Natural & Historic Treasures in Banff & Jasper National Parks

Breathtaking. It's an interesting word, really. Looking up at the ice-draped Rockies is "breath taking." But stepping out on the glacier, feeling it crunch under your feet. Being humbled by the enormity of it is a different kind of breath taking. It's the difference between "taking it in" and "diving in." Rafting on a glacier-fed river. Hiking a slot canyon. Biking among crystalline lakes. Moose. Bighorn sheep. The more you get into the Canadian Rockies, the more you'll get out of it. Some vacations are about catching your breath. This one's about losing it.

Days 1-2 Pedal past virgin forest and vibrant wildflowers as you follow the winding Bow River  A scenic hiking trail leads from Johnston Canyon to a picturesque waterfall Walk through subalpine forest lined with larch trees Marvel at the blue-green hues of Moraine Lake, beneath the striking Wenkchemna Peaks Take advantage of a late-afternoon photo op at Lake Louise, a world-renowned beauty and World Heritage site ringed by towering glaciated peaks.

Day 3 Bike the stunning Icefields Parkway alongside the Continental Divide with sweeping vistas of mountains, glaciers, lakes and evergreens Got keen eyes? Use them to spot wildlife, including moose, bighorn sheep and black bears Wander along the shores of Bow Lake for a closer view of Bow Glacier Falls.

Day 4 Explore Athabasca Glacier with expert mountain guides at your side  This glacier is just one part of the enormous Columbia Icefield!  Continue along the Icefields Parkway and watch the landscape change as you pass the Endless Chain Range Check out the impressive Athabasca Falls, where the most powerful river in the park plunges over a cliff of eroded limestone  Back on your bike, continue down the Athabasca Valley, tracing the path of the river.  

Days 5-6 Abundant wildlife, from black bears and elk to pikas and mule deer  Teal-hued Maligne Lake wows you before a gradual, downhill-to-rolling spin  Hike through spectacular Maligne Canyon, a limestone slot canyon up to 250 feet deep yet at points only 3 feet wide Ready to take the plunge? Float gentle Class II rapids on the Athabasca River, following a route used by early fur traders and explorers Traveling by boat offers a new perspective on the landscape - as well as more chances to see wildlife Amble through pristine mountain wilderness in the Valley of Five Lakes, winding past its blue-green namesakes.