Banff & Jasper 6-Day
Classic Tour

Focus is on World Heritage Sites

Starting and finishing in Calgary, in the province of Alberta, Canada, our 6-day Banff and Jasper tour highlights the best of the World Heritage Sites of both Banff and Jasper National Parks. Shorter than our 8-day version, it works well for those who have less time to spare while still allowing plenty of opportunity to soak up the region's magnificent best.

The Longest Lake in the Canadian Rockies

After picking you up in Calgary on Monday morning, we'll whisk you away into the heart of the Rockies. As we leave the city, the views become more and more rugged and glorious. We'll lunch at gorgeous Cascade Pond, a sapphire framed by evergreens and snowy peaks. Following a bike fitting, we'll begin riding to one of the treasures of the Canadian Rockies: Lake Minnewanka, meaning 'Water of the Spirits' in the Stoney Indian language. Surrounded by the lofty peaks of Mount Inglismaldie, Mount Girouard and Mount Peechee, this 17-mile lake is the longest in the parks of the Canadian Rockies. We'll circle the lake, then ride into Banff, 'grand masterpiece of the West,' a once-upon-a-time railroad town which has attracted luminaries from the likes of Bobby Kennedy to Burt Reynolds. Our lodging for tonight is the Banff Park Lodge.

Bow Valley, Big Game and Waterfalls

On Tuesday, we'll ride west of Banff along the peaceful Bow Valley Parkway, one of the most scenic rides in what is already an incredibly scenic area. Watch for elk, moose and other big-game wildlife among the meadows and forests of aspen and lodgepole pine. We'll hike to Johnston Canyon, a deep glacier-carved limestone canyon filled with plunging waterfalls and curving rock wells, then head to Moraine Lake, famous for its aquamarine waters and its portrayal on past Canadian currency. We'll spend two nights here in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at the luxurious Moraine Lake Lodge.

Hike to Teatime at the Plain of Six Glaciers

Wednesday offers a guided hike that takes you along the wooded shores of Lake Louise and up to one of the teahouses nestled into the forested hillside. If you like, continue onward past the treeline to a stunning 360-degree view: the majestic Plain of Six Glaciers soaring above, and the turquoise waters of Lake Louise below. If you prefer, we also offer an optional guided bike ride – or you may wish to indulge in massage at the spa at Chateau Lake Louise or explore the shops at Lake Louise village. 

Icefields Parkway Offers Breathtaking Views

Thursday finds us cycling the stunning Icefields Parkway, which National Geographic calls "a great swath of sensational country." Part of the Canadian Rockies UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Parkway rolls along through densely forested hillsides and river-strewn valleys crested by sparkling glaciers and snowfields. Over one hundred glaciers are visible from this famous parkway, which parallels the Continental Divide. Today we'll ride past the Weeping Wall, a spectacular waterfall plunging 330 feet down Cirrus Mountain; past the Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake, which English explorer Jimmy Simpson called 'the most beautiful thing I've seen in Canada.' All the lakes of this region are tinted an unusual turquoise by the prevalence of suspended glacial 'rock flour,' and the color makes for stunning photos. Be sure to bring your camera!

Columbia Icefields Dominate Landscape

Friday's ride along the Columbia Icefields is a spectacular panorama of ice-blanketed hillsides edged by summertime wildflowers. One of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, the Columbia Icefield covers an area of 200-plus miles and is in places nearly 1000 feet deep. We'll bike past eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome, and Stutfield Glaciers, all receding but still magnificently powerful. We'll take time to explore the Columbia Icefields' fascinating visitors' center. Finally, we'll cycle onward to our lodging at Sunwapta Falls Resort. You'll enjoy a short hike to see Sunwapta's roaring waterfalls ('Sunwapta' is a native word meaning 'turbulent water') on their journey from the vast Athabasca Glacier.

Jasper Township a Picturesque Conclusion

Saturday morning after breakfast at the resort, we'll enjoy a final, easy ride into the quaint turn-of-the-century railroad town and fur trading post of Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Banff's northern cousin, Jasper is tucked along the banks of the Athabasca River and surrounded by four mountain ranges, making it a picturesque, fitting place to end our explorations. After a final lunchtime celebration, we'll shuttle everyone back to Calgary International Airport.

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