The Sawridge Inn is the top hotel in Ft.McMurray and our guests enjoy warm hospitality here. It is a 3.5 star hotel with comfortable rooms, indoor pool, exercise room, 8-person Jacuzzi, 80-seat Hearthstone Grill Restaurant, large lounge, 7 banquet rooms and an accommodating staff. Each room includes a bathtub with shower, hair dryer, coffee-maker, queen bed/s, etc.
Our Welcome Dinner is an Alta-Can Aurora Tours trademark. Not only does it include a delicious 3-course meal, but it is an opportunity for our guests to enjoy orientation in a relaxed atmosphere, learn about the Auroras from our astronomer, see a video of the option tours
Two major airlines, Air Canada and Westjet, service Ft.McMurray with several daily flights. Flights arrivals are during the afternoon and early evening. This allows for our guests to participate in Aurora viewing on the night of arrival. Most of our tour groups fly into Edmonton Airport and bus to Ft.McMurray by luxury coach. This allows the guests to have a meal on board, and to be ready for a night of Aurora viewing when they arrive in Ft.McMurray (5 hrs driving time)
The viewing site is about 12 minutes by vehicle from the Sawridge Hotel. The private and undisturbed facility has a huge open area for viewing (360 degrees), a warm, comfortable building with flush toilets, hot and cold running water and snacks as well as hot drinks all night long
The owner of Alta-Can Aurora Tours takes pride and satisfaction in spending time with the guests. As such he is present on most of the tours, including during the Aurora viewing and activity phases of the tours. This assists in creating a family atmosphere which Alta-Can is known for.
Alta-Can Aurora Tours has a photographer/astronomer on staff. His instruction assists our guests in Aurora photography and learning more about the Auroras and many objects in our galaxy via a telescope and sky tours. High quality under-the-Aurora personal photos are made available.
The viewing site activities are extras to enhance guest satisfaction at no additional charge. They include photography instruction and hands-on assistance, telescope viewing (8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain), interpretive sky tours, mini-rocket launch to illustrate plasma recovery and research, deep sky slide show, midnight interpretive Boreal Forest Walk, Boreal Forest animal slide show, campfire activities, games with prizes, and others!
(Please note that some, all or none of the above activities might be included, depending on how active the Aurora are in the sky.)
Our fun-filled tours offer a strong educational element:
Our guides have been selected for their attractive personalities and their talents to make our guests happy. Our guides stay in the same hotel as the guests and are on 24-hr. duty
Because of our company policy of quality, heart-warming treatment of guests and lots of fun, Alta-Can Tours has been fortunate to have many multiple repeaters — some 10 years in a row!
Our option tours reflect our Northern Canadian location and add greatly to the enjoyment of our guests with such activities as Aboriginal Experience, Wilderness Experience, Downhill Skiing, Tubing, Oilsands Viewing & City shopping, and Fall Colours & Sunset Photography.
Ft. McMurray has the top non-mountain downhill skiing facility in Alberta. It has 4 ski runs with triple chair lift. All equipment for either skiing or snowboarding are available for rent. The ski facility includes a TUBING run that is very popular for all ages.