Day 1
Fly to Calgary
Fly into Calgary, pick up your hire car and drive to your Calgary hotel for the night.
Overnight: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Calgary; or upgrad to the Fairmont Palliser (or similar)
Days 2 to 3
Calgary - Waterton Lakes (169 miles)
Drive south to Waterton Lakes National Park for a two night stay. We suggest you take a cruise on the Waterton Lakes, which will take you into Glacier Park Montana USA, where you’ll see towering cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and myriad wildlife. You could also take a picnic and follow a hiking trail to admire the rare wildflowers and rugged natural beauty. This is the only national park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Peace Park and also a Biosphere Reserve!
Two nights: Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort; or upgrade to the Prince of Wales Hotel (or similar)
Days 4 to 6
Waterton Lakes – Banff (231 miles)
Time to head north, into the glorious Banff National Park. Perhaps take a walk to Bow Falls – a really pretty spot just a twenty minute stroll from the town centre along well marked trails. Highly recommended is a trip up the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain - at the summit you will find a brilliant visitor centre and superb panoramic views of several mountain ranges. There are some great tours of the Banff National Park that we can book for you, with entertaining guides who will tell you all about the wildlife, geology and history of this beautiful place. Or if you’d rather do your own thing, there are some lovely hiking trails to follow and gorgeous lakes to drive to such as Lake Minnewanka. In the evening there are many restaurants, cafés and bars for you to choose from all along Banff Avenue and the streets leading from here.
Three nights: Banff Ptarmigan Inn or upgrade to Fairmont Banff Springs (or similar)
Days 7 to 8
Banff – Jasper (145 miles)
Today you will have a beautiful drive north to Jasper, and whilst this is only around 3 hours direct drive, we suggest you take all day over it, as there are so many great stops en route. It will be worth getting up early so that you can reach Lake Louise before the crowds, and have some breathing space to get that perfect photograph. After Lake Louise you’ll follow the Icefields Parkway – one of the worlds most scenic drives. There are well signposted viewpoints, so just keep stopping as many times as your schedule allows, and keep your eyes open for wildlife. We highly recommend stopping at the Athabasca Glacier, and we can book you tickets which include a ride on the Ice Explorer onto the glacier itself, entry to the visitor centre and to the amazing Glacier Skywalk.
Whilst in Jasper you could take tour riding pillion or side-car on a Harley Davidson? One, two and three hour tours are available (click on the "Optional Excursions" tab for details) You could also choose to take a wildlife tour late afternoon, or perhaps a foodie tour - there are some great restaurants in this charming town! There is also the Jasper Skytram up Whistlers Mountain to see six mountain ranges and the town of Jasper below, and you could perhaps have lunch at the Summit Restaurant.
Two nights: Chateau Jasper; or upgrade to Fairmont Jasper Lodge (or similar)
Days 9 to 10
Jasper to Metis Crossing (290 miles)
Continue your journey northwards to the Metis Crossing - this hotel is owned and operated by the Metis Nation of Alberta, and here you will enjoy learning about the Metis people and exploring the beautiful surrounding countryside. When you check-in, why not take a stroll through the grounds or venture out on some of the over 10km of hiking trails. On your second day, after breakfast you will set out to discover the Metis history and their contributions to Canadian culture. Take a guided tour "Visions, Hopes, and Dreams" at Métis Crossing Wildlife Park to view heritage species such as rare white bison, wood bison and the unique Percheron horses. After lunch, you are led on a guided tour of a traditional Metis river lot farm as they existed for generations, exploring their seasonal practices, art and stories.
During your stay you will enjoy delicious meals with traditionally sourced ingredients carefully prepared, and served in dining areas with stunning views of nature. For two nights you will be staying in a Sky Watching Dome - check out the "Accomodation" tab for more details
Two nights: Metis Crossing in a Sky Watching Dome (includes dinner on your first night; breakfast lunch & dinner on your second day; and breakfast on your departure day)
Day 11
Metis Crossing to Edmonton (91 miles)
After a leisurely breakfasst leave the Metis Crossing and drive south to Edmonton. You can either fly home from Edmonton or continue the drive south to Calgary airport to fly home from there. KLM have direct flights into Edmonton which is a great way to connect to the UK & Ireland regions. Or take a direct flight from Calgary to London.
