Day 1 Minot, ND

Today we begin our tour to the spectacular Canadian Rockies. Our first evening’s stay will be in Minot, North Dakota.

Day 2 Shelby, MT

This morning will board Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Take in panoramic views of Montana as we make our way to Shelby, for our overnight stay. Upon arrival to our hotel, we’ll enjoy a Pizza Party. (B, D)

Day 3 Calgary, AB

Today’s journey takes us across the grain belt of Saskatchewan into Alberta. Upon arrival, we’ll explore downtown a little bit before checking into our hotel. Tonight, attend the Calgary Stampede. Brace yourself for the best of chuckwagon racing followed by an epic stage show, making for a memorable evening. (B)

Day 4 Saskatchewan River Crossing

We will get our first look at the Canadian Rockies this morning. We’ll be climbing in elevation until we arrive in Banff. Spend the day touring here and in Banff National Park. Sights include Cascade of Time Gardens, Bow Falls and Sulphur Mountain. At Sulphur Mountain, we will ride a Gondola to the top of the mountain before heading to lunch. Lunch will be included at the luxurious Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel this afternoon. The meal is as fabulous as the hotel. We’ll continue through the park along the very scenic Icefields Parkway seeing cool lakes, beautiful meadows, and magnificent waterfalls including Peyto Lake, the first of the beautiful blue-green glacier fed lakes that we’ll see on this tour. We arrive at the The Crossing Resort, a rustic retreat surrounded by the mountains located right on the Parkway. This hotel is a favorite of most of our travelers every year! Enjoy an included dinner this evening at restaurant here. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Jasper, AB

This morning we continue north on the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield, the largest mass of ice in the Rocky Mountains and take the Glacier Adventure. Ride on a massive Ice Explorer to the surface of the Athabasca Glacier where we’ll stop on the glacier. Here you can get out and walk on the ice and even fill your water bottle with fresh glacier water. Next, we’ll get a bird’s eye view of the Sunwapta Valley on the Glacier Skywalk. Step out on a cliff-edge walkway where giant glaciers perch above you and the spectacular Sunwapta Valley spreads out below. The walkway leads to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot drop. Next stop, Sunwapta Falls meaning “turbulent water” and Athabasca Falls! Both of these powerful waterfalls are magnificent but very different. Back on the Icefield Parkway, we’ll trave along the Athabasca River through scenic Jasper National Park to our home for the evening in the alpine town of Jasper. (B)

Day 6 Fairmont Hot Springs, BC

This morning we’ll travel back down through Jasper National Park on the Icefield Parkway and make our way back into Banff National Park. We’ll visit the breath taking, blue-green Lake Louise which springs from Victoria Glacier. Lunch will be on your own at the Lake Louise Village before we enter Yoho National Park. First stop, Emerald Lake, Yoho’s largest lake. Here you can walk across the bridge and dip your feet into the beautiful turquoise water. Be sure to check out the cute gift shop here. We’ll head to British Columbia to the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. We’ll enjoy an included dinner here this evening. During your free time tonight, we suggest taking a dip in the soothing, mineral-rich hot spring pools with beautiful views of the mountains. (B, D)

Day 7 Shelby, MT

We’ll spend our morning driving south heading back into the United States. A boxed lunch is included for lunch today. We’ll visit Glacier National Park, where we will board the famous Red Bus, a vintage 1930s bus to ride on the spectacular Going-To-The-Sun Road. It is widely acclaimed as one of the outstanding, scenic roadways of the world. We will cross the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an altitude of 6,664 feet. Afterwards, we’ll make our way to Shelby, Montana for the night. (B, L)

Day 8 Medora, ND

Today we will be traveling across the plains of Montana into North Dakota. Our last evening will be in Medora. Upon arrival, we check-in to our accommodations before dinner at the Pitchfork Fondue. Tonight’s menu is a savory slab of steak fondued on a pitchfork, western style! Then add a baked potato, baked beans, cole slaw, fresh fruit and veggies, garlic toast and dessert. Afterwards, enjoy the Medora Musical. A western style musical which is dedicated to the legacy of America’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt and the time we spent in North Dakota. (B, D)

Day 9 Home

Our last day of travel takes us across North Dakota back into familiar Minnesota. The time has come to take those last photographs and say our good-byes to our fellow traveling companions after a wonderful scenic tour to the Canadian Rockies. (B)