Gems of Southern Alberta

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options: Banff Gondola – enjoy impressive views over Banff National Park with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Lake Minnewanka Cruise – take a scenic cruise across the turquoise-hued Lake Minnewanka to Devil’s Gap. River Explorer Canoe Tour – pick up a paddle for a gentle exploration on the Bow River. Bow River Horseback Adventure – saddle up for a guided journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park (minimum age 8 years).

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:

Banff Gondola – enjoy impressive views over Banff National Park with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Lake Minnewanka Cruise – take a scenic cruise across the turquoise-hued Lake Minnewanka to Devil’s Gap.

River Explorer Canoe Tour – pick up a paddle for a gentle exploration on the Bow River.

Bow River Horseback Adventure – saddle up for a guided journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park (minimum age 8 years).

In pictures

Depart Banff and head east towards the fascinating landscapes of Drumheller. Shaped by mesas, gullies and sandstone hoodoos, this other-worldy backdrop draws palaeontologists from around the world in search of dinosaur fossils. Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (included) to walk amongst an impressive array of fossils and learn everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs.

Depart Banff and head east towards the fascinating landscapes of Drumheller. Shaped by mesas, gullies and sandstone hoodoos, this other-worldy backdrop draws palaeontologists from around the world in search of dinosaur fossils. Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (included) to walk amongst an impressive array of fossils and learn everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs.

In pictures

From Drumheller, venture further into the rugged Canadian Badlands and make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Interpretive displays allow you to see what an archaeological dig site really looks like, and you can also view the bones of a ‘duck-billed’ dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried it, as well as the full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the ‘helmet headed lizard’. Don’t forget to allow time to look around the informative visitor centre too. Afterwards, continue on to Cypress Hill Provincial Park, a hidden gem in Southern Alberta. Here, the green and flower filled-valleys are in stark contrast to the dramatic and barren landscapes of the Badlands.

From Drumheller, venture further into the rugged Canadian Badlands and make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Interpretive displays allow you to see what an archaeological dig site really looks like, and you can also view the bones of a ‘duck-billed’ dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried it, as well as the full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the ‘helmet headed lizard’. Don’t forget to allow time to look around the informative visitor centre too. Afterwards, continue on to Cypress Hill Provincial Park, a hidden gem in Southern Alberta. Here, the green and flower filled-valleys are in stark contrast to the dramatic and barren landscapes of the Badlands.

In pictures

The day is yours to enjoy at Cypress Hill Provincial Park. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy and abundant wildlife to spot here. Perhaps start the day off with an interpretive hike or visit the Dark Sky Planetarium experience, where you can learn to navigate the sky’s bright stars and constellations. In the afternoon, head over to the Interpretive Centre in Elkwater where you can rent a bike, canoe, paddleboard, kayak or pedal boat. If you’re still feeling adventurous in the evening, perhaps try dinner at the Camp Cookhouse, a rustic gourmet experience offering dishes prepared with local ingredients by one of Canada’s top chefs (activities, admissions and meals not included).

The day is yours to enjoy at Cypress Hill Provincial Park. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy and abundant wildlife to spot here. Perhaps start the day off with an interpretive hike or visit the Dark Sky Planetarium experience, where you can learn to navigate the sky’s bright stars and constellations. In the afternoon, head over to the Interpretive Centre in Elkwater where you can rent a bike, canoe, paddleboard, kayak or pedal boat. If you’re still feeling adventurous in the evening, perhaps try dinner at the Camp Cookhouse, a rustic gourmet experience offering dishes prepared with local ingredients by one of Canada’s top chefs (activities, admissions and meals not included).

In pictures

Travel west on the Red Coat Trail towards Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to experience the largest concentration of rock art on the plains. Explore this National Historic Site with an interpreter, relax by the bubbling Milk River and traverse the hoodoo trails. Visit the Interpretive Centre for a behind the scenes guided exploration of this Archaeological Preserve with a local Indigenous guide. Overnight in the nearby city of Lethbridge.

Travel west on the Red Coat Trail towards Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to experience the largest concentration of rock art on the plains. Explore this National Historic Site with an interpreter, relax by the bubbling Milk River and traverse the hoodoo trails. Visit the Interpretive Centre for a behind the scenes guided exploration of this Archaeological Preserve with a local Indigenous guide. Overnight in the nearby city of Lethbridge.

In pictures

On your way out of Lethbridge there is time to stop at Fort Whoop-Up, an old fort and outlaw trading post (not included). Here visitors have the opportunity to step into life at a former frontier outpost on the Great Plains and discover exhibits about Canada’s first Mounties, whiskey and firearms traders and Blackfoot history and culture. After arriving in Waterton, take a leisurely stroll around the town’s shops or dine at one of its restaurants, before grabbing your camera and heading over to the beach for some impressive photographic opportunities. If you’re feeling energised, perhaps join one of the many hiking trails that start from the town. Or sit back and relax at the Prince of Wales Hotel, an iconic National Historic Site that also offers a delectable afternoon tea alongside spectacular views.

On your way out of Lethbridge there is time to stop at Fort Whoop-Up, an old fort and outlaw trading post (not included). Here visitors have the opportunity to step into life at a former frontier outpost on the Great Plains and discover exhibits about Canada’s first Mounties, whiskey and firearms traders and Blackfoot history and culture. After arriving in Waterton, take a leisurely stroll around the town’s shops or dine at one of its restaurants, before grabbing your camera and heading over to the beach for some impressive photographic opportunities. If you’re feeling energised, perhaps join one of the many hiking trails that start from the town. Or sit back and relax at the Prince of Wales Hotel, an iconic National Historic Site that also offers a delectable afternoon tea alongside spectacular views.

In pictures

Spend a day discovering the wonders of this peaceful and beautiful prairie region. Hiking trails here take you past glittering glacial lakes, alpine forests and snow-capped mountains. 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 alongside spectacular scenery. Venture out on the 16km drive to Red Rock Canyon – a colourful canyon of red, green and white banded rock cliffs alongside green alpine forests and bubbling white waterfalls.

Spend a day discovering the wonders of this peaceful and beautiful prairie region. Hiking trails here take you past glittering glacial lakes, alpine forests and snow-capped mountains. 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 alongside spectacular scenery. Venture out on the 16km drive to Red Rock Canyon – a colourful canyon of red, green and white banded rock cliffs alongside green alpine forests and bubbling white waterfalls.

In pictures

Travel north to experience the evocatively named Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the hunting practice of the native people of the North American plains for the past 6000 years. A guide leads you through the exhibit and out to the cliff jump, sharing the history and lifestyle of the first people. There may even be drumming in the plaza. Afterwards, a 2 hour drive north takes you back to Calgary, where your Southern Alberta adventure ends.

Travel north to experience the evocatively named Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the hunting practice of the native people of the North American plains for the past 6000 years. A guide leads you through the exhibit and out to the cliff jump, sharing the history and lifestyle of the first people. There may even be drumming in the plaza. Afterwards, a 2 hour drive north takes you back to Calgary, where your Southern Alberta adventure ends.

In pictures