Glacier National Park & the Canadian Rockies

Tour Information

8nt Tour Begins & Ends Calgary: 2nts Calgary; 1nt Waterton Lakes National Park; 1nt Whitefish; 2nts Banff; 2nts Jasper

Optional Calgary Stampede extension available on departures 6th & 8th Jul 2010

Day 1

Fly from Dublin – Calgary
Arrive in Calgary. Welcome to Calgary! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Overnight Delta Bow Valley

Day 2

Calgary – Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump – Waterton Lakes National Park.
Travel south along the Macleod Trail. Just outside the town of Fort Macleod, visit HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP, designated a World Heritage Site. Then, on to scenic WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK with a photo stop at Cameron Falls. (B)
Overnight Waterton Lakes Resort (Waterton Lakes Park properties are all considered moderate 2-or 3-star hotels. The area does not offer any hotels in the superior category.)

Day 3

Waterton Lakes National Park – Glacier National Park – Going-to-the-Sun Road – Whitefish.
Enter Montana through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and behold the awesome snowcapped peaks of GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. A highlight awaits you as you board the famous vintage red “JAMMER BUSES” that will take you along one of North America’s most spectacular highways: Going-to-the-Sun Road. After crossing 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, enter a geographical wonderland of alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks, deep green forests, pristine lakes, and meadows dominate the landscape. Arrive later this afternoon at your resort, nestled in the heart of a mountain valley. (B)
Overnight Grouse Mountain Lodge

Day 4

Whitefish – Banff.
Re-enter Canada today with two stops in British Columbia before crossing into Alberta. First, visit the restored town of FORT STEELE, where fortunes were made during the Kootenay Gold Rush; then, stop at RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, a famous health spa. Drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon and KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK before entering BANFF NATIONAL PARK, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. (B,D)
Overnight Banff Park Lodge

Day 5

Banff National Park.
Morning sightseeing includes stops at Bow Falls and the Hoodoos. Also enjoy a scenic ride on BANFF GONDOLA up Sulphur Mountain. The balance of the day is at leisure, or join one of the optional helicopter flightseeing trips offering unsurpassed views of the Rockies. This evening, a fun-filled musical about Canada awaits you at the optional dinner theater, Oh Canada Eh? (B)
Overnight Banff Park Lodge

Day 6

Banff – Columbia Icefield – Jasper.
Follow the breathtaking Icefields Parkway today and head for JASPER NATIONAL PARK. Scale Bow Pass, with splendid views of Peyto Lake. Then, climb to Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. Next is the highlight of the day: stop at the 1,000-foot-thick Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride aboard an ICE EXPLORER. See Athabasca Falls before reaching Jasper. Still time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. (B)
Overnight Sawridge Hotel

Day 7

Jasper National Park. Excursion to Maligne Lake.
The morning is at leisure. Optional activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Maybe take an optional hike to learn about glacier formations found in the area. This afternoon, journey to Maligne Lake for a fully narrated CRUISE of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, you are treated to dinner. (B,D)
Overnight Sawridge Hotel

Day 8

Jasper – Lake Louise – Calgary.
This morning, retrace the route south along the Icefields Parkway. One more highlight saved for the last day of your vacation: a visit to famous LAKE LOUISE. Continue to Calgary, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation. (B,D)
Overnight Delta Bow Valley

Day 9

Calgary.
The holiday ends after breakfast this morning. Transfer back to the airport for your return flight.(B)

Day 10

Arrival back to Dublin

What's Included

• Return transatlantic scheduled flights
• Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
• Airport transfers
• Superior hotel accommodation in hotels listed or of a similar standard
• Meals as detailed in itinerary

Activities & Sights included in the price

• Calgary: Farewell dinner
• Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump: Visit the World Heritage Site
• Waterton Lakes National Park: Sightseeing
• Glacier National Park: Travel along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Red Jammers
• Fort Steele: Visit restored town and Radium Hot Springs
• Banff National Park: Gondola ride up Banff’s Sulphur Mountain
• Columbia Icefield: Ice Explorer ride on the Columbia Icefield
• Jasper National Park: Cruise Maligne Lake
• Lake Louise: Visit the lake