Canadian Family Adventure: Glaciers and Dinosaurs

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options: Banff Gondola – enjoy impressive views over Banff National Park with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Lake Minnewanka Cruise – admire views of the Rockies as you cruise across this turquoise-hued lake. River Explorer Canoe Tour – pick up a paddle for a gentle exploration on the Bow River. Bow River Horseback Adventure – take in the surrounding landscape on a guided horse-riding adventure (minimum age 8 years).

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:

Banff Gondola – enjoy impressive views over Banff National Park with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Lake Minnewanka Cruise – admire views of the Rockies as you cruise across this turquoise-hued lake.

River Explorer Canoe Tour – pick up a paddle for a gentle exploration on the Bow River.

Bow River Horseback Adventure – take in the surrounding landscape on a guided horse-riding adventure (minimum age 8 years).

In pictures

On your journey to Lake Louise, take the scenic Bow Valley Parkway route, a quieter alternative to the Trans-Canada highway which runs parallel. Stop by Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footpath to the lower or upper waterfalls.

Today you follow the spectacular Icefields Parkway through to Jasper. Get up close to the magnificent Athabasca Glacier by taking the Ice Explorer ride and walking out onto the ancient ice. You will also be able to appreciate the view from above on the Glacier Skywalk, a glass platform almost 1000 feet in the air (both included). (Hotel in Jasper to be advised).

Enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options: Maligne Lake Cruise – enjoy a scenic boat trip on one of Canada’s most spectacular lakes, home to the much-photographed Spirit Island. Jasper River Raft Float – take a gentle raft trip on the Athabasca River for a unique perspective of Jasper National Park. Jasper Nature Walk – this guided walk offers spectacular views of jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams, and stunning glacial lakes.

Enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:

Maligne Lake Cruise – enjoy a scenic boat trip on one of Canada’s most spectacular lakes, home to the much-photographed Spirit Island.

Jasper River Raft Float – take a gentle raft trip on the Athabasca River for a unique perspective of Jasper National Park.

Jasper Nature Walk – this guided walk offers spectacular views of jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams, and stunning glacial lakes.

In pictures

Travel through the beautiful alpine landscapes of Jasper National Park and arrive in the city of Edmonton where you can spend the remainder of your day exploring the walking trails and parks of the downtown River Valley.

Spend the day in and around Edmonton. You may wish to head out to Elk Island National Park in search of the wild bison and elk that roam there. Or perhaps visit West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping centre in North America which boasts an expansive water park, amusement park, indoor skating rink, mini golf, and over 800 shops!

Spend the day in and around Edmonton. You may wish to head out to Elk Island National Park in search of the wild bison and elk that roam there. Or perhaps visit West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping centre in North America which boasts an expansive water park, amusement park, indoor skating rink, mini golf, and over 800 shops!

In pictures

Depart Edmonton and head south towards the fascinating landscapes of Drumheller. Shaped by mesas, gullies and sandstone hoodoos, this other-worldy backdrop draws palaeontologists from around the world in search of dinosaur fossils. Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (included) to walk amongst an impressive array of fossils and learn everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs.

From Drumheller, venture further into the rugged Canadian Badlands and make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Interpretive displays allow you to see what an archaeological dig site really looks like, and you can also view the bones of a ‘duck-billed’ dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried it, as well as the full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the ‘helmet headed lizard’. Don’t forget to allow time to look around the informative visitor centre too.

From Drumheller, venture further into the rugged Canadian Badlands and make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Interpretive displays allow you to see what an archaeological dig site really looks like, and you can also view the bones of a ‘duck-billed’ dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried it, as well as the full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the ‘helmet headed lizard’. Don’t forget to allow time to look around the informative visitor centre too.

In pictures

Your family adventure ends with the short drive back to Calgary.