Classic Canadian Rockies
Classic Canadian Rockies
Classic Canadian Rockies
7 Days Starting and ending in Calgary
Visiting: Calgary, Lake Louise, Jasper National Park, Maligne Lake / Jasper National Park, Athabasca Glacier / Banff, Banff National Park
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SEKW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Though they formed some 75 million years ago, there’s no time like the present to pay the Canadian Rockies a visit. Over the course of this seven-day adventure, you’ll travel up and down the Icefields Parkway and see all the natural highlights the Rockies have to offer: impossibly blue lakes, rushing glacial waterfalls and maybe even a classically Canadian critter or two. Breathe in views of Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake, cruise along Maligne Lake for a view of enchanting Spirit Island, walk along Athabasca Glacier, and get a birds-eye view of Banff from the top of Sulphur Mountain. If those peaks weren’t enough, there’s also the chance to pique your curiosity during a guided Indigenous Medicine walk of Banff National Park. Why wait to see it any longer?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Calgary
Location: Calgary
Accommodation: Hotel
Welcome to Calgary, eh? Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll be briefed on the upcoming activities and meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in the city with time to spare, you might like to experience some renowned Canadian hospitality at Calgary’s budding dining scene. If you’d prefer to get out and about, you could check out Prince’s Island Park, see the skyline from the top of Calgary Tower or work up a sweat at Canada Olympic Park.
Day 2: Lake Louise
Location: Lake Louise
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning you’ll head out from the city and into the mountains, your sights set on a pair of impossibly blue glacier-fed lakes. See the splendour of Moraine Lake, backed by ten snow-dusted peaks and world-famous Lake Louise. They'll leave you either wide-eyed, open-mouthed or some combination of the two, and there’ll be ample time to explore the lakes and their surrounding areas.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Jasper National Park
Location: Jasper National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Rise early to head up the Icefields Parkway into Jasper National Park. This is one drive where the journey really is the destination. The Parkway runs between towering glacier-capped peaks and past pristine lakes and offers plenty of opportunities to break for a short hike (which you’ll do). Before arriving in the town of Jasper, stop off at fox-shaped Peyto Lake the powerful Athabasca Falls. Throughout the day, keep your eyes peeled for quintessential Rockies wildlife like elk, moose, deer, bears and bighorn sheep. In the afternoon you’ll have some time to explore the park at your own speed. To pick up the pace you might consider renting a bike from one of the shops in town and exploring some of the local trails, or slow things down with a ride on the Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers Mountain – the highest and longest aerial tramway in Canada.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Maligne Lake / Jasper National Park
Location: Maligne Lake / Jasper National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Today you’ll find out for yourself why Maligne Lake is featured on so many jigsaw puzzles. Make sure your phone or camera is fully charged, ready to capture shots of the jagged mountains and bright green pine forests that surround its glacial waters. Take to the water on a panoramic cruise down the lake, sailing in a glass-enclosed and heated boat while a guide describes the area’s geology, ecology and history. The highlight will be a stop for a nature walk to views of iconic Spirit Island which is only accessible by boat, where you’ll learn about its significance to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. This evening, join your group for an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Athabasca Glacier / Banff
Location: Athabasca Glacier / Banff
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
After gazing at glaciers from a distance, today you’ll get the chance to step foot on one! Board a custom-built all-terrain vehicle and head out on an ice explorer tour of the Athabasca Glacier. You will be able to walk on the glacier and even take a drink from its icy meltwater. Enjoy a picnic lunch to finish the outing before continuing to the town of Banff.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Banff National Park
Location: Banff National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Buckle up for the beauty of Banff National Park. Today’s all about seeing as much of the park as you can, weaving your way through history as you see the Rockies’ valleys and mountain chains which began forming up to 75 million years ago. There’s also time to connect further with the land on an Indigenous Medicine Walk, where your guide will share traditional Cree knowledge of the area’s plants, trees and bushes. To end the day on a high, you’ll take the gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Named for the two sulphurous hot springs found on its lower slopes, the peak offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the Rockies – which you’ll be able to bask in during a farewell dinner on the mountaintop.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Calgary
Location: Calgary
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today you’ll complete your grand tour of the Rockies and drive back to Calgary. There are no activities and accommodation planned for the day, and your adventure will end on arrival.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotels (6 nights) -
Visit to Moraine Lake
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Jasper National Park
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Jasper - Maligne Lake cruise
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Banff National Park
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Columbia Icefield Adventure - Athabasca Glacier Explorer
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Banff - Indigenous Medicine Walk
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Banff - Cable Car up Sulphur Mountain
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Meals
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
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Visit to Moraine Lake (seasonal)
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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International Travel
Transport
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
- We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and leader may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1 in Calgary.
- 2. On the final day, this trip finishes at approximately 12 pm on arrival in Calgary. You will be dropped at the same location as the joining point. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 3 pm.
- 3. A single supplement is available on this trip.
- 4. Please note that the legal drinking age in the US is 21 and in some parts of Canada it's 19.
- 5. MAY 24, 2025 DEPARTURE:
- The Maligne Lake Cruise will not be available on this departure. Instead, you will join a local expert for a wildlife tour in Jasper National Park. You will still be able to visit Maligne Lake for a walk and photos.
- 6. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for North America trips. North America has convenient taxi and rideshare options from all airports, as well as public transport systems in major hub cities. Please check the joining and finishing point instructions listed in the Essential Trip Information.
Mode of Transport
- FLEET
- Our large fleet of vans are fully equipped with dual air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio/tape or CD players. Your baggage is transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced in our own maintenance facility and continuously checked and serviced by a well established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- DRIVING TIMES
- All driving times mentioned in our itinerary are intended as a guide only and represent an estimated driving time - not including lunch stops, fuel stops, photo stops, traffic congestion, adverse weather conditions or any last minute alterations to the itinerary for any unforeseen circumstances. Please note that there are some long driving days on this tour - we'll have some starts as early as 7am and late arrivals at our final destination, sometimes after dark). As always, your group leader will make stops for viewpoints, short walks and lunch
est breaks to help break up the journey. - We recommend you are fully prepared for these long travel days by reviewing our notes and indicated drive times. Some travellers prefer to bring pillows on board for added comfort, others prefer reading material or games and puzzles. The reality is that to get from one fabulous location to another, the distances are great and we like to think at least some of the adventure is in the journey - not just the destination. You'll be on board with up to 12 other passengers plus your group leader so patience and cooperation goes a long way in making this journey a comfortable one.
- SEAT BELT POLICY
- Safety is our priority and therefore our travellers are asked to sign a document on Day 1 of the itinerary indicating your understanding of our seat belt policy.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
As we're travelling through the mountains, the weather can be unpredictable. We advise wearing layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so make sure you have warm clothing with you.
In summer, especially in July and August, be prepared for insects. This is mosquito and black fly season so it's important to bring insect repellent, which will help prevent you from being bitten. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions