Holiday Overview
In prehistoric times, much of North America was a lush subtropical habitat embracing a vast inland sea. This is where the dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago. Fast forward to present-day central and southern Alberta where their bones now rest in ancient riverbeds, framed by the maroon-striped canyons of the mysterious Canadian Badlands. Find yourself a little bit out there. Wander through the cottonwoods along the banks of meandering rivers.
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.
Jurassic Adventure in Southern Alberta Fly Drive includes:
- Return UK flights
- Accommodation for 9 nights
- Intermediate Car Hire
- Admission to Calgary Tower
- Banff Gondola
- Admission to Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Admission to Royal Tyrrell Museum
- Admission to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre
Day 1 - Fly UK to Calgary
Arrive in Calgary, a place 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 oldfashioned candy store and much more. In the evening, embrace Calgary’s vibrant entertainment and culinary scene.
Featured accommodation
Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
Day 2 - Calgary to Banff (155km/72mi)
Take the short (2-hour) drive from Calgary to Banff on either the Trans- Canada Highway or the more scenic 1A Highway. Once in Banff proceed to your selected hotel to check in and the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own leisure.
Featured accommodation
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Day 3 - Banff Exploring
A full day to explore Banff and the surrounding area. In town you’ll find lots of excitement including shopping, cafés, nightlife and museums. Check out the Cave and Basin National Historic Site (not included), Banff Gondola (included) where you will see a panoramic view of the Bow Valley, and then take a dip in the restorative hot mineral pools at the Upper Hot Springs (included).
Featured accommodation
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Day 4 - Banff to Drumheller (251km/156mi)
Depart Banff, 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 5 - Drumheller to Dinosaur Provincial Park to Cypress Hills Provincial Park (336km/208 mi)
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. Two interpretive displays allow you to see what a dig site really looks like. Check out the bones of a “duck-billed” dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried them. Or, a full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the “helmet headed lizard”. Continue to Cypress Hills Provincial Park – the hidden gem of Southern Alberta.
Featured accommodation
Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort
Day 6 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park Exploring
At Cypress Hills Provincial Park, you can visit the Interpretive Program Schedule to book an interpretive hike or Dark Sky Planetarium experience to learn how to navigate the bright stars and constellations. Enjoy an array of outdoor adventures for any activity level; head over to the Interpretive Centre in Elkwater, where you can rent a bike, canoe, paddleboard, kayak, pedal boat, and GPS system for geo-caching scavenger hunts. Try dinner at the Camp Cookhouse for a rustic gourmet experience with dishes prepared by one of Canada’s Top Chef’s and made with local ingredients (activities and admissions not included).
Featured accommodation
Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort
Day 7 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to Lethbridge (297 km/185 mi)
Travel west on the Red Coat Trail toward Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to experience the largest concentration of rock art on the plains. Explore this National Historic Site with an interpreter, lounge by the bubbling Milk River and hike the hoodoo trails. Visit the Interpretive Centre for a behind the scenes guided experience with a local aboriginal guide to explore the Archaeological Preserve. Drive approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Writing-On-Stone to Lethbridge where you’ll spend the night.
Featured accommodation
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
Day 8 - 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 9 - 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 10 - Waterton Lakes National Park to Calgary (290 km/180 mi)
Travel north for 1 hour and 10 minutes to experience Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump (included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the hunting practice of the native people of the North American plains for the past 6000 years. A native guide leads you through the exhibit and out to the cliff jump, sharing the history and lifestyle of the first people. There may even be drumming in the plaza. Continue north for 2 hours to Calgary airport, drop-off your car and check-in for your flight back to the UK.
Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
The Alt Hotel calgary east Village is conveniently located in the Downtown Calgary of Calgary, within walking distance of many local tourist attractuions such as: The Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Calgary Zoo and Calgary Zoo Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park.
Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Banff
Distinct from the majority of Banff hotels, Buffalo Mountain Lodge is situated on Tunnel Mountain – formerly called “Sleeping Buffalo” by native peoples living in the region.
The Rocky Mountains have long been an area of great significance to indigenous peoples. The valleys were places of ceremony and celebration. The lakes and mineral springs offered rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit.
