Canadian Rockies

Day 1

Your Canyon Calling Trip Leader will meet you at the Calgary International Airport at 2pm (or at an airport hotel if you arrive the night before, which is recommended.) We’ll drive west for a little over an hour to the beautiful mountain town of Banff. Check into our lovely lodge for two nights. We’ll eat dinner at a local saloon and get into the spirit of the west. After dinner there’s time to wander the town and shop, or relax and turn in early. Overnight Banff.

Day 2

After breakfast we’ll drive up to Sulphur Mountain and ride the gondola to the top. Brace yourself for incredible views! Your Trip Leader will describe the different mountain formations carved by glaciers while we enjoy a walk with beautiful scenery. Gondola back down to Banff and we’ll have a bit of time to shop then enjoy lunch at a favorite local restaurant in town. Drive up Bow Valley Parkway where wildlife sightings are common to visit beautiful Bow Falls. At Johnston Canyon we’ll hike a scenic riverside walk up to the waterfalls. The iconic catwalks of Johnston Canyon offer amazing access to several thundering waterfalls. A 1.1 km forest walk will bring you to the lower falls, but it is always worth continuing an additional 1.6 km to the upper falls. We’ll head back to town for a delicious dinner. Overnight Banff.

On this my third Canyon Calling adventure, I finally realized what I love best. Your trips give me the opportunity to play like a little girl. Swimming in Emerald Lake, lying on the glacier, laughing till my sides hurt – these are the things that I will remember always.
— Sherryann, PA

Day 3

After breakfast, we’ll check out of our lodge and head north up the Icefields Parkway to visit famous Peyto Lake. This is our first view of the gorgeous turquoise lakes that the Canadian Rockies are so famous for. We’ll make a stop at Bow Lake and at Crowfoot Glacier. After lunch, we’re off to the Columbia Icefields for an ice walk on Athabasca Glacier! This is a 3 hour guided glacier hike. Our glacier guide will provide crampons to go over our hiking boots so we’ll tread safely on the ice. We hike up the moraine field to the ice, usually crossing a couple of streams and it’s a wonderful experience crunching across the glacier. The views are amazing. Our guide teaches us about glaciers and leads us safely to avoid crevasses. It’s an experience to remember! The scenery is the most spectacular of any drive in North America. The miles of glaciers and snow-covered mountains are truly majestic. We’ll check into our lodging at Lake Louis Inn for some time to relax. Dinner and overnight Lake Louise.

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll spend the whole day in the beautiful Banff National Park, famous for its surreally colored lakes, majestic mountains and endless outdoor adventures. Canada’s first national park and the world’s third, it has a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. What makes Banff National Park so special is its easy access and close proximity to the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies! We’ll board the (required) shuttle to Moraine Lake, perhaps the most beautiful place on earth! Her waters are the most amazing color, a vivid shade of turquoise that changes in intensity through the summer as the glaciers melt. Set in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and rock piles, creating a scene so stunning it almost seems unreal. We’ll hike here, then sit lakeside and absorb the sights and pure mountain air. There is no end to the photos we all take here. Return to the Village for lunch and then we’ll board the (required) shuttle to visit heralded Lake Louise and her Chateau. We’ll have time to wander here, and enjoy dinner in the village. Overnight Lake Louise.

I feel blessed to have been a part of such an AMAZING experience. It was truly life changing. Before the trip I was concerned about so many things – did I pack the right gear, did I pack too many clothes, will there be enough bathroom stops, etc. But Karen made sure that we were prepared the night before for everywhere we went. Also, I must thank you for being so attentive to my plant-based, vegan needs. I loved the meals we had! I always found something, and I was NEVER hungry. Plus I had some of the best vegan desserts ever. Lastly, thanks for providing me with one of the most memorable vacations I ever had. The group was definitely special. The universe got us all together for a reason and we had the best collective “juju”! That said, I think I made some new friends for life on this trip.
— Robbin K, AZ

Day 5

After breakfast we pack up and drive to Yoho National Park. First choice of hikes is Lake O’Hara, a stunning area and extremely difficult to gain entrance. Canada Parks have chosen to offer Lake O’Hara day-use reservations in a Random Draw. We will be notified if we won the lottery prior to the trip. This is an eight mile hike at an approximate elevation of 6,600 feet. if we are not the lucky winners of the random draw, we will substitute this hike with another scenic hike in Yoho National Park. It’s a windy road up to Takakaw Falls, the second highest falls in Canada, and wow, it’s worth the trip. A few miles on we arrive at well-named Emerald Lake to enjoy canoeing or kayaking around the lake with views of the glacier and the surrounding splendor. Then we’ll drive down a huge gorge road into Golden for a two night stay at a favorite lodge. Dinner is at a unique restaurant. Overnight Golden, BC.

Day 6

After breakfast, we’re excited for our full day white-water rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River. It’s a tour highlight! We start with a relaxing scenic float on the upper section of the Kicking Horse River, providing unique opportunities to feast our eyes on the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains and scan the lush scenery for native wildlife. Right before we pull over for our riverside lunch we will stop at a small canyon that leads to an enchanting waterfall. Excitement awaits us on the second half of the trip. After lunch, you will be guided down the middle canyon where class 3 and class 4 rapids offer a fun and thrilling time. We will also stop at a waterfall to stretch our legs and take a sip (if you want). The rapids are rated 3’s on average and are consistent for almost two hours. This is super fun and our wetsuits and spray jackets keep us warm despite the glacial water splashing us. We’ll have a bit of free time to relax after our exhilarating activity. Tonight we’ll dine riverside at a pub. Overnight Golden, BC.

Day 7

After breakfast, we’ll pack up then we’re off to visit Cave and Basin National Historic Site, commemorating the birthplace of Canada’s National Park system, which began in 1885. We’ll hike and explore this beautiful area including naturally occurring, warm mineral springs found inside the cave, and outside in an emerald colored basin. Next, we’re off to Banff Upper Hot Springs, Canada’s highest elevation operational hot springs. Located at roughly 5000 feet above sea level, this is the perfect place to soak in some views. We’ll enjoy these wonderful mineral waters for an hour or so, grab lunch at the café, and take a stroll through the gift shop. Our drive back to Calgary is a perfect time to reflect on all we’ve done and seen this magical week in the Canadian Rockies! Check into our hotel near the Calgary airport, and get cleaned up. We’ll enjoy our delicious farewell dinner at a restaurant nearby. Overnight Calgary.

Day 8

Enjoy breakfast and the hotel’s amenities before the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service transfers you to the Calgary airport for your return flight home.

• 7 days / 7 nights fully guided tour by your Canyon Calling Trip Leader
• Accommodations in double occupancy
• All transportation as noted in the itinerary
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 8
• All activities as outlined in the itinerary
• All activity guide gratuities for our activities
• All entrance fees, permits and park passes

• Round-trip transportation to/from Calgary airport
• Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to your Trip Leader at the end of the tour