Day 1 Arrive in Calgary
Welcome to Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies and the starting place for your unforgettable vacation! Tonight, kick off your week with a 6 pm WELCOME PARTY & DINNER, where you’ll mix and mingle with your Tour Director and fellow traveling partners. You will also take part in a proud tradition that has been practiced for over 60 years in Calgary: a special [LF] WHITE HAT CEREMONY. During the ceremony, receive an official “Honorary Calgarian” certificate and your very own Smithbilt White Hat, symbolizing the spirit of Calgary and formally welcoming you to Calgary! (D)

Day 2 Search for Dinosaurs & Ghosts
Venture into Alberta’s Badlands today, an area rich in paleontology history. In Drumheller, take the DINOSAUR TRAIL and find yourself walking the rugged, lunar landscapes and parched soil, which takes you back to what life might have been like 70 million years ago. Known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World,” more fossil remains and skeletons have been found in this area than any other place in the world. Come face-to-shin with prehistoric beasts at the ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM, and see the most extensive displays of dinosaur skeletons and fossils in the world. [LF] Become a PALEONTOLOGIST FOR A DAY when you prospect for fossils, investigate real dinosaur remains, and learn about these creatures that once roamed here. After lunch, stop in the dusty GHOST TOWN of Wayne for a cold drink at the Last Chance Saloon. Once a thriving coal mining town with a population over 10,000, Wayne is now a well-preserved relic of old-time Alberta. Return to Calgary for the remainder of the day. (B)

Day 3 Sledding in the Rockies
Discover a day in the life of a sled dog as you visit a Canadian SLED DOG KENNEL. During your visit, play and learn about the athletic and beautiful huskies, and see a demonstration on how these dogs love to run! No visit would be complete without meeting a wolf hybrid and cuddling with the puppies. Continue your journey into the heart of the Canadian Rockies as you enter BANFF NATIONAL PARK. See Bow Falls, Sulphur Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, and Surprise Corner. This evening, board a covered wagon and ride along Bow River to 3 Mile Cabin, where you will enjoy a traditional BBQ WILDERNESS COOKOUT. Before the dinner bell rings, challenge your friends to a game of horseshoes or try your hand at roping with a cowboy. (B,D)

Day 4 Water & Wildlife in Banff National Park
The choice is yours today! Pick from whitewater thrills on a RAFTING ADVENTURE through Horseshoe Canyon or explore the area’s waterways as the fur traders once did on a guided VOYAGEUR CANOE TRIP. Your afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps take advantage of an optional helicopter flightseeing trip with dramatic aerial views of the Rocky Mountains and Banff. Or, you may wish to stroll the colorful streets of Banff or fish for trout on Lake Minnewanka. This evening, head out on a WILDLIFE SAFARI, the perfect time to look for local animal residents, like caribou, bears, wolves, bighorn sheep, elk, and moose. (B)

Day 5 Walk on a Glacier
Journey north on Icefields Parkway and savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. We’ll stop at Peyto Lake, which many consider to be the best view in Canada—and perhaps one of the best in the world! Continue to JASPER NATIONAL PARK and get ready for one of the trip’s highlights: a stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride on an ICE EXPLORER. Stand on 1,000 feet of ice and come face to face with the glaciers that feed into a Triple Continental Divide. Later today, arrive in the mountain wilderness of Jasper. Tonight after dinner, [LF] join a local NATURALIST from nearby parks for an ice cream social and learn about the area’s flora and fauna during an interactive talk. (B,D)

Day 6 Discover Jasper National Park
Marvel at the precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and glacial lakes during your day at leisure in Jasper. Perhaps go on a nature hike to learn about the glacier formations, flora, and fauna found in the area; go canoeing on Lake Pyramid; try your hand at fly-fishing; rent a bike to explore for the day; or hit the river for a whitewater adventure. (B)

Day 7 Search for Grizzlies
Depart Jasper and retrace your route south along Icefields Parkway to famous LAKE LOUISE. Board the Lake Louise GONDOLA and travel up to one of Banff National Park’s greatest panoramic views. This is also one of the best places in the world to spot grizzlies, so don’t forget your camera, as sightings occur almost daily! Continue to Kananaskis Valley for your final evening. Tonight your Tour Director hosts a SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER, complete with s’mores by the firepit—the perfect finale to your vacation. (B,D)

Day 8 Kananaskis–Calgary
Your journey comes to a close today as you arrive at Calgary International Airport for your homebound flights. Flights should be scheduled after Noon. (B)

Experience some of Canada’s majestic national parks and fascinating sights on this family vacation to Alberta. Surrounded by the spectacular beauty of Banff National Park, enjoy a BBQ wilderness cookout; a visit to a sled dog kennel; a wilderness safari to look for caribou, bears, wolves, bighorn sheep, and more; and your choice of either a rafting adventure through Horseshoe Canyon or a guided voyager canoe trip. A trip highlight is an Ice Explorer ride at Columbia Icefield, where you can stand on 1,000 feet of ice and come face to face with the glaciers. Ride the Lake Louise gondola, one of the best places to see wild grizzly bears in their natural environment, and enjoy an interactive Naturalist talk in Jasper National Park.

Breathtaking beauty is not all that is offered on this tour. You’ll also have the opportunity to become a paleontologist for a day when you search for fossils, examine real dinosaur remains, and learn about these creatures at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World,” more fossil remains and skeletons have been found here than any other place in the world. So grab your camera and get ready for a family vacation sure to create long-lasting memories.

• American breakfast daily (B); and 4 three-course dinners (D) including a special Welcome Party & Dinner in Calgary and a Send-Off Celebration Dinner in Kananaskis
• Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable
• Professional tour director, local hosts, and local guides
• Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
• Private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and emergency washroom while touring
• Convenient Globus travel bag and travel documents

• CALGARY: Welcome Party & Dinner; [LF] White Hat Ceremony
• DRUMHELLER: Explore Dinosaur Trail; [LF] become a paleontologist for a day at the Royal Tyrrell Museum; visit the ghost town of Wayne
• BANFF NATIONAL PARK: Visit a sled dog kennel; BBQ Wilderness Cookout; choice of included activity: rafting or canoeing; Wildlife Safari
• COLUMBIA ICEFIELD: Ice Explorer Ride on the Columbia Icefield
• JASPER NATIONAL PARK: [LF] Interactive Naturalist talk & ice cream social; sightseeing
• LAKE LOUISE: Ride the Lake Louise Gondola; visit the lake
• KANANASKIS: Send-Off Celebration Dinner with s’mores

Calgary: Delta Bow Valley (SF)
Banff: Banff Park Lodge (F)
Jasper: Lobstick Lodge (F)
Kananaskis: Delta Lodge at Kananaskis (F)

To see our key for hotel ratings, click here.

Extra Nights per person in Calgary:
All except Stampede: in single room $180; in twin room $109; in triple room $85; in quad room $77.
Stampede (July 4-16): in single room $255; in twin room $147; in triple room $111; in quad room $96.

• Any applicable Goods and Service Tax (GST) and/or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for Canada are additional. Taxes will be calculated and listed at the time of booking, prior to payment being collected.
• The Canadian Rockies are blessed with stunning scenery and extraordinary outdoor attractions. Visiting and participating in activities in these locations is subject to favorable weather conditions.
• “[LF]” refers to Local Favorites where Globus takes you behind the scenes to spotlight what makes this exciting destination unique – and to introduce you to its local flavors.
• Please ask your Vacations to Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines.