Canadian Rockies & Northern Lights

Canada
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Experience the rugged mountains of Canada and go in search of the northern lights in the night skies of Alberta. Watch for moose, white-tailed deer and elk as you drive through the Canadian wilderness. Admire curtains of ice along a steel catwalk built into the rock walls of Johnston Canyon and be immersed in Indigenous Métis culture during a stay in Smoky Lake. Hear about traditional stories from local Métis guides and see a herd of bison (including the rare white bison!). Meet and greet a team of canines before ticking dogsledding off your bucket list – this is one of the many optional activities on offer – or just wrap your hands around a mug of hot chocolate and lose yourself in the beauty of the Rockies. Packed with eye-popping views of snow-capped mountain ranges and frozen wonderlands, this 11-day adventure is the ultimate great white north escape.

Availability

From 24/11/2024 to 06/01/2027

Departure dates & prices

Dates Availability Price
  • Nov Sun 24 2024 to Dec Wed 04 2024
    Available
    From
    $7,101*
  • Dec Sun 08 2024 to Dec Wed 18 2024
    Available
    From
    $7,405*
  • Dec Sun 22 2024 to Jan Wed 01 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Dec Sun 29 2024 to Jan Wed 08 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Jan Sun 05 2025 to Jan Wed 15 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Jan Sun 19 2025 to Jan Wed 29 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Feb Sun 02 2025 to Feb Wed 12 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Feb Sun 16 2025 to Feb Wed 26 2025
    Available
    From
    $7,330*
  • Mar Sun 02 2025 to Mar Wed 12 2025
    Available
    From
    $6,964*

What's included

Spend time exploring Edmonton, Smoky Lake and Banff, stopping to admire the surrounding mountain ranges.
Navigate the frozen waterfalls, ice caves and ice formations of Maligne Canyon on a guided exploration of the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park.
Spend two nights at an Indigenous-owned lodge within a designated Dark Sky Preserve, where you’ll learn about Indigenous Métis culture by day and search for the Aurora Borealis by night.
Cruise from Jasper to Banff driving on the Icefields Parkway and enjoy the roadside views – made even more scenic when you’re not the one driving!.
Discover the natural beauty of renowned Lake Louise, and perhaps join an optional sleigh ride around its snow-covered banks.
Breakfasts Included: 10.
Lunches Included: 2.
Hotel (10 nights).
Private vehicle.
Age: min 15.
Group Size: 1 - 12.
Smoky Lake - Bonfire and Smore's.
Edmonton - Telus Science Centre.
Smoky Lake - Snowshoeing.
Métis Crossing - Indigenous Knowledge & Wilderness Survival Course.
Jasper National Park - Entrance Fee.
Jasper - Maligne Canyon Icewalk.
Jasper - Lunch at a National Park Brewery.
Icefields Parkway - Hike to toe of Athabasca Glacier.
Lake Louise - Snowshoeing.
Lake Louise - All Canadian Lunch.
Banff National Park.
Banff - Johnston Canyon Icewalk.
Banff - Guided snowshoe hike on Top of the World.
Canmore - Grotto Canyon Guided Icewalk.
.

