Kootenay Rockies

Viewing points

After being picked up you up from your Banff hotel in a modern minibus by your friendly guide, get ready for a day of exploring the backcountry of Banff National Park on foot. Your guide will give you an introduction to Banff National Park and today's hike as you head towards the trailhead. Choose between 4 hiking routes representing the best trails in Banff: Sundays & Thursdays - Hike to Stanley Glacier; Mondays & Saturdays - Hike to Larch Valley; Tuesdays - Hike to Consolation Lakes; Wednesdays & Fridays - Hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers. Hike to Stanley Glacier Journey through a land sculpted by fire and ice in Kootenay National Park. The trail switchbacks moderately for the first half of the hike, through regrowth from the most recent fire, allowing for unparalleled views down over Vermillion Pass back to Castle Mountain. Follow the trail between sheer towering walls of Mount Stanley and Storm Mountain until you leave the forest behind to emerge in a land of ice and rock where you may even find some fossils. Be treated to views of Stanley Glacier creeping down the side of Mt. Stanley towards the valley bottom. Rated: Moderate; Hiking time: 3-4 hours; Return distance: 8.4kms (5.25 miles); elevation gain: 395m (1,285 ft). Hike to Larch Valley Trail restrictions due to bear activity make this an ideal hike to take with a guided group. Beginning from the Valley of the Ten Peaks at Moraine Lake, the trail climbs, really climbs, up 10 switchbacks to Larch Valley on a well-maintained trail. After reaching the Valley, the trail easily ambles through a larch forest and then begins to gain elevation again towards Sentinal Pass and the Minestimma Lakes. Towards the Pass, views of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake and gigantic Mt. Temple (3,543 m/11,625 ft) will complete your experience. Please note that this hike does not continue to the top of Sentinel Pass. Rated: Moderate; hiking time: 4-5 hours; distance: 9.0kms (5.6 miles); elevation gain: 535m (1,500 ft). Hike to Consolation Lakes This trail begins in the Valley of the Ten Peaks at stunning Moraine Lake. The drive alone to this location is worth it in itself. We’ll spend our time hiking leisurely to Consolation Lakes, and upon our return explore around Moraine Lake, including a trip to the top of the Rockpile. Due to bear restrictions, this is a great trip to do in a guided group. Rated: Easy; Hiking Time: 3-4 hours; return distance: 5.8kms (3.6 miles); elevation gain: 255m (837 ft). Hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Your hike starts by the Lake Louise shoreline to the back of the lake before ascending up an ancient glacial valley. As you get higher, the colour of the lake becomes even more stunning and the crowds begin to disappear. Just past the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse you will be treated to views of the six glaciers feeding into the valley and Lake Louise, with cakes and tea served at the teahouse (optional). Rated: moderate; hiking time: 5 hours; distance: 10.6kms (6.6 miles); elevation Gain: 340m (1,100 feet)

Follow your audio tour guide along the Trans-Canada Highway 1, one of the most exciting drives in Alberta. Start anywhere along the route between Calgary and Lake Louise. The tour experience is the same in any direction. Learn about the discovery of the Banff Hot Springs and admire the beauty of Banff National Park. Hear about Kananaskis Country and other sights at your own pace. With no time constraints, enjoy the freedom to stop anywhere and take your time exploring. Entertaining audio clips will play automatically as you drive using a live GPS map, and no data is used during the tour. Enjoy a fun audio tour with information and trivia to keep the whole family laughing and engaged along the way. Each point of interest along the way has a multiple-choice trivia question about the sights. Keep score and learn plenty of interesting facts along the route.

Once your guide has picked you up from the meeting point, take a scenic drive in a modern minibus along Highway 93 South from Banff into the neighboring Kootenay National Park. Upon arrival at the Paint Pots trailhead, your guide will show you how to put on snowshoes over your winter boots and give you an introduction to the art of snowshoeing. Then, start down the easy 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) winding forest trail, perfect for beginners as it covers a mainly flat terrain with minimal elevation gain. Cross a bridge over the frozen Vermilion River to the fascinating Paint Pots, mineral deposits once used by First Nations people for rock painting. As you explore this cultural treasure within the Kootenay National Park, learn about the history of the fur trade with your guide. Throughout your snowshoeing tour, hear stories of Banff’s indigenous people, explorers, and fur traders who lived in and traveled through the Rockies. After the crisp winter walk, enjoy hot chocolate and a uniquely Canadian treat: hot maple taffy poured into snow to make a sweet frozen dessert. What's more, try a crazy carpet slide down the hill while the maple taffy is being made - kids and adults alike love this part of the tour! After your snowshoeing adventure, your guide will transport you back to Banff and drop you at your hotel.

