Canadian Rockies National Parks Explorer

Highlights

• Five national parks: Waterton Lakes, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper
• Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge, on the quieter British Columbia side of the Rockies
• Marble Canyon and Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park
• A full day in Jasper — Maligne Lake, Maligne Canyon, and Athabasca Falls
• The complete Icefields Parkway, with stops at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and the Columbia Icefield

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Calgary

Arrive into Calgary and settle in for the night. This is our deepest Rockies itinerary, reaching five national parks over ten days, so take the evening to rest up — an early start tomorrow begins the long drive south to Waterton Lakes.

No meals included

Calgary, AB

Waterton townsite, AB

Kananaskis Lakes, AB

Day 2

Calgary → Waterton Lakes National Park

Drive south along the eastern edge of the Rockies to Waterton Lakes National Park, where the mountains rise straight up out of the prairie with almost no foothills in between — a landscape unlike anywhere else in the range. Check into the Waterton townsite for the night, with the lake and the historic Prince of Wales Hotel as your backdrop.

Breakfast included

Waterton townsite, AB

Canmore, AB

Banff, AB

Day 3

Waterton Lakes → Kananaskis Country → Canmore

Head north through Kananaskis Country, stopping at the Kananaskis Lakes for a walk along their turquoise shoreline, before continuing on to Canmore for the night. It's a scenic transition day between Waterton's isolated peaks and the busier heart of the Rockies around Banff.

Breakfast included

Kananaskis Lakes, AB

Canmore, AB

Surprise Corner, Banff, AB

Day 4

Canmore → Banff National Park

A full day in Banff National Park, Canada's oldest and most visited. Ride the Banff Gondola for a panoramic view over six mountain ranges, then finish the day at Surprise Corner for the classic view across the Bow River to the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel.

Breakfast included

Banff, AB

Surprise Corner, Banff, AB

Emerald Lake, BC

Day 5

Banff → Yoho National Park → Golden

Cross into British Columbia and Yoho National Park, the quieter, less-crowded side of the Rockies. Walk out to Emerald Lake, the largest lake in the park and one of its most photographed, cross the natural rock arch at the Natural Bridge over the Kicking Horse River, and see Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's tallest waterfalls, before continuing to Golden for the night.

Breakfast included

Emerald Lake, BC

Natural Bridge, Yoho NP, BC

Takakkaw Falls, BC

Day 6

Golden → Kootenay National Park → Radium Hot Springs → Lake Louise

Drive south through Kootenay National Park on Highway 93, stopping at Marble Canyon, where a short boardwalk trail crosses a narrow limestone gorge carved by Tokumm Creek. Soak in the mineral pools at Radium Hot Springs before turning north again to Lake Louise for the night, arriving in time for an evening walk along its glacier-fed shoreline.

Breakfast included

Marble Canyon, Kootenay NP, BC

Radium Hot Springs, BC

Lake Louise, AB

Day 7

Lake Louise → Icefields Parkway → Jasper

Turn north onto the Icefields Parkway, widely considered one of the most scenic drives on the planet. Stop at Bow Lake and the Peyto Lake overlook, with its unmistakable wolf's-head shape, then continue to the Columbia Icefield — the largest accumulation of ice south of the Arctic Circle — before dropping into the Athabasca Valley and the town of Jasper.

Breakfast included

Bow Lake, AB

Peyto Lake, AB

Columbia Icefield, AB

Day 8

Jasper National Park

A full day in Jasper National Park, the largest of the Rockies parks and a certified Dark Sky Preserve. Cruise across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in Canada, walk the boardwalks above Maligne Canyon's 50-metre limestone gorge, and finish at the thundering Athabasca Falls.

Breakfast included

Maligne Lake, AB

Maligne Canyon, AB

Athabasca Falls, AB

Day 9

Jasper → Canmore

A scenic return drive back down the Icefields Parkway and through Banff National Park to Canmore. Use the free afternoon for a short hike up Grotto Canyon, a quiet limestone gorge just outside town, or simply relax before the final day of the trip.

Breakfast included

Grotto Canyon, AB

Canmore, AB

Natural Bridge, Yoho NP, BC

Day 10

Canmore → Calgary departure

Return to Calgary for a final morning in the city before your flight home. Stroll Stephen Avenue's historic storefronts one last time, closing out a ten-day journey through five national parks and both sides of the Continental Divide.

Breakfast included

Stephen Avenue, Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Takakkaw Falls, BC

Route & Distances

1. Calgary→Waterton Lakes≈ 265 km
2. Waterton Lakes→Canmore≈ 270 km
3. Canmore→Banff≈ 25 km
4. Banff→Golden≈ 145 km
5. Golden→Radium Hot Springs≈ 105 km
6. Radium Hot Springs→Lake Louise≈ 100 km
7. Lake Louise→Jasper≈ 230 km
8. Jasper→Calgary≈ 410 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

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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