Sundance Guest Ranch

Offering a breed of hospitality that is rare even by Canadian standards, Sundance Guest Ranch is a once-in-a-lifetime-experience, until you decide that once is probably insufficient. Primarily a family-friendly dude ranch providing riding holidays in British Columbia’s magnificent Thompson River Valley, Sundance Guest Ranch is somehow so much more. Yes, the riding is great; yes, it’s good for families; but even if you don’t ride, or if you come as a couple, you’re still going to enjoy the experience! This is partly down to the spectacular surroundings of sage-scented hills, alpine meadows and river canyons; it’s also partly down to the sweet hospitality and the delicious home-cooked food.

Sundance’s 22 rooms are relatively simple but have all the comforts, and as you drift off to sleep, you’ll hear the coyotes howling outside. Life at Sundance however revolves around being in the great outdoors or, come evening, in the main lodge. If you’ve come to ride, Sundance Guest Ranch runs a herd of over a hundred happy, well-cared-for horses of all colours, gaits, sizes and speeds, and whether you’re a complete greenhorn or you’ve ridden like the wind all your life, you’ll find the wranglers patient, courteous and funny, the horses as gentle or as spirited as you wish, and the rides simply magnificent. Children need to be at least eight years old to go out on trail rides, but in the summer months there’s a supervised children's programme for under-eights including pony rides in the arena. Non-riders can go hiking and river rafting, relax by the pool, cast a line for trout or play a round at a nearby golf course.

When you’ve had your fill of adventure for the day, you’ll return to Sundance, probably a little saddle-sore, probably walking a little John Wayne, in which case book a massage treatment, or sit out and relax on the deck with a glass of wine and swap stories with your fellow riders before getting ready for dinner. As you tuck into a char-grilled steak, you can watch the evening ‘jingle’ through the windows as the herd run out into their pastures for the night, before heading across to the lounge bar for a sociable drink and chat by the huge stone fireplace. If you prefer, play a game of eight-ball or retire to your room and watch a DVD. On Saturdays, a steak barbecue and country rock night is fantastic fun for the whole family.