Discover the Rockies with 3 audio tours on your smartphone. Admire the scenic beauty of the area and explore the charming towns of Canmore and Banff at your own pace. Engaging audio clips will play automatically as you drive using a live GPS map, and no data is used during the tours. First, enjoy the Calgary and Lake Louise Driving tour that takes you along Trans-Canada Highway 1, one of the most exciting drives in Alberta. Start anywhere along the route between Calgary and Lake Louise. With your smartphone as your guide, learn about the surrounding mountains, parks, and rivers that have played a role in the historical development of the area. Hear about the discovery of the Banff Hot Springs and admire the beauty of Banff National Park. The Canmore Downtown Sightseeing Walking Tour explores the best of Canmore. Visit Canmore Museum, see the Red Telephone Box, and stroll around Friendship Park. Start on the east end of downtown and see the Three Sisters Gallery, where you'll learn about the importance of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Follow along a portion of the Bow Valley Trail and learn about some of Canmore's coal mining history before making your way to the picturesque Policeman's Creek Trail. In the heart of downtown, you'll hear about its history and historic buildings like the Canmore Hotel and the Canmore Miners Union Hall. Finish up your tour with a short walk through Centennial Park. Then, discover more about the history and culture of the Banff on a city highlights walking audio tour. Chart your own course using the GPS map and find out where to find the town's statues, sculptures, and murals as you explore the historic downtown. Hear the story of how the town was founded and visit sites like the riverside Banff Central Park or the historic Victorian-style home at the Luxton Home Museum. Learn about the buildings, sculptures, surrounding mountains, and parks that have played a role in the town’s history.

Pick-up location and time [Winter] 【NE Calgary】Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel @8:00 AM 【Downtown】Delta Calgary Downtown Hotel @8:15 AM 【Canmore】Travel Alberta Canmore Visitor Information Center @9:20 AM 【Banff Town】Elk + Avenue Hotel @9:45AM In the morning, we will pass by the well-defined [Castle Mountain]. It is a famous mountain in the Rocky Mountains between Banff and Lake Louise and is the Trans-Canada Highway. An impressive road sign. Don’t let the scenery along the way pass you by, it will bring you another unparalleled scenery. [Marble Canyon] There are 7 bridges in Marble Canyon that you can hike on in winter, walking in a zigzag pattern on the deep limestone canyon and the winding creek below. The canyon is the junction of Tocum Creek and Suzaku River. Fossils of Cambrian soft-bodied creatures millions of years ago were found here, which is quite magnificent. A narrow path over a creek, from the bridge you can see the canyon below, with a frozen waterfall cascading from above on the right, the stunning landscape and refreshing pools are impressive. In the afternoon, the trip continues to explore another fairy tale secret in the Rocky Mountains: [Lake Louise], backed by the [Victoria Glacier], from January to April every year (according to the official opening hours), the grand [Ice Magic] is launched here. Artists and ice sculpture enthusiasts gather here to build a beautiful fairy tale world. The [Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise] located on the lakeside looks like a painting, with glacial lakes complementing each other. Recommended activities for enriching the trip in the Lake Louise area (Choose max. 1 activity): 1. The world-famous Fairmont Chateau Afternoon Tea (additional fees) - Enjoy charming pastries, tea sandwiches, and tasty desserts while capturing snowy white fairytale-like Lake Louise. 2. Enjoy a Horse Sleigh Ride (additional fees) (Winter only) - A Classic way for the whole family to ride on the shores of Lake Louise. (Currently not accepting bookings for the sleigh due to inadequate snow coverage) After lunch, we will arrive [Emerald Lake], the place where the amazing blue-green color is caused by the sunlight reflecting off the "marl" layer. Before ending, you will be amazed by the waterfall cascading over [Natural Bridge]. Enjoy the sounds of nature as you stroll along the frozen path that leads to the Bridge. Itinerary: Winter: Calgary/Canmore/Banff – Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park (60 minutes) – Lake Louise and winter light outdoor activities (90 minutes) – Emerald Lake (20 minutes) – Natural Bridge (15 minutes) – Banff/Canmore/Calgary Summer: Calgary/Canmore/Banff – Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park (45 minutes) – Lake Louise (75 minutes) – Moraine Lake (45 minutes) - Lake Minnewanka (90 minutes/Optional Add-on Cruise with fees) – Banff/Canmore/Calgary Drop off location: Banff/ Canmore/ Calgary

Embark on an unforgettable journey along the majestic Trans-Canada Highway 1, stretching from Calgary, Alberta to Vancouver, BC. Our audio tour offers four immersive experiences, allowing you to explore at your own pace without any time constraints. With the freedom to stop anywhere, let the scenic beauty captivate you as you drive while the entertaining audio clips play automatically through our live GPS map, all without using any data. The Calgary to Lake Louise tour takes you on a fascinating discovery of Banff National Park, with insights into the historic Banff Hot Springs and the stunning Kananaskis Country. Revel in the wonders of nature as you admire the Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade and Fortress Mountains at your leisure. Continue your adventure from Lake Louise to Revelstoke, as the audio guide brings the drive to life with tales of mountains, rivers, lakes, canyons, and glaciers. Pass by iconic landmarks such as Wapta Lake, Kicking Horse Pass, and Glacier National Park. Explore parks, historical sites, and recreational areas, from the Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site to the Giant Cedars and Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk Trails. Move on to the Kamloops to Revelstoke tour, where you'll be immersed in the area's natural wonders and history. Enjoy the flexibility to start from either direction as you learn about the Thompson River and its Sockeye salmon. Experience the charm of Mount Ida, Eagle River, Mount Macpherson, and more, while uncovering stories like the Fly Hills Fire and the Last Spike. Follow the route along Highway 1 & the Coquihalla on the Vancouver to Kamloops tour, a breathtaking drive that reveals the beauty of British Columbia. Learn about the Hudson's Bay Company, early explorer James Douglas, and the scenic Fraser Valley. Engage in fun audio clips with multiple-choice trivia questions at many of the point of interests, ensuring entertainment for all ages. Our audio guide ensures a safe and hands-free experience, playing automatically as you approach points of interest. Download the app for offline use and save your data. Whether you start from Calgary or Vancouver, the tour promises an enriching and laughter-filled family-friendly adventure. So, get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with scenic wonders, historical insights, and fascinating trivia, as you explore the breathtaking Trans-Canada Highway 1 at your own pace with our entertaining audio tour guide.

Discover the unique contrasts of Kootenay National Park, from icy mountain rivers to steamy hot springs, on this day trip from Calgary. Meet your guide at the centrally-located meeting point and travel to Marble Canyon. Along the way, stop at the Great Divide which marks the border between Kootenay National Park and Banff National Park for a photo and some incredible views. Upon arrival at the canyon, take the self-guided trail which leads along this ice-caved canyon and through the remains of a forest destroyed by wildfires in 2003. Next, continue to the Kootenay Valley View Point. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Mitchell and Vermillion mountain ranges and the Kootenay River far below. Watch the river wind through the mountain forest following an ancient route to the great Columbia River. If you feel like relaxing after all that walking, enjoy a dip in the naturally heated, mineral-rich hot pool of Radium Hot Springs. Finally, follow a scenic trail through the open Douglas-fir forest along the edge of Sinclair Canyon. Enjoy views of the Columbia Valley and verdant Sinclair Canyon falls before returning to Calgary in the evening.

You will meet at Castle Junction in Banff National Park for your tour briefing and to complete waivers and medical forms before convoying 15 minutes to the trail head. You will then learn about charismatic megafauna behavior, namely bears and cougars, as you hike up through an old burn on a well graded trail through first generation pine forest. Throughout your experience you will enjoy the display of flora which thrive in this environment, as well as the amazing views of the Kootenay Valley and Stanley Headwall. You will also learn about forest ecology, geography, and geology as you travel to your lunch spot where you'll enjoy your lunch surrounded by amazing views of the glaciated Mount Stanley, including its towering waterfalls and rock faces, before heading back to the carpark.