6 days Glacier National Park & the Canadian Rockies 2024 (Tour CS)
9 Day Tour from Calgary to Calgary
What do you get when you combine ancient glaciers, a legendary icefield, and all the wonders beneath the snow-capped Canadian peaks? One of the coolest vacations there is! This nine-day tour through the Canadian Rockies and Montana’s Glacier National Park is an adventure filled with wild history, wild scenery, wildlife, and wild rides. Aboard a famous vintage Red Jammer, a massive ice explorer, a glass-walled boat (and even a flightseeing helicopter should you choose) you’ll relish the best views of big skies, bighorn sheep, and even bigger bears. From rugged gold rush territory to the sparkling turquoise waters of Banff and Jasper National Parks, there are so many gems to sink your teeth into on this Canadian Rockies vacation. We suggest starting with a tender filet of Alberta beef and a heavenly slice of homemade huckleberry pie.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Calgary, AB | Welcome to Calgary! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink. |
| 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. Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Discover the longtime relationship between Native people and the vast herds of American Bison that roamed the plains of southwest Alberta. See the remains of marked trails and an aboriginal camp, 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 aboriginal peoples of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years. Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behaviour, the Plains people skilfully chased the Bison over a precipice to quickly kill their main source of sustenance, clothing, and products. |
| 3 | Waterton Lakes National Park - Glacier National Park, MT - Going to the Sun Road - Whitefish, MT | 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 Globus Local Favourite huckleberry pie or ice cream tasting. Take a scenic ride on the Red Jammer Bus on spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road. Breakfast Lunch LOCAL FAVOURITE 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 favourite 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. |
| 4 | Whitefish - Kootenay National Park - Banff National Park | Life in the Wild West Re-enter Canada this morning, with a stop in 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. Breakfast 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! |
| 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. Breakfast 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! |
| 6 | Banff National Park - Lake Louise - Jasper National Park | Rocky 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 savour stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. There’s time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. Breakfast 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 that must be seen to be believed! |
| 7 | Jasper National Park: Excursion to Maligne Lake | Spectacular Jasper The morning is at leisure. Nearby activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Later, journey to Maligne Lake for a Globus Local Favorite narrated cruise of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, enjoy a lakeside dinner with incredible views and local fare including famous Alberta beef. Breakfast Dinner LOCAL FAVOURITE 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. |
| 8 | Jasper National Park - Columbia Icefields Parkway - Calgary | Campfire 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 Globus Local Favourite cowboy poet who will bring the region’s Western heritage to life through stories and songs—a perfect ending to your vacation. Breakfast Dinner LOCAL FAVOURITE 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. |
| 9 | Calgary | Happy trails until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Breakfast |