Wilderness & Fossils from Calgary

Prices are per person listed in Canadian dollars. Subject to applicable taxes. Prices listed do not include discounts or promotions - please inquire. Package prices and itinerary are not finalized until confirmed by a Vacations Canada travel planner.  Contact your travel professional or a Vacations Canada travel planner to customize or build your own vacation package. View Terms and Conditions.

VACATION FEATURES:

Accommodations
- 8 nights hotel accommodation

Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- Waterton Boat Cruise
- Bow River Eco Float Tour
- Cline Glacier Helitour

Admissions
- Calgary Tower
- Fort Calgary
- Banff Park Museum
- Banff Gondola Ride
- Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
- Royal Tyrrell Museum

Documentation
- Trail of the Great Bear Perk Package
- Icefield Photograph
- National Historic Site Pass
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fee
- Hotel luggage handling

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Arrival in Calgary

Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport, pick up a rental car (not included) and proceed to downtown Calgary and your selected hotel. Calgary, a city of over 1 million inhabitants, is renowned for its Western hospitality and first-rate attractions. Start your day with a visit to Fort Calgary. This attraction brings history to life by telling the stories of the Northwest Mounted Police site, the settlement and the people of Calgary through dynamic interpretation and exciting exhibits. Also included today is admission to the Calgary Tower observation level and revolving restaurant, allowing great views of the city and the mountains to the west.

DAY 2 - Calgary to Waterton

This morning, check out of your Calgary hotel and travel south through Alberta to Waterton Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1931 Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta and Glacier National Park in Montana were named the first International Peace Park. After your arrival, check into your hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on your own.

DAY 3 - Exploring Waterton

The day is yours to discover the wonders of this beautiful region. You may wish to travel to Montana’s Glacier National Park (the U.S. half of this International Peace Park) via the famous "Going to the Sun Road," an astonishing feat of engineering with spectacular scenery as well. This afternoon, board the International Boat for a breathtaking interpretive tour of Waterton Lake.

DAY 4 - Waterton to Banff

Your morning is at leisure to enjoy the park. This afternoon, depart Waterton Lakes and travel to Banff National Park and the mountain resort town of Banff. Hot sulphur water bubbling from the side of Sulphur Mountain was well known by the local aboriginal peoples of the 1800’s and you will be able to experience it first hand at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 5 - Sightseeing in Banff

Enjoy a day to explore in Banff. A river rafting float trip is on the agenda for you today. Sit back and enjoy the grandeur of the Canadian Rocky Mountains while floating down the magnificent Bow River. Also enjoy a ride today on the Banff Gondola, which rises 700 metres (2,310 feet) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (2,286 metres/7,544 feet) for panoramic views of the Bow Valley, Banff town site and surrounding mountain peaks (gondola ride included). One more item included today is admission to the Banff Park Museum. The museum is a National Historic Site, and is Canada's oldest natural history museum. The museum has wildlife specimens dating back to the 1860's.

DAY 6 - Banff to the Columbia Icefield Chalet

Depart Banff today on your way to the Columbia Icefield. You may want to stop at Lake Louise, the “Jewel of the Rockies” and take a walk by the lake or rent a canoe. Leaving Lake Louise, travel to Cline River where a helicopter tour awaits (included). This scenic flight will allow you to explore the 6 glaciers of Mount Resolute, Mount Cline and the Whitegoat Peaks. You will also view the 900 foot waterfall, some spectacular aqua-green high alpine lakes, and cross a 9,000 foot mountain pass. Continue on your way to the Columbia Icefield. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and then take a ride out on the Athabasca Glacier on a specially constructed Ice Explorer (included). The Athabasca Glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield, the greatest mass of ice outside the Arctic Circle. The ice is 365 metres (1,200 feet) thick – about the height of the Empire State Building.

DAY 7 - Columbia Icefield to Drumheller

Today, depart the Columbia Icefield and travel to the badlands of Alberta, during which you will pass through Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (admission included). This site shows the history of the fur trade from 1799 when both the Hudson Bay and the Northwest Companies built trading posts at Rocky Mountain House. For 76 years, Rocky Mountain House witnessed a colourful history, which included trading with eight different Aboriginal tribes, voyageurs, explorers and missionaries. Continue through the Rocky Mountain Forest. Continue to Drumheller through the cities of Red Deer and Stettler. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. Take time to explore the area. This is where the dinosaurs used to roam!

DAY 8 - Drumheller to Calgary

Take a full day to explore the amazing Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology (admission included). Since 1985, the largest collection of treasures from the Dinosaur Provincial Park has been housed in the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology located six kilometres north of Drumheller. Imagine tracing the path of life on Earth back 3.5 billion years. This journey is made possible through the science of paleontology the study of ancient life through fossils. At the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the results of this study are revealed in displays, hands-on exhibits, computers and mini theatres. The unique display area houses plants descended from those that existed on Earth 350 to 15 million years ago. Drive to Calgary this afternoon for your final night in Alberta.

DAY 9 - Departing Calgary

Your vacation concludes with the return of the rental car to a downtown location or the Calgary International Airport.