Best of the Canadian Rockies

Best of the Canadian Rockies

Discover the untamed beauty of the Canadian Rockies on an immersive journey through Banff National Park and beyond. This expertly curated adventure blends rugged wilderness with refined comfort, offering the perfect balance of exploration, wildlife encounters, and awe-inspiring landscapes. From the soaring peaks of the Icefields Parkway to the turquoise waters of Moraine Lake, every moment is designed to ignite your sense of adventure while ensuring a seamless and elevated travel experience.

Is this trip for me?

Duration: 5 days | 4 nights

Tour Starts & Ends: Banff, Canada

Accommodation Style: Hand-picked 3 or 4 star hotels. Single rooms available for a supplement

Activity Level: Easy – Ideal for most travellers who love adventure with a high level of comfort

Availability: Limited departures in June, September, and October for optimal conditions and to avoid the peak crowds.

Trip Type: Small Group (max 13 travellers)

Age Requirement: 14+ (all travellers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)

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Highlights

Ascend Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola – Ride to the summit for a sweeping 360-degree view of the Bow Valley and surrounding peaks, a perspective that truly captures the grandeur of the Rockies.
Seek Out Wildlife in Banff National Park – Join an expert guide to track and observe the region’s most iconic wildlife, from roaming elk and mountain goats to the elusive black bear.
Stand in Awe at the Columbia Icefield – Witness the vastness of the Athabasca Glacier, one of the largest icefields in the Rockies, and feel the chill of its ancient ice beneath your feet.
Experience the Magic of Moraine Lake at Sunrise – Arrive early to watch the first light illuminate the Valley of the Ten Peaks, reflecting off the impossibly turquoise waters.
Escape the Crowds – Our local legends know some pretty epic spots that most people visiting Banff will never get to experience.

Join us on this exclusive small-group adventure with the top-rated Banff experts. Banff is this summer’s hottest destination and space is filling quickly, so get in while you still can!

What's Included

  • Accommodation: 4 nights in Banff at our favourite 3 or 4 star hotels. Single rooms available for a supplement
  • Local Meals: Daily breakfast, one picnic lunch, and most dinners. Included meals are as specified in the itinerary.
  • Local Legend: Your guide knows this region like no others and they are excited to share their stories with you.
  • Adventure Activities: Daily sightseeing to the most iconic places in the Canadian Rockies, gondola tickets, and exclusive access to our favourite spots.
  • Transportation: Upscale, modern, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus or high roof passenger van transportation included.
  • Small Group Experience: Tours will have a maximum group size of 13 passengers.

What's Not Included

  • Flights: Radventures cannot book flights for you. Closest airport: Calgary International (YYC)
  • Travel Insurance: We highly recommend a comprehensive, all-inclusive plan to cover you for both medical expenses and trip cancellation & interruption
  • Beverages: Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included
  • Tips: Gratuities are not required but greatly appreciated by your guide
  • Airport Transfers: See extras for options
  • Single Room: Available for a supplement

Itinerary

Welcome to Banff!

The adventure begins as you arrive in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, where towering peaks, glacial rivers, and alpine forests set the stage for an unforgettable journey. The mountain air welcomes us to Banff, a place where wilderness and luxury intertwine seamlessly.

Banff is the vibrant heart of Banff National Park—the oldest national park in Canada and third oldest in the world. With complimentary Banff Roam bus passes, you have the freedom to explore the town and surrounding wonders at your own pace.

This evening we gather with our group—fellow explorers eager for the days ahead. We toast to new friendships over a welcome dinner, indulging in locally inspired cuisine that showcases the flavours of the Rockies.

Meals: Dinner

Overnight: Banff

Sample Hotel: Hotel Canoe & Suites or similar

Banff Highlights, Wildlife, and Gondola

With our expert guide leading the way, we set out to explore the untamed beauty of the national park, where glacial lakes mirror the sky and towering peaks frame every turn. We take in the stunning vistas of Two Jack Lake and the vast expanse of Lake Minnewanka, where the mountains seem to rise straight from the water’s edge. At Surprise Corner, we pause to admire the Fairmont Banff Springs, its grand silhouette standing as a gateway to the wild.

As the morning unfolds, we shift our focus to the region’s incredible wildlife. With a keen eye and deep knowledge of the park’s ecosystems, our guide helps us seek out the elusive creatures that call Banff home—perhaps a family of elk grazing in an open meadow or a bighorn sheep perched along the cliffs. Every sighting is a reminder that we are visitors in this untamed wilderness.

By midday, we ascend Sulphur Mountain aboard the Banff Gondola, watching as the valley floor falls away beneath us, revealing a vast panorama of rugged peaks. From the summit, you have the freedom to explore at your own pace—strolling along the boardwalk, soaking in the sweeping views, or lingering over a leisurely lunch with the mountains stretching endlessly before us.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy. You may choose to extend your time at the summit, breathing in the crisp alpine air, or descend back into town for a visit to the soothing mineral waters of the Banff Upper Hot Springs. If you are feeling energetic, why not hike to the top of Tunnel Mountain for an easy yet rewarding view of the Bow Valley.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Banff

Icefields Parkway Explorer

Are you ready for one of the most breathtaking drives on Earth—the legendary Icefields Parkway? With our expert guide leading the way, we venture deep into the heart of the Rockies, where every bend in the road reveals a scene more stunning than the last. Towering cliffs give way to cascading waterfalls, turquoise lakes shimmer beneath towering summits, and the raw beauty of the landscape leaves us in awe.

