This morning arrive at Calgary International (YYC).  After you have picked up your bags, proceed to the Car Rental office at YYC Airport.  You will present the confirmation voucher along with your valid Driver’s License and credit card to rent your pre-booked car.

Leaving Calgary behind, set your sights for the next few days on the magnificent Rockies with her treasure chest of craggy and forested mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, and emerald, blue & green lakes. The landscape as you drive down the HWY 1 from Calgary to Banff is constantly transforming and offers some of the clearest markers of the very last Ice Age, and the creation of the Canadian Rockies.  Quite possibly the most amazing vista you will realize on your way to Banff is that of the very Front Range of the Canadian Rockies. These jagged, rocky peaks tower high into the sky and offer your first welcome into the beautiful Rockies. Of them, the most iconic is Mt. Yamnuska, which means “a wall of rock” in the Nakoda language.

Upon arrival in Banff, you will check into your resort. Rest of the day free to discover this bustling resort town of Banff, the gateway to the Rockies.

 

Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains tower the skyline of Banff.  Boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops on Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare. The 6,500 square kilometres of parkland surrounding Banff is host to animals including elk and grizzly bears.

Banff Gondola (included in your package) to the peak of the Sulphur Mountain.  The Banff Gondola delivers fantastic panoramic views from the city of Banff along with the Canadian Rockies.  Visit the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Lookout Point, Bow Falls, the Tunnel Mountains & the Hoodoos. Explore Johnston Canyon or spend your day in some of the interesting activities Banff offers. These include a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, hiking, Horseback Riding with a Cowboy Cookout, river rafting in Kicking Horse, Via Ferrata on Mount Norquay and much more. 

Devote the day exploring Banff and the Banff National Park.  Begin your day with ride on the famous Banff Gondola (included in your package) to the peak of the Sulphur Mountain.  The Banff Gondola delivers fantastic panoramic views from the city of Banff along with the Canadian Rockies.  Visit the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Lookout Point, Bow Falls, the Tunnel Mountains & the Hoodoos. Explore Johnston Canyon or spend your day in some of the interesting activities Banff offers. 

Banff also offers many other tour and activities.  These include a cruise on Lake Minnewaska, hiking, Horseback Riding with a Cowboy Cookout, river rafting in Kicking Horse, Via Ferrata on Mount Norquay and much more. 

A visit to Lake Louise is like stepping into a picture post card.  The turquoise color of the lake, the Victoria Glacier, soaring mountain backdrop, and the palatial Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is what makes Lake Louise picture perfect.

The hamlet has long been a mecca for those seeking the outdoors and adventures.  For those who are seeking something a little tame, rent a canoe at the Lake Louise Boathouse and enjoy canoeing on the lake.  Or just go on a hike along the Lake Louise Shoreline Trail to the Victoria Glacier, hike up to the famous Lake Agnes Tea House or be wowed by the glowing larches during the fall.  Lake Louise also offers many other hiking opportunities.

Winter offers visitors a whole menu of fun activities to indulge in.  From sleigh rides to dog sledding, snowshoeing, and snowtubing to 1,699 hectares (4,200 acres) of skiable terrain, particularly good for families, Lake Louise has it all.  Clients should try ice skating on Lake Louise, justifiably labelled one of the most beautiful outdoor rinks in the world.

Clients may also want to drive up the scenic Icefield Parkway all the way to the Columbia Icefield and take a walk on the Glacier Sky Walk (admissions not included in your self-drive package.  Check with our Canadian Destination Specialists for more details).  This 227-kilometre (143-mile) highway connects the picturesque mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper while paralleling the Continental Divide (the watershed that divides rivers flowing east from those flowing west).

Besides the extraordinary landscape, you will possibly view wildlife such as elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and the occasional bear or wolf along the highway. Considered one of the most stunning alpine drives in the world, the drive along the Icefield Parkway (Highway 93) is an unforgettable experience.  Spend the day immersed in the Canadian Rockies, arcing beneath towering craggy peaks and alongside dozens of glaciers.

Return to Banff at the end of the day.

This morning check-out of your hotel and drive to Calgary International Airport (YYC) and drop off your car.