Start and end your tour in Calgary, home to the greatest outdoor show on earth
Visit numerous National Parks, including Waterton Lakes, Yellowstone, Kootenay and Banff
Head to Salmon/North Fork for a taste of the old west
Drive the Icefields Parkway and see the Columbia Icefields
Days 1 - 2: Calgary, Canada
Steeped in western culture, Calgary is referred to as ‘Cowtown’ and is home to the ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’; the annual 10-day Calgary Stampede.
Explore lively downtown which is full of western boutiques, cool restaurants and live music venues playing everything from country to jazz. The views from the Calgary Tower Observation Deck are worth taking in too. Or, step back in time at the Heritage Park Historical Village. This 127-acre settlement will captivate you with Western Canada's historic challenges, triumphs and personal stories through the ages.
Days 3 - 4: Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada
Distance: 268 km / 166 miles
Today you’ll collect your motorhome and head south through the rolling prairie hills and cattle country to Waterton Lakes National Park, characterized by the meeting of the Rocky Mountain peaks with the low-land prairies.
Perhaps take a drive to Redrock Canyon, keep a lookout for bears on the drive as they are regularly seen along the road. Once at the canyon, you could take a walk to Blakiston Falls, take the Shoreline Cruise down the lake or drive the Akamina Parkway and rent a canoe on Cameron Lake.
Days 5 - 6: Glacier National Park, USA
Distance: 157 km / 97 miles
Cross the border into the USA on the drive to Glacier National Park. The park offers rugged mountain ranges, spectacular lakes, alpine meadows and forests. For those wanting to enjoy the wilderness and tranquillity, there’s an extensive network of trails that you can explore, with beautiful waterfalls and viewpoints. You can also discover an abundance of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, cougars, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Why not drive the famous 'going-to-the-sun' road, see goats at the Goat Lick Overlook or go canoeing on Lake McDonald.
Day 7: Deer Lodge, USA
Distance: 340 km / 211 miles
Today you’ll drive through Big Sky Country. The Seeley-Swan scenic drive is a 145 km/90 mile long corridor that stretches through the Swan Valley from Swan Lake to Seeley Lake. You’ll get that real cowboy feel at Deer Lodge with its wide open spaces and vast herds of cattle.
Days 8 - 10: Yellowstone National Park, USA
Distance: 296 km / 184 miles
Drive south to Yellowstone National Park where you can explore the wonders of the park with its array of mud pots, geysers and geothermal pools. Coming from the North Entrance, you'll drive the Upper Loop in the park, which leads you past Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls and Upper Falls. Your travel book will come in handy here and we suggest delving into this to make sure you won't miss anything along the way. Drive the Lower Loop to see the Old Faithful Geyser and Yellowstone Lake, to name just a couple of the attractions on route.
Grand Teton National Park lies in northwest Wyoming immediately to the south of Yellowstone National Park and is well worth a visit. The Teton Range lies here, rising directly out of the beautiful valley known as Jackson Hole. Many of the west's iconic animals (think elk, bears and bald eagles) call this park home so keep an eye out for them as you drive through. We suggest a boat ride across Jenny Lake to see Hidden Falls, one of the park’s greatest treasures.
Day 11: Salmon/North Fork, USA
Distance: 381 km / 236 miles
Eastern Idaho is an unexpected paradise for travellers looking to experience the Rocky Mountains and Snake River Plain. Drive from Yellowstone via Island Park, past Mesa Falls and the Menan Buttes to the Salmon/North Fork area, which offers a refreshing step back into the Old West.
Days 12 - 13: Missoula, USA
Distance: 225 km / 140 miles
Head north via Route 93 from North Fork to Missoula. Known as the 'garden city' for its trees and lush green landscape, Missoula is located near three major rivers and acres of forest, making for plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities. Perhaps try fly fishing or get out on the water in a kayak. Walking and cycling are also popular activities here. Missoula's historic downtown area is well worth a visit, boasting early 20th-century buildings, parks, shops and fine dining.
Day 14: Newport, USA
Distance: 336 km / 208 miles
From Missoula, you'll drive through the soaring mountains, pleasant valleys and deep blue lakes of the Lolo and Coeur d'Alene National Forests, so there'll be plenty of opportunity for amazing photo stops. Our overnight stop is Newport, a small, rural town located in northeast Washington popular for hiking, fishing, boating and swimming.
Days 15 - 16: Cranbrook (Fort Steele), Canada
Distance: 228 km / 141 miles
It's back to Canada today via Sandpoint, where it's worth a short stop to see the natural attractions of the area. Discover Lake Pend Oreille (Idaho's largest lake) the Moyie Falls and the Moyie River.
The City of Cranbrook is nestled in a valley with Kootenay National Park to the east and the Purcell Mountains to the west. Head a few minutes east of Cranbrook to discover Fort Steele Heritage Town, where you can experience life in Fort Steele during the late 1800s.
Days 17 - 18: Banff National Park, Canada
Distance: 262 km / 162 miles
From Cranbrook, head to Kootenay National Park and make sure to park up and take a walk to Sinclair Canyon. There are several incredible viewpoints along this drive and we would encourage you to explore them all. Olive Lake and the Kootenay Valley Viewpoint are particularly gorgeous, and stopping at both Numa Falls and Marble Canyon is a must.
Continue your drive to Banff and explore its surroundings at your leisure. You will have ample time to see Lake Minnewanka, the Vermillion Lakes, Johnston Canyon, the impressive Banff Hotel and also Sulphur Mountain where you can dip in the hot pools and take the gondola to the top of the mountain.
Days 19 - 20: Jasper, Canada
Distance: 288 km / 179 miles
Today you’ll drive the famous Icefields Parkway as you travel from Banff to Jasper. It’s possible to drive the Parkway in 3 hours but we recommend taking your time and admiring the scenery along the way. Enjoy constant views of crystal blue lakes, glaciers, forested hills and impressive waterfalls and be sure to look out for big horn sheep, deer, black bears, and coyotes as they are frequently spotted from the road. The Crowfoot Glacier and famous Peyto Lake are must-sees, and we suggest taking a glacier tour at the Columbia Icefields. You should also stop to marvel at the beauty of Lake Louise.
You're free to explore Jasper National Park at your leisure on day 20. Perhaps take a cruise on Maligne Lake, take a raft trip along the canyon or visit the flowered alpine meadows and glacier of Mount Edith Cavell. You could also hike on top of Whistler Mountain or take a dip in the historic Miette Hot Springs.
Days 21 - 22: Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Distance: 412 km / 256 miles
Rocky Mountain House has a long history dating to the 18th century when British and Canadian fur traders and explorers were searching for a passage west to the Pacific Ocean. Many travelers have used this location as a stop on their way further west or northwest, and you can spend some time here at your leisure.
Day 23: Kananaskis
Distance: 213 km / 133 miles
Today we head along Highway 22, known as the Cowboy Trail, which is lined with ranches, horse trails and rodeos. Located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, this is some of Alberta's prettiest country.
Days 24 - 25: Calgary to UK
Return your motorhome to the depot and take the shuttle to Calgary airport.
The holidays to Canada are provided by Alan Rogers Travel Ltd, a subsidiary of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. ATOL No.11309
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