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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 5

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Premiere Inns
  • From $2,998
    To $3,198 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$860 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Banff, Alberta

Special Interest

Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Spa, Water Activities

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Canadian Rockies Vacations

Canadian Rockies Biking

Beneath the Peaks in Banff & Jasper National Parks

Are you up for a remarkable vacation? One that takes you along soaring mountain passes in the shadow of the Continental Divide? Then join Backroads to follow the spectacular Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper National Park. Embark on an awe-inspiring journey over what National Geographic Traveler refers to as “a highway strung from the stars.” Follow our legendary route past dramatic glaciers, thundering waterfalls and turquoise lakes. Each day keep your eyes peeled for Rockies wildlife - mountain goats, bears and elk, to name just a few - as you journey from one welcoming mountain lodge to the next.

You are viewing the Classic Premiere Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Casual Inns , Classic Deluxe Camping Itineraries.

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Day 1 banff

Meet in Banff Pedal to Lake Minnewanka, rimmed by stunning snowcapped peaks and enjoy a bountiful picnic lunch.

Day 2 lake louise

Ride through the Bow River Valley, over rolling hills, past soaring peaks and along the striking blue-green Bow River Take in views of the emerald-colored Lake Louise, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most photographed sights in the Canadian Rockies  Soak up the scenery and perhaps a spa treatment at our beautifully situated hotel.

Day 3 bow lake

Shadowing the Continental Divide, bike on the Icefields Parkway, considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world Along the way, watch for black bears, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep Tumbling glaciers from jagged peaks flank a long gradual ascent to jewel-blue Bow Lake.

Day 4 Columbia Icefield

On your way to Sunwapta Pass, revel in the scenery of vast icefields and glaciated mountain peaks Learn about the massive Columbia Icefield, one of North America’s primary fresh water sources, and the Athabasca Glacier on an up-close tour.

Days 5-6 jasper

Ride alongside the Athabasca River in the Sunwapta Valley Check out the area’s wildlife on a relaxing optional float trip down the river or pedal to Maligne Canyon Shuttle back to Banff.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

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Trip praise

This was my 8th active vacation and it was the best of them all! Great cycling and scenery. And outstanding trip leaders were both very professional, service oriented, and generated lots of fun.
Steven Hill - Tacoma, WA

read more trip praise

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Canadian Rockies tour experts. For biking tours in Canada, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Canada biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Canada walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Canada multisport tours click here.

Canadian Rockies Biking

ALPINE LODGES : Premiere Inns*

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Banff (1 night): Cozy touches such as down comforters and in-room fireplaces make this lodge deserving of its high praise. The restaurant features inventive cuisine and a wine list lauded by Wine Spectator. 

Fairmont Château Lake Louise

Lake Louise (1 night): Appearing on Travel+Leisure's World's Best List, this elegant hotel sits in a breathtaking setting on the shore of Lake Louise and offers luxurious rooms, the Escape Spa and Salon, a world-famous golf course and fine dining.

Num-ti-Jah Lodge

Bow Lake (1 night): Brimming with character, this rustic and simple mountain retreat offers an atmosphere of secluded tranquility on the shore of beautiful Bow Lake.

* With 1 Casual Inn night

Columbia Icefields Chalet

Columbia Icefield (1 night): A modest lodge selected for its setting overlooking the famed Columbia Icefield.

* With 1 Casual Inn night

Jasper Park Lodge

Jasper (1 night): A Condé Nast Traveler Gold List hotel on the shore of Lake Beauvert offering abundant amenities, from a spa to tennis, golf and boating.

Canadian Rockies Biking Canadian Rockies Biking

Jasper Park Lodge

You are viewing the Classic Premiere Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Casual Inns , Classic Deluxe Camping Itineraries.

Canadian Rockies Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 20, 26 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 2.2 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 38, 40 miles
  • 1500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 4  4 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 5.7 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 35, 41, 51 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 5 3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 3.4 miles
  • 500- 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 46, 57 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Level 5 3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 56, 67, 70 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Optional Rafting
  • Biking 11 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Canadian Rockies Biking Canadian Rockies Biking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles