Calgary Stampede 100th Anniversary

Welcome to one of North America’s most rugged and beautiful cities, Calgary. Known for its cowboys and spectacular vistas, Calgary was brought to the world’s attention during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Meet your Tour Manager in the hotel lobby at 6:00 p.m. for dining suggestions and information on the Calgary Stampede.

Billing itself as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the Calgary Stampede is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. Cowboys from around the globe gather here for 10 days of bull-riding, steer-wrestling, bronc-riding and barrel racing. In the evening, the pounding of hooves and trembling of the ground mean you are at the famous Chuckwagon Races. Later, a fabulous variety show with top-named entertainment is capped off with a wonderful fireworks display. Breakfast and dinner is included today.

Aboard our motorcoach, we’ll travel along one of the world’s most spectacular mountain highways, the Icefields Parkway. Unsurpassed scenery paralleling the Great Divide in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, the Columbia Icefields, Bow and Crowfoot Glaciers, Athabasca Falls and Peyto Lake, come into view. See snow-capped mountains reflected in the turquoise waters of Moraine Lake and watch for black bear, moose and caribou along the way. Dinner is included today.

Today, in spite of its highways and railroad, Jasper National Park looks very much like it did when David Thompson, Canada's great fur-trade-era explorer, first saw it. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Jasper National Park as we cruise Maligne Lake with its unparalleled vistas. Learn of the local history, geology, wildlife and glaciology of Maligne Lake and Jasper National Park as some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rockies drifts past your window. Watch moose lazily wander the shoreline and look for other wildlife that are native to the area. In the afternoon we return to Jasper in plenty of time for exploring the city. Breakfast and dinner are included today.

This morning it’s on to Banff, Canada’s first National Park. Located amid the rugged alpine beauty of the Rocky Mountains, Banff is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We trade in our motorcoach for a “snocoach” and venture on to North America's largest glacier, the Columbia Icefield’s Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed vehicle to the middle of the glacier, as your driver points out interesting geological features. At the icefall below the glacier headwall, step out onto ice formed from snow which fell as long as 400 years ago. Savor magnificent views of the region as we continue along the parkway to the town of Banff. Breakfast is included today.

Enjoy a tour of Banff, including Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. We take a gondola ride in enclosed cars to the peak of Sulphur Mountain for a spectacular panoramic view of the village and valley below. The remainder of the day is free to explore the vibrant village of Banff, full of wonderful shops and charming boutiques. Enjoy strolling alongside locals and world-travelers as you discover a cosmopolitan collection of galleries, boutiques and cafés. Breakfast is included today.

We travel to beautiful Chateau Lake Louise where majestic mountains soaring skyward are reflected in the vibrant blues of the glacier-fed Lake Louise. This evening, we celebrate our Canadian adventure and say goodbye to new friends during a farewell dinner hosted by our Tour Manager. Breakfast and dinner are included today.