Canada's Rockies

Tip your Stetson to Canada's 'Cowboy Country', kick-starting your adventure through the inimitable Rockies in Calgary. This evening, gather at your hotel joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Embark on a spiritual encounter with the Canadian Rockies, admiring the ethereal beauty of Lake Louise, the surrounding summits and Victoria Glacier, before we continue along the Icefields Parkway. Skirt the craggy peaks, waterfalls and luminous glacial lakes keeping an eye out for grizzlies, elk and mountain goats as you make your way through the wilderness to Jasper.

Soak up pristine natural surrounds enjoying a morning at leisure. Perhaps join a rafting optional and float along the Athabasca River, pass­ing through many small sets of rapids as well as calm stretches. Your National Park licensed guide will point out the nat­ural and human his­tory of Jasper. In the afternoon, enjoy dramatic views as you take a guided walk to Maligne Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in the Rockies. Learn about the underground river system while following the canyon's trail past waterfalls and jagged rock formations. Take to the aqua waters of Maligne Lake later this afternoon (seasonal), admiring views of its three glaciers and Spirit Island, named by the Stoney Nation indigenous people for the experiences their ancestors had at this place centuries ago, a tiny grove of trees and pristine nature separated from the mainland by an isthmus. Spirit Island becomes a true island for a few short days during the summer. Later this evening, indulge in a Regional Dinner. The Maligne Lake Chalet is a rustic log building situated on a rise of land offering magnificent views of beautiful Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.

We crunch across the glistening icefield of Athabasca Glacier this morning, stepping aboard an Ice Explorer to learn about glaciers and their impact on the environment. Take a sip of ice cold glacier water and admire the surrounding snowcapped panorama before continuing your journey to the alpine village of Banff. Before dinner, you'll enjoy a rare opportunity to meet a retired Royal Canadian Mountie, dressed in the traditional red serge uniform. This Local Specialist will share colourful stories about life in the 'force' and even pose for a photo or two. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers.

Learn the art of playing the puck like a pro when you meet a real Canadian hockey player in Canmore. Dive into Culture and embrace Canada's national sport, learning the secrets and superstitions of hockey players as a professional coach walks you through a day in the life of a player. Go inside the players' dressing room and put on the full hockey gear with help of a real coach. Grab your stick and it's off onto the ice where you're soon find out whether you are a lefty or righty and learn how to score the big goal. A sightseeing excursion around Banff reveals the exquisite natural beauty of the area. Admire the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner, spectacular Bow Falls and the hoodoo rock formations.

Reconnect with nature, with a free morning to spend as you please. perhaps join your Tour Director for an optional excursion to Yoho National Park on the western slopes of the Great Divide with a stop at Emerald Lake. Then it's onto the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks and Moraine Lake, surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and rock piles. With its vivid shade of turquoise, that changes in intensity through the summer as the glaciers melt, makes for a jaw-dropping experience. We travel to the Guinn family ranch and Connect with Locals over a special Be My Guest Farewell Dinner in pristine surrounds. After dinner, twist, kick and bump your way to country line-dancing success.

Descend from high above and bid farewell to the Canadian Rockies. Take your transfer to Calgary International Airport or to the Westin Calgary if you are extending your stay or joining the Calgary Stampede Option.