Canadas Rockies

Welcome to beautiful Canada. Get settled in at your hotel, located in the heart of downtown Calgary, and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Head west into the Canadian Rockies and stop at the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies", Lake Louise, one of the most beautiful lakes in North America with its backdrop of glistening Victoria Glacier. Continue along the stunning Icefields Parkway, driving alongside snowcapped peaks, thundering waterfalls and glistening glaciers. Keep an eye out for wildlife including grizzly and black bears, moose, elk and mountain goats. Tonight, stay in the quaint town of Jasper.

Start the day with a free morning, enjoying the superb vistas or strolling Jasper's picturesque streets. This afternoon, enjoy a guided walk at Maligne Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in the Rockies. Learn about the underground river system while following the canyon's trail past waterfalls and jagged rock formations. Later this afternoon, cruise Maligne Lake (seasonal), followed by a Regional Meal.

This morning, stop at the Columbia Icefield Visitor Center and step aboard an Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle specially designed for travelling on the surface of glaciers. Travel across the massive Athabasca Glacier as you learn a wealth of fascinating information about glaciers, icefields and their impact on the environment. Later, arrive in the quintessential alpine village of Banff. This evening, before dinner, you'll have the opportunity to meet a Royal Canadian Mountie, dressed in the traditional red serge uniform. This Local Specialist will share exciting and colourful stories and even pose for a few memorable photos.

Stop in Canmore for a unique experience: a chance to experience the thrill and excitement of being a real Canadian hockey player. Whether you have skated before or not, played hockey on or off the ice, this Cultural Insight is your chance to spend time getting to know Canada's game. Learn the secrets and superstitions of hockey players as a professional coach walks you through a day in the life of a player. Go inside the players' dressing room where you have the opportunity to try on full hockey gear. Grab your stick and it's off onto the ice. Find out whether you are lefty or righty and how to score the big goal. Leaving the ice rink behind, immerse yourself in the nature's glory on a sightseeing excursion around Banff, including the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner, spectacular Bow Falls and the hoodoo rock formations. The rest of the day is yours.

This morning, the options are plentiful-perhaps join an optional excursion to Yoho National Park and Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Enjoy an optional helicopter flightseeing tour for a bird's-eye view of the Canadian Rockies before travelling to the Guinn family ranch for a special Be My Guest Farewell Dinner. Enjoy pristine views and abundant wildlife during a horse-drawn wagon ride. After dinner, enjoy a private country line-dancing lesson.

Descend from the glorious Canadian Rockies and transfer to Calgary International Airport or to the Delta Calgary Downtown, if you are extending your stay.