Duration: 9 Days
What do you get when you combine ancient glaciers, a legendary icefield, and all the wonders beneath the snow-capped Canadian peaks? One of the coolest holidays there is! This nine-day tour through the Canadian Rockies and Montana’s Glacier National Park is an adventure filled with wild history, wild scenery, wildlife, and wild rides. Aboard a famous vintage Red Jammer, a massive ice explorer, a glass-walled boat (and even a flightseeing helicopter should you choose) you’ll relish the best views of big skies, bighorn sheep, and even bigger bears. From rugged gold rush territory to the sparkling turquoise waters of Banff and Jasper National Parks, there are so many gems to sink your teeth into on this Canadian Rockies holiday. We suggest starting with a tender filet of Alberta beef and a heavenly slice of homemade huckleberry pie.
Traveller Notes
- We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- Enjoy more time in Calgary to see the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” with exciting rodeo action, chuckwagon races, and more. Available on the CSE June 29 & July 30 departures.
- Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favourable weather conditions.
- The visit to Logan Pass, in Glacier National Park, is normally possible from mid-June to mid- September. If unable to travel to Logan Pass, alternative sightseeing by Red Jammer bus will be done.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to Calgary!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Native Traditions
Before departing Calgary, enjoy an orientation tour of the city's highlights. Travel south along the Macleod Trail. Tour Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a local First Nation's guide. Then, on to scenic Waterton Lakes National Park with a photo stop at Cameron Falls. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Discover the longtime relationship between Native people and the vast herds of American Bison that roamed the plains of southwest Alberta. See the remains of marked trails and an aboriginal camp, and an ancient burial mound where vast quantities of buffalo (American Bison) skeletons can still be found at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump - evidence of a custom used by aboriginal peoples of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years. Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behaviour, the Plains people skillfully chased the Bison over a precipice to quickly kill their main source of sustenance, clothing, and products.
Peak Perfection
Enter Montana through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and behold the awesome snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park. Next, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring a made-from-scratch piece of [LF] huckleberry pie or ice cream tasting. Take a scenic ride on the Red Jammer Bus on spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
THE SWEET LIFE Each summer and fall, the aptly named Huckleberry Mountain bursts forth with a purple bounty of berries for which it is named. These Huckleberries are a Favourite of bears who live in Glacier National Park, but you can enjoy the sweet rewards of summer with a homemade piece of traditional huckleberry pie or ice cream with lunch at a local restaurant-our treat!
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE A highlight of your visit to Glacier National Park awaits you as you board the famous vintage Red Jammer bus that will take you along one of North America's most spectacular highways: Going-to-the-Sun Road. After crossing the 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, you'll enter a geographical wonderland of alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks dominate the landscape.
Life in the Wild West
Re-enter Canada this morning, with a stop in British Columbia before crossing into Alberta. Drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon and Kootenay National Park before entering Banff National Park, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The evening is free to enjoy the village's shops, galleries, and restaurants. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada's first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
Breathtaking Banff
This morning, sightseeing includes a stop at beautiful Bow Falls. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may choose to join an optional helicopter flightseeing trip for unsurpassed views of the Rockies. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada's first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
Rocky Mountain Majesty
Follow breathtaking Icefields Parkway today and head for Jasper National Park. One highlight of your holiday: a visit to famous Lake Louise. Then, climb to Sunwapta Pass to savour stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. There's time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDER Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise lake in the setting of Victoria Glacier, with a soaring mountain backdrop, palatial Fairmont Chateau hotel, and jaw-dropping sights in the Canadian Rockies. The spectacular beauty of Lake Louise is a rare treasure that must be seen to be believed!
Spectacular Jasper
The morning is at leisure. Nearby activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Later, journey to Maligne Lake for a [LF] narrated cruise of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, enjoy a lakeside dinner with incredible views and local fare including famous Alberta beef. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
SPIRIT IN THE SKY A cruise to Spirit Island on the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake is a spectacular sight to behold as one of the most photographed locations in the world for its jaw-dropping beauty.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Spanning nearly 4,250 square miles of spectacular natural beauty, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic sights lie below an incredible Dark Sky to thrill stargazers as well.
Campfire Stories
This morning, visit Athabasca Falls and then retrace the route south along Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride aboard an Ice Explorer. Continue to Calgary, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Over dessert, be entertained by a local [LF] cowboy poet who will bring the region's Western heritage to life through stories and songs-a perfect ending to your holiday. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CULTURAL GEM Follow the songs of the prairie back to the days of the Wild West with an exclusive experience included with your farewell dinner in Calgary. Feel the nostalgic folklore and romance of ranching and roping with cowboy poet's stories and songs that paint a portrait of the cowhands' home on the range.
Happy trails until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
