Feel the excitement build as your flight lands in Calgary! Collect your hire car at the airport, and make your way to your city centre hotel for tonight.

If time permits, you could ascend the Calgary Tower, from which you can see the Rockies on a clear day, or enjoy a stroll through Prince’s Island Park.

Downtown Calgary is a mixture of historic architecture and modern offices. The old Town Hall is dwarfed by tall skyscrapers, and the new public library is famous for its modern curves. You’ll find lots of options for shopping and dinner along the lively Stephen Avenue Walk.

Delta Marriott Calgary Downtown, or similar

Your road trip through the Canadian Rockies begins today!

First stop is Kananaskis Country for a two night stay at the welcoming Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, an alpine retreat set in stunning mountain surroundings.

Along the paved 1.4 km Village Rim Trail, which you can join just outside the lodge, there are five distinct viewpoints looking out over the valley. Breath in the alpine air. You have arrived!

Calgary > Kananaskis Village | 100 kms

Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

You have a whole day to enjoy the wonderous scenery of Kananaskis Country. There are numerous hiking trails, ranging in difficulty. One of the most unique is that to the Black Shale Suspension Bridge, which offers stunning views over the forest towards the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. Horse-riding, kayaking, and mountain bike hire are all also available locally.

And as you are on holiday, why not indulge in a lazy afternoon at the lodge’s renowned Nordic Spa, which features outdoor hot, warm and cold pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, a sauna, and quiet relaxation areas, all set within the forest.

Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

Today’s short drive to Banff is just a taster of the spectacular scenery to come along the Icefields Parkway.

The laidback town of Canmore makes an excellent brunch stop, with a choice of eateries along Main (8th) Street, closed to cars mid-May to mid-October.

Arriving into Banff check into Buffalo Mountain Lodge for a three night stay. Located on Tunnel Mountain, this cosy and rustic lodge is perfect for a quiet stay while still being close to Banff’s shops, cafés and restaurants.

It’s around a 2 hour hike to the top of Tunnel Mountain and back, though you’ll might see some locals running up! You might also enjoy the summit all to yourself, and its beautiful views.

Kananaskis Village > Banff | 80 kms

Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Banff

With two full days in Banff you can explore at your own pace.

Riding the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain is a must, likewise a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, on which the National Park guides leading the tour often switch of the engine in the middle of the lake to let you experience the pure tranquillity of the Rockies.

If you cross the pedestrian bridge from downtown Banff, you can follow a short trail along the river to see the impressive Bow Falls. From here, it’s an easy walk to the castle-esque Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel which serves a fancy afternoon tea.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Next stop, Yoho National Park! Follow Highway 1 (probably the world’s most scenic dual carriageway) before turning off towards Emerald Lake Lodge, your home for the next three nights.

This picturesque lodge sits right on the lake’s edge and offers postcard-perfect views. It was built in 1902 from hand-hewn timber and features massive stone fireplaces, and scenic views.

Sunk in an easy-chair in one of the main lodge’s reading rooms, you can’t help but relax here. The Kicking Horse Lounge & Bar, reserves exclusively for hotel guests, and also serves a superb cocktail.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge > Emerald Lake Lodge | 95 kms

Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park

Spend the next two days relaxing and enjoying the surroundings at Emerald Lake Lodge.

You may like to head out onto the lake by canoe or try a hike, from the easy Emerald Lake Loop to the more challenging routes such as Yoho Pass and Emerald Basin. The area offers impressive mountain views and the chance to spot the local wildlife.It is advisable to carry bear spray with you if you are venturing out on foot (the lodge can provide you with some if you don’t have any).

Venturing away from the lake, you can visit the gushing waters of Natural Bridge and the impressive Takakkaw Falls that cascades 373 metres from a hidden glacier to the Kicking Horse River.

Back at the lodge, unwind by the fireplace in your cabin-style room or relax in the lounge overlooking the lake. With its historic character and quiet setting, Emerald Lake Lodge is a comfortable base for spending time in the Canadian Rockies.

Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park

Today’s drive is an experience in itself. The Icefield’s Parkway is simply stunning, with towering peaks either side of the road.

If you have pre-booked your car parking and shuttle access, you can view the amazing colours of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake this morning. If you can get up early enough we do recommend a sunrise visit for a specyacular natural light show across the surrounding mountains.

Staying half way along the Icefield Parkway at Glacier View Lodge, means that you have time to really enjoy it. Make sure to stop at Peyto Lake, truly the bluest lake you will have ever seen! The viewpoint is around a 15 minute, slightly uphill walk from the car park.

20 minutes on, you can see the water from Peyto Lake, now a gushing force, squeeze through the limestone-walled Mistaya Canyon. Give yourself around an hour to enjoy the 1.8 km trail and hold on to your camera tightly when snapping pictures from the footbridge!

Glacier View Lodge sits directly across the Icefields Parkway from the Athabasca Glacier. It would easy to spend a whole afternoon in the lounge with its floor to ceiling windows, but included in your holiday is exclusive evening access to the nearby Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a glass floored viewing platform suspended above the magnificent Sunwapta Valley.

Emerald Lake Lodge > Glacier View Lodge | 160 kms

Glacier View Lodge

Another benefit of staying at Glacier View Lodge is that you can be on the first Ice Explorer in the morning to venture onto the Athabasca Glacier.

An outlet of the Columbia Icefield, the glacier is 6 km long and, in places, 300 metres deep. The 6-wheel all-terrain vehicle takes around 15 minutes to climb onto the ice, at which point you can step out onto the frozen service, a quite incredible experience.

Back on the Icefields Parkway, make sure to stop at the equally impressive Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls before reaching Jasper. Here you’ll be staying a few kilometres from the town centre at Pyramid Lake Lodge, which overlooks the water, itself overlooked by Pyramid Mountain.

If you would prefer to stay in the town of Jasper itself just let us know

Glacier View Lodge > Pyramid Lake Lodge | 110 kms

Pyramid Lake Lodge, near Jasper

Included in your holiday is a cruise on the serene waters of Maligne Lake. It’s just under an hour’s drive from Pyramid Lake Lodge, but we recommend you give yourself extra time as the road follows the shores of Medicine Lake and is one of the best places in Jasper for spotting wildlife, including elk and black bear.

Maligne Lake is everything you imagine the Canadian Rockies to be; turquoise waters, framed by steep-sided peaks, and fresher-then-fresh alpine air. The cruise takes you to Spirit Island, just as beautiful as the photos you’ve no doubt seen.

Returning to Jasper, you could enjoy a bite to eat in one of the town’s many cafés or restaurants, watch the mile-long freight trains roll past (strangely mesmerising!), or go kayaking or cycling back at Pyramid Lake Lodge.

Pyramid Lake Lodge, near Jasper

It’s around a 4 hour drive to Edmonton today, but there’s plenty to see on the way.

Not far from Jasper are the Miette Hot Springs, the hottest in the Rockies, reaching a toasty 54°C. A little further on in Hinton, is the Beaver Boardwalk, a 3 km walkway through marsh and forest, taking you up close to a beaver lodge and dam, with a reasonable chance of spotting its creators.

After checking in to your hotel in Edmonton, why not check out the Muttart Conservatory, with its four pyramidal glasshouses containing over 700 species of plant? 4th Street Promenade has some great options for dinner.

Pyramid Lake Lodge > Edmonton | 370 kms

Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown or similar

Depending on the time of your flight today, you may be able to squeeze in a visit Elk Island National Park, which sits around 35 km east of Edmonton, and is home to moose, elk and herds of plains and wood bison.

After dropping your car off at the airport, board your flight home, complete with unforgettable memories of alpine lakes, cosy lodges and glacial adventures from your Canadian Rockies road trip