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
Elkwater Lake Lodge
Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort has become the premiere destination in the Cypress Hills and offers 31 suites and 6 cabins, as well as 23 beautiful condominium suites.
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.
Alternative My Canada Trips Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2022, 2023 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
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Rockies & Rainforest East Bound Fly Drive
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- Victoria
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- Parksville
- Whistler
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- Jasper
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Ultimate West Fly Drive
- 20 Nights
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Peaks & Grapes Fly Drive
- 12 Nights
- Vancouver
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- Sun Peaks Resort
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Rockies & Rainforests Fly Drive
- 15 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Clearwater
- Whistler
- Parksville
- Tofino
- Victoria
- Vancouver
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Vancouver, Bears & Whales
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Campbell River
- Knight Inlet
- Tofino
- Victoria
Canada Wildlife Holidays
Vancouver Island & the Grizzlies Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Parksville
- Desolation Sound
- Whistler
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Whistler & Pacific Coast Fly Drive
- 6 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Tofino
- Victoria
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Spirit of the West Self Drive
- 11 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Sun Peaks Resort
- Vancouver
Canada Holiday Offers
Alberta Dinosaurs, Lakes & Glaciers
- 10 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Edmonton
- Drumheller
Canada Holiday Offers
Jurassic Adventure in Southern Alberta Fly Drive
- 9 Nights
- Banff
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Elkwater
- Lethbridge
- Waterton
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Sunshine Coast Circle Tour
- 8 Nights
- Sunshine Coast
- Quadra Island
- Tofino
- Victoria
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Mountain Magic in BC Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Osoyoos
- Nelson
- Invermere
- Golden
- Revelstoke
- Sun Peaks Resort
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Wilderness Explorer Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Manning Park
- Penticton
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Emerald Lake
- Banff
- Kananaskis
- Calgary
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Prairies & Rockies Fly Drive Holiday
- 17 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Maple Creek
- Moose Jaw
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- North Battleford
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
- Banff
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Rockies Road & Rail Retreat
- 10 Nights
- Vancouver
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
- Banff
- Sun Peaks Resort
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Ranchland and Prairies Fly Drive Holiday
- 13 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Kyle
- Lloydminster
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Banff
Canada Family Holidays
Discover Whistler & the Rockies
- 12 Nights
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Sun Peaks Resort
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- Vancouver
Canada Holidays 2022
Best of British Columbia
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Whistler
- Vernon
- Field
- Invermere
- Nelson
- Osoyoos
Alberta, BC & the Rockies
Alberta's Badlands and Rocky Mountains Self Drive
- 14 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Elkwater
- Lethbridge
- Waterton
- Banff
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Alberta Highlights
- 13 Nights
- Canmore
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Banff
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- Waterton
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Ultimate Pacific Coast Experience Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Sunshine Coast
- Quadra Island
- Tofino
- Victoria
Alberta, BC & the Rockies
Wine & Dine the Okanagan Valley
- 15 Nights
- Vancouver
- Manning Park
- Osoyoos
- Penticton
- Kelowna
- Vernon
- Ashcroft
- Whistler
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Coastal Peaks to Plains Fly Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Quadra Island
- Port Hardy
- Prince Rupert
- Prince George
- Jasper
- Banff
- Calgary
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Stampede & Alberta Self Drive
- 11 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Emerald Lake
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Sunshine Coast Spectacular
- 13 Nights
- Whistler
- Vancouver
- Sunshine Coast
- Victoria
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Pacific Coast & Alaska Cruise & Fly Drive
- 20 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Campbell River
- Whistler
- Alaska Cruise
Canada Fly Drive Holidays
Yukon and Alaska Explorer
- 14 Nights
- Whitehorse
- Haine's Junction
- Haines Junction
- Beaver Creek
- Fairbanks
- Denali National Park
- Anchorage
- Tok
- Dawson City
Canada Rail Holidays
Canada by Rail, Road & Vineyards
- 15 Nights
- Toronto
- Niagara Falls
- Jasper
- Banff
- Emerald Lake
- Vernon
- Whistler
- Vancouver
Canada Holidays 2022
Lakes & Lodges - East Bound Fly Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Gold Bridge
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Moraine Lake
- Emerald Lake
- Banff