4 Fun Canadian Rockies Itineraries for Summer
Before my 6-day Colorado Rockies solo trip, I was asking friends to join me for a girlfriends trip to Canadain Rockies. Initially, my lovely friends were very excited. But, when the families learned about it, they didn’t want to miss it. Everyone wanted a family vacation in the Canadian Rockies. So, we ended up doing separate trips with an entirely different mode of exploring the Canadian Rockies. Ruchira’s trip was fully self-driven, Lakshmi’s was an organized tour and ours was a combination. Each of our families loved our trips.
Contents
- 1: Our 7-day Itinerary of the Canadian Rockies with Tours & Self Drive
- 2: Mayuri’s 5-Day Roadtrip Itinerary of Banff and Yoho National Park
- 3: Ruchira’s 5-Day Self-Organized Itinerary
- 4: Lakshmi’s 6-Day Packaged Tour Itinerary
- 5: Mikaela’s 3-Day Itinerary of Bands National Park in Winter
- Map of the Canadian Rockies with Points of Interest
- Related Articles
- Pin it for Later
The Canadian Rockies are my most favorite places to visit in the world. There is something for everyone whether you are a photographer, adventurer, mountain climber, road-tripper, skier, water sports enthusiast, or even a foodie. Needless to say, there are many itinerary possibilities for the Canadian Rockies. Here are 4 entirely different itineraries that we each enjoyed and created memories we cherish deeply.
I’ve presented each Canadian Rockies itinerary in a traditional how-to format as well as a compact table we use for our planning.
1: Our 7-day Itinerary of the Canadian Rockies with Tours & Self Drive
Ours was a 7-day itinerary of Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks is a combination of tours and self-drive experiences. We started the Canadian Rockies trip from Calgary and ended the trip in Calgary.
How to do Canadian Rockies Tours within a Road trip
Time needed: 7 days.
Our 7-day itinerary with a combination of tours and self-drive experiences. We started the Canadian Rockies trip from Calgary and ended the trip in Calgary.
- Day 1: Travel to Jasper
– Fly from San Francisco to Calgary
– Drive from Calgary to Banff
Lunch at Wild Flour Bakery
– Drive from Banff to Jasper
– Walk along Athabasca river
Dinner in the chalet
– Explore Jasper Downtown
Overnight stay at Alpine Village - Day 2: Explore Jasper on your own
– Hike Trail #1 at sunrise or sunset
– Visit Lake Annette, Lake Edith
– Visit Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Lunch in the chalet
– Rafting on Athabasca River
– Hike Valley of 5 Lakes
– Walk at Mount Edith Cavell
Dinner at Earls
Overnight stay at Alpine Village
Check out Things to do in Jasper - Day 3: Explore Jasper Tour, Horseback Ride, and Hike
Explore Jasper Tour
– Maligne Canyon
– Medicine Lake
– Maligne Lake & Spirit Island Cruise
Lunch at Maligne Lake cafe
– Horseback Ride
– Pyramid Lake walk
– Secret Hike
Dinner at Famoso
– Overnight stay at Jasper House Bungalows
Check out Things to do in Jasper - Day 4: Columbia Icefields Glacier Adventure and Skywalk
– Drive from Jasper to Icefields Adventure Center
– Athabasca Glacier tour at Columbia Icefield Discovery Center
Lunch at Icefield Discovery Center
– Columbia Icefields Skywalk
Dinner in the room
– Drive from Icefields Adventure Center to Banff
Overnight at Charltons Banff
Check out Things to do on Icefields Parkway. - Day 5: Banff Mountains, Lakes, and Waterfalls tour
– Lake Louise
– Moraine Lake
– Yoho National Park
– Takakkaw Falls
– Emerald Lake
Lunch at Emerald Lake
– Natural Bridge on Crazy Horse River
Dinner at Nourish Bistro
Overnight at Charltons Banff
Check out Things to do around Lake Louise.
Check out Things to do in Yoho National Park. - Day 6: Banff, Sulphur Mountain, Gondola, Scenic Drives and Lakes
Banff Sky Experience
– Banff Gondola
– Sulphur Mountain
– Sanson Peak Observatory
Lunch at Block
– Cruise on Lake Minnewanka
– Canoe on Lake Louise
– Sunset at Moraine Lake
Dinner at Seoul Korean
Overnight at Charltons Banff.
