Calgary, Banff, Columbia Icefield & Yoho

Banff National Park, Canada's first national park. Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola (optional) – 360° views (~90 min). Johnston Canyon walking trail, open year-round (~60 min). Bow Falls – filming location of "River of No Return" (~15 min). Surprise Corner – view of Castle Mountain (~15 min). Hoodoos – rock pillars where harder rock caps eroding sediment (~15 min). Banff Town – largest town in the national parks, shops and restaurants (~90 min). Overnight Banff.

Icefield Parkway – wilderness of mountain lakes, glaciers and broad valleys. Bow Lake – most visited lake on the Parkway, reflecting the Crowfoot range (~20 min). Columbia Icefield Snocoach (optional) – Glacier Adventure Ice Explorer onto the glacier (~2.5 h). Closed before the first Saturday of May and after the second Saturday of October; replaced by Minnewanka Lake (20 min) and Banff Upper Hot Springs (optional, pay onsite, ~60 min). Peyto Lake – colours change with season and weather (~20 min); if not accessible, replaced with Waterfowl Lake. Crowfoot Glacier – named for three ice masses like a crow's claws; only two remain (~15 min). Overnight Banff.

Lake Louise – named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (~2 h). Moraine Lake / Valley of the Ten Peaks (~60 min); open early June – early October, otherwise Vermilion Lake. Yoho National Park – name from a Cree expression of awe and wonder. Spiral Tunnels – keep the railway grade at or below 2.2% (pass through). Emerald Lake (~20 min). Natural Bridge (~15 min). Return to Calgary around 19:30. Sightseeing points and stop times depend on weather.