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Be dazzled by the mesmerizingly blue waters of Lake Louise
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Take in the pristine sanctuary of Elk Island National Park
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Learn the heritage of Alberta’s people and natural environment at the Royal Alberta Museum
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Discover Banff National Park
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Explore Jasper National Park and see its diverse and abundant wildlife
Canadian Rockies Tour
Highlights
A beautiful landscape awaits you in the Canadian Rockies. Pack your bags and join YMT Vacations on a Canadian Rockies tour. See forests, lakes, Native American history, and the snowcapped peaks of this towering mountain range.
Visit tiny Elk Island National Park, an idyllic park that helped save Canada’s once critically endangered population of bison. After enjoying one of the smallest parks in the Canadian Rockies, continue to its largest. At Jasper National Park, mountains and meadows spread out for miles. Next, travel via the Icefields Parkway to the magnificent Athabasca Glacier.
After walking on the frozen face of a glacier, gaze out at the dazzling blue glacial-fed waters of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Banff is widely considered the prettiest park in Canada. It’s a serenely beautiful ecosystem full of waterfalls and lush forests. Your Canadian vacation ends in Calgary, among the country’s friendliest cities.
What Guests are Saying
Moderate
Designed for travelers comfortable with a mix of walking and sightseeing.
Walking distances average 1 mile per day, with some extended periods on foot.
May involve stairs, moderate inclines, and occasional uneven surfaces.
Travel days may vary, with some early departures or longer sightseeing excursions.
Suitable for those looking for a balanced blend of activity and relaxation.
Click to Learn More
Tour Includes
1 Country
- Canada
Locations Visited
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Calgary
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Elk Island National Park
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Edmonton
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Jasper National Park
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Columbia Icefield Parkway
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Banff National Park
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Lake Louise
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Canmore
Hotel Accommodations
- 7 Nights
- Moderate hotels based on twin/double occupancy
Meals
- 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner
Service
- A professionally trained English-speaking local tour director who is knowledgeable about the area will provide you with a wealth of information. Their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.
Baggage Handling
- To and from your hotel room throughout your tour for one piece of checked baggage per person.
Tour Starts:
Edmonton
Tour Ends:
Calgary
Day 1
Arrive in Edmonton
If you booked your flight with YMT, you will be met by a representative at the airport and transferred to the hotel.
Sandman Signature Sherwood Park Hotel or similar
Day 2
Elk Island National Park and Royal Alberta Museum
Start your day with a visit to Royal Alberta Museum, a world-class institution devoted to the research and preservation of Alberta’s human and natural history. The largest museum in western Canada, and one of the top tourist attractions in the province, the Royal Alberta’s collection includes over two million objects. Its pieces range from natural history specimens and cultural artifacts to fine artwork. Stop for lunch on your own and then head to the iconic Elk Island National Park, a sanctuary of rolling woodlands and meadows dotted with lakes, bogs, and ponds. It was originally established as a fenced-in reserve in 1906 to save some of Western Canada’s most iconic species, including the then critically- endangered elk. Over the decades, the elk population recovered, and the reserve grew into the stunning Elk Island National Park. You’ll enjoy a tour of the park, learn its history, and see its boisterous bison herd.
Meals: Breakfast
Sandman Signature Sherwood Park Hotel or similar
Day 3
Jasper National Park
Today you’ll experience Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its landscape covers an expansive region of rugged backcountry and mountainous terrain across numerous protected ecosystems, including the world-renowned Columbia Icefield.
Arrive in Jasper in the late morning, just in time for a short tour of this charming little town in the heart of the mountains.
Meals: Breakfast
Lobstick Lodge or similar
Add-On: Warrior Women: Wapakwanis Plant Walk, Make & Take
Day 4
Jasper Leisure Day
Jasper is surrounded by majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and stunning glaciers, making it a dream destination for nature lovers. You are free to go into the national park, but you can’t go wrong by staying local, either. The town of Jasper is small but bustling, with a range of shops, restaurants, and accommodations. Its downtown area is particularly charming, with a mix of historic and modern buildings, and a pedestrian-friendly design. It also offers several tourist attractions, such as the Jasper SkyTram, the Jasper Yellowhead Museum, and the Jasper Planetarium. Enjoy your leisure afternoon by taking in the town or join your fellow travelers for an optional local Indigenous experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Lobstick Lodge or similar
Add-On: Jasper River Raft Scenic Float Tour/ Warrior Women: Fireside Chat
Day 5
Columbia Icefields and Banff National Park
This morning, travel along the Icefields Parkway on the way to stunning Banff. Stop at Athabasca Falls, a beautiful and powerful waterfall located in Jasper National Park. It is one of Jasper’s most popular tourist attractions due to its sheer beauty and easy accessibility. Continue to Sunwapta Falls located a short drive from Athabasca Falls. The name Sunwapta comes from the Stoney language, and means “turbulent water”.
Next, experience the Athabasca Glacier. Nestled at the bottom of the Columbia Icefield, it is one of the most visited glaciers in North America. Enjoy an included lunch, and experience the full magnitude of this enormous icefield as you take in the view and feel the glacier underfoot.
Your next stop is Peyto Lake, where significant amounts of glacial rock flour were deposited into the water from the nearby Peyto Glacier. These suspended rock particles, sometimes called glacial milk, give the lake a bright blue-green color.
