Itinerary Details
Glacier National Park & The Canadian Rockies
Day 1 ARRIVE IN CALGARY, ALBERTA Welcome to Calgary! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
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Day 2 CALGARY–HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP–WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK Native Traditions Before departing Calgary, enjoy an orientation tour of the city’s highlights. Travel south along the Macleod Trail. Tour Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a local First Nation’s guide. Then on to scenic Waterton Lakes National Park with a photo stop at Cameron Falls. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Discover the longtime relationship between the First Nations culture and the vast herds of American bison that roamed the plains of southwest Alberta. See the remains of marked trails and an ancient burial mound where vast quantities of buffalo (American Bison) skeletons can still be found at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - evidence of a custom used by the Plains People. Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behavior, they skillfully chased the bison over a precipice to quickly kill their main source of sustenance, clothing, and products.
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Day 3 WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK–GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA–GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD–WHITEFISH, MONTANA Peak Perfection Enter Montana through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and behold the awesome snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park. Next, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring a made-from-scratch piece of [LF] huckleberry pie or ice cream tasting. Take a scenic ride on the Red Jammer Bus on spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVORITE
THE SWEET LIFE Each summer and fall, the aptly named Huckleberry Mountain bursts forth with a purple bounty of berries for which it is named. These Huckleberries are a favorite of bears who live in Glacier National Park, but you can enjoy the sweet rewards of summer with a homemade piece of traditional huckleberry pie or ice cream with lunch at a local restaurant—our treat!
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE A highlight of your visit to Glacier National Park awaits you as you board the famous vintage Red Jammer bus that will take you along one of North America’s most spectacular highways: Going-to-the-Sun Road. After crossing the 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, you’ll enter a geographical wonderland of alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks dominate the landscape.
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Day 4 WHITEFISH–CRANSTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA–KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK–BANFF, ALBERTALife in the Wild West Re-enter Canada this morning, with a stop at the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre in British Columbia to learn of the history and culture of the Ktunaxa Nation of British Columbia, before crossing into Alberta. Drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon and Kootenay National Park before entering Banff National Park, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The evening is free to enjoy the village’s shops, galleries, and restaurants. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada’s first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
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Day 5 BANFF NATIONAL PARK Breathtaking Banff This morning, sightseeing includes a stop at beautiful Bow Falls. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may choose to join an optional helicopter flightseeing trip for unsurpassed views of the Rockies. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada’s first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
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Day 6 BANFF–LAKE LOUISE–JASPERRocky Mountain Majesty Follow breathtaking Icefields Parkway today and head for Jasper National Park. One highlight of your vacation: a visit to famous Lake Louise. Then, climb to Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. There’s time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDER Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise lake in the setting of Victoria Glacier, with a soaring mountain backdrop, palatial Fairmont Chateau hotel, and jaw-dropping sights in the Canadian Rockies. The spectacular beauty of Lake Louise is a rare treasure and bucket list experience!
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Day 7 JASPER. EXCURSION TO MALIGNE LAKESpectacular Jasper The morning is at leisure. Nearby activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Later, journey to Maligne Lake for a [LF] narrated cruise of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, enjoy a lakeside dinner with incredible views and local fare including famous Alberta beef. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
SPIRIT IN THE SKY A cruise to Spirit Island on the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake is a spectacular sight to behold as one of the most photographed locations in the world for its jaw-dropping beauty.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Spanning nearly 4,250 square miles of spectacular natural beauty, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic sights lie below an incredible Dark Sky to thrill stargazers as well.
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Day 8 JASPER–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–CALGARYCampfire Stories This morning, visit Athabasca Falls and then retrace the route south along Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride aboard an Ice Explorer. Continue to Calgary, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Over dessert, be entertained by a local [LF] cowboy poet who will bring the region’s Western heritage to life through stories and songs—a perfect ending to your vacation. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Follow the songs of the prairie back to the days of the Wild West with an exclusive experience included with your farewell dinner in Calgary. Feel the nostalgic folklore and romance of ranching and roping with cowboy poet’s stories and songs that paint a portrait of the cowhands’ home on the range.
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Day 9 CALGARYHappy trails until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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Vacations by Randy
