Holiday Overview
Discover the Badlands, Lakes and Rockies on this 14 nights / 15 days self-drive holiday through Alberta. Explore the Provisional Parks of Dinosaur, Cypress Hills and Writing-on-Stone, as well as visiting Royal Tyrrell Museum, the largest dinosaur museum in Canada. Travel through the Rockies staying at Banff, Jasper and iconic Lake Louise before ending your trip on a high in Alberta's hidden gems Kananaskis and Waterton Lakes National Park.
Travel to where the dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago in central and southern Alberta, today their bones now rest in ancient riverbeds, framed by the marron striped canyons of the Canadian Badlands. Wander through the cottonwoods along the banks to the meandering rivers.
Then travel onto UNESCO world heritage site, Waterton Lakes National Park where the prairies meet the peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, colourful rocks and mountain vistas await. End your holiday in the heart of the Rockies with stays in Banff, Jasper and picturesque Lake Louise. Traverse along the scenic Icefields Parkway stopping to take in the many lakes, waterfalls, wildlife and glaciers. You will even head out on an Ice Explorer adventure on to the Athabasca Glacier.
Alberta's Badlands and Rocky Mountains Self Drive includes:
- Return UK Flights
- 14 Nights Accommodation
- Car Hire
- Admission to the Iconic Calgary Tower
- Admission to the Royal Tyrrell Museum
- Head-smashed experience in Buffalo Jump
- Banff Gondola
- Maligne Lake Cruise or Maligne Lake Guided Walk
Day 1 - Fly to Calgary
Arrive in Calgary and make your own way to your downtown hotel. (transfer not included)
Calgary is buzzing with innovative energy while embracing its rich western heritage. Enjoy a visit to the iconic Calgary Tower (admission included). Another highlight worth visiting is the Heritage Park Historical Village (admission not included) on the city’s south side, a “living museum” representing turn of the-century Calgary with costumed interpreters, a steam train and scale-model sternwheeler, an old-fashioned candy store and much more. In the evening, embrace Calgary’s vibrant entertainment and culinary scene.
Featured accommodation
Hotel Arts Calgary
Enhance your experience
Fairmont Palliser
Day 2 - Calgary to Drumheller (135 km/83 mi)
Pick up your hire car this morning and heading east toward Drumheller. There is nowhere quite like the Drumheller Valley; Dinosaur Capital of Canada! Being here will take you into another world - the world of startling contrasts between the deep past and the exciting present. Rolling fields suddenly give way to steep, dry coulees ridged with the strata of hundreds of years of erosion by time, wind and water. Don’t miss the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology (included) - Canada’s largest dinosaur museum where you can journey through time and come face-to-face with incredible creatures that lived millions of years ago.
Featured accommodation
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Day 3 - Drumheller to Dinosaur Provincial Park to Cypress Hills Provincial Park
From Drumheller, travel two hours to Dinosaur Provincial Park, where you will have a chance escape the ordinary and venture into the rugged Canadian Badlands. The Explorer’s Bus Tour (not included) provides the opportunity to experience the stunning views of the park’s Natural Preserve from the comfort and safety of the tour bus. You will be getting off the bus at various stops to see the badlands and fossils up close and personal. One stop includes a full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the “helmet headed lizard”.
Featured accommodation
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Day 4 - Drumheller to Lethbridge (261km/ 165 mi)
Today's drive takes you from Drumheller to Lethbridge, onroute stop at Fort MacLeod and visit Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump one of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps known to exist. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, Head-Smashed-In has been used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than 5,500 years.
Featured accommodation
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
Day 5 - Lethbridge
A full day to explore Lethbridge.
Featured accommodation
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
Day 6 - Lethbridge to Waterton Lakes National Park (119 km/74 mi)
On your way out of Lethbridge, you may wish to stop in at Fort Whoop-Up, an old fort and outlaw trading post, allowing visitors to step into life at a frontier outpost on the Great Plains, to discover exhibits about Canada’s first Mounties, whiskey and firearms traders and Blackfoot history and culture (not included). In Waterton, stroll through the town to shop, dine at the restaurants, visit the beach or hike the trails that start from the town site. You may wish to visit the Prince of Wales Hotel – a National Historic Site – for afternoon tea and lots of opportunities to take amazing photographs.
Featured accommodation
Bayshore Inn
Day 7 - Waterton Lakes National Park Exploring
The day is yours to discover the wonders of this beautiful region. You may wish to travel to Montana’s Glacier National Park (the U.S. half of this International Peace Park) via the famous Going to the Sun Road, an astonishing feat of engineering and spectacular scenery as well. A popular activity is the 16-km drive from the Waterton town site to Red Rock Canyon - a colourful canyon of red, green and white banded rock cliffs, green alpine forests and bubbling white waterfalls.
Featured accommodation
Bayshore Inn
Day 8 - Waterton Lakes National Park to Banff
Traverse to Banff for your stunning 3-night stay in the heart of the Rockies.
Featured accommodation
Elk+ Avenue Hotel
Enhance your experience
Hotel Canoe & Suites
The Fairmont Banff Springs
Day 9 - Explore Banff
Explore Banff National Park at your leisure today, to help you take in a birds eye view of the scenery we have included the Banff Gondola.
Featured accommodation
Elk+ Avenue Hotel
Enhance your experience
Hotel Canoe & Suites
The Fairmont Banff Springs
Unmissable Experiences
Banff Experiences
Day 10 - Discover Banff National Park
Continue to explore Banff National Park.
