Discover the Canadian Rockies: Jasper to Banff

Experience Overview

Get ready for mountains, lakes and glaciers, Canadian style! Explore some of the grandest scenery in Canada and take advantage of the hiking and adventure activities available on this tour. Starting from Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies, encounter stunning waterfalls and aquamarine lakes, spot wildlife in wilderness parks and enjoy the spectacularly scenic Icefields Parkway. Add on as much adventure as you want, from zip lining to mountain biking, and white-water rafting to canoeing. This 10-day Canadian Rockies tour is one great big adventure, so what are you waiting for?
Profile
— Accommodation: 9 Classic nights (hotels and lodges) — Travel by private minibus — Variety of walks to suit all abilities — Group normally 4 to 13, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 9 Classic nights (hotels and lodges) — Travel by private minibus — Variety of walks to suit all abilities — Group normally 4 to 13, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This tour has been graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. Itinerary: This is an active tour suitable for people of reasonably good fitness levels, with a focus on exploring the outdoors. Both the weather conditions and presence of wild animals can be unpredictable in the Rockies. Either of these may force the guide to change a planned hike for the day. It is important to use common sense when walking in the wilderness and to follow the advice of the guide. Extra excursions: There are opportunities for optional activities. Your tour guides arrange these on your behalf and you can pay locally in cash. You can find the main optional activities listed in the itinerary under each day’s description, along with guideline prices. It may not be possible to do all optional activities listed on each tour. Wildlife: There is a high likelihood you will come into contact with wildlife, including bears. You should always follow your guide’s instructions.
Group Description
Your tour leader will take care of all the planning and organisation throughout your trip, they will drive the van and make sure everything runs smoothly. Your tour leader is there to ensure you get the most out of your time, organising activities, providing information, answering any questions you may have, and sorting any queries or problems. If you have any particular interests or things you would like to do, please let your tour leader know at the beginning of the tour and they will do their best to help. Please note: Canadian law regulates the number of hours your tour guide is available to work. Our trips are designed to make the most of your time in Canada, but please understand there will be certain times each day that your tour guide will need to be off duty from work. Due to these restrictions, particularly after the longer driving days, your tour guide may not be able to join you for some of the daily activities or may need to tend to other work duties.
Eating Drinking
There are three breakfasts included on this tour. You will usually eat out in local restaurants recommended by the tour leader. To help you budget, meals cost on average: Hotel breakfasts: 15-20 Canadian dollars (US$11-US$15)Lunches: 20-25 dollars (US$15-US$19)Dinners: 30-50 dollars (US$23-US$38), this does not include alcoholic beverages Drinks cost on average: Wine: 15-20 dollars (US$11-15) per glassBeer: 8-12 dollars (US$6-US$9) per bottle A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in Canadian restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices. Your tour leader may offer your group the option to operate a lunch-only food kitty, this has proven to be a popular alternative to three daily restaurant meals. Leaders will explain this option while on tour, and the whole group will have to agree for this system to run. Please make sure we are aware of any special meal requirements before travelling. We will do all we can to accommodate various dietary requirements but certain food types can be limited in certain parts of North America.
Transportation
We travel in a private air-conditioned 15-seater vehicle driven by your tour guide. All luggage and equipment are stored in a specially designed trailer or storage area to maximise comfort in the vehicle. Every group is virtually self-sufficient and are able to explore the backroads where the crowds can’t go. Vehicles are equipped with CD systems (often iPod compatible), are Bluetooth compatible, and have large windows for a more enjoyable journey.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham/Sandman Signature Calgary Airport Recommended arrival time: 5.30pm at the start hotel so you can join the welcome briefing. If you arrive later, the leader will update you separately Getting to the start hotel  The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham is approximately 25 minutes’ drive from the airport, while the Sandman Signature Calgary Airport is about 10 to 15 minutes' drive away. Your options for this journey are:  Take a group transfer  We provide one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.  Make your own way You can reach the start hotels relatively easily by taxi. A cab from the airport to Ramada Plaza by Wyndham costs approximately 50 Canadian dollars (US$37). On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of our group and they will have more details on meeting with your tour leader and group. You are free to arrive at any time on Day 1 but please ensure you leave plenty of time to reach the start hotel and attend your welcome meeting, which is usually held at 6pm. Details on the specific location of your meeting are available from around midday on the arrival day. During this meeting, you meet your tour guide and group and spend a few minutes filling out necessary paperwork, so please bring your insurance documents, passport and tour documentation with you. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Arrival complications Sometimes the unexpected can happen; your plane may be delayed or you may even miss it. If you have missed your tour departure, first call the hotel to see if your tour leader has left you a message. If not, call the relevant emergency number and speak to our staff who will be happy to help you catch up with the group. Please note, you are responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred due to missing your tour’s departure. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to Calgary airport for customers who we have booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. If you have booked your own flights, you may join this transfer at no extra cost – please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Summers in the Rockies are generally warm and sunny. Average daytime temperatures are 18C (64F) in June and the first half of September; 22C (72F) in July/August. Night temperatures will be cool in July and August; cold in June and from early September and can go down to near freezing point. Temperatures will vary depending on altitude. June has long hours of daylight. The weather in the Rockies can be unpredictable and you should be prepared for sudden thunderstorms, strong winds or even snow. Although summers are fairly dry, expect the odd rainy day. September can bring early snow on the peaks. Residual snow at higher elevations may linger until mid-July. Walking on hard packed snow is sometimes required.
Spending Money
Your spending money needs to cover meals, drinks, and personal expenses, such as souvenirs and snacks. For this tour, we recommend budgeting at least 75 Canadian dollars (US$56) per person per day, but it’s better to bring more than you need rather than run short on tour. You should also budget for tipping, as well as for the optional activities that you plan to do. Guideline prices for the most popular optional activities are listed on our website. We suggest you bring 150 Canadian dollars (US$111) with you in cash for the beginning of your trip.
Tipping
It is customary in Canada to tip local guides, waiters, bar staff, taxi drivers and anyone who provides a service for you. Service workers are paid a low wage and depend on tips for their livelihood. It can be embarrassing if you’re confronted by a local who is expecting a tip and you are not aware of how much to offer. For this reason, we have listed guideline prices below. A 15%-20% tip is standard in restaurants, and you should also expect to tip when paying for drinks in bars - 1 dollar per drink if paying in cash, or a percentage will be suggested when paying with a card machine. For other services, 1-2 dollars (US$0.75-US$1.50) per bag for porters and 10% for taxi drivers is usual. It’s also typical to tip around 10% for local guides who provide optional activities. Your tour leader will work long and hard for you during your tour and we recommend a discretionary tip of 5-10 dollars (US$3.70-US$7.40) per passenger per day if your leader’s performance meets or exceeds your expectations.

Highlights