With our guide leading the way, the day begins exploring Banff’s iconic landscapes from a local perspective. Glacier-fed lakes reflect wide alpine skies, and every turn reveals another dramatic ridgeline. Stops at Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka offer space to take it all in. Mountains rising directly from the shoreline, wind on the water, cameras clicking, and that collective “wow” moment that needs no prompting. At Surprise Corner, the historic Fairmont Banff Springs stands framed by forest and river, a reminder of the region’s long relationship with both wilderness and adventure.

As the morning unfolds, attention turns to wildlife. Moving thoughtfully through the park, your guide shares insight into the delicate ecosystems that shape this landscape while keeping watch for elk grazing in open meadows or bighorn sheep navigating rocky slopes. Sightings aren’t guaranteed, and that’s part of the magic, but the act of looking, learning, and slowing down connects you more deeply to the place.

Midday brings a ride up Sulphur Mountain aboard the Banff Gondola. As the valley floor drops away, expansive views open in every direction. At the summit, you set your own pace: walk the ridge-top boardwalk, take in the panorama, or sit with a warm drink and let the scale of the Rockies sink in.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy. Soak in the mineral waters of Banff Upper Hot Springs, stretch your legs on a hike up Tunnel Mountain, or enjoy time wandering town with your fellow travellers. However you choose to spend it, the day balances exploration with space to recharge.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight: Banff

Are you ready for one of the most breathtaking drives on Earth—the legendary Icefields Parkway? With our expert guide leading the way, we venture deep into the heart of the Rockies, where every bend in the road reveals a scene more stunning than the last. Towering cliffs give way to cascading waterfalls, turquoise lakes shimmer beneath towering summits, and the raw beauty of the landscape leaves us in awe.

Our journey takes us to the famous Crowfoot Glacier, where we pause to take in the striking contrast of ice and rock, and to Bow Lake, where the glacial-fed waters reflect the surrounding peaks like a perfect mirror. At Peyto Lake, we stand high above the valley, gazing down at its impossibly vivid blue waters, an unforgettable sight shaped by millennia of ice and stone.

Further along the parkway, we reach the Weeping Wall, where countless streams of water trickle down sheer rock faces, and the Columbia Icefield, a vast frozen expanse that feeds some of North America’s most powerful rivers. Here, we take time to soak in the immensity of the landscape, where the Athabasca Glacier stretches like a frozen highway into the unknown.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight: Banff

Saving the best for last? Maybe! This morning we will journey into two of Banff’s most iconic and breathtaking destinations—Moraine Lake and Lake Louise—where towering peaks, glacial waters, and untouched wilderness create a scene of pure magic. Before the sun rises, we set off for Moraine Lake, a place so awe-inspiring it once adorned Canada’s twenty-dollar bill. Surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Valley of the Ten Peaks, its turquoise waters shimmer in the morning light. 

Next, we arrive at the legendary Lake Louise, where the emerald waters reflect the towering Victoria Glacier in a scene that feels almost surreal. Here, we have the freedom to explore as we wish.

The afternoon is yours to explore more of Banff's incredible wonders. If you have the energy, we recommend staying on at Lake Louise to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House (1-2hrs one way; Total distance: 7 km/4.5 miles).

This evening we will enjoy a final meal together and reminisce about all the incredible adventures we had, and maybe plan the next one! 

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight: Banff

We bid farewell to new friends and this beautiful park. See you next time!

Meals: Breakfast