Experience some of Canada’s majestic national parks and fascinating sights on this family vacation to Alberta. Surrounded by the spectacular beauty of Banff National Park, enjoy a BBQ wilderness cookout; a visit to a sled dog kennel; a wilderness safari to look for caribou, bears, wolves, bighorn sheep, and more; and your choice of either a rafting adventure through Horseshoe Canyon or a guided voyager canoe trip. A trip highlight is an Ice Explorer ride at Columbia Icefield, where you can stand on 1,000 feet of ice and come face to face with the glaciers. Ride the Lake Louise gondola, one of the best places to see wild grizzly bears in their natural environment, and enjoy an interactive Naturalist talk in Jasper National Park.Breathtaking beauty is not all that is offered on this tour. You’ll also have the opportunity to become a paleontologist for a day when you search for fossils, examine real dinosaur remains, and learn about these creatures at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World,” more fossil remains and skeletons have been found here than any other place in the world. So grab your camera and get ready for a family vacation sure to create long-lasting memories.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Calgary. Welcome to Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies and the starting place for your unforgettable vacation! Tonight, kick off your week with a 6 pm WELCOME PARTY & DINNER, where you’ll mix and mingle with your Tour Director and fellow traveling partners. You will also take part in a proud tradition that has been practiced for over 60 years in Calgary: a special [LF] WHITE HAT CEREMONY. During the ceremony, receive an official “Honorary Calgarian” certificate and your very own Smithbilt White Hat, symbolizing the spirit of Calgary and formally welcoming you to Calgary! (D)
Day #2 Search for Dinosaurs & Ghosts. Venture into Alberta’s Badlands today, an area rich in paleontology history. In Drumheller, take the DINOSAUR TRAIL and find yourself walking the rugged, lunar landscapes and parched soil, which takes you back to what life might have been like 70 million years ago. Known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World,” more fossil remains and skeletons have been found in this area than any other place in the world. Come face-to-shin with prehistoric beasts at the ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM, and see the most extensive displays of dinosaur skeletons and fossils in the world. [LF] Become a PALEONTOLOGIST FOR A DAY when you prospect for fossils, investigate real dinosaur remains, and learn about these creatures that once roamed here. After lunch, stop in the dusty GHOST TOWN of Wayne for a cold drink at the Last Chance Saloon. Once a thriving coal mining town with a population over 10,000, Wayne is now a well-preserved relic of old-time Alberta. Return to Calgary for the remainder of the day. (B)
Day #3 Sledding in the Rockies. Discover a day in the life of a sled dog as you visit a Canadian SLED DOG KENNEL. During your visit, play and learn about the athletic and beautiful huskies, and see a demonstration on how these dogs love to run! No visit would be complete without meeting a wolf hybrid and cuddling with the puppies. Continue your journey into the heart of the Canadian Rockies as you enter BANFF NATIONAL PARK. See Bow Falls, Sulphur Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, and Surprise Corner. This evening, board a covered wagon and ride along Bow River to 3 Mile Cabin, where you will enjoy a traditional BBQ WILDERNESS COOKOUT. Before the dinner bell rings, challenge your friends to a game of horseshoes or try your hand at roping with a cowboy. (B,D)
Day #4 Water & Wildlife in Banff National Park. The choice is yours today! Pick from whitewater thrills on a RAFTING ADVENTURE through Horseshoe Canyon or explore the area’s waterways as the fur traders once did on a guided VOYAGEUR CANOE TRIP. Your afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps take advantage of an optional helicopter flightseeing trip with dramatic aerial views of the Rocky Mountains and Banff. Or, you may wish to stroll the colorful streets of Banff or fish for trout on Lake Minnewanka. This evening, head out on a WILDLIFE SAFARI, the perfect time to look for local animal residents, like caribou, bears, wolves, bighorn sheep, elk, and moose. (B)
Day #5 Walk on a Glacier. Journey north on Icefields Parkway and savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. We’ll stop at Peyto Lake, which many consider to be the best view in Canada—and perhaps one of the best in the world! Continue to JASPER NATIONAL PARK and get ready for one of the trip’s highlights: a stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride on an ICE EXPLORER. Stand on 1,000 feet of ice and come face to face with the glaciers that feed into a Triple Continental Divide. Later today, arrive in the mountain wilderness of Jasper. Tonight after dinner, [LF] join a local NATURALIST from nearby parks for an ice cream social and learn about the area’s flora and fauna during an interactive talk. (B,D)
Day #6 Discover Jasper National Park. Marvel at the precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and glacial lakes during your day at leisure in Jasper. Perhaps go on a nature hike to learn about the glacier formations, flora, and fauna found in the area; go canoeing on Lake Pyramid; try your hand at fly-fishing; rent a bike to explore for the day; or hit the river for a whitewater adventure. (B)
Day #7 Search for Grizzlies. Depart Jasper and retrace your route south along Icefields Parkway to famous LAKE LOUISE. Board the Lake Louise GONDOLA and travel up to one of Banff National Park’s greatest panoramic views. This is also one of the best places in the world to spot grizzlies, so don’t forget your camera, as sightings occur almost daily! Continue to Kananaskis Valley for your final evening. Tonight your Tour Director hosts a SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER, complete with s’mores by the firepit—the perfect finale to your vacation. (B,D)
Day #8 Kananaskis–Calgary. Your journey comes to a close today as you arrive at Calgary International Airport for your homebound flights. Flights should be scheduled after Noon. (B)
Hotels:
CALGARY Delta Bow Valley (SF)
BANFF Banff Park Lodge (F)
JASPER Lobstick Lodge (F)
KANANASKIS Delta Lodge at Kananaskis (F)