Discover the Canadian Rockies: Banff to Jasper

See the best of the Rockies on this captivating tour through Western Canada

Get ready for mountains, lakes and glaciers, Canadian style! Explore some of the grandest scenery in North America and take advantage of the hiking and adventure activities available on this lodging tour. Starting in the picturesque town of Banff, encounter stunning waterfalls and aquamarine lakes, spot wildlife in wilderness parks and enjoy the spectacularly scenic Icefields Parkway. Add on as much adventure as you want, from zip lining to mountain biking, and white-water rafting to canoeing. See Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, then return to city life in Calgary. This 10-day Canadian Rockies tour is one great big adventure, so what are you waiting for?

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• At the end of each season, our local partners donate unopened foods to food banks and used tents and sleeping bags to various charities.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income used to upkeep and develop these important sites. This trip visits Banff, Yoho and Jasper national parks and fees collected go towards funding conservation initiatives.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Our local partner is accredited by Aventure Écotourisme Québec, which certifies they adhere to high standards in this area.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Canada

Travellers from the UK and EU countries can enter Canada under an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). US citizens do not normally need a visa. Visas are required for some nationalities and requirements often change; it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas and fulfil any requirements for this trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/canada
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada/entry-requirements
• United States: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html

To apply for your eTA, or for more information, visit www.canada.ca/eTA; you will need your passport, credit or debit card, and an email address. It costs 7 Canadian dollars and will be valid for five years or until your passport expires. We recommend you carry a print out of your eTA approval when you travel.

If you have not applied for and received authorisation for an eTA prior to travel you may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at the Canadian point of entry. However, neither possession of a visa nor meeting the basic requirements for travelling visa free on the eTA guarantees admission to Canada. As with most countries, the final determination of admissibility is made by immigration officials at the point of entry.

Travel via the USA

If you are travelling via the USA and are eligible to transit under the Visa Waiver Program, you are required to register in advance for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). There is a US$21 charge, which is only payable online. Please see our website www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa for further information.

Please note, not all nationalities have the same eligibility for travel to or transit via the USA, and you may not be covered by the visa waiver program. Regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationalities of these countries, may no longer qualify. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021 you will not be eligible for the visa waiver program and should instead apply for a visa.

If you are in doubt of your eligibility, please check the visa requirements with your local US embassy.

Vaccination

Canada

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

There are three breakfasts included on this tour.

We usually eat out in local restaurants recommended by the tour leader. To help you budget, meals cost on average:

• Hotel breakfasts: 15-20 Canadian dollars (US$11-US$15)
• Lunches: 20-25 dollars (US$15-US$19)
• Dinners: 30-50 dollars (US$23-US$38), this does not include alcoholic beverages

Drinks cost on average:

• Wine: 15-20 dollars (US$11-15) per glass
• Beer: 8-12 dollars (US$6-US$9) per bottle

A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in Canadian restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices.

Your tour leader may offer your group the option to operate a lunch-only food kitty, this has proven a popular alternative to three daily restaurant meals. Leaders will explain this option while on tour, and the whole group has to agree for this system to run.

Please tell us of any special meal requirements before travelling. We do all we can to accommodate various dietary requirements but certain food types can be limited in certain parts of North America.

Weather

Summer in the Rockies is generally warm and sunny. Average daytime temperatures are 18C (64F) in June and the first half of September and 22C (72F) in July/August. Night temperatures are cool in July and August; cold in June and from early September and can near freezing point. Temperatures vary depending on altitude. June has long hours of daylight.

The weather in the Rockies can be unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden thunderstorms, strong winds or even snow. Although summers are fairly dry, there may be the odd rainy day. September can bring early snow on the peaks. Residual snow at higher elevations may linger until mid-July. Walking on hard-packed snow is sometimes required.

Is this trip for you?

This tour is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

It is an active tour suitable for people of most fitness levels. Active tours are about exploring the places you visit so, whether it’s walking or kayaking, you are experiencing the best from each place. Given the nature of this tour, if you suffer from medical issues, you should advise us prior to booking.

Please note: Both the weather conditions and presence of wild animals can be unpredictable in the Rockies. Either of these may force the guide to change a planned hike for the day. It is important to use common sense when walking in the wilderness and to follow the advice of the guide.

There are opportunities for optional activities. Your tour guide organises these on your behalf and you pay locally in cash. You’ll find the main optional activities listed under the daily descriptions, along with guideline prices. It may not be possible to do all optional activities listed.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.