Description
Day 1
Arrive in Calgary and after picking up your hire check into the comfortable Sandman Hotel spend the rest of the day at your leisure planning what to do with a full day in Calgary tomorrow.
Day 2 Calgary
Day 2 is spent exploring the exciting city of Calgary and the surrounding area – Head to Fort Calgary to discover the place where the North West Mounted Police first built a fort in 1875. Its’ considered to be the place where Calgary was founded and is now a National Historic Site. For a bird’s eye view of the city take the 62 second ride to the observation deck near the top of the Calgary Tower – maybe sign up for Segway City tour for a fun filled hour long spin around town. Other popular Calgary attractions include the Hanger Flight and Military Museums, Peace Bridge, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary Zoo, and Telus Spark, Calgary’s fascinating science museum.
Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre
Ideally located at the heart of Downtown Calgary, the Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre is located directly on the city’s LRT (Light Rail Transit) line, Calgary’s high-speed public transit system. The LRT has stations at lots of the city’s major tourist attractions including Calgary Zoo, the Calgary Stampede Grounds and the Calgary Tower. Seventeenth Avenue with more than 400 shops, restaurant and public patios is one of Calgary’s major retail and entertainment districts – and the good news is that it’s just a short 15 minute or so walk away from the hotel. The Sandman’s desirable setting takes the strain out of getting out and about in Calgary!
Day 3 Calgary to Banff
Leave Calgary and head to Canada’s oldest national park, Banff, enjoy a scenic drive up Scott Lake Hill past the jagged rocky peaks of The Front range of the Canadian Rockies before arriving in the bustling resort town of Banff – your home for the next few nights.
Get to know the local area after checking into the friendly Brewster’s Mountain Lodge and start planning tomorrow’s fun and games! The Lodge is just a short 2 minute walk from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and handy for lots of Banff’s downtown shopping, dining and nightlife.
Day 4 – Banff
On day 4 you can discover Banff and its surrounding areas. Why not visit the Fairmont Banff Springs or Bow Falls? Go hiking on the Athabasca Glacier, drive the legendary Icefields parkway, take a ride on the Sulphur Mountain Gondola or give river rafting a go on Kicking Horse River. After a full day of Banff adventures wind down and relax back at the lodge.
Brewster’s Mountain Lodge, Banff
Desirably located in downtown Banff, Brewster’s Mountain Lodge is the ideal base to for exploring the local area whilst the spectacular mountain backdrop promotes the great outdoors with lots its hiking trails and guided tours. The rooms here are uncomplicated but comfortable and offer modern amenities such as individual climate control, coffee maker, free Wi-Fi and a tasty complimentary continental breakfast to help you kick start the day.
Day 5 Banff – Lake Louise
It’s time to take a short drive as we make our way to Lake Louise where we’ll spend the next day or so at the Deer Lodge, a cosy lodge style hotel that’s just a short 10 minute walk or so from the stunning shorelines of the lake. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the pristine wilderness and amazing outdoor activities on offer at Lake Louise and the surrounding area.
Day 5 & 6 Lake Louise
Blessed with crisp clean mountain air and surrounded by majestic mountain peaks and tumbling creeks, the pristine wilderness of Lake Louise makes it a veritable paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of every genre. From summer hikers and back packers to winter skiers and snowboarders, there really is something for everyone at this iconic Rocky Mountain retreat. There are so many ways to explore this amazing mountain gem, take your pick from hiking, biking, skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding, canoeing, white-water rafting and lots more.
For extra special views of the surrounding area take a gondola ride to the top of Kicking Horse Mountain. Lake Louise itself is simply stunning, so don’t forget to savour this calming lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains before continuing on the next stretch of your trip into Jasper.
Deer Lodge, Lake Louise
With lovely views of the Victoria Glacier the simple and cosy, TV free rooms at the Deer Lodge provide a welcome retreat after a breath-taking day out and about in the Lake Louise countryside. The Lodge also features a traditional dry wood sauna, a stunning roof top hot tub looking out over the Victoria Glacier, a games room and upscale on site dining in the Mount Fairview Dining Room.
