Your arrival day is mainly for rest and acclimatization. You need to get used to the different time zone, climate, and culture. Depending on your arrival time, you can explore the city or the surrounding desolate landscape covered with arid steppe. In the summer months, however, watch out for the great heat - the inland steppe gets very hot.

The places mentioned for today are a range of options for how to spend not only your arrival day but also any time on your departure day. If you have the time and inclination, head to the city center (called Downtown in Canada and the USA). Here you can walk around Olympic Plaza park and imagine yourself as Olympic winners who were awarded medals right here during the ceremonies at the Winter Olympics, which the city hosted in 1988. You can view the city and the surrounding steppe from a bird's eye view from the lookout point of the nearby local landmark - the Calgary Tower.

Whether you have visited the city of cowboys during the Stampede festival, hockey season, or other major cultural or sporting event, you can visit the Scotiabank Saddledome multi-purpose stadium - home of the Calgary Flames hockey team. It is located in the center of the vast Stampede Park, where the aforementioned Cowboy Festival takes place.

From another angle, there is the Heritage Park Historical Village open-air museum located in the southern part of the city on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir. A visit to it will take you back to the old days of the Wild West.

The mentioned places and brief information about them are provided below, it depends on your time whether you visit them.

Your adventure in the land dedicated to winter sports begins on the western edge of Calgary, where you will find yourself at the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Olympic Park. There you can enjoy a ride in "go-karts" down the slope or visit the Sports Hall of Fame. Later, you will move to the magnificent Rocky Mountains (the Rockies), where you will spend most of the itinerary admiring the beautiful lakes, glaciers, and endless taiga. You will start in Canada's oldest national park - Banff National Park. Your journey in the footsteps of bears begins here!

You will fully immerse yourself in exploring the beautiful surroundings of the Banff mountain resort, located in the heart of the national park of the same name. First, you will delve into the history of the local indigenous tribes inhabiting the local caves filled with mineral springs, which are typical of the area. Later, you will also take a bath in one of these hot springs. The hot bath will give your body, tired from previous trips around the beautiful mountains, a welcome relaxation, especially with the bonus of the surrounding mountain panoramas, which you can observe from the comfort of the hot tub.

Your journey through Canada's oldest national park continues today. First, you'll leave the civilization of the town of Banff and take a leisurely walk along a wild river gorge trail to two magnificent waterfalls, which you'll view from observation platforms. You'll even walk through a tunnel in the rock to one of them. A little higher in the mountains, you'll experience one of the most beautiful views not only of this trip but probably of your lives - the glacial Moraine Lake is simply iconic and it is not for nothing that it appears in many photographs promoting Canada. The turquoise blue surface surrounded by glacier-covered mountain peaks and dark green taiga is simply breathtaking.

!!ATTENTION!! The road to Moraine Lake is not open to private cars. You need to use the shuttle bus from Lake Louise resort. Especially in the summer season, there is great interest in the lake, so don't forget to book the shuttle bus in time. More information about the lake and transport to it can be found in the description of Moraine Lake and also in the introduction to the route.

After yesterday's moraine lake, today it's time for another of the Canadian natural gems - the iconic Lake Louise. The view from the viewpoints on the slopes above the lake of its sparkling blue surface with the legendary hotel standing on its eastern shore is another unforgettable experience. Lake Louise also offers many relatively easy trails around it, so you can easily spend the whole day wandering along forest paths, sharp moraines and glaciers. Maybe you will meet an interesting representative of the local fauna in the local wilderness. Black bears, who are excellent climbers, are also common here. So look not only around you, but also into the treetops.

!!ATTENTION!! The road to Lake Louise is usually open for cars, but the parking capacity (which is also paid) is limited. I recommend using the shuttle bus from the Lake Louise resort. Especially in the summer season, there is great interest in the lake, so be sure to book the shuttle bus in advance. You can find more information about the lake and transport to it in the description of Moraine lake and also in the introduction to the trip.

You will set off on the beautiful Icefields Parkway, connecting the two most precious Canadian national parks, Banff and Jasper. Just drive out of the town of Lake Louise and the hundreds of kilometers-long route leading through dense taiga at the foot of mountain massifs, glacier-covered ridges with wild rivers, waterfalls and turquoise lakes can begin. However, it would be a shame to just drive through what many consider the most beautiful road in the world. In addition to other things, the picturesque Peyto Lake with its beautifully blue-colored surface or the mighty Athabasca Glacier, which you can ride on with a special bus or observe from the viewpoint during the path in the clouds, invite you to stop and stretch your legs. The journey through the heart of the Canadian Rockies will definitely be another unforgettable experience that you will bring back from this trip.

TIP: To plan trips along the Icefields Parkway, use this website, where you will find information about possible trails.

