11-Day Autumn in the Canadian Rockies: September 21-October 1, 2025 - $6,150/person
11-Day Autumn in the Canadian Rockies: September 21-October 1, 2025 - $6,150/person
Tour departure: September 21-October 1, 2025
This trip is a small group tour of 20 guests max.
**This is an ‘open-jaw’ trip where you will fly into Calgary (YYC) and fly home from Vancouver (YVR). Please take care to see your start and end points when booking airfare.
One country, two provinces: Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Two major cosmopolitan cities: Calgary & Vancouver. Multiple charming alpine resort towns such as Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, which undoubtedly, you have heard of again and again. Three national parks: Banff, Jasper, and Yoho.
Mesmerizing azure blue glacial lakes, majestic waterfalls, streams, and rivers join the dense coniferous forests, riparian woodlands, rolling grasslands, and alpine meadows that dot the landscape. Learn the significance behind the Canadian Pacific Railway, discover Canadian culture, and understand the history of its indigenous tribes.
One of the highlights of this trip is traveling aboard Rocky Mountaineer, an awe-inspiring rail journey that takes you to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Enjoy views of coastal deep-green forests, river canyons, and snowcapped peaks well over 11,000 feet. Inside your single-level dome coach car, you will be served two meals a day, along with snacks and complimentary alcoholic and soft beverages of your choice.
Look forward to not one, but two guided lake cruises along Lake Minnewanka and Maligne Lake. Ride a specially-built powerhouse of a vehicle that traverses the largest icefield in North America’s Rocky Mountains: Columbia Icefield. You will have the opportunity to walk it, touch it, and even drink from it — the purest, most delicious glacial water you’ll ever have. And all that’s mentioned here so far is just the tip of the iceberg …
Let this westward trip through the Canadian Rockies wow you, rejuvenate you, and leave an impression on you with memories that will last a lifetime. What are you waiting for?
Guarantee your spot by booking today with only a $250 deposit. This is per person. The first payment will be due in April 2025 with remaining balance due in July 2025.
__________________________________________________________________________________
**NOTE** An initial deposit of $250.00 per person is due at time of booking. Total Cost of Tour (land only) is $6,150 based on double occupancy per person. There will be two payment installments. Half the tour cost after deposit ($2,950) is due April 18, 2025. The other half ($2,950) is due July 11, 2025.
Payment can be made via check, credit card, Venmo, or Zelle. Please note, there is a 2.9% + 30-cent processing card for all credit card and Apple payments.
Single supplement: add $1,000.00 to the tour cost of double occupancy rate.
*Airfare is sold separately. Some guests may prefer to book independently, or airfare can be booked through The Day We Travel. There is a a 10% service charge on top of the total cost of airfare. If interested, please note this in your online tour registration.
Tour Dates: SEPTEMBER 21-OCTOBER 1, 2025
DEPOSIT POLICY: A $250.00 per person deposit is required to secure a reservation for your tour, which is not considered firm until the deposit is received. The deposit, however, is fully refundable if you cancel within 72 hours of booking the tour. All cancellations will only be accepted in writing. Email your cancellation to dewi@thedaywetravel.com. After 72 hours, the deposit becomes non-refundable and standard cancellation fees apply. See cancellation fee schedule below.
*Note* - If the booking is made 60 days or less prior to departure, full payment is due at the time of booking.
CANCELLATION FEE SCHEDULE
• 91+ Days Prior to Tour Departure: All monies refunded minus initial $250.00 deposit
• 90-61 Days Prior: 75% of tour cost refunded
• 60-46 Days Prior: 60% of tour cost refunded
• 45-31 Days Prior: 35% of tour cost refunded
• 30-8 Days Prior: 15% of tour cost refunded
• 7 Days Prior or less: 0% of tour cost refunded
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 - SUN, 9/21 — Arrive Calgary-Welcome Dinner
Today board your flight to Calgary, Canada (YYC) to begin your adventure through the Canadian Rockies. Upon arrival, meet your Tour Director and transfer to your hotel for your stay in Downtown. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with your travel companions.
