Banff National Park in Canadian Rockies

Try the Banff & Rocky Mountains Tour! This 4 day tour leaves from Vancouver and ends in Calgary. Its impossible to travel through the gorgeous Rocky Mountains without a sense of wonder. Waterfalls, glaciers, wild animals, sky blue lakes and lofty peaks. All done at a leisurely pace. Stops include: Banff, Lake Louise, and the Columbia Ice Fields.

The accommodations have all been chosen for their unique qualities and locations. Come and explore on this fully guided van or motor coach to adventure in Canada's Rocky Mountains. This tour is an excellent supplement to your Alaska Cruise or Rocky Mountain train adventure. Starting in Vancouver and ending in Calgary Alberta.

There is a two person minimum for this tour to operate.

Tour Highlights:
~ Icefields parkway and Columbia Icefields excursion
~ Wildlife viewing in Jasper and Banff National Parks
~ Lake Louise
~ Hell's Gate rapids air tram ride
~ Hot Springs
~ Banff's Sulfur Mountain air tram ride
~ City tour of Banff

Tour Includes:
~ All accommodations, in standard hotels
~ Bus or van transportation
~ Services of a professional local guide
~ Entrance to specified events and attractions
~ All breakfasts and most meals
~ Lots of good surprises!

Itinerary:
Day 1 - Vancouver to Rocky Mountains
Your tour will begin with a pick up service anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area and follows the old rush gold trail route up the Fraser canyon with stops at historic and naturally beautiful sites along the way. The route will take you up the narrow Fraser Canyon with a stop at Hell's Gate rapids on the Fraser river for lunch (included) and a ride on the air tram across the river. By nightfall you'll be in the Rockies at the Three Valley Lake Chateau. Three Valley Gap is tucked into the mountains on a clear lake where three valleys connect (hence the name) and is a perfect introduction to the Rockies. You'll be welcomed by a steak barbeque (included)in this ghost town. The evening is free for you to explore Three Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town, an unique collection of heritage pioneer buildings that transports visitors back to the 1800's. Also included is the Antique Auto Museum that features automobiles from 1902 through 1929. You can also explore the vast Railway Roundhouse, the largest covered Turntable and Roundhouse complex in Canada, or perhaps even take in a performance at the Walter Moberly Theater.

Day 2 - Three Valley Gap to Saskatchewan Crossing
Begin the morning with a delicious breakfast and then travel through the mountain passes. First you head through the notorious Rogers Pass to Yoho National Park and then on to the Kicking Horse pass with stops at the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake, and the Natural Bridge. Finally up the Jasper Parkway, often referred to as the most scenic highway in the world, to Saskatchewan Crossing. High in the mountains, halfway between Banff and Jasper this wonderfully isolated outpost boasts 66 motel rooms along with a 250 seat dining room, 125 seat cafeteria, 70 seat pub, and a 3,000 sq ft gift shop. At the peak season it take about 80 staff members to operate the resort. It is named for the Saskatchewan River which travel from this point eastward across the continent. You'll be staying overnight at Saskatchewan Crossing.

Day 3 - Saskatchewan Crossing to Banff
Again you'll start your morning off right with a tasty breakfast. You'll have an early morning departure on one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Jasper Parkways, to the Columbia Icefields where you will ride the famous glacier buses across the permanent icefields of the continental divide. During the afternoon you will travel along the Parkway past amazing mountain peaks, glaciers, and lakes like Peyto named for Ebenezer William Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area. Wildlife is common along with the spectacular mountain scenery.

Around mid-afternoon you'll arrive at the world renowned Lake Louise for a stroll along the famous lakeside. Enjoy a fantastic dinner at Lake Louise (not included). Later that afternoon you'll depart and continue along the parkway to Johnston Canyon Resort just outside the town of Banff. Situated on the banks of the Johnston Canyon creek, you'll find quaint cabins tastefully decorated with wooden/leather Mission style furniture and heritage colors. These comfortable cabins, in a remote tranquil setting, provide immediate access to the Johnston Canyon Falls and hiking trails. You'll spend the night in one of the mountain cabins.

Day 4 - Banff to Calgary
At an elevation of 4710 ft above sea level, Johnston Canyon Resort is literally one of the top resorts of the Rockies in Canada. If you have ever experienced the magic and tranquility of a Rocky Mountain vacation, you know that nothing beckons like a morning bird chorus of sweet songs. Then you step onto a front porch that is surrounded by towering pines and aspen. The air smells crisp and pure. In the distance and all around, you are confronted and overwhelmed by the power of ice-capped jagged peaks. After you have breakfast (included), you'll have a late morning departure to give you a chance to see the falls at Johnston Canyon. You'll take a city tour of Banff, including a visit to Cave and Basin National Historic Site and a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a million dollar view of the valley and peaks in the Banff area.

Banff is one of only two municipalities within a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to 8,721 residents, it hosts approximately 3 million guests each year. The community has embraced an aggressive growth management plan as a means to preserve this unique small town. The footprint of the town of Banff is just 3.93 sq km and will never be bigger. This means everything is just 10 minutes away, maximum, and you can walk anywhere. All residents must meet the federal regulation of "need to reside" which means individuals must be employed in the town in order to live there. The rest of you day will be free to explore Banff, with a late afternoon departure to Calgary.

Pick up and drop off is free in the Greater Vancouver Area. Additional charges apply to those outside of the area who wished to be picked up. It is $2.00 CAD per mile for overage, payable at the time of service.

There is a two person minimum for this tour to operate.

8 DAYS MINIMUM ADVANCE BOOKING REQUIRED. Tour does offer hotel pick-up in the Greater Vancouver area. Rates are per person in US dollars. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 800-719-2185.