Explore the Wild Horses of Alberta with Sandy Sharkey
Wild Horse photography at its finest….
Come join premier wildlife photographer, Sandy Sharkey for this Wild Horse Photography tour to Alberta, Canada. Let Sandy introduce you to the exciting world of Wild Horse photography in the stunning vistas of Alberta Canada!
The southern foothills and grasslands of Alberta are particularly well known for its wild horse populations. The horses here represent a mix of bloodlines, including Spanish mustangs and other breeds, contributing to their diverse characteristics.
Sandy has devoted her photography career to photographing wild horses and has a particular interest in the preservation of the wild horses of Canada. She is very excited to share her experience and introduce a small group of women photographers to these beautiful animals.
This is a unique adventure that combines the thrill of wildlife photography with a rustic stay in charming cabins. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a beginner, this experience promises breathtaking moments and lasting memories in one of Canada’s most beautiful regions.
About your leader….
Sandy Sharkey is a wildlife photographer with a focus on wild horses. Using her photography to advocate for the protection of wild horses, Sandy embarked on a 14,000 mile road trip to capture images of mustangs in the American west. She has photographed and documented the rare Przewalski’s wild horses of Mongolia, the Kaimanawa wild horses of New Zealand, and the wild Garrano horses of northern Portugal. But her heart always brings her back to the wild horses of Canada, from the spirited wild horses in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills to the stunning wild horses of Sable Island. Sandy is a photographic guide, guest speaker, online presenter, writer, and passionate advocate for wild horses that are fast disappearing from the landscape along with other species of wildlife due to the pressures of mankind. She is a proud ambassador for the ‘Wild Beauty Foundation’ (www.wildbeautyfoundation.org) and a supporter of ‘Help Alberta Wildies Society (www.helpalbertawildiessociety.com)
Sandy’s passion and purpose is to introduce people to the wonders of wild horses and to help keep them running free for generations to come.
Her fine art wild horse prints hang in homes and workplaces around the world, and her images have been published in countless magazines, including the cover shot of Canadian Geographic’s Sept/Oct 2024 issue.To see Sandy’s work, please go to www.sandysharkey.com
Sandy’s photo on the cover of Canadian Geographic
5 Participants
$3,700
$400 single supplement (2 available)*
*Most women who come on our tours travel alone, if you would like us to pair you with another participant we will do our best to do so. However if we are unable to pair you with someone, the single supplement will apply.
SEPT. 13TH – 17TH, 2026
Day 1 (Sept. 13th)
Guests will be picked up at 9 am at Calgary International Airport. Participants should arrive in Calgary the day before (Sept. 13th) and book a night at an airport hotel. Sandy will be driving everyone to your accommodations for the next several days, the Panther River Lodge, about 2 hrs and 15 mins away.
Upon arrival at the lodge, guests will receive lodging assignments and keys. We assemble in the main lodge for lunch, official welcome and short presentation by Sandy. Sandy will discuss proper etiquette with the wild horses of Alberta, and detail the likelihood of other wildlife sightings including mule deer, white tailed deer, bighorn sheep, foxes, coyotes, moose, elk, bald eagles, golden eagles, and possibility of seeing black bears, wolves or lynx.
There will be an afternoon photography session with the horses followed by dinner at the lodge and camp fire.
Day 2 (Sept. 14th)
- Buffet breakfast at Panther River Lodge
- Wild horse adventure ( 2 to 3 hours)
- Depending on weather, we will either bring picnic lunch to be enjoyed in the wilderness, or head back to lodge for lunch
- Wild horse adventure (2 to 3 hours)
- Dinner in lodge, followed by campfire (weather dependent)
Day 3 (Sept. 15th)
- Buffet breakfast at Panther River Lodge
- Wild horse adventure (2 to 3 hours)
- Lunch at Panther River Lodge
- Easy hike to waterfall. Beautiful photographic opportunities with a stunning natural waterfall. Scenic drive to Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, the only federally owned working horse ranch in Canada. These horses assist in search and rescue, and emergency aid such as wildfires. High probability of seeing wild elk and bighorn sheep along the way
- Dinner in lodge, followed by campfire (weather dependent)
Day 4 (Sept. 16th)
- Buffet breakfast Panther River Lodge
- Wild horse adventure ( 2 to 3 hours)
- Depending on weather, we will either bring picnic lunch to be enjoyed in the wilderness, or head back to lodge for lunch
- Wild horse adventure (2 to 3 hours)
- Dinner in lodge, followed by campfire (weather dependent)
Day 5 (Sept. 17th)
- Breakfast at Panther River Lodge
- Return to Calgary Airport for flights out
- End of tour
- Accommodations day 1-5
- All meals from lunch on day 1 through breakfast on day 5
- All ground transportation
- Photography mentoring from your leader
- Camaraderie with other women wildlife photographers
- Flights
- Accommodations before the start of the tour on Sept. 14th
- Breakfast day 1
- Trip insurance (recommended)
Easy to moderate. You will be traveling by vehicle and walking short distances to see the horses.