RZR Tours with The Adventure Group in Whistler are so much fun! The tours involve driving along rugged trails in all-terrain, almost dune buggy-like vehicles.
Pronounced “razor”, RZR tours are just one of a number of exciting outdoor activities offered by The Adventure Group (TAG). Other action-packed extreme sports in summer include ziplining and white water rafting. In winter there is snowmobiling. Basecamp for the company is also where you’ll find the Vallea Lumina light walk through the forest pretty much all year long.
RZR All-Terrain Vehicle Tours in Whistler
Tours on all-terrain-style vehicles are a fast, exhilarating way to explore the beautiful scenery of Whistler. One of the many summer activities offered by The Adventure Group, the RZR Tours are exciting and fun. The main activity camp is located on Cougar Mountain, about a ten-minute drive from Whistler Village. The Adventure Group also offers free shuttles to the camp from multiple locations in Whistler.
With the RZR Tours there are a few different options for paths and difficulty levels. No matter your choice, make sure to bring your driver’s license, as you’re not allowed to drive if you don’t have one, although you can still be a passenger. You’ll also want a change of clothes as well. Rain or shine, the RZRs roll on, and there’s about a 99.9% chance you’ll get dirty!
To learn more about RZR Tours see the TAG Whistler website.
Where Are the Tours?
Basecamp for the Adventure Group is at Cougar Mountain on the Sixteen Mile Creek Forest Service Road. It’s about a 10-minute drive from downtown Whistler. From Whistler Village, instead of turning left at the highway, towards Vancouver, you turn right, so in the direction of Pemberton. The Basecamp is at the end of Cougar Mountain Road which is just off the Sea to Sky Highway near the northern end of Green Lake. Basecamp is also where you’ll find Vallea Lumina, the Aerial Obstacle Course and Superfly Ziplines as well as other outdoor adventure activities.
Costs and Available Tours
There are two main road options with the RZR Tours, both with beginner and intermediate levels. The first is the Wilderness Ride. This selection costs about $240 for a 2-seat vehicle and $340 for a 4-seater. The tour lasts around 90 minutes with a couple of stops along the way to enjoy the beautiful Whistler scenery. The actual ride time is around 75 minutes.
The second option is the BC Tour, which is a little longer at about 150 minutes total (with around 105 minutes of ride time). Because of the longer duration, the price is a bit more, at around $270 for a 2-seater and $370 for a 4-seat vehicle. Like the Wilderness Ride there are stops along the way to take a break and check out the sights, including a designated viewpoint with beautiful views of the lakes and rivers below.
If you are inexperienced when it comes to off-road driving, don’t worry. All of the RZR Tours leave the main camp in groups and with guides. With experienced and trained staff leading the way and making sure you stay on track, you can enjoy the drive without worrying.
For more information on prices and to book a tour go to The Adventure Group website.
What is an RZR?
RZRs are ATV motor vehicles equipped to handle all sorts of terrain. They are mostly open-air vehicles which means you need to wear a helmet (which is provided by The Adventure Group).
The machines are equipped with a safety roll cage which means even if you fully tip over you should be alright, other than perhaps a few small bumps and bruises. The odds of a roller over, however, are next to nothing, unless you don’t obey the rules and are a ridiculously aggressive driver.
Because these tours go off-road there is always plenty of dust (when it’s dry) or mud (when it’s wet). Consequently, make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! You can also borrow a pair of overalls from The Adventure Group if you want to. If you do, just ask. Goggles might also be available. Bring gloves if you can. We found we got a little cold on a damp day.
The RZRs all have automatic transmissions, so you don’t have to worry about changing gears (apart from into reverse on the rare occasion). The gas and brake pedals are the same as on a regular car.
What to Expect on an RZR Tour
When you go on an RZR Tour you need to arrive about 15 minutes early. You also have to sign a waiver online in advance. Upon arrival you are greeted by a staff person and checked in. During the pandemic, you are also asked a series of COVID-related questions and have your temperature checked by a scanner. Next, the staff suggest you go to the washroom before getting your helmet. After that, you wait a couple more minutes before your guides tell you to follow them to the vehicles.
Before getting into the RZRs the tour guide goes over the safety rules and explains how to drive. After that, everyone climbs in their vehicles and away they go!
