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DAY 1 - CALGARY AIRPORT / CALGARY (19 Km/21 mins)
 Welcome to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and the booming metropolis of Calgary in western Canada. Well known for its typically "western" but modern ambiance, Calgary is a dynamic and friendly city. You will check into your downtown hotel, the Five Calgary. There you will receive your Authentik travel book, with all the details of your adventure including a road map indicating your route, as well as a personalised roadbook, a host of practical tourist information, a toll-free assistance number, vouchers...
We wish you a great stay in the great Canadian wilderness!
DAY 2 & 3 - CALGARY / LAKE LOUISE (182 Km/2 hrs 4 mins)
After breakfast, you will pick up your car and set out to explore the famous Rocky Mountains. Your first destination is the legendary Banff National Park. At the end of the morning you will arrive, just like in your dreams, at the edge of the majestic Rocky Mountains! Covering over 22,000 km2, this vast region, known the world over for its extraordinary natural attractions, offers high mountain landscapes of a rare splendour, raging rivers, still mountain lakes whose waters vary in colour from emerald green to turquoise blue, a diverse and omnipresent flora and fauna... All of which will contribute to making your vacation unforgettable!
Optional activities along the way
Horseback riding in the Rockies
Olympic Park
Scenic helicopter ride
And finally for dessert, you will reach the famous Lake Louise. This lake, with the outstanding beauty and immensity of its surroundings, will stand out in your memories of this day which is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.
The next day you will pay a visit to Yoho National Park where many attractions await you, such as the hiking trails of Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls. "Yoho!" is
a Cree expression of awe and wonder for this place of rock walls, spectacular waterfalls and soaring peaks.
You will be spending the next two nights at Lake Louise Inn***
DAY 4 - LAKE LOUISE / JASPER (232 Km/2 hrs 43 mins)
 After a hearty breakfast, you set out early for the Icefields Parkway, considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in the world. This will be a day filled with rare natural splendours that will remain engraved in your memory for a long time to come.
In addition to the grandiose scenery, you may spot several types of wildlife along the way, including black bears, grizzly bears, elk, mountain goats, moose, bighorn sheep, etc...
Plan to visit Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield Interpretive Centre, the focal point of the Icefields Parkway.
And stop to contemplate the torrent of plunging water that is Sunwapta Falls, one of the many waterfalls in Jasper created by "hanging" valleys.
Optional activity along the way
Excursion on Columbia Glacier
You will be spending the next two nights at Pocahontas Cabins, right in the heart of Jasper National Park.
DAY 5 - JASPER NATIONAL PARK
 The next two days will be spent enjoying Jasper National Park. This spectacular park is the largest and the most northerly of Canada's four Rocky Mountain Parks, which comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fragile and carefully protected ecosystems make up a rugged and mountainous landscape.
Enjoy the most beautiful attractions, including
the picturesque Maligne Lake, the spectacular trails of Maligne Canyon and glacier-covered Mount Edith Cavell, the charming village of Jasper where wapiti wander the streets, sunset from the top of Whistler's Mountain, etc... Night at Pocahontas Cabins.
DAY 6 - JASPER / BANFF / CANMORE (310 Km/3 hrs 41 mins)
Be sure to get an early start to maximize your chances of seeing wildlife. The best way to do this is to drive slowly! Don't miss the serene Peyto and Bow Lakes.
You will be spending the next two days at Rocky Mountain Lodge, 20 minutes from the entrance to Banff National Park. You can prepare supper in your own kitchen or eat out, then the evening is free to do what you like.
DAY 7 - BANFF NATIONAL PARK
 Your last day to enjoy nature's splendour in Banff, Canada's first National Park, and third in the world...
Among the stunning natural attractions waiting to be discovered: Johnston Canyon via the Bow River Valley and Minnewanka Lake. Spend the rest of the day in the famous Town of Banff, where you can enjoy shopping in the many exclusive boutiques or visit the fascinating Luxton Museum. Enjoy supper in one of Banff's many restaurants, and return to Canmore at the end of the day for a night at Rocky Mountain Lodge.
DAY 8 - CANMORE / CALGARY AIRPORT (115 Km/1 hr 20 mins)
After breakfast, you set out for Calgary.
Optional activity along the way
Heritage Park Village
You can use the morning for one last visit or activity, or to do some last-minute shopping in the many boutiques along Stephen Avenue, a fascinating pedestrian mall in the heart of downtown Calgary. At the airport, you drop off your car and board the plane for your return flight, full of lasting memories of the land of mountains, rivers and glaciers!
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Canada vacation & Weather
