Tauck: Best of the Canadian Rockies

Tour begins: 1:30 PM, Calgary International Airport. For guests who are spending the previous night in Calgary, an airport transfer from Calgary International Airport to The Westin Calgary is included; pick-up time today will be 1:00 PM at The Westin Calgary. Your trip begins with a journey from Calgary that takes you across the last few miles of Canadian prairie to Kananaskis country and your hotel for this evening, Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Autograph Collection, found at the foothills of Canada's Rocky Mountains. Join us tonight for a Wild West-themed welcome reception and dinner with music at Boundary Ranch.

Head high up into the Canadian Rockies and cross the Continental Divide through Kicking Horse Pass on a day of Alberta travel on which you'll see some of the most beautiful lakes in North America. After lunch, you'll have an opportunity to visit Moraine Lake (in the Valley of the Ten Peaks). The lovely lake is one of the most photographed spots in all of Canada; its beauty prompted explorer Walter Wilcox, who named it Moraine Lake after the moraine, or rock pile deposited by the Wenkchemna Glacier, to write "no scene had ever given me an equal impression of inspiring solitude and rugged grandeur," adding that his time spent contemplating the view was the "happiest half-hour of my life." Arrive at your historic château-style resort hotel on the edge of Lake Louise where you'll enjoy lake-view accommodations during your two-night stay; have dinner at the hotel tonight.

Today is a day for discovering the magnificent wonders of nature at Lake Louise. Join our naturalist guide this morning for a guided walk along the shores of the lovely lake, and discover some of the secrets behind the lake's allure. The remainder of the day is free at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to spend as you wish, enjoying the many outdoor activities at the resort (some at additional charge) or indoor amenities such as the tranquil oasis at The Spa at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

After breakfast, set off along the Icefields Parkway, which winds its way through Alberta's Banff and Jasper National Parks, past more than 600 glaciers, six icefields and a cornucopia of mountains featuring jaw-dropping views of spectacular rocky peaks, waterfalls and snowfields around every turn. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, and watch for bears, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats – especially in the spring and fall – en route to your lodge in the heart of Jasper National Park. During your two-night stay, you'll have an opportunity to attend a presentation by a Parks Canada official to hear the history, legends and folklore that are the very essence of Canada's magnificent national parks.

Continue your Alberta vacation with a day spent exploring magnificent Jasper National Park with your choice of an included "Jasper Your Way" discovery tour. You may choose from among an Athabasca River whitewater rafting adventure* led by Rocky Mountain River Guides; a "Wildlife Discovery Tour," joining a wildlife interpreter to search for bear, elk and more; or a trip on the Jasper Tramway through alpine tundra, leading to the interesting alpine town of Jasper. Or you may want to engage in some of the optional activities at your lodge (available at an additional cost) including horseback riding, biking, tennis, golf, fishing or boating. Attend an aboriginal culture presentation late this afternoon.

Retracing your route along the Icefields Parkway back to Banff National Park today, you'll appreciate the region's spectacular scenery from several perspectives. Take a memorable ride across the surface of Athabasca Glacier on an Ice Explorer, a specially designed glacial vehicle, for a close look at the glacier's geological features – another highlight of your Alberta vacation adventure. Arrive in Banff National Park, the first national park in Canada; your grand hotel, one of the Rockies' finest resorts, was built more than a century ago to resemble a Scottish baronial castle.

Begin the day with helicopter flightseeing over the Three Sisters Peaks; an amazing vantage point for a different perspective on the Canadian Rockies. Today is yours to explore Banff National Park and environs as you please. You may wish to check out the village of Banff, which, with its spectacular scenery and trendy shops and boutiques, has grown over the decades to rival the chic alpine villages of the American Rockies. There are also many optional activities to choose from (available at an additional cost) in Banff National Park itself. You can ride the Banff gondola, take a guided nature walk, go horseback riding, mountain biking, or canoeing on the Bow River. Play a round of golf at your world-famous resort, or perhaps book an alpine aromatherapy massage at the Willow Stream Spa, ranked among the top spas in Canada. We invite you to join us this evening for our farewell festivities at Fairmont Banff Springs, including a private musical performance and dinner.

Tour ends: 10:00 AM, Calgary International Airport. Travel back to Calgary, approximately 80 miles. Guests spending additional nights in Calgary will be transferred to The Westin Calgary upon arrival; a transfer from The Westin Calgary to Calgary International Airport is included. Please arrange flights from Calgary to your final destination for after 12:00 noon. Allow a minimum of three hours for check-in.