Stay : Along the Canadian Rockies
Scheduled, beautiful walks and hikes in the Rockies, between Banff, Waterton, Jasper and Lake Louise, as well as an adventure on the dinosaurs trail, in the surrounding areas of Calgary. A stay immersing you in the heart of western Canada, in wild and sumptuous nature.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
21 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : Along the Canadian Rockies - 21 days
Day 1: Calgary by night
Steps: Calgary
Walk around Stampede and the rodeo stadium in the shape of horse saddle, the Saddledome. Dinner at the panoramic restaurant located at the top of Calgary Tower or in one of the many signs of Stephen Avenue, the pedestrian and trendy street of the city centre. Overnight at a B & B or a hotel.
CALGARY TOWER
Day 2: Far West Canada
Steps: Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Waterton Lakes National Park
Departure to the southern Alberta with a stop in Longview for a visit of Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, a real incursion into cowboy land. Lunch on site with meals of barbecued meat. . Drive to Waterton Lakes National Park. Dinner and overnight in the village of Waterton
BAR U RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Day 3: Waterton
Steps: Waterton Lakes National Park
Visit of the beautiful Prince of Wales Hotel, a luxurious Swiss chalet-style building that offers wonderful views of the neighbouring lakes. Then go to the Park Visitor Center, on the way to the village, and starting to hike on the Bear's Hump trail. You can freshen up in the afternoon at the foot of Cameron Falls, the most photographed waterfalls in the park, accessible by car or on foot from the centre of the village. The best time to watch the wild fauna is at sunset. Preferably by car, you can see the animals when they leave their den looking for food. You just need to drive a few minutes on the roads around the village to find a deer, a fox or even a bear on the edge of the forest. overnight in campsite or B&B in the village of Waterton.
Day 4: Visit and relax around Fairmont Hot Springs
Steps: Pincher Creek
Head north on Route 6, where dozens of wind turbines take advantage of the area's powerful winds. At the intersection with Route 3, stop at Pincher Creek for a visit to The Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, a reconstruction of a late 19th-century pioneer village. Head west towards Crownest Pass and British Columbia. Past the towns of Fernie and Cranbrook, the day ends at Fairmont Hot Springs, a tiny village that makes its living from skiing in winter, golfing in summer and year-round hot springs. Take an evening dip and spend the night at the Fairmont Hot Springs resort.
KOOTENAI BROWN PIONNER VILLAGE
Day 5: Incursion into British Columbia
Towards Kootenay National Park, fans of hot springs will find different sites to bathe again, on Highway 93. The most active visitors will go directly to the trails. The two Rocky Mountain Parks in British Columbia, Kootenay and Yoho, are less visited than their neighbours Banff and Jasper, and will be more appealing to those who want to get off the beaten track. The road that links them zigzags between deep valleys dominated by impressive snow-capped peaks all year round. Overnight in campsite or B&B in the small village of Field, in the heart of Yoho Park.
Day 6: Banff National Park
Steps: Banff
Less than half an hour drive separates the village of Field from Banff National Park. Climb Sulfur Mountain on foot (or by cable car) for a wonderful overview of the mountain range. Sulfur Mountain is 4 km south from the village; you should bring warm clothing for the summit, regardless of the season. Lunch at the restaurant of the top. Swim in the thermal waters (41 ° C) of the Upper Hot Spring, located at the foot of the mountain. Visit the historic site (on the Unesco's heritage list) Cave and Basin, in order to learn more about the region and the history of Canada. The site is less than 1 km southwest of the village of Banff. Dinner and overnight in the village.
CAVE AND BASIN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE / SULPHUR MOUTAIN - BANFF GONDOLA / BANFF UPPER HOT SPRINGS
Day 7: Around Lake Minnewanka
Steps: Banff National Park
Preparation for a day and night of wild campsite at Lake Minnewanka located 15 minutes from the village. Fishing, hiking and boat tour (rental on site). The campsite is open from May to September, but the place is enjoyed at all times of the year, especially for wildlife viewing (wolves, bears, elk ...). Lunch, dinner and overnight at the lake.
LAKE MINNEWANKA
Day 8: On horseback in the Bow Valley Loop
Steps: Banff National Park, Banff
After leaving the campsite of Minnewanka, go back to Banff for lunch and do some shopping. In the afternoon, horseback riding in the Bow Valley Loop. During your morning shopping, stop at 132 Banff Avenue to book your getaway. Dinner in the city centre. Sunset and wildlife watching at Lake Vermillon, in the northwest of the village. Overnight in an inn of the village.
