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Drumheller Badlands

Dinosaur Trail · Hwy 838
4.7(29 reviews)

Highlights

  • The Royal Tyrrell Museum — one of the world's leading dinosaur fossil collections
  • The Hoodoos and the red-rock canyons of the Dinosaur Trail loop
  • Horsethief Canyon viewpoint, one of the best panoramas of the badlands
  • A completely different landscape from the mountains — prairie badlands in an afternoon

Itinerary

8:00 AM

Pickup & drive to Drumheller

Leave the mountains behind for a very different Alberta landscape as your driver-guide picks you up at Calgary Airport (YYC) and heads northeast across rolling prairie farmland. As you approach Drumheller, the land suddenly drops away into the dramatic, otherworldly terrain of the Alberta Badlands — layered sandstone cliffs, striped hoodoos, and coulees carved over millions of years. Along the drive, learn about the region's rich dinosaur history, setting the stage for a day exploring one of the richest fossil beds on Earth.

Calgary Airport (YYC), ABCalgary Airport (YYC), AB
Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, ABRoyal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, AB
Hoodoos, ABHoodoos, AB
10:30 AM

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Step inside the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, one of the finest paleontology museums on the planet, built right into the badlands it studies. With guided time through the fossil galleries, come face to face with real dinosaur skeletons, including specimens unearthed right here in the Alberta Badlands, alongside interactive exhibits tracing the history of life on Earth. From towering Albertosaurus displays to the eerily preserved mummified dinosaur specimens, this stop brings millions of years of prehistoric history vividly to life.

Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, ABRoyal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, AB
Horsethief Canyon, ABHorsethief Canyon, AB
Calgary Airport (YYC), ABCalgary Airport (YYC), AB
1:00 PM

Dinosaur Trail loop

Enjoy lunch on your own in Drumheller, home of the giant World's Largest Dinosaur statue, before continuing onto the scenic Dinosaur Trail loop. Stop at the famous Hoodoos, mushroom-shaped sandstone pillars capped with harder rock that have resisted centuries of erosion, and marvel at the sweeping Horsethief Canyon viewpoint, where striped badland cliffs stretch out in bands of red, grey, and brown clay. It's a striking, almost lunar landscape that feels worlds away from Alberta's mountains and prairies.

Hoodoos, ABHoodoos, AB
Horsethief Canyon, ABHorsethief Canyon, AB
Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, ABRoyal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, AB
5:00 PM

Return

With the badlands' hoodoos and canyons behind you, settle in for the drive back across the open prairie as the landscape gradually shifts from ancient rock formations to rolling farmland and, eventually, the Calgary skyline. It's a relaxed stretch to reflect on a day spent among dinosaur bones and million-year-old rock layers. Arrival back at Calgary Airport (YYC) is in the late afternoon, wrapping up a fascinating journey through Alberta's prehistoric past in the Drumheller Badlands.

Calgary Airport (YYC), ABCalgary Airport (YYC), AB
Hoodoos, ABHoodoos, AB
Horsethief Canyon, ABHorsethief Canyon, AB

Route & Distances

  1. Calgary Airport (YYC)Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller≈ 155 km
  2. Royal Tyrrell Museum, DrumhellerHoodoos≈ 17 km
  3. HoodoosHorsethief Canyon≈ 35 km
  4. Horsethief CanyonCalgary Airport (YYC)≈ 160 km

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

Check Availability

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Departure dates are temporarily closed. This calendar will reopen here once we are officially operating. In the meantime, contact us to register your interest.

What's Included

Includes

  • Round-trip transport from Calgary Airport (YYC)
  • English-speaking driver-guide (Vietnamese on request, subject to availability)
  • Royal Tyrrell Museum admission

Excludes

  • Meals and personal expenses
  • Gratuities for your guide

Cancellation Policy

CancelledRefund
21+ days before departureFull refund
7–20 days before departure50% refund
Less than 7 days before departureNo refund

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

Is this a good option if we've already done the mountain tours?

Yes — it's a completely different landscape, prairie badlands rather than mountains, and pairs well as a second or third day trip.

Is the Royal Tyrrell Museum included?

Yes, admission is included in the tour price.

How much walking is involved?

The Dinosaur Trail loop and Horsethief Canyon viewpoint involve short, easy walks — comfortable footwear is enough.

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From $120 CADper person, CAD

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