Alberta
Exploring Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
Program No. 3856RJ
Explore the Canadian Rockies with local experts, learning about grizzly bears, visiting Château Lake Louise and taking an in-depth look at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
19 meals (
8B, 6L, 5D
)
4 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Banff, Alberta
Meals:
D
Stay:
The Kenrick
Activity Note
Transfer from Calgary Airport to hotel at 3:00 p.m. included in program cost. Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Transfer from the airport to the hotel will arrive at approximately 5:00 p.m. En route, our Group Leader will conduct Program Registration. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. After you check in to the hotel and get settled, take some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Banff Geology, Cave & Basin, Bow River
Location:
Banff, Alberta
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Kenrick
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour time. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; paved and gravel paths, some stairs at historic site (can be avoided).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and ride to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. We’ll be joined in a private room by a local expert who will give us a presentation on the geology of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. We’ll also learn about the amazing thermal hot springs that resulted in the creation of Canada’s national parks system. As we explore the site’s thermal waters and the surrounding wetlands, we will also learn about the wildlife that resides here. We’ll stroll down to the warm marshes below the springs, easily accessible along a boardwalk, and observe introduced tropical fish and warm-water plants. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Back aboard the motorcoach, we’ll ride to the town of Banff and set out with our Group Leader to learn about its history. We will stop along the way and disembark to explore points of interest. Located within Canada’s First National Park, Banff lies in a mountain-rimmed valley carved by the Bow River. Its development has always been determined by the federal government, tourism, and the railway. In 1930, the Rocky Mountain Parks Reserve was renamed Banff National Park, Canada’s first nature reserve, to encompass 2,564 square miles of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers. While on our exploration, we’ll see the famous Banff Springs Hotel and, beneath this famous Banff landmark, the gushing Bow Falls. The spectacular falls are fed by the Bow Glacier upstream and, in turn, they feed the Bow River. An easy stroll along the Bow Falls Trail will get us up close to the rapids and roaring waterfalls.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. You are welcome to go out and explore the sights and sounds of Banff independently. For live entertainment, check out one of the local pubs or the Banff Centre. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
3
Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake, Moraine Lake
Location:
Lake Louise, AB
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lake Louise Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours over the course of the day; flat lakeside trail, no elevation gain. Optional steep hike up a rock scramble at Moraine Lake.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and begin our ride to experience some of the foremost geological highlights between Banff and Field, B.C. We’ll learn about area geology in trailside discussions with a local expert naturalist.
Lunch:
At a spot along the way, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
We will visit Emerald Lake, a jewel of the Canadian Rockies. We’ll set out on an expert-led walking field trip to learn about the Burgess Shale quarries along Fossil Ridge. Thanks to its position on the west side of the Great Divide in Yoho National Park, a 360-degree view from Emerald Lake showcases four very different environments: a huge avalanche path, the pine forest, a dry and dramatic alluvial fan, and the towering trees. We will visit the nearby Field Visitor Centre where there are exhibits to explore including one that displays and explains fossils from Burgess Shale. Parks Canada staff will be available to provide information and answer questions. Next we'll visit Moraine Lake, one of the most photographed places in the Rocky Mountains. Afterwards, we’ll then head to our Lake Louise hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to head out on your own, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax at the hotel.
Day
4
Grizzly Bears, Lake Louise
Location:
Lake Louise, AB
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Lake Louise Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 37 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off a gondola. Walking about 2 miles; paved and gravel paths.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will be joined by an expert wildlife biologist and conservationist who will give us a presentation on how to share the land with grizzly bears. The Bow Valley is considered an internationally significant wildlife migration corridor within the Park and the Lake Louise area is notable for its critical grizzly bear, elk, lynx, bighorn sheep and mountain goat habitat. As protected areas, the mountain national parks make a weighty contribution to grizzly bear conservation in the Rocky Mountain ecosystem. These parks can contribute refuge in the greater landscape but this requires special considerations for how humans share the landscape with bears. During the presentation, we will also learn how Parks Canada is conducting land use and management policies. We will ride to board the Lake Louise Gondola, one of the best places for a chance to see grizzly bears in their natural environment. If we’re lucky, we may experience this rare and awesome spectacle of nature from the comfort of the gondola. From atop a mountain, we’ll have views of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake surrounded by peaks and a deep teal color: nothing less than stunning as it sits in the gorgeous Valley of the Ten Peaks.