Meal: (D) Overnight: The Westley Calgary Downtown Tapestry Collection by Hilton or similar
DAY 2 - MON, 9/22 — Explore Calgary-Calgary Tower-Arrive Canmore
Today, get to know Calgary, Alberta’s largest city and gateway to the Canadian Rockies. After breakfast, ascend the 626-foot-tall Calgary Tower for magnificent 360-degree views of the bustling city, snow-capped Rockies, and prairies. Then visit Glenbow Museum, a building dedicated to the art, history, and culture of Western Canada, including the indigenous peoples of North America, particularly the Plains Indians. Have a scatter lunch, followed by an optional visit to the Devonian Gardens, an indoor urban oasis that offers one hectare of botanical gardens including 500+ trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 sq. ft. living wall, fountains, and fish ponds. This afternoon, transfer to north towards Banff for a 3-night stay at a contemporary, boutique lodge just outside town. The balance of the day is yours to shop, eat, and relax.
Meal: (B) Overnight: Pocaterra Inn, Canmore or similar
DAY 3 - TUES, 9/23 — Banff Gondola-Banff National Park-Sky Bistro Lunch-Rest of the day at leisure
Start your morning with a leisurely stroll through Cascade of Time Garden, a stunning year-round outdoor attraction that was built on the grounds of a hotel that burned down in 1930. There are ponds, a waterfall, and various paths that lead to postcard-worthy views. Then, sit back and relax in a glass enclosed gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, an iconic mountain in Canada’s first national park, Banff National Park. Marvel at the spectacular view of Banff, the Bow Valley and a 360 degree vista of six Rocky Mountain ranges from more than 7,400 ft. above sea level. Delight in mountain-top dining on a “farm-to-summit” lunch at Sky Bistro, where the menu celebrates Canadian cuisine, with ingredients drawn from both ocean coasts, plus wholesome prairie staples, including world-renowned Alberta beef. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own to explore Banff’s charming downtown.
Meal: (B, L) Overnight: Pocaterra Inn, Canmore or similar
DAY 4 - WED, 9/24 — Cave and Basin National Historic Site-Lake Minnewanka Cruise
This morning, visit Cave and Basin National Historic Site, one component of nine sulphurous hot springs on the northeast flank of Sulphur Mountain and the birthplace of Banff National Park and the entire Canadian National Park system. Through a private guided natural history tour, you will learn how this natural landscape was shaped by thermal waters, biology, and people. Enjoy panoramic views of the peaks from the upper decks or take a walk on an interpretive boardwalk trail, which explains the history, plants, and animals in the area. This afternoon, enjoy a narrated cruise on Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park’s largest glacial lake, and one of the most picturesque in the Canadian Rockies. Inhabited by the Stoney Nakoda First Nation for around 10,000 years, the lake was named “Mini-waki,” which translates to “Lake of the Spirits,” because it was said ghostly voices were heard when one was near the water. It’s a respected and feared place in the Nakoda culture. This lake is great for spotting wildlife as well. .
Meal: (B) Overnight: Pocaterra Inn, Canmore or similar
DAY 5 - THURS, 9/25 — Yoho National Park: Emerald Lake-Natural Bridge-Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Today is all about glacial lakes. We kick off the day with a visit to Emerald Lake, a freshwater lake in Yoho National Park, the smallest of the region's four contiguous national parks established in 1886. Enjoy a walk on the lakeside trail, rent a canoe, or simply choose a resting spot to take in the glorious scenery. Along the way, stop at Natural Bridge, an impressive natural rock formation that spans the flow of the Kicking Horse River west of Field, Canada where the slower-moving waters from the Field valley flats begin their descent through a canyon to be joined by the Amiskwi River. Later this afternoon, spend a few hours visiting the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which dates back to 1890, made possible by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Have lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants, tour the grounds, go on a leisurely lakeshore stroll, rent a canoe, take in the brilliance of the lake and the magnificent mountains around you, or shop to your heart’s content. Transfer to the quaint hamlet of Lake Louise for the balance of the day at leisure.
