Day 1 - Arrive
Calgary
Transfer
by private sedan to your Calgary downtown hotel.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the
city on your own.
Moderate:
Overnight
Sandman Inn Downtown Calgary
Superior: Overnight Delta Bow Valley Hotel
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Palliser Hotel - Fairmont Gold
Day 2 - Calgary
Area Tour
You are met at
your Calgary hotel and transported across Alberta's
rolling countryside to a rustic Guest Ranch, where you will spend
the next six nights. A variety of wildlife are frequently
seen here, and you will enjoy the very best of western hospitality.
After a hearty lunch, where you meet and get acquainted with
the other tour guests, you'll have the opportunity to take a trail ride in the
area. Riding varies from mountain valleys to high foothills, crossing numerous
streams, mountain meadows and old Indian trails. This type of terrain allows you
the chance to periodically trot or canter if desired. The guest has horses to
satisfy the expert to novice rider. A horse is assigned to you when you arrive.
The wranglers will spend time showing you how to become comfortable and work
with your mount. If you wish you can come out in the mornings to help feed and
groom the horses.
Once back from your trail ride you can
relax on the deck or take a hike in this wilderness
wonderland. Then it's time to enjoy the very best of
western hospitality, including our welcoming dinner, before
spending a restful night in this western hideaway.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
**
The specific guest ranch, hotel or B&B may vary
depending on availability of accommodation.
All the members of each tour departure will stay in
the same accommodation.
All accommodations are of an equal standard.
Day 3 - Rodeo
Get up early to help with feeding
and grooming the horses, or spend a little extra time relaxing in your
comfortable bed. Then, after a satisfying breakfast, it's off to a Traditional
Rodeo, or perhaps a Native American Powwow and Rodeo. For those who are not
familiar with the Native American culture, powwows are celebrations, social
gatherings and friendly competitions of traditional dancing, drumming, singing,
ceremonies and feasting, and the bringing of many nations of people together.
And at the
rodeo, you will experience the adrenalin rush of the
cowboys' eternal battle to overcome the raw power of the
untamed animals of the west. You will spend the day enjoying
the exhilaration and excitement of bucking broncos, bull
riders, steer wrestlers, calf ropers, and barrel racers.
Don't forget that your tour guides are also professional
photographers, and they are always available and willing to
help you with your photography questions.
In addition, you will have the
opportunity to meet some of the rodeo cowboys and clowns for conversation and
photographs. At the conclusion of the rodeo we head back to the
guest ranch for dinner, and another restful night.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Day 4 - Trail
ride / Banff
Exploring
After your morning trail ride
or leisurely meander around the guest ranch, and another of those
wonderful lunches, we're off to the town of Banff.
You'll take an eight minute ride in a glass enclosed
gondola to the 2288 m (7500 ft) summit of Sulphur Mountain,
where three levels of outdoor observation decks offer a
panoramic 360 degree view of Banff and the surrounding area.
We'll introduce you to
the majestic Banff Springs Hotel. A unique blend of opulence
and seclusion, it has been a symbol of Rocky Mountain
magnificence for more than a century. Styled after a
Scottish baronial castle, the Banff Springs offers stunning
vistas, timeless beauty and luxurious comfort in a pristine
wilderness. Then we'll stop at the hot springs. All the
amenities of a modern facility are featured in this
splendid, historic spa and bath house - against a backdrop
of spectacular alpine scenery. Average temperature is 39C
(103F) year-round. Take the time to relax in the hot pool,
enjoy the scenery, or visit the gift shop! Then it's on to
the Banff townsite, where you can tour the many fine museums
and natural history centres, in addition to sampling the
extensive and unique shopping opportunities.
Once
back at the guest ranch, and after having savoured another
delectable western dinner, you will no doubt enjoy some
local cowboy and Native Americans stories.
But don't stay up too late, coming up tomorrow is
your chance to enjoy
Calgary
and its pleasures before returning to the relaxation of the
guest ranch.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Day 5 - Calgary
Tour
We spend today in Calgary. Our
first stop is The Canadian Wilds Exhibit at the Calgary Zoo.
You will wander through this immersion habitat
featuring animals from the Aspen Woodlands to the
Rocky Mountains
. It is a perfect location to start your
wildlife viewing - you are guaranteed to see animals here
that you may not have a chance to see anywhere else during
your trip. Get a close-up view of mountain goats, cougars
and grizzlies, wolves and wood bison, as well as one of
North America
's most endangered species ' the
whooping crane.
Today's lunchtime dining
experience features a revolving view of the city. The
Calgary Tower's famous revolving dining lounge offers a
unique setting. After lunch, it's off to Heritage
Park. You will receive a guided tour of this real frontier
town. You can cruise the lake aboard the S.S. Moyie steam
wheeler, or tour the town by steam train, horse-drawn wagon,
carriage or old-fashioned bus. Or just take a stroll down
Main Street.
And the funs not over yet!
Get ready for a special treat as you enjoy dinner at
Ranchman's Restaurant. Often referred to as Canada's
Greatest Honky Tonk and Country Night Club, Ranchman's is
the Official Hospitality Location of the Canadian
Professional Rodeo Association. Ranchman's proudly displays
over sixty championship trophy saddles of Canadian and World
champions. The walls spring alive with daring and
danger-packed action photos of legendary showdowns between
man and beast. Many of Country Music's greats have
also performed here. And, Ranchman's is proud to have been
voted the Canadian Country Music Association's Country Club
of the Year on three occasions. Ranchman's authenticity has
also attracted many movie location shoots including Cool
Runnings and Unforgiven.
