Ramble the Rockies in Summer Canada
Get set for soul-stirring scenery as you canoe, hike and swim your way across an epic Rockies wilderness
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Trip Highlights
Oars away
Paddle through the serene Canadian outback on a bucket-list canoe safari
Mountain canyon
Rappel down rock faces and scramble steep gorges with a heart-racing day of canyoning
Wild hot spot
Wild swim in glacial lakes and kick back in an alpine hot spring, while eagles soar overhead
Glacier hike
Drive the iconic Icefield Parkway and trek the Athabasca Glacier in Columbia Icefield
Epic views
See Lake Louise and Lake Moraine and marvel at Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park
What's included
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9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners and a craft brew tasting
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9 nights’ accommodation in twin room hotels
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All activities, from kayaking to canyoning, included. Local Flash Pack guide and driver
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Max 14 Flashpackers
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Private airport transfers anytime on Day 1, group drop-off on Day 10 at 12pm, country travel in private air-conditioned minibus
About the trip
Towering, snow-frosted mountain peaks, thundering rivers and an impressive roll call of wildlife: you can only be in one place – the Canadian Rockies.
Our 10-day adventure through Western Canada is no genteel tour. From a quintessentially Canadian canoe trip, to plunging into glacial lakes and high-altitude mountain biking, this is an action-packed trip for those with a moderate level of fitness and a heap of can-do energy.
We’ll take you to wild hot springs, we’ll whizz you along one of the world’s most beautiful roads, the 232-kilometre Icefields Parkway, and park up long before the tourists to hike across the Columbia Icefield to the Athabasca Glacier. Feel your adrenaline rise as canyon down gushing rivers and then relax the Canadian way: in a hot tub, sipping a locally-brewed craft beer or glass of ice wine, and gazing up at the stirring skyline.
Ready for one hell of a ride? Step this way…
Where you will stay
Pyramid Lake Resort, Jasper
Rustic alpine retreat on the shores of Pyramid Lake
This chalet-style hotel sits right by Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, amid a canvas of pine trees and rolling mountain ridges.
Why we stay here
You can hire canoes and paddle-boats to meander around the lake with, or even a seven-people electric cruiser (if you’re feeling a bit lazy). Don’t miss the outdoor hot tub, where you can gaze onto a horizon of snow-capped peaks.
Banff Aspen Lodge, Banff
Chalet hotel in the center of Banff
Two outdoor hot tubs and an outdoor fire pit take center stage at this contemporary lodge hotel lying in the shadow of mountain giants.
Why we stay here
All rooms come with balconies or patios for a prime view onto the rousing backdrop of Banff. Guests rave about the hotel’s homemade granola and fairtrade coffee from the Whitebark Cafe is not to be sniffed at, either.
Red Tree Lodge, Fernie
Classic Canadian lodge in the center of Fernie
A cozy retreat in the heart of postcard-perfect Fernie with views of the Rocky Mountains.
Why we stay here
Surrounded by peaks and greenery, this laid-back lodge makes the most of its bucolic setting by giving guests free use of bikes. Cycle to the nearby Happy Cow ice-cream parlor before returning for a wallow in the indoor pool and sauna. There’s an old-school movie theater, too.
The Flash Pack Promise
Here at Flash Pack, we’re committed to unique adventures that deliver great value for money. We pack our trips with epic experiences (unlike other companies, all activities are included), hand-pick stylish hotels and match you with like-minded people.
Itinerary
Day 1
Meet your Flashpackers, Calgary style
Welcome to Calgary, Canada’s hard-working, hard-partying oil capital. Arrive before 6pm on Day 1 and we’ll meet you at the airport, usher you into your private vehicle and take you to your hotel, where you can freshen up and get ready for the evening ahead with your new Flash Pack friends. There will be an informal introduction and welcome drink at your hotel before moving on to dinner. For your first night in Canada we picked one of the best spots in town – the quintessentially Canadian Craft Beer Market, home to Canada’s largest selection of draft beer, and a long list of dishes from tacos, sliders and burgers. This is the kind of place you could spend hours in – but don’t get too carried away because we have a jam-packed day planned tomorrow…
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Day 2
Blackfoot legend and craft beer
After breakfast we’re off to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an essential part of indigenous culture – its ‘buffalo jump’ was the cliff top where the local Blackfoot tribe encouraged buffalo to run to their death, before using the carcasses for food, clothing and tools. Learn about the history of the Blackfoot people with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. A quick lunch and then its on the road for two hours of Insta-worthy Rockies scenery, before arriving in Fernie, a classic alpine resort, backed by snow-tipped jagged peaks. A quick bag drop at your new hotel and it’s time for a livener at award-winning Fernie Brewing Co. Try out samples of the brewery’s best beers, before free time to explore Fernie’s quaint streets. Grab some dinner and – in true Canadian style – have a soak in the hot tub back at your hotel.
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Day 3
Canoe the mountain rivers
This is a day to channel your inner adventurer as we embrace the great Canadian tradition of canoeing. Headed up by a local canoe guide, you and your fellow Flashpackers will head off on a morning of paddling along serene rivers, with only the views and wildlife for company. Your final route will depend on the weather conditions and your group’s fitness but we’ll make sure we paddle away from the tourist routes and make for the quieter waterways, combining picturesque mountain panoramas, endless photo opportunities and an abundance of fauna. Speaking of which, keep your eyes peeled for turtles, crawfish and several species of water fowl. After lunch, you can spend your afternoon pottering about Fernie’s town center. Alternatively, you could swim in a glacial lake, head off for an alpine hike or feel your adrenaline spike on the local mountain bike trails.