Our journey takes us to the famous Crowfoot Glacier, where we pause to take in the striking contrast of ice and rock, and to Bow Lake, where the glacial-fed waters reflect the surrounding peaks like a perfect mirror. At Peyto Lake, we stand high above the valley, gazing down at its impossibly vivid blue waters, an unforgettable sight shaped by millennia of ice and stone.

Further along the parkway, we reach the Weeping Wall, where countless streams of water trickle down sheer rock faces, and the Columbia Icefield, a vast frozen expanse that feeds some of North America’s most powerful rivers. Here, we take time to soak in the immensity of the landscape, where the Athabasca Glacier stretches like a frozen highway into the unknown.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: Banff

Sunrise over Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

Saving the best for last? Maybe! This morning we will journey into two of Banff’s most iconic and breathtaking destinations—Moraine Lake and Lake Louise—where towering peaks, glacial waters, and untouched wilderness create a scene of pure magic. Before the sun rises, we set off for Moraine Lake, a place so awe-inspiring it once adorned Canada’s twenty-dollar bill. Surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Valley of the Ten Peaks, its turquoise waters shimmer in the morning light.

Next, we arrive at the legendary Lake Louise, where the emerald waters reflect the towering Victoria Glacier in a scene that feels almost surreal. Here, we have the freedom to explore as we wish.

The afternoon is yours to explore more of Banff’s incredible wonders. If you have the energy, we recommend staying on at Lake Louise to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House (1-2hrs one way; Total distance: 7 km/4.5 miles).

This evening we will enjoy a final meal together and reminisce about all the incredible adventures we had, and maybe plan the next one!

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Banff

Farewell, Banff

We bid farewell to new friends and this beautiful park. See you next time!

Meals: Breakfast

bear cubs as seen on banff wildlife tour
canadian bus on icefields parkway

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

The vibrant heart of the Canadian Rockies blends breathtaking wilderness with cozy mountain town charm. Explore alpine lakes, soak in hot springs, and ride the iconic Banff Gondola to panoramic peaks. It’s our home base and we love sharing the best of Banff and nearby Lake Louise with our guests year round.

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

Stretching between Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway is more than just a road—it’s a journey through some of the most dramatic and untouched landscapes on Earth. Glaciers, towering cliffs, emerald lakes, and sweeping valleys unfold with every twist and turn. Stops at Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, and the vivid blue Peyto Lake reveal the power of nature’s artistry, while the Columbia Icefield showcases the raw, frozen force that shapes the Rockies.

MORAINE LAKE & LAKE LOUISE

At sunrise, Moraine Lake’s glassy surface glows beneath the jagged spires of the Valley of the Ten Peaks—a scene so majestic it once graced Canada’s twenty-dollar bill. Nearby, the legendary Lake Louise stuns with its emerald waters and the Victoria Glacier rising like a crown above. Whether you’re paddling a canoe, hiking to a hidden tea house, or simply taking in the view, these lakes offer a moment of pure alpine magic.

Additional Information

SMALL GROUP GUARANTEE​
We have a small guest to guide ratio to ensure the best experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater maneuverability, flexibility and ease of access to the best spots that each destination offers.

WHY TRAVEL WITH RADVENTURES?​
We’re the only adventure travel company that tailor makes each reservation from the ground up, meaning that you’re getting the best value and only paying for the things you want on your trip (meaning no expensive pre-booked 3-course dinners at the hotel restaurant). Add to this the fact that we are a team of passionate explorers with years of real life experience in Canada and it seems like a no-brainer to us.​

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The deposit for this tour is $500 CAD (or equivalent) per person. Your deposit is refundable for 24 hours after booking. After that, there is a $100 per person transfer fee that applies to changes you want to make to your tour (ie. to change the tour date or to choose a different tour). Transfers are possible until the final payment deadline, unless otherwise specified. Of course, if Radventures cannot confirm your tour by the final payment deadline, your deposit can be refunded or transferred to another tour free of charge.

Yes! We would definitely recommend an “All Inclusive” policy that covers you for both medical expenses as well as any trip cancellation or interruptions. You can purchase this from our booking platform, “WeTravel”, or contact us for more information.

At Radventures we pride ourselves on our flexibility. If you wan’t to enjoy more of this beautiful country before and after your time with us, we’d be more than happy to make any arrangements for you. As for being partly involved in a tour, whilst we can’t make any guarantees about whats possible or not, it’s best that you get in touch with us when you’re considering booking a tour or trip with us and let us know how you want things to work so we can see if we can make it work.

This is a tricky one. We don’t know when other people will book, so it’s hard to know if and when the tour will fill up. Our advice is to book as soon as you’ve made the decision to travel, that way you won’t be disappointed. Most of our service providers have a cutoff date of 2-3 months before departure that we need to advise them to release any excess space, and while we may be able to get these services back after the cutoff date it’s definitely safer to book early while we can still guarantee enough space for you.

You’re in great company! We have two options for solo travellers on our tours – you can join our share program to be matched with another rad solo traveller (of the same sex), or you can purchase the single supplement to have your own private room.

The Ultimate Canadian Rockies Experience

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