Cost: CAD $23,070 based on 2 adults and 2 children (12 & under), peak season departure
This 10-day/ 9-night trip offers the ultimate Canadian Rockies adventure for families. Especially if you think you’re only going to come once, this is your trip. You will visit world-famous Banff and Jasper National Parks, and enjoy a family heli-hiking adventure from a lodge deep in the BC Rockies. Other accommodations include Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a chalet village around Lac Beauvert that provides a true Canadian Lodge experience, surrounded by sparkling lakes and snow-capped peaks; and Fairmont Château Lake Louise, built on the shores Lake Louise. Each hiking day is flexible; you decide how easy or how challenging you want it to be. Go the extra distance to a mountain cirque and an azure lake amid fields brimming with wildflowers, or slow down to take photos and spot wildlife. Even the drives on this trip will make your jaw drop!
Rocky Mountain Family Vacations in Canada
Day 1
Upon your arrival at Calgary International Airport, you’ll pick up your full-sized rental car and enjoy a scenic two-hour drive west to Banff through the Kananaskis Region. If there’s time before dinner, take the Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for unobstructed 360° views. For the adventurous, trails along beautiful mountain ridges reveal panoramic views. Accommodations are at the Rimrock Resort in a Premier Room.
Day 2
Explore the sights in and around the Banff area. Highlights include Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, and Johnston Canyon, and walks to the famous Hoodoo sandstone formations or around massive Minnewanka Lake. In the evening, enjoy a leisurely trail ride, steak-fry dinner, and a chance to try your hand at roping. Accommodations are at the Rimrock Resort in a Premier Room.
Day 3
Begin your three-day heli hiking adventure with a drive to Bobbie Burns Helipad for the quick flight to your Lodge in the Purcell Mountains. After settling in, get outfitted before flying up for your first afternoon of hiking amid some of the world’s most stunning mountains. Accommodations are at the Bobbie Burns Lodge.
Days 4 & 5
Each day, the helicopter lands you on a spectacular ridge. Accompanied by a guide, spend the day exploring the immense variety of landscapes in the Bobbie Burns, a winsome sub-range of the Columbias. The area abounds with massive glaciers, turquoise lakes, and airy mountain ridges with magnificent views. Depending on your interests, you may embark on an all-day hike that covers a diversity of terrain, or take a helicopter flight after lunch to a beautiful alpine lake. Back at the lodge, you’ll enjoy exceptional cuisine, a soak in the whirlpool, and the chance to share stories with new friends. Accommodations are at Bobbie Burns Lodge.
Day 6
After returning to the heli-pad, you will drive north to Jasper along the scenic Columbia Icefields Parkway—one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Plan to make plenty of stops along the way, including taking a “Snocoach” tour onto the Athabasca Glacier. Other highlights along the route include Peyto Lake and Sunwapta Falls. Accommodations are at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in a Whistler Cabin.
Day 7
Enjoy a mild white-water rafting trip down the Athabasca River, designated a Canadian Heritage River for its scenic beauty and history of fur trade exploration. In the afternoon, explore Jasper at your leisure: shop, hike, canoe, play golf, cruise on Maligne Lake, or take an Ecotour Safari in search of wildlife. Accommodations are at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in a Whistler Cabin.
Day 8
Take in more breathtaking scenery as you retrace your steps on the Icefields Parkway, travelling south to Banff and your hotel on the shores of the emerald waters of Lake Louise, Canada’s “Diamond in the Wilderness”. Accommodations are at Fairmont Château Lake Louise in a Deluxe Lakeview Room.
Day 9
From your home in the heart of Banff National Park, spend the day discovering extraordinary scenery, spotting wildlife, and enjoying the tranquillity of high alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. Explore the village of Lake Louise at your leisure. Accommodations are at Fairmont Château Lake Louise in a Deluxe Lakeview Room.
Day 10
Relax at the hotel or head out to explore Calgary in advance of your return flight from Calgary International Airport. Safe travels!
To learn more about this experience please contact one of our travel planners.