Meal (B) Overnight: Mountaineer Lodge - Lake Louise or similar
DAY 6 - FRI, 9/26 — Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure-Glass Skywalk-Athabasca Falls-Arrive Jasper
Bid Lake Louise farewell and head up north along the Trans Canada Highway to have an adventure of a lifetime. Travel aboard a massive Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle built to handle glacial terrain. Visit the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Valley and learn about the fascinating history of this ever-evolving, ancient area. The Icefields Parkway has been recognized as one of the most scenic drives in the world, with over 100 visible glaciers, turquoise lakes, rushing waterfalls, and numerous hiking trails. While at Athabasca Glacier, a 10,000-year-old sheet of ice, you can walk, touch, and drink pure snowmelt from the glacier. In fact, bring a water bottle to fill up! From here, venture along a cliff-edge Skywalk leading you to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918 ft. drop. Enjoy breath-taking views of the Rockies perched above you and the spectacular Sunwapta Valley below. Stop to view Athabasca Falls, a Class 5 waterfall known for its powerful force in the Canadian Rockies. Transfer to the charming alpine town of Jasper for a two-night stay.
Meal: (B) Overnight: Mount Robson Inn - Jasper or similar
DAY 7 - SAT, 9/27 — Jasper National Park-Maligne Lake Cruise-Pyramid Lake & Pyramid Island
Visit the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies — Jasper National Park! Established in 1930 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the land is home to the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, alpine meadows, lakes, waterfalls, valleys, and mountains. It’s also full of wildlife, including North America’s healthiest populations of grizzly bears, moose, and elk along with thousands of species of plants and insects. Sail 8 miles along Maligne Lake on The Maligne Lake Cruise, past towering peaks & glaciers to the world-renowned but peaceful Spirit Island. Relax and enjoy vibrant stories from your boat guide, including the history of Maligne Lake and its earliest explorers, along with the geology, glaciology, flora & fauna of the area. Upon arrival at Spirit Island, disembark and take a short nature trail leading to a viewing platform of Spirit Island, one of the most photographed sites in the Canadian Rockies. Have lunch on your own along the shores of the lake, followed by a leisurely walk at Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Island at the base of Pyramid Mountain. Return to Jasper to spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Meal: (B) Overnight: Mount Robson Inn - Jasper or similar
DAY 8 – SUN, 9/28 — Rocky Mountaineer’s “Journey through the Clouds” from Jasper to Kamloops, Canada’s “Tournament Capital”
Today, you will travel from Jasper to Kamloops on Rocky Mountaineer’s SilverLeaf service with all that you need and more to experience the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains in luxury: panoramic views, scrumptious meals and beverages brought right to your seat, friendly & knowledgeable hosts, and a lifetime of memories. As you journey west and south you will be surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Continental Divide and by the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Today's highlights include Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, the climb over Yellowhead Pass, and the journey along the North Thompson River as you approach Kamloops. Breakfast and lunch will be served onboard. You will arrive in Kamloops between 4:45 PM and 6:45 PM PDT. Locally known as “Loops,” it is the heart of British Columbia and Canada’s Tournament Capital, hosting more than 100 tournaments each year at world class facilities. Spend the evening exploring the town, or relaxing in your hotel. Dinner will be on your own.
Meal: (B, L) Overnight: Accommodations provided by Rocky Mountaineer TBA
DAY 9 – MON, 9/29 — Rocky Mountaineer’s “Journey through the Clouds” from Kamloops to Vancouver, Canada
Upon checking out of the hotel this morning, continue your journey west, where you will again see dramatic changes in scenery. From the desert-like environment of the Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, the views will take your breath away and you can’t help but snap a million photos. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in Fraser Canyon. Breakfast and lunch will be served onboard. You will arrive in Vancouver between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM PDT. Transfer to your Downtown Vancouver hotel for a restful evening.
