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Get your fix of thrilling winter activities in Canada’s Rocky Mountain wilderness.

Canada is stunning any time of the year, especially in winter, so why not fulfil all your snow-covered fantasies in the Rockies? This action-packed trip is winter at its best, with hearty Canadian food and cosy lodging to satisfy the most seasoned traveller. Hike past rugged mountain ranges, try some cross-country skiing, skate on a lake in Invermere and see frozen waterfalls at Grotto Canyon. You’ll have the chance to travel the world-famous Icefields Parkway and hike the Athabasca Glacier, and soak in a natural hot spring amongst the forests in the Columbia Valley. Learn a thing or two about curling and hockey – two proudly Canadian sports – from the pros in Canmore, and dine on Canadian favourites in Lake Louise. Keep warm because this 10-day Rockies winter adventure is frosty. Seriously frosty.

Start
Canmore, Canada
Finish
Calgary, Canada
Destination
Canada
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
SWTW
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 4, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • See for yourself why the Icefields Parkway is considered one of the world’s most beautiful drives – a stretch of road that winds past soaring mountain peaks, lakes, valleys and waterfalls.

  • Experience a special group hike through a closed ski area at the secluded Fortress Mountain – a filming site for many Hollywood blockbuster films.

  • Go on two ice walks at Grotto and Johnston canyons, past frozen waterfalls, icy rock formations and possibly a few daredevil ice climbers.

  • Put on all the gear and get competitive in ice hockey. The pros will show you the ropes, then you’ll get the chance to test out your new skills against them!

  • Consider a rare opportunity to glide over the snow with a pack of husky dogs on an optional dog sledding tour, from trusted and vetted companies.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Less time spent in a vehicle; more time to explore each destination. This trip has been carefully designed to give you the best experience of a region by reducing the number of one-night-only stops, giving you extra time in the places that matter.

  • The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring your warm clothes.

  • Winter weather can be unreliable. Roads in these areas are well-maintained and regularly ploughed, but in the event of unusually heavy snowfall there may still be delays and closures. The weather may also mean that some events are cancelled, or scheduled activities become unsafe. We will attempt to rearrange the itinerary or schedule replacement activities if this is the case.

Map of Canadian Rockies Winter Adventure including Canada
Curling
Fat bike riding, Couple
Dog Sledge, Snow
Canada, Jasper, Athabasca Glacier, Group, Ice trek
Canada, Alberta, Lake Louise
Canada, Alberta, Johnston Canyon
Canada, Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Bragg Creek

Itinerary
Expand All Collapse All

Make your own way to Canmore, a charming mountain nestled in the Canadian Rockies. There are no airports here, so we suggest flying to Calgary as a number of companies offer frequent shuttles between the two cities (departing from either the international airport or major hotels in the downtown area). Your winter adventure officially begins at in Canmore with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Following the meeting, there’s an optional group dinner at a local restaurant where you’ll have to chance to get to know your fellow travellers. Otherwise, the evening is yours to enjoy as you please.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. Your leader will also ask your interest to undertake the optional activities that need reservations in advance, Dog-sledding or Cross-Country Skiing, offered on Day 4 of the tour. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange transportation that will have you arrive in time for today's welcome meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

TRANSFER TO CANMORE:
Shuttles between Calgary and Canmore run fairly frequently throughout the day, though they can vary in price. It’s a good idea to book your transfer in advance. We suggest either  banffjaspercollection.com/brewster-express or banffairporter.com

Tick the first item off your winter bucket list today as you head to Kananaskis Country for a day of snowshoeing. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive to Fortress Mountain, the filming site of several Hollywood blockbusters (such as The Revenant and The Bourne Legacy), and the location of your private guided tour. The hike is in an abandoned and closed ski area not open to the public, so take your time spend up to 5 hours looking around as you trek through untouched trails. Remember to dress accordingly and wear warm (preferably waterproof) boots, a proper winter jacket, hat and gloves. Return to Canmore in the afternoon for a free evening. A warming cup of hot chocolate from one of the many cafes is a great way to start.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fortress Mountain - Guided snowshoe hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a different kind of winter landscape as you embark on an ice walk through Grotto Canyon. See daredevil ice climbers scaling frozen waterfalls, and icy rock formations as you explore the creek bed floor with a local guide. Return to Canmore and grab some lunch before trading in your ice cleats for ice skates with a lesson at the Canmore Hockey Club. The time has come to let out your inner sporting superstar as local hockey players will show you the ropes and explain what you need to know to be a pro. You’ll have the chance don proper hockey gear and practice your new skills on the ice. The battle lines have been drawn, so it’s time to compete against your travel buddies!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Canmore - Grotto Canyon Guided Icewalk
  • Canmore - Learn to Be a Canadian Hockey Player
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

In the morning, head to the Canmore Curling Club for an introduction to another Canadian sport. Curling is so much more than brushing the ice, so be ready to learn a thing or two about the rocks and sweeping techniques – it’s harder than it looks! The afternoon is free to explore more of Canmore, and there are plenty of winter activities to keep you occupied. Today is one of two opportunities you'll have on this trip to go dog sledding, cutting through the snow like a Canadian explorer. Otherwise, those who like to cycle might want to hire a fat bike – a specialised winter bike outfitted with extra-wide snow traction, hand warmers and modified frames, perfect for winter conditions. There are plenty of scenic trails to explore of varying difficulty, like the Bow River Loop or Horseshoe Loop. Alternatively, Canmore’s snow-covered trees, mountains and animal tracks provide the perfect backdrop for cross-country skiing.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Canmore - Introduction to Curling
Optional Activities
  • Canmore - Dog-sledding - CAD200
  • Canmore - Fat Biking Tour - CAD65
  • Canmore - Cross-Country Skiing - CAD50
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Intrepid's commitment to animal welfare means we have chosen trusted dog sledding companies that adhere to strict ethical guidelines and can prove the humane treatment of the working dogs. Dog sledding in North America is a very popular winter activity, however we understand the personal hesitation travellers may have towards this, and that is why it is up to you to decide if you would like to participate or not.