Check out Things to do in Banff. - Day 7: Calgary and Return home
– Drive from Banff to Calgary
– Calgary Downtown and shopping
– Fly from Calgary to San Francisco
Check out Things to do in Banff and Canmore.
Our 7-Day Itinerary in a Compact Table Format
Here is a representation of our 7-day Canadian Rockies itinerary in a quick table format. It’s evident how we incorporated many Canadian Rockies tours within our overall road-trip itinerary
| Highlights | Dining | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Travel to Jasper – Fly from San Francisco to Calgary – Drive from Calgary to Banff – Drive from Banff to Jasper Walk along Athabasca river Explore Jasper Downtown | Lunch at Wild Flour Bakery Dinner in the chalet | Alpine Village |
| Day 2 | Explore Jasper – Lake Annette, Lake Edith – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Jasper River Raft Hike Jasper – Hike #1 – Valley of 5 Lakes – Mount Edith Cavell | Lunch in the chalet Dinner at Earls | Alpine Village |
| Day 3 | Explore Jasper Tour – Maligne Canyon – Medicine Lake – Maligne Lake & Spirit Island Cruise Horseback Ride Pyramid Lake Secret Hike | Lunch at Maligne Lake Dinner at Famoso | Jasper House Bungalows |
| Day 4 | Drive from Jasper to Banff Columbia Icefields Adventure – Athabasca Glacier Tour – Columbia Icefields Skywalk | Lunch at Icefields Discovery Center Dinner in the room | Charltons Banff |
| Day 5 | Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls tour – Lake Louise – Moraine Lake – Yoho National Park – Takakkaw Falls – Emerald Lake – Natural Bridge on Crazy Horse River | Lunch at Emerald Lake Dinner at Nourish | Charltons Banff |
| Day 6 | Banff Sky Experience – Banff Gondola – Sulphur Mountain – Sanson Peak Observatory – Cruise on Lake Minnewanka – Canoe on Lake Louise – Sunset at Moraine Lake | Lunch at Block Dinner at Seoul Korean | Charltons Banff |
| Day 7 | Drive from Banff to Calgary – Calgary Downtown and shopping – Fly from Calgary to San Francisco | At the airport | Home |
Check out more things to do in Jasper.
2: Mayuri’s 5-Day Roadtrip Itinerary of Banff and Yoho National Park
My friend Mayuri lives in Alberta. She recommends the following Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary for visitors to Banff and Yoho National Park.
| Activities | Dining | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly in to Calgary. – Rent a car at the airport. – Drive to Banff National Park. | Banff and Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Hotel | |
| Day 2 | Explore the town of Banff. – Banff welcome sign – Banff Gondola – Walk downtown Banff – Cascade of Time Gardens – Vermillion Lakes – Distillery tour or food tour – Photo spots in Banff | Park Distillery and Restaurant | Banff and Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Hotel |
| Day 3 | Day trip to Explore lakes in Banff. – Two Jack Lake – Short hike on Minnewanka trail – Minnewanka Lake and cruise – Castle food tour at Fairmont Banff Springs – Spa at Fairmont Banff Springs | Fairmont Banff Springs hotel | Elk + Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Hotel |
| Day 4 | Day trip to Lake Louise. – Explore the hamlet – Take a short hike. – During winter, skate on the natural ice rink. | Elk + Avenue Hotel or Rimrock Hotel | |
| Day 5 | Day trip to Yoho National Park. – Takakkaw falls. – Spiral tunnels (closed in winter). – Natural Bridge. – Emerald Lake. | Emerald Lake Lodge |
3: Ruchira’s 5-Day Self-Organized Itinerary
My friend Ruchira’s 5-day family trip to the Banff and Jasper National Park was fully self-drive and self-organized. Their Canadian Rockies road trip started and ended in Calgary. They absolutely loved the trip, particularly all the vegan food options. I used many food and planning tips from her when planning our road trip.
How to do 5-Day Canadian Rockies Road trip
Day 1: Travel to Calgary
– Fly from San Francisco to Calgary
Overnight in Calgary Acclaim Hotel by the airport
Day 2: Explore Calgary and Drive to Jasper
Breakfast at OEB.
– Downtown Calgary
Coffee at Monogram.
– Visit Lake Louise and the hamlet.
– Drive from Calgary to Jasper.