Featured accommodation
Elk+ Avenue Hotel
Enhance your experience
Hotel Canoe & Suites
The Fairmont Banff Springs
Unmissable Experiences
Banff Experiences
Day 11 - Banff to Jasper via Icefields Parkway
Today, travel through the spine of the Canadian Rockies along the amazing Icefields Parkway and encompass the ultimate glacier exploration. From walking on ancient ice with the Ice Explorer ride, to standing on a glass platform almost one thousand feet in the air at the Glacier Skywalk (included), today’s experiences will leave you with a special appreciation for this treasured region of the Rockies.
Featured accommodation
Chateau Jasper
Enhance your experience
Forest Park Hotel
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Glacier Skywalk
Day 12 - Explore Jasper
Explore the Maligne Valley and its wildlife. We have include a boat cruise on Maligne Lake for you today.
* Maligne Lake Cruise is operational from Mid-June to September, if the cruise is not operational Maligne Lake Guided walk will be offered.
Featured accommodation
Chateau Jasper
Enhance your experience
Forest Park Hotel
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Maligne Lake Cruise
Day 13 - Jasper National Park
Continue to explore Jasper and the national park. Why not take a Tramway ride up the mountain or add on a Wildlife tour.
Featured accommodation
Chateau Jasper
Enhance your experience
Forest Park Hotel
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Jasper Experiences
Day 14 - Jasper to Lake Louise
Traverse east to Lake Louise where you will overnight.
Featured accommodation
Lake Louise Inn
Enhance your experience
Post Hotel
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Day 15 - Fly Calgary to UK
Depart Lake Louise to Calgary for your overnight flight back to the UK.
Hotel Arts Calgary
The Hotel Arts is located in Calgary city centre with Calgary Zoo and various shops are within 1.9 miles and CORE Shopping Centre is 3 minutes’ drive away.
Fairmont Palliser, Calgary Alberta
Welcome to Canada's most dynamic city and Calgary's premier hotel. Centrally located in downtown Calgary, Fairmont Palliser is conveniently situated near the city's business and financial district and is within walking distance to the city's most exciting retail shopping, arts, culture and entertainment venues. Calgary's friendly spirit, coupled with the city's vibrant urban ambience makes for a metropolis of wonderful contrasts. Set in the heart of the city, Fairmont Palliser is a historical landmark offering distinctive accommodation in elegant surroundings.
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Whether you are here to visit the world class Royal Tyrrell Museum or to check out the sweeping beauty of the badlands, The Canalta Jurassic has all the home from home touches
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
If you’re looking to explore all that Lethbridge has to offer, there’s no better place to do it from than the Coast Lethbridge Hotel & Conference Centre.
Bayshore Inn
The Bayshore Inn Resort & Spa provides everything you need for the perfect mountain getaway right in the heart of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. As the only hotel located right on the shores of beautiful Waterton Lake, the rustic family owned and operated Bayshore Inn, provides guests with friendly service and a relaxing environment to enjoy the beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Elk+ Avenue
Just a few steps from the quaint streets and ample restaurants, shopping and nightlife of downtown Banff, Elk + Avenue Hotel brings an upscale twist to the classic mountain escape.
Hotel Canoe & Suites, Banff
Nestled on Banff Avenue, the Hotel Canoe & Suites is Banff's latest addition, conveniently located just a short stroll away from the bustling downtown area. With its contemporary design subtly blending into the surrounding mountain landscape, this modern yet nature-inspired hotel offers an ideal retreat for guests seeking a mountain escape.
The Fairmont Banff Springs
The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel in Alberta, Canada is one of the world's leading luxury hotels set in its own extensive grounds. This resort, built in 1888, is styled after a Scottish Baronial castle and is a National Historic Site. Located in Banff National Park, the Banff Springs hotel boasts stunning views, exceptional regional cuisine and impeccable service offering an unforgettable retreat.
Chateau Jasper
The Chateau Jasper is an exceptional hotel with an excellent variety of accommodations and facilities. Situated in Jasper, this eco-friendly hotel is close to Jasper Activity Centre, Jasper National Park, and Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives. Also nearby are Jasper Information Centre National Historic Site and Jasper Municipal Library. Athabasca Falls is 30 minutes' drive from the Chateau Jasper and the Miette Hot springs are 1 hour's drive away.
Forest Park Hotel
Offering cosy accommodations, eclectic dining, extensive resort style facilities, and a wide variety of exciting adventure and relaxation packages, The Forest Park Hotel is the hotel of choice when visiting the beautiful Jasper National Park. Located at the east end of the town's main street, this resort style property can accommodate all of your needs.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Located on the shores of Beauvert Lake in the magnificent Canadian Rockies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort invites you to experience the unique accommodations and Luxury Signature Cabins, sure to evoke memories of this Jasper Lodge that will last a lifetime.
Lake Louise Inn
Nestled in a picturesque wilderness setting in the heart of Banff National Park, Lake Louise Inn is the ideal resort hotel from which to enjoy world-class outdoor adventure, hearty mountain dining and unforgettable views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The village of Lake Louise is a five-minute walk from the Inn, offering a range of shops and services, including a local grocery store, bakery and deli, liquor store and post office. You will also find unique west coast Native art, pottery and Canadian handcrafted goods at the specialty gift shops.
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Below you will find a small selection of 2024, 2025 My Canada Trips holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 021 7732 and let one of our Canada Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
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