Day 7 – Lake Louise to Jasper
It’s time to say cheerio to Lake Louise and make our way along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, the next stopover on this amazing trip Along the way stop for a scenic picnic lunch at Peyto Lake or take an Ice Explorer Ride on the Columbia Icefield before settling into the Jasper’s Crimson Hotel for a good night’s rest – it might be a busy day tomorrow!
Day 8 – Jasper
On day 8 you have a full day to explore Jasper and its surrounding area. Discover attractions such as the Jasper SkyTram, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, Maligne Lake and Miette Hot Springs. If you’re looking for an exciting excursion, the Athabasca River holds white-water rafting – it’s a 12km trip through amazing scenery with numerous class 2 rapids to keep you paddling on-route! Spend the night relaxing back at your hotel in Jasper.
The Crimson Hotel, Jasper
The Crimson Hotel, Jasper is conveniently located just a block or so away from Jasper’s downtown shops and restaurants. Simple, yet well-appointed rooms and suites feature home comforts such as HD TV, coffee making facilities, mini fridges, microwaves and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Hotel also has its own in house diner, an indoor pool, a hot tub and a compact fitness centre.
Day 9 Jasper – Edmonton
Next stop Edmonton for a short stay at the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel. The hotel is set in Edmonton’s downtown area close to lots of local arts, entertainment and dining venues including Rogers Place, home to the Edmonton Oilers ice hockey team and a popular venue for live bands, WWW and UFC events – why not see what’s on there during your stay?
Popular local attractions include the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton Valley Zoo, Fort Edmonton Park and the West Edmonton Mall – its Canada’s largest shopping centre and a popular tourist attraction with hundreds of shops and restaurants and its own ice rink and aquarium.
The Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel
The Coast Edmonton Plaza’s recently renovated rooms and suites come with lots of mod cons including 55” flat screen TV, electronic newspapers, in room tea and coffee, complimentary Wi-Fi and lots more. The hotel also has a fitness centre, in house dining and a whirlpool hot tub as well as a salt water pool.
You’ll drop the hire car off in Edmonton before flying to your last stop – Canada’s Northwest Territories for a short stay in the state capital, Yellowknife
Day 10 Edmonton – Yellowknife
Take the free airport shuttle to your base for the next few nights, Yellowknife’s Explorer Hotel, a warm and welcoming retreat that’s the perfect jumping off point to discover everything that this wonderful part of Canada has to offer.
Day 10, 11 & 12 – Yellowknife
Sitting on the north shore of the Great Slave Lake, Yellowstone and the surrounding area is one of the planet’s most awe inspiring destinations and a land of extremes – the everlasting sunshine hours of summer and the shorter crisper wither days of the Northwest Territories provide the perfect backdrop to an amazing array of contrasting outdoor adventures. Summer favourites that include hiking, backpacking, river and lake canoeing are all backed up by dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow shoe walking and lots more during the short winter days and longer winter nights!
Yellowstone is also one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis, also referred to the Northern Lights. The long clear winter nights of the Northwest Territories are the best time of year to view this amazing natural phenomenon!
Local attractions and places of interest include the Aurora Village, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, the Northern Frontier Visitor Centre, Cameron Falls Trail, Frame Lake Trail and the Bush Pilot’s Memorial.
The Explorer Hotel, Yellowknife
As soon as you step into the lobby of the Explorer Hotel you know you’re going to be staying somewhere special – you’ll be greeted by the hotel’s famous polar bear exhibit and simply stunning lake and forest views before you’ve even checked in.
Your refined guest room or suite features pillowtop mattresses and premium bedding and an array of mod cons including HDTV, microwave, free Wi-Fi, mini fridges and media charging stations. The hotel also features in house dining, a warm and rustic lounge and a fitness room.