After breakfast, take a short 30-minute drive to Banff, where there will be free time to stroll the main avenue and its shops, boutiques and art galleries. Though Banff’s main drag is touristy, the unfamiliar sight of snow-capped mountains framing the city is well worth it. After lunch, continue west to Canada’s main continental divide (a natural boundary of elevated terrain that separates the drainage basins of the country). This geological feature also happens to separate two provinces (Alberta and British Columbia) and two national parks (Banff and Kootenay). Explore the wilderness of this area on a guided 2.5-hour snowshoe hike through forests and secluded lakes. While out in this winter wonderland your leader will demonstrate how to make traditional maple taffy in the snow – a sugar candy made by boiling maple sap to a certain temperature. Afterwards, continue on to Invermere: a lakeside town in the beautiful Columbia Valley.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Columbia Valley - Guided snowshoe hike at Continental Divide
  • Columbia Valley - Traditional maple taffy experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today is a leisurely day in the Columbia Valley. Start the day skating in the great outdoors along frozen Lake Windermere. Measuring nearly 30 kilometres (18 miles) long, Lake Windermere is famous for being the world’s long’s ice-skating trail. Later on, warm up at the mineral-rich waters of Radium Hot Springs, located in the Kootenay National Park. Spend some time relaxing in the steaming pools, which are all surrounded by snow-covered pines.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Columbia Valley - Ice skating on Windermere Lake
  • Columbia Valley - Radium Hot Springs
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Head to Panorama Resort in the Selkirk Mountains for another active day. Take a guided snowshoe hike at the with your group leader, and afterwards, perhaps hire a fat bike and explore the resort at your own pace, or strap on some skis for some cross-country action. There is no shortage of ways to get active and explore this park. Out of the cold, you must try the Canadian food specialty of poutine – hot potato chips covered in cheese curds and doused in gravy. After your day on the mountain, head back to Invermere and find a warm pub for the night.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Panorama Resort - Guided snowshoeing
Optional Activities
  • Columbia Valley - Cross-country skiing - CAD40
  • Columbia Valley - Fat tire biking - CAD65
  • Columbia Valley - Snowmobiling - CAD125
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Journey back to Banff National Park (approximately 2 hours), arriving just in time for a hearty all-Canadian lunch at the Storm Mountain Lodge. Dine on meats from Alberta, cheese from Quebec and fish from BC in a rustic log cabin while a Canadian playlist croons in the background. After lunch, visit Johnston Canyon for an afternoon guided ice walk. A network of steel catwalks is built into the canyon wall, allowing you to walk right along this cathedral of ice. You’ll see staggering pillars of blue ice and frozen waterfalls towering 30 metres (98 feet) above your head. The magnitude, both above and below you, is a sight to behold.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Banff - All Canadian Lunch at Storm Mountain Lodge
  • Banff National Park - Johnston Canyon Guided Icewalk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Today, join your tour leader on a drive along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, seeing for yourself why this stretch of road connecting Lake Louise to Jasper is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. After travelling past snow-capped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and valleys filled with pine and larch, you’ll stop for what is bound to be a trip highlight – a hike to Athabasca Glacier, one of the six principal ‘toes’ of the Columbia Icefield. Alternatively, you can choose to have a free day in Lake Louise for one last fix of winter activities. Ask your tour leader about where you can go for some dog sledding, skating, cross-country skiing or a sleigh ride. In the evening, perhaps gather as a group and head to the Station Restaurant: a heritage railway station serving Canadian food.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Icefields Parkway - Hike to toe of Athabasca Glacier
Optional Activities
  • Lake Louise - Sleigh Ride - CAD37
  • Lake Louise - Dogsledding - CAD200
  • Lake Louise - Ice Skating including Hockey Stick - CAD20
  • Lake Louise - Cross-country skiing - CAD25
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Journey back to Calgary in a private vehicle. While there are no activities planned for the day, you can be transported to Calgary Airport or downtown depending on your plans.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The arrival time depends on each group however If you decide to fly out this day, please don't book a flight before 3pm. If you wish to spend more time in Calgary, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

If you do plan to stay longer in this beautiful part of the world, shuttles between Calgary Downtown and Calgary International Airport run fairly frequently throughout the day, though they can vary in price. Banff Airporter (banffairporter.com) or Brewster Express Bus (banffjaspercollection.com/brewster-express/) are two good choices. Taxi and Uber are also available.

Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights)

Included activities

  • Fortress Mountain - Guided snowshoe hike
  • Canmore - Grotto Canyon Guided Icewalk
  • Canmore - Learn to Be a Canadian Hockey Player
  • Canmore - Introduction to Curling
  • Columbia Valley - Guided snowshoe hike at Continental Divide
  • Columbia Valley - Traditional maple taffy experience
  • Columbia Valley - Ice skating on Windermere Lake
  • Columbia Valley - Radium Hot Springs
  • Panorama Resort - Guided snowshoeing
  • Banff - All Canadian Lunch at Storm Mountain Lodge
  • Banff National Park - Johnston Canyon Guided Icewalk
  • Icefields Parkway - Hike to toe of Athabasca Glacier

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip.

Essential trip information

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