From Banff Park, you smoothly transitioned along the Icefields Parkway to another giant among parks - Jasper. Like its older neighbor, it offers magnificent scenery of the Rocky Mountains, so there will be plenty of views of snow-capped mountain peaks, mighty thundering waterfalls, and walks along turquoise lakes. You can manage all these activities this day. So get a good night's sleep, have a hearty breakfast, and head towards another adventure full of the beauty of the local fantastic nature. Maybe you'll even meet a bear :)

It's a demanding day, rich in experiences, so it's worth getting up a bit early. You can kickstart your body with a morning stretch on the beach by the picturesque lakes near Jasper. Once you're sufficiently awake, head to the magnificent gorge created by the wild river flowing from the glacier and observe its roaring channel with waterfalls from the footbridges and viewpoints along the groomed footpath. Later, venture into the heart of the park towards the stunning glacial landscape surrounding the picturesque lake and head to the mysterious islet surrounded by a fairytale landscape. After a demanding day, warm your tired body in the hot springs of the local spa, all under the watchful eye of the local mountain peaks.

!!ATTENTION!! Maligne Canyon has been closed since 2024 due to wildfires (current as of March 2026). For the current status, please refer to the information on the website here.

Today will be somewhat in the spirit of hunting local peaks. First, in Jasper, you'll conquer Whistlers Mountain using the SkyTram and a short hike, rewarding you with fantastic views of the Rockies. A little further on, you'll come face to face with the snow-covered peak of Mount Robson, located in the park of the same name – the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Although you won't conquer its summit due to the extreme conditions, the view from the shores of the glacial lake of its frightening-looking shield will be unforgettable. Later in the afternoon, you'll begin a road trip through the mountainous landscape of British Columbia, where you'll move today. Driving enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven on the local quality road winding through the mountainous landscape between glacial peaks.

The first of the visited national parks in the beautiful province of British Columbia is located around the peak of Mount Revelstoke, towering above the town of the same name, which is a famous ski resort. In addition to classic downhill skiing, ski jumping also has a tradition here, and you can also take on the role of a jumper soaring over the slope thanks to a funny monument standing in the middle of "nowhere". After you try flying without wings, head to the very top of the mountain through mountain meadows among blooming flowers to the picturesque lakes with crystal clear water reflecting the surrounding mountain peaks. There will be plenty of wonderful views, crystal clear lakes and colorful flowers today, as well as great hikes. So grease under your knees and set out to explore this interesting national park.

Before you definitively leave Revelstoke Park, take a walk along the wooden walkways leading through the local ancient rainforest with magnificent specimens of centuries-old cedars. A little further on, in the mountainous Glacier National Park, you will be greeted by true wilderness. Sharp mountain peaks covered with massive glaciers feeding the wild rivers and turquoise lakes will engulf you with their energy. It is here that you will experience the true wilderness and rawness of the local nature while walking along more or less challenging trails that will take you to the foot of glaciers, wild waterfalls, and rapid rivers. Another bear hunt can begin, you have a really good chance here :)

Welcome to Yoho National Park. This magnificent park offers dramatic scenery so typical of the Rocky Mountains. You will visit beautiful waterfalls, an emerald lake, and of course, endless dense forests interwoven with rushing rivers flowing from glaciers, which are home to wildlife. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to meet something interesting here :) And because the end of your journey through the Rockies is slowly approaching, it's time to once again give your hike-weary body a rest in the spa. An evening bath in Radium Hot Springs under the supervision of mountain ranges will be a beautiful end to your adventure in the Canadian Rockies.

You'll enjoy your last day in the Rockies in a manner befitting these majestic mountains - you'll visit virtually all the main natural gems they offer. From narrow rocky gorges and picturesque canyons created by wild rivers with waterfalls and rapids, you'll reach turquoise lakes flowing from picturesque glacier-covered mountain peaks. This beautiful natural play of colors is complemented by the dark green taiga and also mineral water-colored soil of local thermal springs. Kootenay National Park will be a more than worthy conclusion to the beauties of the Canadian Rockies.

Your last day in Canada will be completely different. The mountainous Rockies, formed of sharp peaks, will be replaced by a flat plain. The lush taiga full of wild rivers, waterfalls, lakes and glaciers will be replaced by a steppe landscape covered with parched grass, grain and ubiquitous oil wells that tirelessly peck at the black treasure hidden beneath the surface. Alberta is an important source of shale oil, which formed here from extinct prehistoric animals. And that's what you're going to see today. The area around Drumheller is a well-known site for dinosaur fossils, which once roamed the now parched landscape of dry canyons and erosion-formed rock towers, the so-called badlands. You can explore their past in a great museum exhibiting models of skeletons of many species supplemented by interactive exhibits.

Your Canadian adventure is coming to an end, and all that remains is a safe transfer to the airport, returning the car, checking in, and returning home. Don't forget to allow plenty of time – the formalities associated with returning the car, possible traffic jams, the check-in process, customs controls, etc. can take up a lot of time. 

Depending on the time of your departure, you may still have some time for last visits to interesting places in the city or surroundings. You can visit some of the places offered on the arrival day, which you may not have reached for time reasons, or return to some of them. 

If you have already exhausted all the places and still have time, consider visiting Chinatown located by the Bow River near Downtown along the main street Center Street. Visit Dragon City Mall or Sien Lok Park there. You can relax before your departure in St. Patrick's Island Park located on an island at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. The designer George C. King Bridge leads to it from Downtown. For shopping and street art, you can then head to the pedestrian zone Stephen Avenue Walk.