Then it's back to
the Guest
Ranch for a great night's sleep before another full day of
fun and enjoyment.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Day 6 -
Trail
Ride & Choice of Whitewater Rafting or Trail
Ride
After another of the
wonderful breakfasts that you've become accustomed to, you
have the opportunity to enjoy another trail ride. Or, if
yesterday's activities were just too much fun, you can
relax on the deck or take a quiet hike before lunch.
The afternoon provides you with a choice of activities. You
can go whitewater rafting in the Kananaskis
Valley. This is a great experience for families, or as a
group outing. Both the Kananaskis and Elbow Rivers are
beautiful rivers consisting of grade I - III rapids (gentle
to intermediate) and appropriate for first time paddlers.
Approximately 2 - 2.5 hours will be spent surfing, splashing
and floating on a professionally guided raft on one of
Western Canada's mountainous rivers.
OR you have the opportunity to enjoy a trail ride, relax on
the deck, or take a leisurely hike around the familiar
environment of of the Guest RanchRanch.
Oh yes, and after all that
excitement, we haven't forgotten to have another terrific
dinner ready for you. And as always, it's topped off with
home-baked bread and pastry.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Day 7 - Columbia
Icefields & Lake Louise Tour
Today
you will experience the incomparable beauty of the rugged
and majestic Rocky Mountains. Our first stop is the Columbia
Icefields, an area of glacial ice covering some 390 sq. km
with a maximum depth of 365 m (1210 ft). Bigger than the
City of Vancouver, the continuous accumulation of snow feeds
eight major glaciers and its meltwater feeds streams and
rivers that pour into the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific
oceans. You will take a tour of the icy slopes in a
specially designed Snocoach that goes to the middle of the
glacier on a 5 kilometer round trip journey. Your
driver/guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point
out interesting geological features as you travel in safety
and comfort. At the icefall below the glacier headwall, you
will have the option of stepping out onto ice formed from
snow that fell as long as 400 years ago.
After lunch at the Icefields, it's a short trip to your
first view of the imposing Victoria Glacier nestled behind
beautiful Lake Louise. You will be left with no doubt as to
why this is known as the "Jewel of the Rockies."
Not only have international royalty, Hollywood stars and
heads of state come to Lake Louise to relax, but
increasingly the rest of the world is discovering its simple
charms as well. Lake Louise, with its blue-green water set
against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, is probably
the most beloved and most photographed scene in the Canadian
Rockies. Chateau Lake Louise presents lake-side views of the
glacier, while offering old-world charm and elegance amidst
the wilderness.
Then it's back to the Guest Ranch Ranch. Where, after a leisurely
dinner, you can settle into your comfortable accommodations,
and enjoy a good night's rest in preparation for another
full day tomorrow.
Moderate:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Superior:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Deluxe:
Overnight
Guest Ranch**
Day 8 - Trail
Ride / Kananskis
Exploring & transfer to Calgary
After breakfast, you can go on
a trail ride, savour the majestic scenery on the beautiful
hiking trails as you watch for birds and wildlife, or just
sit back and soak it all in. The morning and the choice is
yours.
Then, after lunch the next
leg of your journey is a drive through Kananaskis Country.
This is an unspoiled paradise of towering mountains,
pristine lakes, evergreen valleys, and glacial streams. The
name Kananaskis is rich with history. Captain John Palliser,
an early explorer of the valley, identified the area by
taking the name of a local Indian. Palliser wrote that he
had heard of an Indian named Kananaskis, giving an
account of a most wonderful recovery from the blow of an axe
to the head - which stunned, but failed to kill him."
Located in the midst of the
beautiful Kananaskis Valley is Boundary Ranch. A perfect
venue to stop for an afternoon break amidst the surrounding
beauty. The Ranch is located on Highway 40 just five minutes
south of the Kananaskis Village, and Calgary is just an hour
away. At the end of the day you
arrive back in Calgary, where we'll be dropped off at your
post tour hotel.
Moderate:
Overnight
Sandman Inn Downtown Calgary
Superior: Overnight Delta Bow Valley Hotel
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Palliser Hotel - Fairmont Gold
Day 9 -Depart
Calgary
Your
exciting Calgary & Rockies experience comes to an end. A transfer
by private
sedan to the Calgary Airport in time for your homeward flight concludes your stay.
PACKAGE
INCLUDES:
- 2 Nights pre/post accommodation in Calgary, room tax and any
mandatory services charges
-
6 Nights at a Guest Ranch - Includes trail
ride & traditional Western or Native American
entertainment
-
Escorted visit to the Canadian Wildlife Exhibit at
the Calgary Zoo
-
Lunch at the Calgary Tower Revolving restaurant
-
Guided tour and visit to Heritage Park
-
Rocky Mountain Tour - Includes Columbia Icefields and
Lake Louise
-
½ Day tour & visit to Banff
-
1 Day Rodeo and/or Native American Powwow
-
½ Day Trail
Ride or Whitewater Rafting
-
Four (4) Trail Rides
-
Tour of Kananaskis Country
-
Professional Photographer in attendance at all
scheduled locations
-
All meals, accommodation, transportation, and
admissions (including gratuities)
-
Calgary drop-off
-
Round'trip transfers by private sedan
between Calgary Airport and your Calgary hotel
-
Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES
NOT INCLUDE:
-
Meals not
listed as included
-
Food and beverage purchases outside of provided meals
and receptions
-
Personal expenses such as laundry, and room service
-
Optional activities
-
Gratuities
not listed as included
-
Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation
Specialist, ask for more details)