Banff Private Group

Day 1 – September 1

Your Guide will pick you up in the AM at a designated meeting place and we’ll drive up to Sulphur Mountain and ride the gondola to the top. Brace yourself for incredible views! Your Guide will describe the different mountain formations carved by glaciers while we enjoy a walk with beautiful scenery. Gondola back down to Banff and we’ll have a bit of time to shop then enjoy lunch at a favorite local restaurant in town. We’ll visit beautiful Bow Falls, then continue along the Bow Valley Parkway where wildlife sightings are common. At Johnston Canyon we’ll hike a scenic riverside walk up to the waterfalls. The iconic catwalks of Johnston Canyon offer amazing access to several thundering waterfalls. A 1.1 km forest walk will bring us to the lower falls. Afterwards we’ll visit Cave and Basin National Historic Site, commemorating the birthplace of Canada’s National Park system with its naturally occurring warm mineral springs and emerald-colored basin. We’ll head back to town for a delicious dinner.

Day 2 – September 2

After breakfast, we’ll head north up the Icefields Parkway to visit famous Peyto Lake. This is our first view of the gorgeous turquoise lakes that the Canadian Rockies are so famous for. We’ll make a stop at Bow Lake and at Crowfoot Glacier. After lunch, we’re off to the Columbia Icefields for an ice walk on Athabasca Glacier! This is a 3 hour guided glacier hike. Our glacier guide will provide crampons to go over our hiking boots so we’ll tread slowly and safely on the ice. We hike up the moraine field to the ice, usually crossing a couple of streams and it’s a wonderful experience crunching across the glacier. The views are amazing. Our guide teaches us about glaciers and leads us safely to avoid crevasses. It’s an experience to remember! The scenery is the most spectacular of any drive in North America. The miles of glaciers and snow-covered mountains are truly majestic. Afterwards we’ll enjoy dinner together.

Day 3 – September 3

After breakfast, we’ll spend the whole day in the beautiful Banff National Park, famous for its surreally colored lakes, majestic mountains and endless outdoor adventures. Canada’s first national park and the world’s third, it has a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. What makes Banff National Park so special is its easy access and close proximity to the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies! We’ll board the (required) shuttle to Moraine Lake, perhaps the most beautiful place on earth. Her waters are the most amazing color, a vivid shade of turquoise that changes in intensity through the summer as the glaciers melt. Set in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and rock piles, creating a scene so stunning it almost seems unreal. We’ll hike here, then sit lakeside and absorb the sights and pure mountain air. Return to the Village for lunch, then we’re off for a scenic horseback ride with a local outfitter. This gentle and beautiful trail ride is a wonderful way to experience the Rockies from a different perspective as we meander through forested paths and mountain views with our sure-footed horses. Afterwards, we’ll board the (required) shuttle to visit heralded Lake Louise and her Chateau. We’ll have time to wander here, enjoy the lakeshore paths or browse the shops before dinner in the village.

Option – at Moraine Lake – stick to the Rockpile Trail only (about 20 minutes, 300 ft elevation) for the iconic viewpoint. Then relax lakeside or rent a canoe instead of continuing on foot — it’s light activity but still spectacular

Day 4 – September 4

After breakfast we’ll head out for our full day white-water rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River. It’s a tour highlight! We start with a relaxing scenic float on the upper section of the Kicking Horse River, providing unique opportunities to feast our eyes on the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains and scan the lush scenery for native wildlife. Right before we pull over for our riverside lunch we will stop at a small canyon that leads to an enchanting waterfall. Excitement awaits us on the second half of the trip. After lunch, you will be guided down the middle canyon where class 3 and class 4 rapids offer a fun and thrilling time. We will also stop at a waterfall to stretch our legs and take a sip (if you want). The rapids are rated 3’s on average and are consistent for almost two hours. This is super fun and our wetsuits and spray jackets keep us warm despite the glacial water splashing us. We’ll share a dinner this evening to revisit our day!

Day 5 – September 5

After breakfast, we’ll pack up then we’re off to spend a relaxing morning at Banff Upper Hot Springs, Canada’s highest elevation operational hot springs. Located at roughly 5000 feet above sea level, this is the perfect place to soak in some views. We’ll enjoy these wonderful mineral waters for an hour or so, grab lunch at the café, and take a stroll through the gift shop. Our drive back to Calgary is a perfect time to reflect on all we’ve done and seen during this magical time in the Canadian Rockies! Check into our hotel near the Calgary airport and get cleaned up. We’ll enjoy our delicious farewell dinner.

Day 6 – September 6

Enjoy breakfast and the hotel’s amenities before the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service transfers you to the Calgary airport for your return flight home.

What’s Included:

• 5 full days / 5 nights fully guided tour by your Canyon Calling Trip Leader
• Accommodations in double occupancy
• All transportation as noted in the itinerary
• All meals from Day 1 through dinner on Day 5
• All activities as outlined in the itinerary
• All gratuities for our activities
• All entrance fees, park passes and shuttles, and taxes

What’s Not Included:

• Round-trip transportation to/from Calgary airport
• Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
• Optional travel insurance and gratuity to your Canyon Calling Trip Leader / Guide at the end of the tour

Notes: This itinerary is built for 8 passengers, if we have more than 8 passengers we will build another trip / guide and will want 5 passengers to give that trip a “go”.