Alberta Grand Circle: Rockies & Badlands

Highlights

• The full length of the Icefields Parkway, from Lake Louise to Jasper
• Two full days based in Jasper National Park — Maligne Lake, Maligne Canyon, and Athabasca Falls
• The Columbia Icefield, one of the largest ice fields south of the Arctic Circle
• The Alberta Badlands at Drumheller — hoodoos, canyons, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Calgary

Arrive into Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies and home base for the Infinis Pathway team. Settle into your hotel and spend the evening at your own pace — a walk down Stephen Avenue's historic storefronts and patios is an easy, relaxed way to shake off travel and get a first feel for the city before the eight-day loop through the mountains and badlands begins in the morning.

No meals included

Calgary, AB

Canmore, AB

Banff, AB

Day 2

Calgary → Canmore → Banff

Head west on the Trans-Canada Highway into the foothills, watching the skyline shift from prairie to peaks. Stop in Canmore, a former coal-mining town turned mountain-town favourite framed by the Three Sisters peaks, before continuing on to Banff itself. Spend the afternoon settling into the townsite and take in the classic view from Surprise Corner, looking across the Bow River to the Fairmont Banff Springs.

Breakfast included

Canmore, AB

Banff, AB

Grotto Canyon, AB

Day 3

Banff National Park

A full day based in Banff National Park, Canada's first. Ride the Banff Gondola for a panoramic view over six mountain ranges, then spend the afternoon exploring the townsite's shops and riverside pathways, or take a short hike up nearby Grotto Canyon for a quieter look at the limestone walls and creek bed that carve through the foothills just outside Canmore.

Breakfast included

Banff, AB

Grotto Canyon, AB

Lake Louise, AB

Day 4

Banff → Lake Louise → Icefields Parkway → Jasper

Continue on to Lake Louise for a look at its glacier-fed turquoise water, then turn north onto the Icefields Parkway, consistently ranked among the most scenic drives on earth. Bow Lake and Peyto Lake's overlook — with its unmistakable wolf's-head shape — mark the halfway points of the drive north, before the highway drops into the Athabasca Valley and the town of Jasper for the night.

Breakfast included

Lake Louise, AB

Bow Lake, AB

Peyto Lake, AB

Day 5

Jasper National Park

A full day exploring Jasper National Park, the largest of the Rockies parks and a Dark Sky Preserve. Take the boat cruise across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in Canada, then walk the boardwalks above Maligne Canyon, where the Maligne River has carved a limestone gorge over 50 metres deep, before an easy stop at the thundering Athabasca Falls on the way back into town.

Breakfast included

Maligne Lake, AB

Maligne Canyon, AB

Athabasca Falls, AB

Day 6

Jasper → Columbia Icefield → Canmore

Retrace the Icefields Parkway southbound, stopping at the Columbia Icefield, the largest accumulation of ice south of the Arctic Circle, where an optional Ice Explorer ride out onto the Athabasca Glacier is available. Continue back through Banff National Park to Canmore for the night, with time in the evening to browse the town's mountain-outfitter shops and cafes.

Breakfast included

Columbia Icefield, AB

Canmore, AB

Bow Lake, AB

Day 7

Canmore → Drumheller Badlands

Trade the mountains for the moon-like landscape of the Alberta Badlands. Drive east to Drumheller, home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum's world-class dinosaur fossil collection, then walk among the layered clay formations of the Hoodoos and take in the sweeping canyon views at Horsethief Canyon — a striking contrast to the alpine scenery of the days before.

Breakfast included

Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, AB

Hoodoos, AB

Horsethief Canyon, AB

Day 8

Drumheller → Calgary departure

Travel back to Calgary for a final look at the city before your flight home. Ride the Calgary Tower's glass-floor observation deck for a last view over the Bow River and the mountains you've just spent a week exploring, closing out a loop that took in every side of the province — snowy peaks, glacier lakes, and prehistoric badlands.

Breakfast included

Calgary Tower, Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Peyto Lake, AB

Route & Distances

1. Calgary→Canmore≈ 105 km
2. Canmore→Banff≈ 25 km
3. Banff→Lake Louise≈ 57 km
4. Lake Louise→Jasper≈ 230 km
5. Jasper→Canmore≈ 415 km
6. Canmore→Drumheller≈ 220 km
7. Drumheller→Calgary≈ 138 km

Distances are approximate driving distances, for reference only — actual route and mileage on the day may vary.

Check Availability

What's Included

Meeting & Transfer Info

Flying in to join us in Calgary? Please share your flight details at least 5 days before departure so we can confirm your pickup time. If you're arriving the same day the tour starts, let us know your arrival time as early as possible.

Own Expenses

Optional activities you can add on-site — not included in the tour price.

• Banff Gondola≈ $65 CAD / person
• Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island≈ $95 CAD / person
• Columbia Icefield Ice Explorer + Skywalk≈ $120 CAD / person

Cancellation Policy

Good to Know

• Valid government-issued photo ID is required for every traveler on all departures.
• Pickup and drop-off times are approximate and may shift by 15–30 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions.
• Itinerary order and stops may change due to weather, road closures, or park conditions — safety comes first.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; stops involve short, easy walks rather than technical hiking.
• Let us know about mobility needs, dietary restrictions, or large group sizes at the time of booking so we can plan accordingly.
• Multi-day tours are priced based on double-occupancy hotel rooms; single-traveler and triple-occupancy rates are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

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