Trace the spine of the Canadian Rockies on a six-day exploration through Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise, three of Alberta’s most iconic mountain communities. Travel along the Icefields Parkway with expert-guided insight, discover turquoise lakes and glacier valleys within two UNESCO-listed parks. Thoughtfully paced and comfortably routed, this journey blends natural grandeur with the ease of scheduled transfers and locally grounded stays.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN CALGARY. TRANSFER TO BANFF
Arrive at Calgary International Airport and travel west into the mountains. Your scheduled transfer brings you to the welcoming town of Banff, set within Canada’s first national park. Settle into your accommodations and take a stroll through the mountain streets or along the Bow River. The evening is yours to relax and adjust to the alpine air.
Overnight: Banff Caribou Lodge (or similar)
DAY 2: EXPLORE BANFF
Spend the day exploring Banff at leisure, surrounded by the peaks and valleys of Canada’s first national park. Stroll through town to browse local shops, galleries, and cafés, or visit the museums that share the region’s mountain heritage. You may choose to purchase tickets for the Banff Gondola to reach the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where boardwalk trails reveal panoramic alpine views. Alternatively, join an optional guided wildlife tour for a chance to spot elk, bears, or bighorn sheep in their natural habitat.
Overnight: Banff Caribou Lodge (or similar)
DAY 3: GUIDED ICEFIELDS PARKWAY JOURNEY FROM BANFF TO JASPER
Travel north along the legendary Icefields Parkway, a full-day scenic transfer linking Banff and Jasper National Parks. Along the route, stop at turquoise lakes, glacier viewpoints, and alpine waterfalls while your guide shares stories of geology and ecology. Pause at the Columbia Icefield for a closer look at this living landscape before continuing to the mountain town of Jasper, your base for the next two nights.
Meal: Packed lunch
Overnight: Crimson Jasper (or similar)
DAY 4: DISCOVER JASPER
Enjoy a full day to explore Jasper, a welcoming mountain town surrounded by the vast landscapes of Jasper National Park. The town is easy to navigate on foot, with local shops, cafés, and restaurants offering a relaxed pace and friendly community feel. For a deeper look at the park’s natural world, join the optional Jasper Wildlife Discovery Tour. This guided experience reveals the area’s quieter corners while searching for elk, deer, bears, moose, and mountain goats, an engaging way to connect with the park’s untamed residents and the stories that shape their mountain home.
Overnight: Crimson Jasper (or similar)
DAY 5: TRANSFER TO LAKE LOUISE
Depart your Jasper hotel and travel south along the Icefields Parkway, once again taking in the glacier-fed rivers, alpine valleys, and towering peaks that define this world-renowned route. Upon arrival in the village of Lake Louise, check in to your hotel. Visiting the lake itself requires an advance shuttle reservation for access. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air in this serene alpine setting.
Overnight: Lake Louise Inn (or similar)
DAY 6: RETURN TO CALGARY AIRPORT
Enjoy your final morning in the Rockies before your scheduled transfer returns you to Calgary via Banff. As the mountain peaks give way to open foothills, reflect on your journey through Canada’s most iconic landscapes and the welcoming communities that bring the Rockies to life
