getting-here

On the Road to Shambhala

Where is Shambhala?

Shambhala is held on the pristine Salmo River Ranch, a 500 acre cattle farm nestled in the Salmo River Valley in Southern Interior British Columbia, Canada.

Our location is pretty remote and there are no major cities nearby – Shambhala itself becomes the largest city in the West Kootenay Region for a week. It can be a little bit challenging to get here, but we’re here to help make that as easy as possible.

If you have any questions about Getting Here that aren’t covered on this page, just email us at info@shambhalamusicfestival.com.

Getting here by…benjaminJordan_2011-08-05-shambhala-canon-345-4627_em

Car

Shambhala is accessible by a dirt road off Hwy 3/6,
6 km east of Salmo, BC.

 

Get your personalized directions to Shambhala.

 

*Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition. RCMP road blocks on the way into Salmo are common around “Shambhala time”, and your car may be taken off the road if it does not meet safety standards.

 

We also recommend filling your gas tank before you enter the festival grounds and cleaning out your air filter before heading home.

 

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Carpool

Save some $ and make new friends by carpooling to Shambhala!

 

Don’t have a vehicle and need a lift? Want to share your ride to save some money on gas? Awesome! We love carpooling! The fewer vehicles on the farm, the better it is for the farmland. So we want to help you make those connections.

 

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Charter Bus

Local transportation company, Queen City Shuttle & Charters, offers a special shuttle service to Shambhala from Vancouver and Calgary.

 

Please note: Queen City Shuttles & Charters is an independent company and is not directly affiliated with Shambhala Music Festival.  Please direct all shuttle inquiries to info@kootenayshuttle.com or visit http://bcbuslines.com/coach/

 

If you are considering taking Greyhound please keep in mind that the nearest stop is the gas station in Salmo, 6km away from the entrance to the festival site.

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Crossing the Border

In the past few years, we’ve seen the numbers of our American Farmily grow. So awesome! Love all the love from our neighbours South of our border. Here are a few tips for smooth travel.

 

Nearest Border Crossings:

  • Nelway – 11.7 miles to festival site – open 8am-midnight daily
  • Waneta – 34.1 miles to festival site – open 9am – 5pm daily
  • Paterson – 49 miles to festival site – open 24 hrs

Because of the unpredictable nature of travel, we recommend crossing the Paterson border. That way you don’t have to worry if you end up running late – that crossing is always open.

Click here for a full list of CAD/US border crossings.
You will need a valid Passport to enter Canada. And it’s always good to purchase travel insurance when traveling to another country – we highly recommend it.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have a DUI in the US, it’s unlikely that Canada Border Services will allow you into Canada. If you have any questions about crossing the border, you can visit CBSA’s website.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) CAD/US Border Crossings

 
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Flying

Flying here can bit tricky – but it is doable! Here’s some info on getting here by air.

The nearest airports are:

 

  • Trail BC – 43 km, approx 50 minutes drive to festival site – Regional Airport (flights from Vancouver South Terminal Only)
  • Castlegar BC – 44 km, approx 50 minutes drive to festival site – Regional Airport
  • Cranbrook BC – 197 km, approx 2.5 hr drive to festival site – Int’l Airport (plus time change)
  • Spokane WA, USA – 169 mi, approx 3.5 hr drive to festival site – Int’l Airport (plus Border Crossing time, recommended route via Paterson shown, 24 hr crossing)
  • Kelowna BC – 346 km, approx 5 hr drive to festival site – Int’l Airport
  • Calgary, AB – 581 km, approx 6.5 hr drive to festival site – Int’l Airport
  • Vancouver BC – 669 km, approx 8.75 hr drive to festival site, Int’l Airport
Regardless of which airport you choose, inevitably, there’s still some ground travel.
Here are are some suggestions for ground travel:
  • Cab, carpool or car rental from Trail or Castlegar
  • Carpool or car rental from Cranbrook, Spokane or Kelowna
  • Carpool, car rental or shuttle bus from Vancouver or Calgary
Worried about fitting all your camping gear AND your costumes on the plane? Make camping easy with ShambhaLodging! Have a fully assembled campsite ready and waiting in the shade for your arrival.
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Safe travels on your Road to Shambhala!
We can’t wait to be dancing under the stars with you!

 

Want to know more about our local area, accommodations, available services, etc?

Explore the Kootenays Nelson Kootenay Lake Nelson BC Salmo BC West Kootenay Go & Do Guide  Slocan Loop