Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks & Canoe Trip

You’ll arrive in Calgary and transfer to your hotel. Transfer from Calgary Airport is included in the package. After there’ll be time to relax and meet your guide along with the rest of the group during a welcome dinner at the hotel. We’ll discuss the upcoming adventure and answer any questions you might have.

Today we start our action-packed tour. After breakfast, we’ll head west of Calgary towards Banff National Park. Stretching a colossal 6,641 km2  (2,564 mi2 ), the park is Canada’s first national park and one of the oldest in the world. This natural paradise is dotted with hiking trails leading to stunning landscapes punctuated by towering peaks, turquoise lakes, waterfalls tumbling down cliff faces, and deep canyons.

Once there, we’ll pitch our tents in a generously sized, forested campground for the next two nights. In the afternoon, we’ll set out on our first hike along the beautiful Lake Minnewanka or one of the many mountain trails. The estimated hiking time is around 2-3 hours.

In the evening, enjoy an appetizing dinner by the fire.

Today we’ll embark on a full day hike into the mountains. This 5-7-hour long hike is the perfect introduction to Banff, one of the most popular parks in Canada. Explore the best destinations for this time of year and immerse yourself deep into the heart of the country’s natural beauty.

Along the way, we’ll discover the hidden gems of Banff National Park. Your guide will show you the best-kept secrets of this pristine parkland. So, lace up your hiking shoes and be the first to witness one of the lesser-known lakes or a high mountain pass ordinarily tucked far away from the crowds.

After an adventure-filled day, unwind in a heavenly hot pool or wander around the many stores and boutiques in the charming town of Banff.

In the morning, we’ll go on a scenic drive up Bow Valley to the world-renowned Lake Louise. This turquoise-hued lake is the crown jewel of Banff National Park and a bucket-list must for every nature lover. Known for its hiking trails, this iconic destination will simply take your breath away!

Delve into the spectacular landscape on a series of hikes for around 3-5 hours. Take the 2-mi (3.5-km) route with 1325 ft (400 m) gain to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House situated on the shores of a serene alpine lake. It’s the perfect place to catch your breath and have a relaxing afternoon tea in truly breathtaking surroundings.

For even more stunning vistas, a network of easy to challenging trails will take you further and higher. For example, the 9.3-mi (15-km) path takes you to the Plain of Six Glaciers or the 2.5-km (1.6-mi) climb with a 1705 ft (515 m) gain to a summit with extraordinary views of surrounding landscapes.

We’ll make camp near the alpine village of Lake Louise for two nights.

Situated on the western flank of the Rocky Mountains, Yoho National Park is another hiker’s paradise. The park boasts the majestic Emerald Lake, the second highest waterfall in Canada, Takakkaw Falls, and a world-renowned fossil site, the Burgess Shale. Not to mention a seemingly never-ending supply of sublime mountainous scenery!

Your guide will take you on an 11-mi (18-km ) loop with 2930 ft (880 m) gain through stunning alpine landscapes to get a bird’s eye view of the glistening Emerald Lake. The estimated hiking time is about 6 hours.

The park is also home to the mighty Kicking Horse River, which offers fun whitewater rides for adventurous souls. Choose to take a 5-hour ride in an 8-person rubber raft and experience a thrilling rafting adventure!

Today we head towards Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. We’ll set out on a scenic drive along the famous Icefields Parkway, chocked-full of landscapes gorgeous enough to rival anywhere in the world. As we travel through this iconic driving route, it’s the perfect time to snap some outstanding pictures for your travel album. The estimated walking time is about 2 hours.

We’ll go on a short hike from the parking lot of the highway to Bow Summit for a stunning panoramic view of the vibrant glacier-fed Peyto Lake. Its heavenly blue color comes from glacier rock flour and is reminiscent of color palette used by Renaissance painters. After 1.5 mi (2.5 km) ascent to the magnificent Saskatchewan Glacier, we’ll take a moment to enjoy the calm of this tranquil area.

Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for some incredible wildlife including elk (or wapiti, from the Shawnee tongue) and bighorn sheep, known for its impressive horns. We might even see a ferocious bear, which often appears by the side of the road.

Our camp for the next three days will be on a campground near the town of Jasper.

We’ll make a trip to Maligne Lake, the second-largest glacier-fed lake in the world. Known for its azure-blue color, surrounding rugged mountain peaks, and the islet Spirit Island, the lake is one of the most photographed places in the Canadian Rockies.

Your guide will take you on a 5 mi (8 km) loop through lofty alpine meadows that explode with flowers come midsummer, to an elevation of 7190 ft (2160 m). Test your mettle on a hike to a peak of 9290 ft ( 2789 m).

Choose between a trail ride or boat cruise across the waters of the sublime Maligne Lake. You can also rent a mountain bike and explore the surrounding area.

The estimated time on trails around Maligne Lake is about 2-6 hours.

Visit the enchanting Athabasca Falls, a must-see attraction in Jasper National Park. The powerful cascade drops 75.5 ft (23 m) down into a rugged canyon below. There are plenty of walkways where you can explore this awe-inspiring natural wonder from multiple perspectives. The gorge itself is an oasis of verdant flora, including mosses, lichens, and trees.

Here you’ll enjoy one of the best hikes on the Icefield Parkway. We recommend an 6.8-mi (11-km) route with 1115 ft (335 m) gain through a pass at 7908 ft 2375 m). Along the way, expect to see lush landscapes punctuated by towering peaks.

The estimated walking time is about 3 hours.  

Discover the jaw-dropping Maligne Canyon, renowned as the deepest gorge in the Canadian Rockies. With a depth of up to 165 ft (50 m), the canyon will make your head spin! Explore its intricate belt of crevasses, before we continue with our journey.

Next up, we’ll take a short drive to a small lake in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in preparation for your canoe trip. Expert guides will provide you with some canoeing instructions  and any relevant safety information. You’ll learn some basic paddle strokes that will help you to move your canoe more effectively.

This selected stretch of the Athabasca River is safe and enjoyable for beginners and experts alike. However, the numerous exhilarating rapids and gravel bars demand constant diligence. More experienced paddlers will find plenty of challenges to keep themselves engaged.

Today we start our canoe adventure on the untamed Athabasca River. You can leave any non-essential luggage in the hold of the bus. We’ll gear up and start paddling along the forested river valley. En route, we’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in the Canadian wilderness.

Over the following days, we’ll spend 5-6 hours on the river daily. Our route will switch between a languid drift downstream and more challenging rapids and turns. Along the way, be sure to keep an eye out for wild animals such as geese, beavers, eagles, elk, bear, and moose.

For the upcoming 3 nights, we’ll pitch our tents on sandy islands or comfortable spots along the shore. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to enjoy fishing or swimming under open skies. We’ll spend the evenings around warming campfires reliving the experiences of the day.

Today will be our last day on the Athabasca River. After another enjoyable morning on the water, we’ll reach the end of our canoe trip and congratulate ourselves on finishing the epic 100-mi (160-km) route.

The bus with your luggage is loaded for the 2-hour ride to Edmonton. Your hotel is not far away from the gigantic West Edmonton Mall, where you can browse through numerous shops or kick back and relax at an atmospheric coffee bar or restaurant.

Estimated arrival time at the hotel is 18:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m.).

We offer transfer to Edmonton Airport at no charge. If you decide to stay another night in Edmonton, we’ll gladly reserve an additional night for you in our hotel in Edmonton. We don’t charge for transportation from Edmonton to Calgary on the next day, which is available for most of our tours but please confirm that we have a bus going.

We thank you for joining this tour and hope you had a life-changing adventure! Until next time!

• At this time of year, expect pleasant weather. Summer temperatures run around 59-77°F (15-25°C) on average. However, don’t forget to bring a warm jacket for chilly mornings. A recommended packing list will be provided upon booking.
  
  
• Minimum age of participants is 12 years old. Family tours can be arranged for families with kids as young as 8 years old.
  
  
• No previous experience is required for the canoe trip on the Athabasca River. International classification of difficulty (1 is lowest, 5 is highest) rates this stretch of the Athabasca River as Class I overall with a few Class I and II rapids & one Class III rapid.
  
  
• Many tour departures include a German-and/or French-speaking guide.