Meal: ( B, L) Overnight: Best Western Plus Sands, Vancouver or similar
DAY 10 – TUES, 9/30 — Explore Vancouver-Afternoon at leisure-Farewell Dinner
Enjoy a late start today. Then, embark on a morning tour of Vancouver's historic neighborhoods with a local guide. Savor the smells of freshly steamed pork buns in Chinatown and admire the Victorian architecture and cobblestone streets of Gastown as you make your way to the city’s largest and most beloved ‘urban oasis’ known as Stanley Park. Here, enjoy scenic views of water, mountains, sky, majestic trees & fabulous gardens along the park’s famous Seawall. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own to explore, shop, or rest. Reconvene later in the evening for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow travel companions.
Meal: ( B, D) Overnight: Best Western Plus Sands, Vancouver or similar
DAY 11 - WED, 10/1 — Transfer to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)-Fly home (or post-night)
This morning after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home with tremendous memories of the majestic Canadian Rockies. Please note, transportation to the airport will be provided for flights after 11:00 AM PDT. If you choose to stay another day or so, please let your Tour Director know. Enjoy your time, and safe travels!
Meal (B)
Trip Highlights
3 National Parks: Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park
2 Lake Cruises: Minnewanka Lake & Maligne Lake to Spirit Island
Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain & included lunch at Sky Bistro
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, and Pyramid Lake
Columbia Icefield & Athabasca Glacier + glass Skywalk
Athabasca Falls
Calgary Tower
Vancouver City Tour
Rocky Mountaineer - 2 day train ride, Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops, Canada (all onboard tasty, hot meals + beverages are provided by Rocky Mountaineer)
What’s Included?
Round-trip ground transfers from/to the airport (on Day 1 and *Day 11) and transportation per itinerary
*Day 11 transfer is provided for flights booked after 9:00 AM PDT.
Hotel Accommodations - 10 nights based on double occupancy
Meals - 15 in total (10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners), including B & L onboard the 2-day *Rocky Mountaineer journey
*Complimentary beverages, including wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks + gourmet snacks are offered throughout the journey
Baggage handling to and from your hotel room throughout the tour
Each person is entitled to 1 checked piece of luggage and 1 carry-on bag
A professional Tour Director will accompany you throughout the tour to provide a wealth of information and to ensure your comfort and enjoyment are at an all-time high
Services of local guides per itinerary + Rocky Mountaineer onboard hosts
Gratuities for all group-included meals, luggage handling, and Rocky Mountaineer train attendants
All sightseeing/entrance costs per itinerary & applicable fees & taxes
All bus transfers between hotels to/from train stations when traveling aboard Rocky Mountaineer
What’s NOT Included?
Airfare - if you book independently, please arrive in Calgary (YYC) after 2:00 PM MDT. Please book your return flight from Vancouver (YVR) on Day 11 after 9:00 AM PDT hour. Airfare can be booked through The Day We Travel. There is a service fee of 10% of the cost of airfare. If you prefer to book on your own, *once you have purchased your airfare, please e-mail The Day We Travel your flight information (airline, flight #, & departure time).
**Should you desire to fly in the day before and/or depart the day after the tour concludes, please let The Day We Travel know this.
Meals and/or alcoholic beverages not listed on the itinerary
Personal expenses (shopping, alcoholic beverages, etc.)
Gratuities for local guides, your driver, and tour director — these individuals do not share gratuities. Our suggestion is to calculate their gratuities based on the suggested industry standard & put aside these funds in advance. Then you don’t even have to think about it later, or feel like you don’t have enough $ later!
Housekeeping at hotels (at your discretion)
Travel Insurance - Missing a vacation is bad enough. Losing the money you paid for your vacation is even worse. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you purchase Travel Protection that helps provide coverage for Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Baggage Loss or Delay, Medical Expenses and more