10-Day US & Canadian Rockies - Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff & Jasper National Parks - Calgary Round Trip

• Calgary City Tour (3 hours; Optional$$)
  A guided tour takes you to explore the city; from the historic site to the newest modern building. (Includes guide service, transportation, and admission)
  
• Heritage Park with Transportation/ Admission (3 hours; Optional$$)
  Explore Canada's second largest living history museum in Calgary. See and feel the past as it comes to life in front of your eyes.
  
• CrossIron Mill Outlet Shopping Tour (4 hours; Optional$$)
  Discover the biggest one-level shopping centre in Alberta.
  
• Calgary Zoo with Public Transportation Ticket/ Admission (Optional$$)
  The Calgary Zoo takes you to see almost 900 animals from around the world, including popular gorilla, hippos, grizzly bear, penguins, endangered red pandas and amur tigers, and more for you to explore.

Important Notice: New U.S. National Park Fee Policy (Effective January 1, 2026)

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK DISCOVERY – GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD & ALPINE SCENERY

This itinerary includes two national parks: Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
Today, travel deep into the heart of Montana’s Glacier National Park, often called the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier offers some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in North America.

Journey Highlight

• St. Mary Village - St. Mary Village is the strategic East Entrance to Glacier National Park and the official starting point of the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road. Situated where the sweeping Great Plains dramatically collide with the towering Rocky Mountains, this village offers essential amenities and immediate access to the stunning shores of St. Mary Lake. It is the ideal basecamp for explorers looking to experience the park’s wild eastern slopes and rich Blackfeet heritage.
• Glacier National Park (USA) - Explore the pristine wilderness of Montana’s Glacier National Park, famously known as the "Crown of the Continent." The highlight of your journey is the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road, an engineering marvel that crosses the Continental Divide. As you traverse this spectacular route through the Rocky Mountains, you will climb past weeping walls and turquoise glacial lakes to the summit at Logan Pass. Every turn offers breathtaking panoramas of alpine meadows and rugged cliffs, making this one of the most unforgettable scenic drives in America.

MONTANA HIGHLIGHTS & YELLOWSTONE GATEWAY

Journey Highlight

• Great Falls -Located along the majestic Missouri River, this city is famous for its cascading waterfalls and its significance in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It offers a perfect blend of scenic river trails and American West history.
• Helena -Explore Montana's capital, known as the "Queen City of the Rockies." Born from the 1864 Gold Rush, this mountain town features preserved Victorian architecture and a charming outdoor atmosphere.
• West Yellowstone -The strategic West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This lively town serves as your basecamp for exploring the park’s geothermal wonders and is a hub for dining, shopping, and wildlife enthusiasts.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK EXPLORATION – GEYSERS, HOT SPRINGS & CANYON FALLS

Journey Highlight

• Lower Geyser Basin (Fountain Paint Pot)- Located just south of the Norris district, this is a rare location where you can view all four types of hydrothermal features (geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots) on a single trail. The star attraction is the Fountain Paint Pot, a bubbling vat of high-viscosity mud. Watch as thick bubbles slowly form, burst, and create unique shapes in the clay, offering a fascinating look at the park's "living" geology.
  
• Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring) -  Witness Yellowstone’s largest hot spring and the third-largest in the world. The Grand Prismatic Spring  is famous for its striking, rainbow-like colors caused by microbial mats at the water's edge. At 370 feet in diameter and over 120 feet deep, this deep blue pool releases massive amounts of steam, creating a surreal and photogenic atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
  
• Old Faithful Geyser -  No visit to Yellowstone is complete without seeing Old Faithful , the most famous geyser in North America. Named by the 1870 Washburn Expedition for its frequent eruptions, it remains the park's most predictable large geyser. While intervals vary (typically 60–110 minutes), it consistently shoots a column of boiling water up to 180 feet (55 meters) into the air, a breathtaking display of nature’s power.
• Artist’s Paint Pots -  Located just off the main road, this area offers a colorful and dynamic landscape accessible via a short loop trail. The area is named for its multicolored mud pots, which range from blue-grey to rich terracotta, resembling an artist's palette. It is a fantastic spot to listen to the rhythm of the mud "plopping" and "hissing" in the active thermal ground.
• Norris Geyser Basin - As Yellowstone’s hottest and oldest thermal area, Norris is a stark, porcelain-white landscape teeming with activity. It is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser, which can shoot water up to 300 feet high. Explore miles of boardwalks winding through hissing steam vents and emerald pools, and keep an eye out for elk and bison that frequently wander through this surreal environment.
  
