Itinerary
- Day 1
Calgary
You'll arrive in Calgary whenever works for your flight. There's no scheduled activities today, so if you get in early, you have the run of the city to check out on your own. The tour leader will find you at your hotel reception tomorrow morning. If you're flying into Calgary International Airport (YYC), an airport transfer is available and it's only about 20 minutes to where you're staying.
Optional Activities
- Explore Calgary city centre - museums, shops and cafes
- Experience Calgary's culture and mountain views
- Day 2
Calgary to Kananaskis Country
Head west from Calgary on Highway 1 toward Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country. You'll hike the Kananaskis Lookout Trail through forest to a fire lookout with great views across the park. The hike covers 12km and takes about 4 hours. That evening you'll camp at a shared facility with toilets, showers, and a kitchen where the tour leader prepares dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Kananaskis Lookout Trail hike - 12 kilometres through forest to fire lookout point
- Dinner cooked by tour leader
Landmarks/POIs Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Kananaskis Lookout Trail - Day 3
Kananaskis Country
Walk through Kananaskis Valley on the Burstall Pass Trail, moving through forests and willow flats before climbing steeply into alpine meadows and past Burstall Lakes. When the weather's clear, you'll see Mount Sir Douglas, Mount Birdwood, Mount Galatea, The Fortress, and Mount Chester. This 16km hike takes about 5.5 hours total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Burstall Pass Trail hike - 16 kilometres through forests, willow flats and alpine meadows
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Burstall Pass Trail Burstall Lakes - Day 4
Banff National Park
Travel to Banff National Park and tackle the Cory and Edith passes loop trail, a trail that doesn't get as crowded as some others near Banff's town centre. You'll work through intense climbs across dense forest with switchbacks and come out to views around Mount Edith and Mount Louis. The 13km loop takes roughly 6.5 hours and ranks among the top hikes along the Bow Valley Parkway.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Cory and Edith passes loop trail hike - 13 kilometres with alpine views
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Banff National Park Cory Pass Mount Edith Mount Louis - Day 5
Kootenay National Park
Head to Kootenay National Park, one of four protected reserves in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. The Stanley Glacier Trail is a moderate hike that follows switchbacks through a burn area with wildflowers and lodgepole pine, crossing creeks toward Stanley Basin. You'll cover 11km in about 3 hours. Afterward you'll set up camp for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Stanley Glacier Trail hike - 11 kilometres through burn area with wildflowers
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Kootenay National Park Stanley Glacier Trail Stanley Basin - Day 6
Kootenay National Park
Hike the Kindersley Pass Trail toward Kindersley-Sinclair Summit, then connect with the Sinclair Creek Trail. You'll pass through alpine meadows and Douglas Fir forests with wild roses, blue clematis, and yellow columbine. At 2,395 metres you get views of Mounts Sinclair and Kindersley plus the Devil's Tooth. The 18km hike takes around 6.5 hours. If you want to relax afterward, there's an optional visit to Radium Hot Spring.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Kindersley Pass Trail hike - 18 kilometres through alpine meadows and forests
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Radium Hot Spring - relax in warm waters
Landmarks/POIs Kindersley Pass Trail Kindersley-Sinclair Summit Radium Hot Spring - Day 7
Marble Canyon to Lake Louise
Take two shorter hikes to recover a bit. In the morning you'll walk the rugged Marble Canyon carved by Tokkum Creek with wooden bridges, mostly flat terrain. After lunch you'll head to Consolation Lake from Moraine Lake through a boulder field and well-maintained paths. The first walk is 1.9km (45 minutes), the second is 5.8km (about 2 hours). You'll stay two nights in four-bed dorms at Lake Louise Alpine Centre.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by group in hostel kitchen)
Included Activities
- Marble Canyon hike - 1.9 kilometres through water-hewn canyon
- Consolation Lake hike - 5.8 kilometres from Moraine Lake
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Marble Canyon Lake Louise Moraine Lake Consolation Lake - Day 8
Plain of Six Glaciers
Follow the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail for great Lake Louise area views. You start with a flat walk along the lake that gradually becomes steeper, climbing past tall cliffs through forest before opening onto a rocky mountain path. You'll reach a traditional Canadian teahouse with views of glaciers and back across Lake Louise and Chateau. This 15km hike takes around 5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by group in hostel kitchen)
Included Activities
- Plain of Six Glaciers Trail hike - 15 kilometres with Lake Louise and glacier views
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Plain of Six Glaciers Trail Chateau Lake Louise - Day 9
Yoho National Park to Revelstoke
Drive to Yoho National Park and hike from Emerald Lake, which sits ringed by forest. The trail starts flat through woods for 2km along the shoreline, then climbs steeply above treeline toward Emerald Basin with El Presidente peak ahead and Emerald Glacier views. You'll see waterfalls and creeks as vegetation thins out. Return the same way, then drive to Revelstoke for the night at Hot Springs Campground. This 10km hike takes about 3 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Emerald Lake hike - 10 kilometres through forest with glacier views
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Yoho National Park Emerald Lake Emerald Basin El Presidente Emerald Glacier - Day 10
Glacier National Park
Visit Glacier National Park, a quick drive from Revelstoke. Stop first at Rogers Pass Visitor Centre to learn about the glacier-carved geology of the region. Then hike Balu Pass, a route that doesn't see tons of foot traffic. The terrain varies as you climb uphill through dense forest, which opens into meadows with beautiful mountain views and alpine scenery. The 11.5km hike takes 5 to 6 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Rogers Pass Visitor Centre visit
- Balu Pass hike - 11.5 kilometres through forest and alpine meadows
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Glacier National Park Rogers Pass Visitor Centre Balu Pass - Day 11
Eva Lake
Explore Revelstoke's charming town with its wooden-facaded buildings, cafes, restaurants, and outdoor shops. Later you'll drive up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway through dense forest that opens to subalpine wildflower meadows (the flowers are most brilliant in August). Then hike Eva Lake from the Balsam Lake trailhead at 1,835 metres through forest, alpine meadows, to the mountain-top Eva Lake. This 15km hike takes about 5 hours with minimal elevation gain and well-maintained paths.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooked meal prepared by tour leader)
Included Activities
- Meadows in the Sky Parkway scenic drive
- Eva Lake hike - 15 kilometres through forest and alpine meadows
- Town exploration in Revelstoke
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Revelstoke National Park Meadows in the Sky Parkway Eva Lake Balsam Lake - Day 12
Golden to Canmore
Drive to Golden where you have an optional rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River through pine forests and jagged BC mountains, with Class II-IV rapids and an optional BBQ lunch after. If you skip the rafting, you can visit Takkakaw Falls or Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park instead. In the afternoon you'll head back to Banff National Park to walk through the town before finishing up in the picturesque town of Canmore for your final night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Rafting on Kicking Horse River - Class II-IV rapids
- BBQ lunch after rafting
- Visit Takkakaw Falls in Yoho National Park
- Visit Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park
- Explore Banff town
Landmarks/POIs Golden Kicking Horse River Takkakaw Falls Wapta Falls Banff Canmore - Day 13
Canmore to Calgary
Leave Canmore after breakfast and drive back to Calgary. You'll arrive at Ramada Downtown Hotel around 10am, where you'll get transferred to the airport based on your departure time. Luggage storage is available if your flight leaves later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Calgary airport
Landmarks/POIs Ramada Downtown Hotel
