Overview
Itinerary
Tip your Stetson to Canada's ‘Cowboy Country', kick-starting your adventure through the inimitable Rockies in Calgary.
This evening, gather join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception. (WR) Stay: The Westin Calgary
Embark on a spiritual encounter with the Canadian Rockies, admiring the ethereal beauty of Lake Louise, the surrounding summits and Victoria Glacier, before we continue along the Icefields Parkway. Skirt the craggy peaks, waterfalls and luminous glacial lakes keeping an eye out for bears, elk and mountain goats as you make your way through the wilderness to Jasper. (B) Stay: Chateau Jasper
Soak up pristine natural surroundings enjoying a morning at leisure or joining an optional Jasper Float Trip. Next, enjoy a Be My Guest experience over lunch at Maligne Lake Chalet. Hear fascinating stories about Jasper and uncover local secrets with the entertaining Jasper Theater Productions.
Then, take to the aqua waters of Maligne Lake (seasonal), admiring views of its three glaciers and Spirit Island, named by the Stoney Nation indigenous people for the experiences their ancestors had at this place centuries ago. While Spirit Island is only a tiny grove of trees separated from the mainland by an isthmus, it becomes a true island for a few short days during the summer.
Later, enjoy dramatic views as you take a guided walk to Maligne Canyon. (B/L)
Your adventure begins with a ride onto the Athabasca Glacier in an all-terrain Ice Explorer—a massive vehicle specially designed for glacier travel. On this thrilling trip, an experienced driver-guide will share local secrets about glaciers and their impact on our environment. Take a sip of ice-cold glacier water and admire the surrounding snowcapped panorama before continuing your journey to the alpine village of Banff.
Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we meet a Cree Guide who will share insight on how buffalo were so important to our survival, the interconnected relationship we have, the teachings of the Buffalo around the sacred contract we hold and how we may have become part of that sacred contract.
Tonight, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers. (B/D) Stay: Banff Park Lodge
Learn the art of playing the puck like a pro when you meet a real Canadian hockey player in Canmore. Dive Into Culture and embrace Canada's national sport, learning the secrets and superstitions of hockey players as a professional coach walks you through a day in the life of a player. Go inside the players' dressing room and put on the full hockey gear with help of a real coach. Grab your stick and it's off onto the ice where you'll soon find out whether you are a lefty or righty and learn how to score the big goal.
A sightseeing excursion around Banff reveals the exquisite natural beauty of the area. Admire the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner, spectacular Bow Falls, and the hoodoo rock formations. You may also choose a breathtaking helicopter optional for views of the Canadian Rockies you won't soon forget or take a ride on the Banff Gondola, you'll see more mountains in a moment than most see in a lifetime! Ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain to experience a bird's eye view of six mountain ranges of the Canadian Rockies. (B)
Join your Travel Director for an optional excursion in the morning to explore the jewels of the Rockies and head to Yoho National Park and Moraine Lake in the Valley of Ten Peaks. See Takakkaw Falls, the second tallest waterfall in Canada. Straddle the continental divide at Kicking Horse Pass as you view the Spiral Tunnels, the famous railway built in the early 1900's.
Later, toast to your travels and shared experiences with your fellow travellers over a Farewell Dinner. (B/D)
Descend from high above and bid farewell to the Canadian Rockies. Depart Calgary for your return flights home or make your way to the Westin Calgary if you are extending your stay. Airport arrival will be at 11:30 a.m., please be aware when booking your flights. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Explore Columbia Icefield Adventure
- Visit Jasper National Park, Maligne Canyon, Banff National Park, Lunch at Maligne Lake Chalet with a local, Canmore with Hockey experience, Storytelling with a First Nations Cree Guide
- Scenic drive along the Icefields Parkway
- Scenic cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island
- View Lake Louise, Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner
Be My Guest
- Jasper: Dive into everything you wanted to know about Jasper and Jasper National Park joining Pieter van Loon or Joost Tijssen of Jasper Theater Productions. Enjoy stories about Jasper, hear facts about Jasper and understand why so many people fall in love with this special town. Your hosts are professionally schooled actors and drama teachers, both born and raised in The Netherlands, and fell in love with the Canadian Rockies and Jasper on a visit in 2015. It was love at first sight and they've been sharing their love of Jasper ever since.
Dive Into Culture
- Canmore: Lace up those skates, hit the ice and learn about being a real hockey player.
Iconic Experience
- Lake Louise: Walk the shoreline of Lake Louise learning about its turquoise waters while taking in the Victoria Glacier and scenic mountain backdrop.
- Icefields Parkway: Unlock the Canadian Rockies' pristine wilderness on one of the most scenic drives in North America – the Icefield Parkway. This stretch of double-lane highway from Jasper to Lake Louise winds along the Continental Divide through rocky mountain peaks, rock spires, waterfalls, icefields, valleys and more than 100 ancient glaciers. Snap a pic at a viewpoint to capture the beauty.
- Athabasca Glacier: A picturesque waterfall awaits at Athabasca Falls. At only 75 feet tall, the rushing Athabasca River tumbles over a wide ledge into a tight canyon - making Athabasca Falls one of the most powerful waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. Learn how the river and falls are fed with water from the Columbia Icefield glaciers, snowmelt from surrounding mountains and rainwater as you admire these small but mighty waters.
- Maligne Lake: See how Maligne Lake is in a league of its own on a scenic cruise. Discover world-famous Spirit Island and get great photo opportunities with beautiful views of the mountains, its three glaciers and Spirit Island - significant to the Indigenous Stoney Nation. Learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular alpine destination and how, because visitors cannot walk on the island, it remains an enclave of evergreens. And since you can only see Spirit Island from a cruise, you'll love being one of the few who get to see it.
- Maligne Canyon: Take a guided walk through Maligne Canyon for some incredible photo ops along this scenic trail into the depths of Jasper National Park.
- Columbia Icefield: Gear up for a Columbia Icefield Adventure. Board a massive, specially designed ‘Ice Explorer' to view one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world, the Athabasca Glacier. Stop at the best spot to walk on, feel and drink from the Glacier. What better way to appreciate this natural wonder? You'll even enhance your visit learning about the Columbia Icefield, how the glacier has changed and the thrill of driving up the moraine deposits to reach the glacier.
- Banff National Park of Canada: View one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park, Bow Lake. As one of the many lakes that line the Icefields Parkway, this is a beautiful and scenic stop with dazzling glacial waters.
- Banff: Uncover how Banff is in a league of its own. Stroll through the downtown lined with historic buildings as majestic mountains stand tall in the distance. This is your chance to visit the iconic sites and the local spots on a guided tour around town. Stop at Bow Falls for great sightseeing opportunities of the river and the falls. At Surprise Corner, named for its spectacular, surprising views from Buffalo Street, capture a photo of another unique vantage point.
Make Travel Matter®
- Banff National Park of Canada: Sip tea and engage in rich stories and history with your Cree guide who will bring the buffalo to life and help you see them through their eyes. Gain insight on how buffalo were so important to our survival, the interconnected relationship we have and the teachings of the Buffalo around the sacred contract we hold and how you may have become a part of that sacred contract.
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences (Additional Cost) and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 6 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Brochure
Trafalgar Canada & Alaska (2023-24)
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Trafalgar. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Trafalgar. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
