Updated as of 01/11/2025
Sunday, August 2
Afternoon arrival into Calgary aka “Cowtown” due to its cattle industry. Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Rest and recover. Enjoy a welcome dinner. Stay in Calgary for 3 nights.
Monday, August 3
A whole day exploring the sights and learning the history around Calgary: Stevens Avenue, Calgary Tower, Heritage Park, Eau Claire Market, Peace Bridge, Kensington Village, The Bow, Central Library, Calgary’s skyline view, and more.
Tuesday, August 4
A day trip to Drumheller. See the unique landscape, aka “The Badlands” or “Hoodoos.” Ride through many bridges to Wayne, a town that’s part of the historic mining region. Get scared inside the Royal Tyrell Museum, supposedly the best dinosaur museum in the world. Return to Calgary.
Wednesday, August 5
Check out of the hotel and head south toward the U.S. border. Visit the fascinating Frank Slide. See the famed Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump site. View the picturesque Pincher Creek. See the massive Lethbridge. Time permitting, explore Fort Macleod or Waterton Lakes National Park. Overnight in Pincher Creek.
Thursday, August 6
Finally, we hit the road to Banff, home to the 1991 Winter Deaflympics. Stop by Bar U Ranch, one of the oldest and most successful ranching sites. Get on the famed Highway 1, the gateway to the Canadian Rockies! Visit an adorable town, Canmore, for shopping and light bites. See the Three Sisters peaks. Arrive in Banff. Stay in Banff for 3 nights.
Friday, August 7
View the Vermillion Lake before a morning drive through Bow Valley and catch any wildlife, if lucky. Return to town but stop at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. During the afternoon, we check out the Bow Falls and the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Saturday, August 8
Go up in a gondola in Banff in the morning and enjoy the panoramic view of the Rockies. Free time for the rest of the day. Optional with a fee: take a dip in the Upper Hot Springs Pool during late evening before it closes.
Sunday, August 9
Back on the highway to stop at the amazing Columbia Icefields. Ride in a behemoth ‘Star Wars’-like vehicle to the glacier. Step and walk on the actual glacier. Dare to walk the Skywalk. Continue to Jasper. Stay in Jasper for 3 nights.
Monday, August 10
Hop on a tramway to the top and view Jasper from above. In the afternoon, we board on a lake cruise and see the picturesque Spirit Island in Lake Minnewanka.
Tuesday, August 11
Take an easy to moderate hike through the stunning Maligne Canyon with its narrow gorges, waterfalls, and limestone formations. Return to town with free time afterward. Optional with a fee: dip in a local hot spring in the evening.
Wednesday, August 12
Say goodbye to the Rockies. Check out of the hotel early for a long drive to Edmonton (4 hours) with a few quick stops. Visit Alberta School for the Deaf. Meet and greet Deaf Canadians at Edmonton Association of the Deaf. Have dinner at Craft Beer Market, home to 100 Canadian microbrews. Stay in Edmonton for 2 nights.
Thursday, August 13
After a hearty breakfast, head to Elk Island National Park for wildlife viewing: bison, deer, beaver, and more. Nearby, make a quick stop at this unique Ukrainian Cultural Center where Ukrainians settled from 1890 to 1930. Return to Edmonton and visit the historic Ft. Edmonton Park. Ride on a vintage streetcar and enjoy our farewell dinner.
Friday, August 14
Check out of your Edmonton hotel in the morning and drive to Calgary, stopping along the way at the fascinating Reynolds-Alberta Museum to explore Alberta’s rich transportation and aviation history. Enjoy a leisurely farm-to-table lunch at a ranch, savoring fresh, locally-sourced cuisine in a peaceful countryside setting. Continue the drive to Calgary, arriving in the afternoon to check in at your hotel. In the evening, come together for a memorable farewell dinner, sharing stories and reflections from the journey. Overnight in Calgary.
Saturday, August 15
Transfer to Calgary airport for your flight destination at any time.