Finally, see Canada’s “Diamond in the Wilderness,” Lake Louise. Known for its glacier fed turquoise waters, the lake’s tranquil surface mirrors the magnificent peaks and lush forest rising up on all sides. This evening you’ll check into your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Canmore Inn & Suites or similar
Day 6
Banff National Park
Spend the day absorbing the beauty of Banff National Park! An hour-long tour of Banff is a great way to experience its most famous landmarks. As you pass through Banff, your tour guide will explain its history, including its establishment as Canada’s first national park in 1885. The guide will also share stories about the indigenous people who have lived in the area for thousands of years, and their connection to the land. Enjoy a short stop (and perfect photo op!) at Bow Falls.
Next, enjoy a scenic ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola. At Sulphur’s peak, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Banff and the surrounding Rockies from an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Meals: Breakfast
Canmore Inn & Suites or similar
Add-On: Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Day 7
Calgary
Spend your final full day in Calgary, known as one of the friendliest cities in all of Canada. Your city tour includes several highlights such as the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Stampede grounds, and the Olympic Park. Learn about the city’s downtown core, historic districts, and unique neighborhoods.
Enjoy a farewell dinner at Calgary Tower. The 600-foot-tall tower offers visitors a 360-degree view of Calgary.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Sandman Calgary Airport or similar
Day 8
Depart for Home
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
Reviews
Great scenery and stops planned with exciting activities
Great scenery and stops planned with exciting activities and a well-informed trip director Willo and driver John. Great people on the tour also
Coordination was outstanding, tour guide friendly and knowledgeable
Coordination was outstanding, tour guide friendly and knowledgeable, the driver was amazing and the lodging/amenities were exceptional.
Enjoyed each stop on our Canadian Rockies tour
Great tour director, great driver, enjoyed each stop on our Canadian Rockies tour. Great food, scenery, people.
The level of YMT professionalism, efficiency
The level of YMT professionalism, efficiency, the knowledge of the Manager Tour Guy (Pejman) about Canadian History and the driver took us safely and on time to all the places. Besides, they were friendly, funny and kind with everybody.
The overall content of the tour was very satisfying
Tour guide and bus driver were great! Tour stops were well organized. Hotel check-ins and check-outs were smooth and worry free. The overall content of the tour was very satisfying.
Add-Ons
Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Jasper River Raft Scenic Float Tour
Join your fellow travelers for a unique perspective of Jasper National Park by taking this fun raft float trip down the Athabasca River – a designated Canadian Heritage River. Your guide (and rower) will steer you through several small, easy sets of rapids and plenty of calm stretches of water; the guide’s wealth of local knowledge is sure to add to your enjoyment. No previous rafting experience is needed and this experience is suitable for all ages
Inclusions
- Travel in a 25-foot long oar powered raft – sit back and enjoy the scenery as your guide does all the rowing! Rafts hold up to 25 guests and are safe, comfortable, and suitable for the first time rafter; no age limits.
- Approximately 60-90 minutes on the river, dependent on water level
- Your ‘rower’ is a National Park licensed guide and will point out the natural and human history of Jasper
Note: The raft trip goes rain or shine. Rain Ponchos with hoods and life vests are provided and we recommend guests bring along a light jacket or sweater. Please expect to get a little wet!
Duration: Approx. 2.5 hours
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $109 USD
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Experience the Canadian Rockies from a new perspective while cruising beautiful Lake Minnewanka on this panoramic one-hour cruise. Bask in the breathtaking mountain scenery and emerald green waters as you survey the landscape for wildlife. Starting from the western end of the largest lake in Banff National Park, you will sail past towering peaks, and take in views of the rocky shoreline. As you head deeper into the mountains, your guide will share stories of native folklore and the submerged village of Minnewanka Landing. If you’re lucky, you might spot some wildlife including bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and even the occasional bear. Near the turning point of your journey, the mountains give way to a majestic view of the prairies through Devil’s Gap, where you’ll spend a few moments taking pictures, before sailing back to the dock.
Inclusions
- Approximately 1-hour cruise on Lake Minnewanka. Boat can fit up to 60 guests at one time.
Note: This tour is not accessible to guests on wheelchairs
Duration: Approx. 1.5 Hours
Activity Level: Easy
Price: $99 USD
Warrior Women: Fireside Chat
Join the Warrior Women for an insightful fireside chat as you learn more about indigenous culture and the Cree people through stories, songs and drumming. Part of the First Nations people of Canada, the Cree are among the largest indigenous groups in the country. Engage in deep conversation and get a better understanding of the Cree people’s history, culture and spiritual connection with nature, through this indigenous experience.
Inclusions
- A 90-minute experience that includes stories, songs, conversations and drumming
Note: This activity is not accessible to guests on wheelchairs. We suggest guests bring a warm sweater or jacket as this takes place in the later afternoon/evenings outside.
Duration: Approx. 1.5-2 Hours (Evening)
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $59 USD (2026)
Warrior Women Wapakwanis Plant Walk, Make & Take
Discover the wonders of Jasper National Park through the eyes of its indigenous Cree women. Part of the First Nations people of Canada, the Cree are among the largest indigenous groups in the country.
As part of this leisurely exploration, take a guided stroll through the park as you understand the medicinal value of plants, shrubs and flowers. Then, spend about half-an-hour learning to make salves, lotions, hydrosols, soaps and take the final product you made with you. Through this indigenous experience, you’ll learn more about the shared history and culture of the Cree people.
Inclusions
- An hour of plant exploration
- About 30 minutes of hands-on medicine product, including making salves, lotions, hydrosols, soaps, mineral salts, and understanding plant processes
Note: This activity is not accessible to guests on wheelchairs.
Duration: Approx. 1.5-2 Hours
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $59 USD (2026)
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