This morning, you will be picked up from your Calgary hotel and start your adventure into the majestic Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. First, we drive through the scenic town of Canmore to our first stop at the iconic Moraine Lake before moving to Lake Louise. Lake Louise, located within Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, is known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks. See the famous picturesque lake and Chateau Lake Louise, which overlooks it. Enjoy time walking around the lakeshore and having a bite to eat in the Village of Lake Louise before we head to the town of Banff. Banff is at the center of Canada’s first National Park, nestled high in the Canadian Rockies. Once “Siding 29” on the Canadian Pacific Railway, the town was intended to be a tourist town from its inception. The Park’s first superintendent, George Stewart, even oriented the town’s first street to offer the best possible view of Cascade Mountain. With easy access to pristine wilderness, outdoor adventures, jaw-dropping landscapes, and vibrant history, there are many places to visit. Upon arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Banff, which includes Bow Falls, the Hoodoos, Cascade Garden, the Trading Post, and the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Next, experience the Banff Gondola as you sit back, relax, and marvel at the unsurpassed view of Banff, the Bow Valley, and a 360-degree view of six scenic mountain ranges from 2,281m (7,486 ft) above sea level. Dinner will be served at the mountaintop restaurant, which offers a dining experience high above overlooking Banff.

This morning, we’re off to visit the hoodoos. Hoodoos take millions of years to form and stand 5 to 7 meters tall. Each hoodoo is a sandstone pillar resting on a thick base of shale capped by a large stone. Hoodoos are very fragile and can erode completely if the capstone is dislodged. The protected hoodoo site is a guaranteed spot to see hoodoos, but smaller versions of these sandstone giants can be found throughout the Badlands. Enjoy a moderate hike on the famous Hoodoos Trail, followed by a picnic lunch. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Atlas Coal Mine. Ascend the last wooden tipple in Canada. Witness the inner mechanical workings of this nationally designated historic icon. View the massive shaker plants. Hear harrowing stories of the men and boys who worked in the dangerous tipples of Drumheller Valley. Transfer back to Calgary.