Seven Days in the Rockies
Abigail and Ollie are here to help give you the inside track.
The perfect Big(ger) Short Break for Canada-philes who are short on time, this carefully curated week-long luxury road trip in the Canadian Rockies takes in beautiful Banff and the wonderful Jasper National Park, and a lot in between.
Itinerary at a glance:
- Scramble along vie ferrate trails in the Rockies
- Gaze on exquisite mountain lakes
- Spot bears in Jasper National Park
Why Book with Original Travel?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: Arrive in Canada
Once you have landed in Canada, cleared customs and collected your luggage, you can pick up the keys to your hire car. You will drive to Banff along the Trans-Canada Highway which will take an hour-and-a half, before reaching your accommodation in time for a late supper before bed.
Day 2: Banff
After breakfast this morning you will make your way down to a meeting point for a morning spent on Banff's vie ferrate (literally 'iron roads' in Italian).
In the company of an expert guide, you will scurry and scramble across a system of cables, ladders and suspension bridges which will take you across the mountains to some spectacular vistas, made all the more beautiful by the effort it took to reach them.
This afternoon is yours to spend as you like, and we recommend taking a self-guided hike through the mountains - we can recommend the best of the well-marked trails - and nosing around town before dinner and drinks in Banff. Our detailed destination Dossier is full of our favourite places to eat and drink, and our Concierge can also recommend and book the best restaurant for you.
Day 3: Lake Louise
After breakfast this morning you will leave Banff and make the hour-long drive to Lake Louise.
Here, you will meet your expert guide for a full-day tour of what may be the world's most photographed lake. Your expert guide will meet you at Moraine Lake and you can then follow in the footsteps of early Canadian explorers and even earlier First Nations people (the Assiniboine people have lived around here for millennia) as you walk past waterfalls, and enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch.
Day 4: Take a Hike
Following a more leisurely start to the day, this morning you will take to the trails with a naturalist guide.
Depending on your interests - be they geological, floral, or faunal - you will take a deep dive into the natural landscapes of the Canadian Rockies. As you hike through the mountains your guide will point out endemic flora and fauna - and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for grizzlies. During the day you will take the Lake Louise gondola up to a viewing platform where the spectacular vistas stretch on for miles.
This evening is your last evening in Lake Louise, so we've pre-booked a lovely dinner for you before you head on tomorrow.
Day 5: Columbia Icefields
This morning you will leave Lake Louise and make your way to Jasper. It's roughly a three-hour drive, but you will stop at the Columbia Icefields - the largest sub-polar body of ice in North America - about halfway along the route.
Here, you will spend some time exploring the discovery center and glass-floored observation platform hovering 900ft above the valley floor. Once your knees have stopped trembling you will board a specially adapted ice explorer (basically a pimped-up bus with some seriously chunky tires) and head out onto the ice to explore the chilly surrounds.
After your ice tour, continue your journey to Jasper, arriving
mid-afternoon. We recommend dropping your bags off in your room and
heading out to explore before drinks and dinner. Our detailed
destination Dossier is full of our favorite spots to eat and drink
and our local Concierge can also recommend a book a local
restaurant.
Day 6: Bear Stalking
Jasper National Park is 40% larger than Banff National Park but welcomes half the visitors. We don't think it's any coincidence that as a result Jasper has roughly three times as many elk, caribou and bears - which you will be spotting this evening with an expert guide.
After you have spent the morning canoeing in a pristine mountain lake, keeping an eye out for birdlife, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a private evening tour of the best bear viewing spots. As you make your way around the park your guide will explain the geology of the area and how the bears' survival depends on the very specific ecology of the region. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for bears along the way.
Day 7: Flight Back Home
After one last Canadian breakfast this morning - maple syrup and all- you will begin the drive back to Calgary for your flight home. It'll take roughly four hours, so we recommend stopping off in Banff or Lake Louise - whichever was your favourite - along the way to have lunch and stretch your legs.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels. Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights.
From
$2,460pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
$2,095pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
$2,950pp
Abigail and Ollie are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.