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Upper & Lower Falls) - Here, the Yellowstone River has carved a deep, spectacular canyon through yellow rhyolite rock. Visit Artist Point for the iconic view of the Lower Falls , which plunges 308 feet (94 meters)—twice the height of Niagara Falls. Upstream, witness the raw power of the Upper Falls, where the river rushes through a narrow chute with thunderous force.
  

YELLOWSTONE'S GEOLOGIC WONDERS & MONTANA'S ALPINE BEAUTY

Journey Highlight

• Mammoth Hot Springs - Located in the park's north, this area offers a geological landscape distinct from the rest of Yellowstone. It is world-renowned for its Travertine Terraces—spectacular stepped formations created as hot water flows over soft limestone and deposits white and ochre minerals. Because the rock here changes rapidly, it is often described as an "Inside-Out Cave," where sculptures usually found underground (like stalactites) are formed magnificently under the open sky.
• Tower Fall - Situated in the Tower-Roosevelt district, this 132-foot (40-meter) waterfall plunges past eroded volcanic pinnacles that resemble medieval towers. Beyond its beauty, it holds deep historical significance; a 1871 painting of this fall by Thomas Moran played a crucial role in convincing the U.S. Congress to establish Yellowstone as the world's first national park.
• Flathead Lake - Crossing into Montana, we visit Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. Famed for its crystal-clear water and reflections of the Rocky Mountains, it is a haven for water sports. Look out for Wild Horse Island State Park, home to bighorn sheep and wild horses. If traveling in summer, be sure to taste the famous local Flathead Cherries, a sweet seasonal delicacy grown right on the lake's shores.

WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PAR – WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE PRAIRIE

Today, we explore Waterton Lakes National Park, a globally unique destination that holds three prestigious designations: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Peace Park, and a Biosphere Reserve. Established in 1895, it joins with Montana's Glacier National Park to form the world's first International Peace Park. Famous for the dramatic landscape where the rolling prairies abruptly meet the sheer cliffs of the Canadian Rockies, the park is a sanctuary for biodiversity, strong winds, and pristine ecosystems.

Journey Highlight

• Two Medicine Lake (Glacier National Park) - Before crossing the border, we visit this spiritually significant region in Montana. Revered by the Blackfeet Nation as a site for "Vision Quests," the valley offers profound cultural depth. The highlight is the view of Sinopah Mountain reflecting perfectly in the calm waters—a photographer's dream and a place of deep serenity.
• Waterton Town - Nestled on the shores of Upper Waterton Lake, this alpine village is the perfect place to unwind. Enjoy views of the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel perched on the bluff, stroll the waterfront, or spot local deer wandering the streets. It offers a rare blend of wilderness grandeur and small-town hospitality.
• Cameron Falls - Located right on the edge of town, this accessible waterfall is a geological masterpiece. Watch crystal-clear water cascade over 1.5-billion-year-old Precambrian bedrock—some of the oldest exposed rock in the Rockies. After heavy rains, red argillite sediment can sometimes turn the water a striking pink-red hue, a rare phenomenon known as the "Pink Waterfall."

Banff National Park Exploration – Waterfalls, Canyons & Mountain Views

Journey Highlights

• Banff Mountain Sulphur Gondola (Optional$$): Soar to an elevation of 2,281 meters on a state-of-the-art gondola for breathtaking 360° views of six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley below. (Approx. 90mins. stop)
  
• Johnston Canyon: Explore this dramatic limestone canyon with its series of waterfalls, catwalks, and forest paths that showcase the power of erosion over millennia. (Approx. 60mins. stop)
  
• Bow Falls: Visit this wide, cascading waterfall near the Banff Springs Hotel, which gained fame as a filming location for "The River of No Return" in the 1950s. (Approx. 15mins. stop)
  
• Surprise Corner: Discover one of the most iconic viewpoints in Banff, offering the perfect vantage point to photograph the majestic "Castle in the Rockies" - the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. (Approx. 15mins. stop)
  
• Hoodoos Viewpoint: Marvel at these unique geological formations - tall spires of sedimentary rock created by differential erosion that stand like sentinels overlooking the Bow Valley. (Approx. 15mins. stop)
  
• Banff Town: Enjoy free time in this charming alpine town with its array of shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants nestled among stunning mountain scenery. (Approx. 90mins. stop)
  

Exploring Lake Louise and Yoho National Park

The journey continues through the heart of the Canadian Rockies with visits to the legendary Lake Louise and the awe-inspiring Yoho National Park. This spectacular day features some of the most photographed landscapes in Canada, from the turquoise waters of Lake Louise set against Victoria Glacier to the emerald-hued Moraine Lake nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. In Yoho National Park, marvel at remarkable natural formations and engineering wonders while learning about the geological forces that shaped this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Journey Highlights

• Lake Louise: Admire the breathtaking turquoise waters of this iconic alpine lake named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, with time to explore the shoreline and capture perfect photographs. (Approx. 2hrs. stop)
  
• Moraine Lake: Discover the stunning valley of the Ten Peaks featuring one of the most beautiful lakes in the Rockies with its distinctive vivid blue waters created by glacial rock flour. (Approx. 60min. stop)
  **Note: If it is closed, it will be replaced by Vermillion Lake.
  
• Yoho National Park: Experience this spectacular park whose name means "awe" in the Cree language, featuring dramatic waterfalls, towering rock walls, and alpine meadows.
  
• Spiral Tunnels: Witness an engineering marvel where the railroad crosses over itself in a figure-eight configuration, an ingenious solution to the steep mountain grade. (Drive through with commentary)
  
• Emerald Lake: Visit the largest of Yoho's 61 lakes and explore its shoreline surrounded by towering mountain peaks, with striking green waters that give the lake its name.  (Approx. 20min. stop)
  
• Natural Bridge: Observe this fascinating rock formation carved by the powerful Kicking Horse River, demonstrating the incredible erosive force of water on the landscape.  (Approx. 15min. stop)

From Banff to Jasper Along the Icefield Parkway

Journey Highlights

• Icefield Parkway: Travel along this 232km stretch of highway connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks, renowned as one of the world's most scenic mountain routes. (Pass through)
  
• Bow Lake: Admire the striking blue waters of this glacier-fed lake, which forms the headwaters of the Bow River that flows through Calgary. (Approx. 20min. stop)
  
• Columbia Icefield: Marvel at one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle, with the option to experience the glacier firsthand on the (Optional $$) Ice Explorer and Glacier Skywalk. (Approx. 3.5hrs stop)
  
• Athabasca Falls: Witness the raw power of nature as glacier-fed waters carve through ancient rock in this thundering waterfall. (Approx. 30min. stop)
  
• Jasper Town: Discover the charming mountain community that serves as the heart of Jasper National Park.

Exploring Jasper’s Natural Wonders

The exploration of Jasper National Park continues with visits to some of the park's most celebrated natural wonders. This day features the magnificent Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon, alongside other remarkable attractions in this pristine wilderness area. Journey through diverse mountain landscapes while discovering unique geological features, crystal-clear lakes, and abundant wildlife habitats. The optional Maligne Lake cruise offers the chance to see the world-famous Spirit Island, one of the most photographed locations in the Canadian Rockies.

Journey Highlights

• Maligne Lake: Experience Canada's second-largest glacier-fed lake, renowned for its stunning azure waters and surrounding mountain peaks. (Approx. 100min. stop; optional lake cruise available $$)
  
• Maligne Canyon: Explore this impressive limestone gorge with depths reaching 50 meters, carved over millennia by glacial waters. (Approx. 30min. stop)
  
• Medicine Lake: Witness the fascinating "Disappearing Lake" phenomenon, where the water level dramatically changes due to an underground karst system. (Pass through with commentary)
  
• Peyto Lake: Marvel at the vivid turquoise waters of this glacier-fed lake, shaped like a fox and offering one of the most iconic views in the Rockies. (Approx. 20min. stop)
  *If closed, it will be replaced by Waterfowl Lake.
  
• The Crossing: Visit this service hub that offers essential amenities for travelers exploring the Columbia Icefield area. (Approx. 10min. stop)
  
• Crowfoot Glacier: Observe this ancient ice formation named for its distinctive shape, a poignant reminder of climate change as its "third toe" has largely receded. (Approx. 15min. stop)