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Day 4
Bathe in Lussier’s hot springs
Today we’re taking it easy with a trip to Lussier Hot Springs. Two hours’ drive north of Fernie, surrounded by the Kootenay Rockies, this collection of steamy pools by the river in Whiteswan Provincial Park make the perfect spot for R&R. The pools range in temperature (the average is 104°F), and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot kingfishers, herons and golden eagles overhead. Back on the road, with a few stops for lunch and scenic walks, we’ll push on to Golden Mountain. This beautiful mountain town is nestled in the Columbia River Valley, surrounded by six national parks. If you’re keen on a night out, it’s only a short taxi ride down into Golden’s bustling town center but take our advice and keep it low-key because you’ll need your energy tomorrow…
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Day 5
Waterfall hiking in Yoho National Park
We’ll be up with the larks and heading into Yoho National Park. The tailor-made walking route will be decided depending on the day but the highlights remain the same every trip: waterfalls, glacial lakes, forest trails, river valleys and glorious mountains. If the weather is in our favor, we’ll hike to Takakkaw Falls, a mighty 302-meter-high torrent of water, which throws up a wall of spray and in the right conditions, a magical rainbow. After a picnic lunch, we’ll head to Natural Bridge, where the Red River’s current has carved a natural bridge into the rocks above, allowing you to cross the river and take an adrenaline-pumping selfie. More sedate but equally spectacular is Emerald Lake, the largest lake in Yoho and the last stop on our hike. Back at Golden, you could grab some dinner and relax in your hotel hot tub, or enjoy a night of post-hike celebrations in Golden.
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Day 6
Glacial lakes and the Icefields Parkway
Just when you think Canada can’t get any more beautiful, we turn it up a notch on the next leg of our trip. Departing Golden, we’ll take one last look at Yoho National Park as we drive through it en-route to the border into one of Canada’s national treasures, Banff National Park. First stop is Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. From here it’s a drive along the famous Icefields Parkway – a 232 kilometer-stretch of road dotted with breathtaking viewpoints, waterfalls and glacier look-out points. We’ll stop off for a peek at Crowfoot Glacier, and then head to Peyto Lake (a Flash Pack favorite), a body of water so rich in color that your friends will wonder if you Photoshopped your Instagram shots. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch before heading to powerful Athabasca Falls. From there it’s just a short drive to Jasper, your home for the next two nights.
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Day 7
Canyon through the Rockies
Today you and your Flash Pack team will be up early to go canyoning. This high-octane experience will allow you to explore walled gorges, mountain valleys and waterfalls using pre-fixed safety ropes. Your route will depend on weather conditions, with several canyons to choose from – there’s even a ‘dry’ option (but no less thrilling, that we promise). Kitted out in a wetsuit, you will be dropped off for your adventure, which begins with a hike to the start of the river. Working as a team, you will negotiate the twists, turns and drops of the river path, using a mix of swimming, jumping, climbing and rappeling. Make sure you bring a heap of determination, team work and a positive attitude. We’ll arrange a light lunch sourced from a local deli, which we’ll take with us to keep our energy levels up during this rollercoaster ride.
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Day 8
Hike the Athabasca Glacier
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll be heading back along the Icefields Parkway for one last photo opportunity and make a B-line for the Columbia Icefield to experience the Athabasca Glacier. While the less adventurous travel companies are chugging up to the top of the glacier in their cozy coach, we’ll be parking at the bottom and doing a three-hour guided hike onto the glacier itself, learning about the snowfields along the way. You’ll be climbing up to 2,000 meters above sea level, so even in the summer you can expect it to get cold. Really cold. Bring warm weather gear and we’ll sort you out with the rest (including ropes, crampons and poles). Back on warmer ground, we’ll stop for picnic and then it’s a two-and-a-half hour drive to idyllic Banff, where you’ll be staying for two nights, in a town full of boutique shops and excellent restaurants.
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Day 9
Discover the adventure delights of Banff
After your impressive efforts on Athabasca Glacier (we predict some achy legs) we’re giving you a day of rest to chill out in Banff as you please. Or you could save resting for the journey home and instead allow your Flash Pack guide to suggest some excursions. Banff’s list of activities is long and impressive: hiking, canoeing, white water rafting, mountain biking and our favorite, caving through the narrow tunnels and drops (one of which is called The Laundry Shoot) at Rat’s Nest Cave. Whatever you choose, the whole team will meet in the evening for a farewell dinner at a fancy local steakhouse. If bison steak and beef tenderloin isn’t your thing, there will also be vegetarian and vegan options. And if you have energy leftover, you could bid farewell to your Flashpackers with a night in one of Banff’s rowdy bars or clubs.
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Day 10
The trip of a lifetime draws to a close
It’s an hour-and-a-half drive back to Calgary – just enough time to go over the highlights of your trip with your new Flash Pack friends. From canoeing through the Rockies and taking in the turquoise waters of Lake Louise, to ice walking on the Athabasca Glacier and filling your Insta feed with shots from the Icefields Parkway, you’ve come a long way with your new pals – and hopefully you will already be planning your next trip. Speaking of which, we’ll drive you to the airport by 12pm, or we can drop you in downtown Calgary. There’s also the option to stay on in Banff if you like – just let us know and we can help you organize the best way to make the most of the mountain lifestyle during your stay. Wherever your next stop, fly high from your spell in the alpine wilderness, having got under the skin of spectacular Western Canada.
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On the map
Important notes
- Fly into and out of Calgary International Airport.
- Try to arrive before 6pm in Calgary on Day 1 if you can, but we will pick you up anytime. On Day 10, please book a flight that leaves after 2:30pm.
- Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. These changes can happen with little notice due to availability, poor weather, seasonal changes, or other circumstances beyond our control. From time to time we may also make changes to your itinerary to try out new ideas and keep things fresh.
- We take safety very seriously on Flash Pack adventures, click here to learn more.
