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Canadian Rockies Tour

Canadian Rockies Tour

Overview
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Add-Ons
Photos
FAQs

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.

 

Highlights

  • Be dazzled by the mesmerizingly blue waters of Lake Louise
  • Take in the pristine sanctuary of Elk Island National Park
  • Learn the heritage of Alberta’s people and natural environment at the Royal Alberta Museum
  • Discover Banff National Park
  • Explore Jasper National Park and see its diverse and abundant wildlife

Add-Ons

Canadian Rockies Tour

Jasper River Raft Scenic Float Tour

Go on a fun raft ride down the Athabasca River
Jasper National Park

Warrior Women Wapakwanis Plant Walk

Discover the wonders of Jasper National Park through the eyes of its indigenous women.

Activity level

  • Relaxed
  • Easy Going
  • Moderate
  • Active
  • Very Active

Tour Includes

2 Countries

  • USA
  • Canada

Sightseeing

  • Calgary
  • Elk Island National Park
  • Edmonton
  • Jasper National Park
  • Columbia Icefield Parkway
  • Banff National Park
  • Lake Louise
  • 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.
Canadian Rockies Tour - 2024
Tour Starts:

Edmonton

Tour Ends:

Calgary

Canadian Rockies Tour
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. (B)

 

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. (B)

Lobstick Lodge or similar

Add-On: Warrior Women Fireside Chat & Wapakwanis Plant Walk
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. (B)

Lobstick Lodge or similar

Add-On: Jasper River Raft Scenic Float Tour
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. (B, L)

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.

 

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 lunch at Calgary Tower. The 600-foot-tall tower offers visitors a 360-degree view of Calgary. (B, L)

Sandman Calgary Airport or similar
Day 8
Depart for Home (B)

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.

Please visit our Travel Safe page for our most up to date Health and Safety information.

Inquire Now

8 Days from $1949 USD

Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare. Passport required.

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Sun Road Near Glacier National Park
Edmonton
Ice Explorer
Island National Park Alberta Canada

FAQs

Can I arrange pre- or post-tour accommodations to extend my trip?

Unfortunately, additional nights are not available from YMT Vacations for this tour. Your YMT Sales Consultant will confirm the specific hotel related to your departure date, and you can then contact the hotel directly to arrange an extended stay.
Can this tour accommodate triples?

Yes, triples are permitted (depending on availability) in 2 beds.
I’m booking my own flights for this tour, what time should I arrive?

You should arrive in Edmonton no later than 3pm.
Will I need any visas or travel permits for this tour?

No, none are required.

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. Call us for pricing, and 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.

Here are the pricing guidelines for reference:
$ – Less than $100 USD
$$ – Between $100 and $200 USD
$$$ – More than $200 USD

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: $

Canadian Rockies Tour
Warrior Women Wapakwanis Plant Walk

Discover the wonders of Jasper National Park through the eyes of its indigenous women. 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.

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: 90 minutes

Activity Level: Easy/Moderate

Price: $

Jasper National Park
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 to Moderate

Price: $69 USD

Lake Minnewanka Canada

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