Lunch:
At Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise.
Afternoon:
With our group leader we will explore the lakeshore of Lake Louise.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
5
Icefields Parkway, Jasper
Location:
Jasper, AB
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lobstick Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles throughout the day, approximately 5 hours riding time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and ride along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular stretches of scenic driving in Canada. The highway follows a lake-lined valley along the Continental Divide. We’ll spend the majority of the day in the Main Ranges; the mountains here are the highest, craggiest and arguably the most scenic in all the Rockies. En route, we’ll stop at scenic overlooks and our Group Leader will provide an overview of the surrounding area.
Lunch:
At a spot along the way, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we continue on to Jasper National Park. This scenic drive is lined with beautiful mountains, lakes and more than 100 glaciers providing a dramatic backdrop. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and bighorn sheep in the cliffs along the way. In the spruce forest above the Sunwapta River, watch for grizzly bears during spring, summer, and fall. We’ll check in to our hotel upon arrival.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to head out on your own, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax at the hotel.
Day
6
Maligne Canyon, Pyramid Lake, Jasper National Park
Location:
Jasper, AB
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Lobstick Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; paved or maintained trails.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will board the motorcoach accompanied by a local expert who will teach us about the abundance and diversity of wildlife in Jasper Park. We will explore Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, walking along the Maligne Canyon Trail that is rich in natural history, impressive geologic features, and wildlife. On our walk, we’ll search for fossils and find out how this deep canyon formed during glacial ages. The forests of this wilderness area are home to mountain goats, elk, moose, and bears as well as a variety of birds including bald eagles. Along this scenic trail, we will explore spectacular vantage points, flower meadows, and sapphire blue mountain lakes.
Lunch:
At a spot along the way, we’ll enjoy our boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our field trip in Jasper National Park by motorcoach with stops along the way for expert interpretation. Pyramid Lake located at the foot of the iconic Pyramid Mountain will be one of our stops.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local flavors. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
7
Jasper Yellowhead Museum, Return to Banff
Location:
Banff, Alberta
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
The Kenrick
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 190 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 2 hours; standing in museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board the motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to Jasper Yellowhead Museum. Before our local expert leads us around the museum, we will have a presentation on Jasper from a historical perspective and talk about some of the early settlers and the First Nations.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Back aboard the motorcoach, we will ride on to Banff and check in to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to head out on your own to see more of Banff, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.
Day
8
Whyte Museum, Free Time
Location:
Banff, Alberta
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
The Kenrick
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1.5 hours riding time; paved streets and trails.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll transfer by motorcoach to explore the Whyte Museum, one of Banff's most culturally significant museums, and learn about the remarkable history of some of the locals and their cultural past through a self-led exploration. The museum features an art gallery and a vast collection of photographs telling the history of early explorers, artists, and the Canadian Pacific Railway. Then, we’ll take a walk back in time and get to know the colorful individuals who built the town of Banff. This expert-led walk meanders through history to take us near the riverside site where Tom Wilson established one of the first outfitting operations in the area, St. Georges-in-the-Pines Anglican Church with its unique stained glass windows, and the Luxton Home and Garden. These and many other intriguing stops reveal the fascinating history of this town.
Lunch:
On your own to savor the local flavors of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
9
Airport Transfers, Program Concludes
Location:
Banff, Alberta
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; transfer from hotel to Calgary Airport included in program cost. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and transfer to Calgary International Airport (YYC); approximate arrival time is 10:00 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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