National Parks: Canadian Rockies, Glacier & Yellowstone

CALGARY, ALBERTA 1 night

Day 1: Arrival in Calgary
Included meals: Dinner
Welcome to Canada! Arrive at your hotel in Calgary and settle in before getting to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
BANFF, ALBERTA 3 nights

Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Calgary
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Head out on a sightseeing coach tour of Calgary, a lively city that served as the site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

• Enjoy panoramic city views from the observation deck at the top of Calgary Tower
• Drive by City Hall, Canada Olympic Park and the winding Bow River
• Make a photo stop at the vast Calgary Stampede grounds, where an annual festival and tournament-style rodeo are hosted

Later, drive into the mountains to get to know Banff’s dramatic landscapes as you explore on your own.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Lake Louise
Included meals: Breakfast
Journey into Banff National Park to Lake Louise, a mirror-like glacial lake known as Canada’s “diamond in the wilderness.”

• Discover a landscape rich in wildlife and history
• Stroll along the glittering shores of Lake Louise and take in staggering vistas of the towering Victoria Glacier
• Visit the grand Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, an iconic hotel located on the lake’s eastern shore

Later this afternoon, explore on your own or add an excursion.

Optional Excursion - Banff Photography Tour $35pp*

Snap photos of stunning landscapes and local life as you follow photography experts on a walking tour through the town of Banff at sunset. All levels are welcome, as everyone from beginners to advanced photographers can benefit from the expert guidance offered on this excursion. Bring any camera you have, including your cell phone, and pick up pro photo tips from your instructors as you capture sunset views, mountain peaks and maybe even some wildlife. Best of all, you have the rest of the tour to practice your new photography skills! Please note: This is an outdoor excursion, so please be sure to bring an extra layer in the event of cool weather. The paved path you will traverse is relatively flat but will have varying inclines, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Please be sure to carry your camera charger.
Save $10 when you book this excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $45)

Day 4: Free day in Banff
Included meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a full free day in Banff to explore on your own or add an excursion.

Optional Excursion - Icefields Parkway & Glacier Experience $69pp*

Soak in the beauty of one of the most scenic drives in North America as you journey along the Icefields Parkway. Keep your eyes open for a variety of wildlife such as bears, elk and moose as you drive along this highway, which stretches for almost 150 miles past stunning lakes, soaring mountains and picturesque valleys. Stop at Lake Louise Village before arriving at the Columbia Icefield Centre, where you’ll learn more about Jasper National Park. Then, board a snow coach and travel up to the Athabasca Glacier for a short walk on the ice. Enjoy free time for lunch before driving back down the Icefields Parkway. Please note: Mountain weather changes fast. Wear extra layers and walking shoes or sneakers, as walking may involve steep inclines. This excursion is seasonal and runs mid-June through mid-September only.
Must be booked 20 days before departure

GLACIER COUNTY, MONTANA 1 night

Day 5: Glacier County via Waterton Lakes National Park
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer into the United States to Montana today. Before crossing the border, stop to admire some of Alberta’s scenic gems.

• Drive south to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO-listed site that serves as a telling remnant from the time of the First Nations people
• Continue on to Waterton Lakes National Park, a picturesque area dotted with rugged mountains and dense wilderness 
• Enjoy lunch in the charming Prince of Wales Hotel, which is perched on a bluff and flanked by a curtain of mountains

MISSOULA, MONTANA 1 night

Day 6: Missoula via Glacier National Park & Kalispell
Included meals: Breakfast
Hop in a Red Jammer car and make your way along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a national landmark considered to be one of the world’s most scenic drives. (Please note: Activities in Glacier National Park may vary depending on the season and weather conditions.)

• Marvel at cedar forests, rocky cliffs and glacial lakes as you wind your way through Glacier National Park, which makes up a portion of the UNESCO-listed International Peace Park
• Appreciate the wilderness of the park and revel in the sight of melting glaciers that experts estimate will be gone within the coming decades 

Later, drive to the city of Kalispell, where you’ll enjoy free time for lunch. Then, take in views of the changing landscape as you continue on to Missoula. (Please note: Early June and September departures may overnight in Kalispell instead of Missoula.)

YELLOWSTONE REGION, MONTANA 2 nights

Day 7: Transfer to the Yellowstone Region
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer through Montana to the town of West Yellowstone today. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore on your own or add an excursion.

Optional Excursion - Dude Ranch: Cowboy Culture of the West $99pp*

Experience true cowboy culture on horseback as you ride along the winding paths of West Yellowstone country. Learn the ropes from cowboys and cowgirls who live in the countryside, and soak in the beauty of mountains and wildlife as you go. Please note: This excursion is seasonal and runs May through September only. It is essential to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes while on the horse. Bring a hat or bandana to protect your neck in the sun.
Must be booked 20 days before departure

Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Yellowstone National Park
Included meals: Breakfast

Drive into Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, designated the world’s first national park in 1872, to discover its unique landscape and vast array of animal life.

• Make a photo stop at the Fountain Paint Pot, a colorful, geothermal mudpot located in the Lower Geyser Basin 
• Stroll along the boardwalks around Old Faithful, a famous, frequently erupting cone-type geyser that reaches between 100 and 200 feet high
• Head to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which was created by the erosive forces of water thousands of years ago
• Stop at the canyon’s Upper and Lower Falls for sweeping perspectives of the area at Inspiration Point and Artist Point
• Drive further north to spend free time at the ethereal, terraced Mammoth Hot Springs before making your way back to West Yellowstone

JACKSON, WYOMING 2 nights

Day 9: Jackson via Grand Teton National Park
Included meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a scenic drive to Jackson, one of the West’s premier arts communities. Stop along the way for photo ops in Grand Teton National Park, an area that has a human history dating back over 10,000 years.

• Explore the Grand Tetons, the youngest mountain range in the Rockies
• Try to spot elk, coyotes, black bears, wolves, bison and the elusive mountain lion

Upon arrival in Jackson, take a free afternoon to relax or explore on your own.

Day 10: Free day in Jackson
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend a full free day in Jackson or add excursions.
Then, say goodbye to your group at a farewell dinner this evening.

Optional Excursion - Volunteer at Grand Tetons National Park $0pp*

Take a few hours to give back to the U.S. national parks and help sustain them for the next generation. You'll make a difference as part of a group completing a small project to restore the natural beauty of the land, which may range from cleaning up a trail to cutting back foliage. Please note: you'll need to sign medical and liability forms in order to participate as a volunteer.
Must be booked 20 days before departure

Optional Excursion - Snake River Float $79pp*

One of the best ways to see the Grand Tetons—the glorious peaks that surround Jackson—is from the Snake River. On a raft ride, you’ll have a great chance of glimpsing some of Wyoming’s wildlife, including soaring eagles and graceful mountain lions. You’ll also get a firsthand view of the site of Ansel Adams’ famous photo. Please note: This excursion is weather-dependent and runs seasonally from mid-May through mid-September. Layered clothing and waterproof shoes are recommended for this excursion.
Save $10 when you book this excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $89)

Day 11: Departure
Included meals: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.