Glacier National Park & the Canadian Rockies

Welcome to Calgary!

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Native Traditions

Before departing Calgary, enjoy an orientation tour of the city's highlights. Travel south along the Macleod Trail. Tour Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a local First Nations guide. Then on to scenic Waterton Lakes National Park with a photo stop at Cameron Falls. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CULTURE & TRADITION: Discover the longtime relationship between the First Nations culture and the vast herds of American bison that roamed the plains of southwest Alberta. See the remains of marked trails and an ancient burial mound where vast quantities of buffalo (American Bison) skeletons can still be found at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - evidence of a custom used by the Plains People. Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behavior, they skillfully chased the bison over a precipice to quickly kill their main source of sustenance, clothing, and products.

Peak Perfection

Enter Montana through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and behold the awesome snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park. Next, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring a made-from-scratch piece of huckleberry pie. Take a scenic ride on the Red Jammer Bus on spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road. (B/L)

LOCAL FAVORITE - THE SWEET LIFE: Each summer and fall, the aptly named Huckleberry Mountain bursts forth with a purple bounty of berries for which it is named. These Huckleberries are a favorite of bears who live in Glacier National Park, but you can enjoy the sweet rewards of summer with a homemade piece of traditional huckleberry pie with lunch at a local restaurant—our treat!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: A highlight of your visit to Glacier National Park awaits you as you board the famous vintage Red Jammer bus that will take you along one of North America's most spectacular highways: Going-to-the-Sun Road. After crossing the 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, you'll enter a geographical wonderland of alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks dominate the landscape.

Life in the Wild West

Re-enter Canada this morning, with a stop at the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre in British Columbia to learn of the history and culture of the Ktunaxa Nation of British Columbia, before crossing into Alberta. Drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon and Kootenay National Park before entering Banff National Park, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The evening is free to enjoy the village's shops, galleries, and restaurants. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - PICTURE PERFECT: Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada's first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!

Spend your day your way in Banff

This morning, sightseeing includes a stop at beautiful Bow Falls.

• PEAKS & VALLEYS - Take your experience higher on a docent-led tour at Whyte Museum to explore the history, culture, and environment of Banff and the Bow Valley area. Learn about the influence of the mountains and landscape, plus view collections illustrating life in the Canadian Rockies, Indigenous people, and early settlers.
• A NATURAL HIGH - Discover Banff National Park on foot with a guided hike on Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail. Enjoy an immersive nature experience and watch for wildlife, natural wonders and wildflowers on the gentle hike. Explore panoramic views of the valley and Sulphur Mountain and pause at rocky outcrops for photo stops.

ENHANCED FREE TIME - EXPLORE MORE: in Banff with a visit to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, or walk through downtown Banff, an idyllic mountain ski town. Your Tour Director has suggestions for your free time, and your GlobusGO mobile app puts all the possibilities right at your fingertips.

Rocky Mountain Majesty

Follow breathtaking Icefields Parkway today and head for Jasper National Park. One highlight of your vacation: a visit to famous Lake Louise. Then, climb to Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. There's time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDER: Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise lake in the setting of Victoria Glacier, with a soaring mountain backdrop, palatial Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel, and jaw-dropping sights in the Canadian Rockies. The spectacular beauty of Lake Louise is a rare treasure and bucket list experience!

Spectacular Jasper

The morning is at leisure. Nearby activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Later, journey to Maligne Lake for a narrated cruise of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, enjoy a lakeside dinner with incredible views and local fare including famous Alberta beef. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - SPIRIT IN THE SKY: A cruise to Spirit Island on the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake is a spectacular sight to behold as one of the most photographed locations in the world for its jaw-dropping beauty.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: Spanning nearly 4,250 square miles of spectacular natural beauty, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic sights lie below an incredible Dark Sky to thrill stargazers as well.

Geologic Gems

This morning, visit Athabasca Falls and then retrace the route south along Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride aboard an Ice Explorer. Continue to Calgary, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner—a perfect ending to your vacation. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Be moved across the Athabasca Glacier aboard the all-terrain Ice Explorer and walk on the surface where the Earth's geology is changing beneath your feet. Visit the Glacier Discovery Centre and feel the force of nature's strength on an ancient glacier that still carves the face of the Rocky Mountains today.

Happy trails until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)