Overnight at Becker’s Chalet.
Day 3: Explore Jasper National Park
– Explore Downtown Jasper
– Hike over Maligne Canyon
– Drive from Jasper to Banff
– Stop at vista points on Iceland Parkway for pictures and wildlife.
Dinner at Post hotel in Lake Louis.
Overnight at Storm Lodge.
Day 4: Explore Banff
Breakfast at the lodge.
– Borgeau Hike
– Banff Downtown
Drinks at Park Distillery.
– Banff Fairmont
Overnight at Storm Lodge
Day 5: Explore Banff National Park
– Moraine Lake
– Banff Downtown
Wild Flour bakery
– Drive from Banff to Calgary
– Fly from Calgary to San Francisco
Ruchira’s 5-Day Itinerary in a Compact Table Format
Following is a more compact Canadian Rockies Roadtrip itinerary, great for printing and having as a quick reference.
| Highlights | Dining | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly from San Francisco to Calgary Stay overnight in Calgary | Acclaim Hotel | |
| Day 2 | Downtown Calgary Lake Louise Drive from Calgary to Jasper | Breakfast at OEB. Coffee at Monogram. | Becker’s Chalet |
| Day 3 | Downtown Jasper Maligne Canyon Drive from Jasper to Banff Stop at vista points for pictures and wildlife. | Dinner at Post hotel in Lake Louis. | Storm Lodge |
| Day 4 | Borgeau Hike Banff Downtown Banff Fairmont | Breakfast at the lodge. Drinks at Park Distillery. | Storm Lodge |
| Day 5 | Moraine Lake Banff Downtown Drive from Banff to Calgary Fly from Calgary to San Francisco | Wild Flour bakery | Home |
4: Lakshmi’s 6-Day Packaged Tour Itinerary
My friend Lakshmi’s Canadian Rockies package tour organized by a tour company. The package included the train ride, accommodations, and sightseeing. It was perfect for her because she did not have the time to research, plan, and book the trip. It was economical despite all the stays being at Fairmont.
Lakshmi’s Jasper and Banff National Park tour itinerary started in Vancouver and ended in Calgary.
| Day # | Highlights | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly from San Francisco to Vancouver. Overnight train from Vancouver to Jasper. | Train |
| Day 2 | Jasper | Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge |
| Day 3 | Jasper | Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge |
| Day 4 | Lake Louise | Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise |
| Day 5 | Banff | Fairmont Banff Springs Resort |
| Day 6 | Travel from Banff to Calgary. Fly from Calgary to San Francisco | Home |
Lakshmi explained to me that there are two train options from Vancouver to Jasper. The more popular Mountaineer train has a glass dome and costs higher. The not so touristy Via train is also nice and costs less.
5: Mikaela’s 3-Day Itinerary of Bands National Park in Winter
Banff is a winter wonderland with lots of activities and experiences. Mikaela shared her 3-Day Banff itinerary in winter with a variety of activities but you can do so much more. I can’t wait to visit Banff National Park in winter.
| Day # | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Catch the Sunrise at Vermilion Lakes Gondola ride up to Sulphur Mountain Hike Johnston Canyon |
| Day 2 | Drive the Icefields Parkway Hike at Peyto Lake Visit Lake Louise |
| Day 3 | Ski Big 3 or Go Snowmobiling |
Map of the Canadian Rockies with Points of Interest
Related Articles
The Canadian Rockies
- 7 Day Itinerary of Canadian Rockies
- 3-Day Itinerary of Banff in Winter
- Itineraries of the Canadian Rockies
- Accommodations in Jasper and Banff
- Rafting in Jasper National Park
- Banff’s wildlife crossing
- Red forests in Jasper National Park
- Calgary to Banff to Jasper Drive
- Jasper to Banff Drive
- Things to do in Banff and Canmore
- Things to do in Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
- Things to do in Jasper
- Things to do on Icefields Parkway
- Things to do in Yoho National Park
The Rockies in the United States
- Colorado 6-Day Itinerary
- Rocky Mountain National Park with hikes, vista points, and itineraries.
- National Park travels during Covid Pandemic
- Pikes Peak Drive or Hike
- Outdoor rock climbing in Colorado Springs
- Glacier National Park Gallery
More on Canada
Yellowknife, Canada in Winter and Northern Lights in pictures