Itinerary

  • 1 - Edmonton Welcome to beautiful Edmonton, Canada. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you arrive early, perhaps visit the biggest mall in North America: West Edmonton Mall, or instead, learn about Canadian living history at Fort Edmonton Park, visit the nearby Ukrainian Cultural Village, and explore the small theatres and diners of the University District.
  • 2 - M?tis Crossing, Smoky Lake This morning, visit the Telus World of Science in Edmonton where you can explore a variety of exhibits and experiences, including the new Indigenous Traditional Room. Then, drive North to Metis Crossing, located near the town of Smoky Lake. After dinner you will head out in search of a view of the spellbinding northern lights (clouds permitting). Enjoy a bonfire under the darkness of the night sky and cook some s'mores while you're waiting.
  • 3 - M?tis Crossing, Smoky Lake Get ready for a day of activities. Engage in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the beauty of heritage species with access to a wildlife park. After lunch, the group will participate in Tales from the Trapline: A M?tis Traditional Experience. Build a shelter, walk the land and connect with nature. When there is snow on the ground, strap on traditional snowshoes. After dinner, head back out again to look for the unpredictable northern lights during your second dedicated night of sky gazing. Alberta takes great pride in its wide-open spaces, and M?tis Crossing is recognized for being located in one of these expansive areas. The Northern Lights are often spotted in these regions, and the dark, wide, and unpolluted night skies make your aurora borealis viewing experience most optimal. As a designated Dark Skies Preserve, Metis Crossing is committed to protecting the beauty of our dark skies by minimizing light pollution in all its forms.
  • 4 - Jasper Drive to Jasper National Park, arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon. Once settled in, go searching for wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bears and coyotes. In the evening, perhaps take yourself out for dinner in Jasper, as there are a variety of restaurants to choose from. Ask your local leader for suggestions on where to go.
  • 5 - Jasper Experience the caves, icicles and frozen waterfalls of Maligne Canyon on an ice walk in the morning. The canyon's name refers to its ethereal beauty in winter, where waterfalls freeze over and icicles cascade like teeth in the mouths of the park's many caves. A local guide will safely escort you through this maze of natural ice sculptures (tread-enhancing cleats will be provided) while you learn about Jasper's karst topography and the mystery of disappearing Medicine Lake. Included today is lunch at Jasper Brewing Co: Canada's first National Park Brewery. The rest of the afternoon is free. Try one of Jasper's short walking trails, admiring the scenic mountain ranges that greet you in every direction.
  • 6 - Lake Louise Prepare yourself for an unforgettable drive as you set out on the Icefields Parkway. The world-renowned roadway between Jasper and Banff stretches 232 kilometres (144 miles) through a landscape of jagged mountaintops and past 100 ancient glaciers. At its heart is the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains. The massive Athabasca Glacier, measuring 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) long and 1 kilometre (.62 mile) wide flows within walking distance of the roadway, so take a hike to its toe (the current lowest endpoint of a glacier). Tonight, arrive at Lake Louise to relax and ready yourself for another active day tomorrow.
  • 7 - Lake Louise Lake Louise is an iconic snapshot of Canada, and today you'll experience one of its many beautiful moods. There are many options on how to spend the day, including an optional horse-drawn sleigh ride past the glacial lake. You'll be able to take a snowshoe hike along one of the lake's many trails, or perhaps pop on a pair of skates and practice some figure eights (or ice stumbles) while gliding across the surface of the lake. Included today is lunch at The Station Restaurant - a heritage railway station which serves hearty Canadian favourites. If you're looking to continue to put your feet up, the Fairmont Chateau does a beautiful afternoon tea. For those lucky enough to be in Lake Louise during its annual Ice Magic Festival in January, be sure to take a look at the precision and delicate skill on display in the various ice sculptures by the lake.
  • 8 - Banff Drive to nearby Banff, Canada's most famous mountain resort town. While located inside a national park, Banff offers plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to distract you from the surrounding natural beauty. Gain a sense of Canadian Rockies culture at the Whyte Museum, where over 200 years of artwork tells the story of the rugged men and women who settled in Banff. Sub-zero temperatures turn Banff's waterfalls into glittering ice sculptures, and today you will visit Johnston Canyon ice walk to see this all on display. Hike along steel catwalks built into the canyon walls and wander among massive pillars of ice. With all this adventuring, you must be hungry, and so it's a perfect time for a Beavertail tasting experience. Beavertails are a deep-fried sweet dough made with whole wheat flour and pulled by hand to resemble the long flat tail of a beaver. Order a classic cinnamon and sugar or go a little bit wild with some whipped cream and decadent Nutella - you'll be licking your lips for hours!
  • 9 - Banff National Park Enjoy a free morning in Banff before an included snowshoe hike with your group at Sunshine Village Ski Resort, about 20 minutes out of town. To start, head above the tree line, and then put on your snowshoes and trek across the white powder with a professional guide. Your backcountry hike will be made extra sweet with a stop for hot cocoa and cookies on top of the (Sunshine Village) world.
  • 10 - Banff In the morning, take a short drive to Canmore, which is within the Kananaskis Country park system, and embark on an included ice walk at the Grotto Canyon, using special hiking crampons to grip the smooth frozen creek beds. Alternatively, you could book yourself a dogsledding adventure with a trusted provider, where you'll meet and greet the dogs on your team before being pulled along the frosty trails by these canines. Return to Banff for the night - a group dinner in town may be on the cards.
  • 11 - Calgary Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before a drive to Calgary. Your trip will end at Calgary International Airport, the arrival time depends on each group however If you decide to fly out this day, please don't book a flight before 3pm. Drop off in Calgary city can be arranged, please discuss this with your Trip Leader. There are no activities and accommodation planned for the day. If you have the rest of the day here, why not visit the giant pandas at the Calgary Zoo, check out the urban neighbourhood of East Village, or walk across Peace Bridge and explore Prince Island's Park on the Bow River.
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  • Prices quoted valid for sale until 15 October 2024 for travel during the period specified (if applicable) unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
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