trips, and very affordable trips - and in each case we strive for the best value we can find.
• Easy trips & very adventurous, rugged trips - and many trips where activity is optional or flexible.
• Short getaways and trips that are major journeys - and in every case we strive to offer as much variety, choice, and independence as logistics allow.

Customization

Finally, we have built our business on personal service - and we depend on repeat and referral customers. But behind the scenes we have a formidable and proprietary technology that allows us to customize virtually any journey in Canada or Alaska you could possibly imagine. You can think of our website as a menu or as a list of suggestions - because more or less any trip can be personalized to your needs at no extra expense.

When we have discovered together what your dream really is we will give you a complimentary full-color personalized itinerary that will make your dream come alive. You can show it to your friends and family and get them excited as you are about your amazing Canadian experience!

People

John Parker, CEO. John began his working life as a lawyer, before following his heart along a more adventurous path. He was a foreign correspondent in Asia for Reuters, and later formed an adventure travel company with friends - mostly doing rafting and hiking trips in Nepal. He has been CEO of Fresh Tracks since 1995.

Jim, Chief Technical Officer. Our technology is an unseen yet vital benefit to our customers. We don't believe computers can create great vacations - experts who truly understand your needs, and have the knowledge and creativity to match them with what is possible do that. But having all the components available in our databases, at the best prices, allows our Personal Trip Advisors to do their work and create personalized itineraries to suite your needs, tastes and budget. Jim has been in the travel industry more than 20 years and has traveled widely. In his spare time he loves to play the guitar and take his sons on adventures.

Jeremy, Product Manager. Jeremy is in charge of constantly improving and creating amazing experiences for travelers in Canada & Alaska. When a new lodge or park opens, or a great new adventure is created, Jeremy makes sure it is thoroughly checked out, and he is constantly trying to find the special places and experiences that set Fresh Tracks apart. He also acts on the feedback of thousands of clients -- so you have the peace of mind of knowing you are getting the best trip possible. Jeremy has been in the travel industry for more than 10 years and loves the outdoor lifestyle of Vancouver, especially snow-boarding and riding his mountain bike.

Louise, Customer Service & Operations Manager. Louise is Fresh Tracks' longest-serving employee -- and what she does not know about travel in Canada and Alaska is probably not worth knowing! When the chips are down and you need someone to help you, Louise is the one you want on your side. She has a raft of knowledge and relationships, and an uncanny ability to 'pull a few strings' and make it all work out. In her spare time Louise loves to get out camping, and travels as much as she can in Canada.

Josh, Personal Trip Advisor & Team Manager. Josh loves to talk to clients about travel and the more complicated your needs the better he likes it. He also spends part of his time coaching and mentoring his team and making sure the person you speak to is really an expert on the area you are interested in. Josh spent years as a semi-pro snowboarder - and he is an expert on all things winter in Canada. He is also a semi-professional soccer referee.

Katherine, Personal Trip Advisor. Our most senior consultant, Katherine is an expert at creating amazing customized experiences in Canada & Alaska. Her depth of knowledge of the hidden places, the wonderful experiences only the locals know, truly make a difference to every customer she deals with. She is a former elite show jumper, and spent several summers as a student planting trees - an iconic Canadian activity that guarantees a strong work ethic! A new mum, Katherine, still loves to get out into the Rockies whenever she can.

Gen, Personal Trip Advisor. Gen grew up on the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver, and she is still at heart a country girl. She has a passion for wilderness and wildlife that is infectious and she loves telling clients about the special places she has discovered on her travels. She is also a keen sailor, spending every chance she gets exploring the inlets and bays of the wonderful West Coast.

Robin , Personal Trip Advisor. Robin is from BC's interior, between Vancouver and the Rockies, and spent a lot of time growing up in the outdoors --exploring the lakes, rivers and mountains of the west. She has traveled extensively in Canada and Alaska, and recently returned from a year spent in Peru, where she continued to work for Fresh Tracks, thanks to the wonders of modern technology!

Davis, Personal Trip Advisor. Davis is a business grad from the University of British Columbia, and decided to get into an industry where he had a real passion. He is a passionate surfer, so most weekends - winter and summer - you'll find him heading out to Tofino on the west coast to catch some waves.

Allison, Personal Trip Advisor.Ali is a hardy Prairie girl who grew up in Winnipeg thinking nothing of cold winters where the temperature can drop to -30 degrees C. Her summers were spent in cottage country, so different beauty of the east is her true home. She left the Prairies and traveled the world for a while, but has now settled in Vancouver, where she loves the ocean and mountains.

Kelly, Customer Service Agent. What you see on your trip seems effortless - but behind the scenes there is a lot of work to make sure it appears that way. The 'checklist' is Kelly's department - because she is the one who makes sure that every detail of your trip is checked and double-checked before you go.

Jennifer's, Customer Service Agent. Jen and Kelly are best friends and also work together. They both love the details so they are your invaluable backstops for your trip, along with Louise. Jen is also a keen writer and often contributes to our blog about her travels.

Ernie, Web Programmer. Ernie translates ideas about what our websites should look like into reality by patiently programming everything and making it look pretty. A native of Australia, Ernie roamed the world before settling into Vancouver. He is an avid surfer and snowboarder who is slowly learning to adapt to our climate.

Peter, Database Programmer. Peter works with Jim and has the awesome responsibility of making sure that our servers work constantly and programming our database to do what we want it to do. His incisive logic and tenacity in finding solutions, allows us to create the customized trips we are known for.