Side Hustle School Ep. 3362 - First $1,000: The Canadian Wilderness Experience Curator
Mar 16, 2026
A Canadian entrepreneur turns wilderness hikes into immersive tours that blend stunning scenery with indigenous stories. He explains pricing, cost planning, and marketing on a shoestring. Learn how collaborations with local indigenous communities shaped the experiences and how winter treks, survival workshops, and northern lights trips expanded the offering.
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True North Trails Startup Story
- Liam launched True North Trails as curated wilderness experiences blending hikes with indigenous stories and local history.
- He priced short treks at $250 and longer trips up to $1,000, booked a solid weekend calendar in his first month.
Tier Prices Based On Real Costs
- Do list all costs (permits, equipment, transport, time) and create tiered pricing to cover variable trek complexity.
- Liam set tiers from $250 to $1,000 after calculating permits, gear needs, and his time.
Trade Experiences For Influencer Promotion
- Use low-cost social channels and trades to market early on instead of paid ads.
- Liam posted wilderness photos on Reddit and Instagram and offered free trips to influencers for promotion.