Canadian Rockies and Glacier Park 2021

Day 1

Your vacation begins in Calgary, where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. Calgary is the closest international gateway to both the Canadian Rockies and Glacier Park. Transfer from the Calgary Airport by hotel courtesy shuttle to your hotel. Rooms are available for check-in after 3:00 p.m. Join Caravan for a 7:00 p.m. welcome briefing.

Day 2

Journey south through Alberta cowboy country to Waterton Lakes National Park, where the Rockies rise dramatically out of the rolling prairies. You are now in the world’s first International Peace Park, formed in 1932 by combining Waterton Lakes Park in Canada with Glacier Park in Montana. Together, these parks form Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a celebration of the friendship between Canada and the United States. This afternoon you'll enjoy mountain scenery and great photo opportunities on your cruise of Waterton Lake. Then to your lakeshore hotel for a relaxing two night stay. Your hotel is centrally located in Waterton, the undiscovered jewel of Canada. Cafes, bars, shopping, wildlife viewing and nature walks are outside your door. Enjoy dinner.
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Day 3

Cross the border into Montana, USA. Today explore the wonders of Glacier National Park. Board the stylish “Red Jammers,” restored vintage touring coaches from the 1930’s (until mid-September). Journey on the spectacular “Going-to-the-Sun” Road into the heart of Glacier National Park (weather and road conditions permitting). See St. Mary’s Lake and the majestic Garden Wall, the cliff forming the central Continental Divide. Look for mountain goats and bighorn sheep at Logan Pass. Enjoy free time at Many Glacier, along the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake (until mid-September). Cross the Canadian border and return to Waterton.
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Day 4

Head north through the beautiful Kananaskis Valley (road opens June 16th). Arrive in Banff, a vibrant mountain town. Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of six mountain ranges. Continue to your hotel in downtown Banff. Enjoy a two night stay surrounded by the wild beauty of 2,500 square mile Banff Park.
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Day 5

On your morning wildlife excursion, drive along the shores of Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake. Stop at Bow River Falls. Weather and river conditions permitting, enjoy a float trip on the scenic Bow River. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Return to Banff. Afternoon is at leisure in Banff. Your ideally located Banff hotel is within easy walking distance to restaurants, taverns, shops and galleries.
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Day 6

This morning, visit two beautiful Canadian lakes. First, visit Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Then, enjoy a leisurely visit at Lake Louise, filled with turquoise colored water from Victoria Glacier. This afternoon, drive along the world-famous Icefields Parkway to Jasper. Waterfalls, glacier lakes and snow-capped mountains line your drive. The Parkway is home to to elk, moose, bears, goats, sheep and caribou. Enter the vast, unspoiled grandeur of 4,200 square mile Jasper Park, Canada’s largest national park. Enjoy a relaxing two night stay. Dinner is at your lodge on the banks of the Athabasca River.
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Day 7

Enjoy a scenic morning drive to glacier-fed Maligne Lake, 14 miles long and ringed by dramatic snow-capped peaks. The road to Maligne Lake has some of the best wildlife viewing in the Canadian Rockies. Look for mountain goat, moose, elk, bear, bighorn sheep, caribou and bald eagles. Next, visit Maligne Canyon. Then, free time to explore Jasper, a charming small town with many shops. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the natural beauty of Jasper Park.
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Day 8

Another glorious day on the Icefields Parkway, this time travelling south. Each direction offers unique views. Ride across the surface of Columbia Icefield’s Athabasca Glacier on an all-terrain Ice Explorer (weather permitting). The meltwater from the Columbia Icefield feeds streams that flow into three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. Walk on the Athabasca Glacier. Then, descend to the Great Plains of Canada. Return to Calgary. Farewell dinner.
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Day 9

The tour ends after breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the Calgary Airport by hotel courtesy shuttle. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan.

During your visit to Glacier National Park, board a world famous “Red Jammer,” the historical red buses that have been a fixture in that park since 1936 (weather and road conditions permitting). Originally built and designed specifically for sightseeing in the National Park System of the United States of America, these 25-foot-long vintage touring coaches were fully restored in 2000 by the Ford Motor Company and are the only remaining buses of their kind in operation today. With a unique canvas roll back top and individual doors for each row, these charming open-air buses are ideal for absorbing the startling beauty of the high mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and cedar forests that surround the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun-Highway. Keep a lookout for wildlife roaming the mountainsides, including Rocky Mountain Goats. The weather can change at any moment, so be prepared with sunscreen, a tie down or secure hat, and a jacket if the weather is cooler. When the weather gets cooler, warm wool blankets are provided for your laps, but coats and scarves are advisable.

Your stay in Banff includes a ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola. Your four passenger gondola cabin will transport you to the summit at an elevation of 7,486 feet (2,281m) above sea level. The total ride takes just 8 minutes each way. At the summit, you will enjoy 360 degree views of six mountain ranges comprising the heart of the Canadian Rockies from the roof top observation area and view decks. These are some of the most spectacular mountain views in the world and are why the area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also explore the Summit Ridge interpretive boardwalk, a 1km long elevated board-walk that leads you along Sulphur Mountain’s summit ridge to the Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada, and the historic Sanson’s Meteorological Station.

During your stay in Banff, you will enjoy a gentle float trip on Canada’s “Jewel of The Rockies", the scenic Bow River. Located just below the Banff townsite, this glacier fed stretch of river winds though forested islands and Rocky cliffs of incredible beauty inside Banff National Park. The Park is home to over 53 species of mammals, such as beaver, elk, coyote, black bear, bighorn sheep, and more, including 260 species birds. Floating along the Bow River is a perfect way to intimately experience Banff's natural mountain beauty. Each raft seats approximately 15 passengers and has an experienced guide. Life jackets are required.