On a tour, the vehicles go in single file. For novice groups, one tour guide leads the way. Another one, in a second vehicle, brings up the rear. Everyone travels the distance of a couple of cars apart.
The tour starts out slowly, and on easy terrain, to allow everyone to get used to the driving. As people get more comfortable behind the wheel, the procession speeds up. By the end of the 75-minute tour, the group will have travelled through all kinds of rugged terrain, from rocky dirt roads with steep inclines to trails you’ll be surprised a vehicle can get up. Assuming there has been rain in the previous few days, you’ll likely also go through some giant mud puddles!
A couple of times along the route the group stops for a break to stretch and admire the view. During these times drivers and passengers can switch seats if they want to.
Throughout the ride you can expect lots of thrills, bumps and excitement. In dry weather, especially in the summer, you can expect a fair bit of dust. In wet weather, there’s mud. The vehicles themselves are surprisingly smooth, thanks to their excellent shocks and suspension. You will get tossed around a fair bit, but not too much. That being said, the ride isn’t recommended for people who are pregnant or have pre-existing neck or back problems. For everyone else, however, the experience is an absolute blast!
To learn more about RZR Tours (and other activities like ziplining, ropes courses and whitewater rafting) in Whistler, visit Tagwhistler.com website.
RZR Tour Video
To give you an even better idea of what to expect from a RZR Tour, check out the following video. As you’ll see, the trips are a ton of fun! They also involve all kinds of rugged terrain and, not infrequently, lots of mud!
Tips and Advice
Below are some suggestions and extra information to help you make the most out of your RZR-ing experience.
TIP #1: With the RZR Tours as well as the other activities, go to the washroom before heading out. You won’t pass any toilets along the route on your trip, just trees and bushes. And it can get bumpy in the vehicles!
TIP #2: With the 4-person RZRs, the best views are in the front, but that’s also where you’ll get the dirtiest and muddiest. Shorter people will like the front because they can see better. Taller people though will like the front because it has slightly more leg room.
TIP #3: The vehicles are small. There isn’t a lot of extra space. There is room enough though for a fairly big person. When we went we could also squish our camera bag down by our feet (but in a plastic bag because we knew it would get muddy).
TIP #4: There are lockers at the Basecamp in case you want to store bags and other things.
TIP #5: Don’t wear good clothes or anything that you’ll mind getting dirty. Whether it’s from the dust or the mud, by the end of your trip you’ll be ready to appear in a Tide laundry detergent commercial. And it’s so much fun getting that way!
TIP #6: Because of the dust and mud, to protect your eyes, wearing sunglasses or some kind of eyewear is recommended. It can also get cold, so gloves can be a good idea too.
TIP #7: Mosquitos can get bad in the bush. Consequently, you might want to take bug spray. There aren’t always mosquitos, but there are sometimes.
TIP #8: Passengers have to be at least 4 feet tall and big enough for a helmet to fit properly. To drive you have to be at least 16 years of age and have a valid driver’s license.
TIP #9: If you plan to switch drivers, especially in 4-person vehicles where more than two people want to drive, let the most timid person drive first. That way they can drive on the easier terrain, and at a slower speed. The more experienced and aggressive drivers, meanwhile, can learn and have fun when the trails get more challenging.
TIP #10: RZR Tours happen rain or shine. If it’s raining, or has been recently, wear your rain gear.
TIP #11: With most outdoor adventures, the best time to do them is on days with sunny weather. With RZR Tours, however, rainy days can be some of the best! You’re going to get dirty anyways, so you might as well do it when the trails are at their muddy best! Also, at times when there hasn’t been rain for a while, instead of getting splattered with mud you’ll get covered in dust. Mud is nicer, and way more fun!
TIP #12: The Adventure Group offers much more than just all-terrain vehicle tours. Don’t forget that at the same venue there is also Superfly Ziplines, the Aerial Obstacle Course, Vallea Lumina and other activities (all of which are equally awesome, but in different ways). Be sure to check some of these other activities out too. Also, if you pay for more than one at the same time you can usually save a few dollars.
Aerial Obstacle Course
Other Information
For more information about the RZR Tours visit The Adventure Group website.
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