Day 9: Riding bicycle in the Bow Valley Parkway
Steps: Lake Louise
Day on a bicycle in the Bow Valley Parkway and return to the village (if you feel like it, this road leads to Lake Louise; in this case, plan at least one day without stopping). Lunch and dinner on the way. There are several bicycle rental shops in the village.
Day 10: Lake Louise
Steps: Lake Louise, Banff
Leave Banff for Lake Louise, located 57 km northwest. Lunch at Lake Louise. Visit the castle, the lake and its surrounding areas. Dinner and overnight in the village's inn.
Day 11: Ascent of Mount Whitehorn
Steps: Lake Louise
Spend this day on the ascent of Whitehorn Mountain, on foot or by cable car, to enjoy the views and hiking trails at the top. The cable car is open from June to September. If you are there during the winter, take the opportunity to ski in one of the world's most appreciated places. Lunch at the summit. Excursion in Moraine Lake, 16 km from Lake Louise, where you can take many photos. Dinner and overnight at the inn.
Day 12: Climbing or hiking around Lake Louise
Steps: Lake Louise
Two options are to be followed according to everyone's desires and level. The seasoned athletes will climb "Back of the Lake", a wall located "at the back" of Lake Louise. Others can go for an excursion from Lake Louise by taking the trail leading to Lake Agnès. Dinner and overnight at the inn.
Day 13: Highway to Jasper
Steps: Jasper
Day of transfer to Jasper, be very careful, the road is a natural corridor of elk migration. Dinner and overnight in Jasper.
Day 14: Excursion on the ice field
Steps: Jasper National Park, Jasper
Go for a snowcoach (all terrain bus) excursion on the glaciers of Columbia Icefield, from Jasper. The tour is announced throughout the city. Plan and bring lunch and dinner. Overnight at the Wapiti campground located on the ice fields (open all year long).
COLUMBIA ICEFIELD
Day 15: Athabasca Falls
Steps: Athabasca
Visit of the Athabasca Falls and hiking. The site is located south of the city on Highway 93A. Picnic on the premises for lunch. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day 16: Leisure around Maligne Lake
Steps: Jasper National Park
Day of free activities at Lake Maligne, 2 km from the city: horse riding, fishing, visit of the lake by boat, wildlife viewing ... Lunch and dinner at the lake. Overnight at the very wild and rustic Maligne Canyon Youth Hostel, 11 km from the lake.
MALIGNE LAKE
Day 17: In Maligne Canyon
Steps: Jasper National Park
Visit of Maligne Canyon, next to the Inn. It takes 3 hours to visit the sites of the canyon. Lunch at the inn. If you have a little energy, walk up Whistler Mountain (11 km walk), otherwise you can climb it by cable car. Dinner in the city centre, overnight at the inn.
WHISTLERS MOUNTAIN - JASPER SKYTRAM
Day 18: Welcome to the Alberta centre
Steps: Edmonton
When the Rockies are finished, head for the badlands and grasslands of the Alberta centre via the Yellowhead Highway. Arrival in Edmonton, capital of the province. Shopping fans will spend the rest of the day visiting the West Edmonton Mall, a monumental shopping mall. Check out Edmonton's cultural scene schedule during your stay, theater and music festivals are numerous in summer season! Dinner and overnight in the city centre.
Day 19: On the track of Dinosaurs
Steps: Drumheller, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Edmonton, Red Deer
Between Edmonton and Red Deer, you drive in the middle of badlands, semi-desert lands formerly inhabited by French settlers who gave them the name of "bad lands." Paleontologists have discovered hundreds of dinosaur fossils superbly preserved since the Jurassic period. The Dinosaur Trail leads to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which displays the history of these giants that have disappeared in a playful way. You can drive to the Dinosaur Provincial Park and discover excavation sites where fossils have been found. Campsite on the spot, in the middle of meadows.
ROYAL TYRELL MUSEUM OF PALEONTOLOGY
Day 20: Downtown Calgary
Ascent (by lift) of Calgary Tower from which you can have a panoramic view of the buildings, Saddle Dome and the outdoor stadium of Stampede, Bow River and the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Restaurant at the top of the tower. Walk on Stephen Avenue, the pedestrian and commercial main road of Downtown. Visit of Glenbow Museum to learn everything about the history of the colonisation of Alberta. Country evening at Ranchman's Restaurant.
Day 21: Goodbye Alberta!
Departure to the airport. Visit of Heritage Trading Post, a shop of the airport for those who want to bring a last souvenir of Alberta and the Rockies before going back home.
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