Classic Banff Hiking Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Calgary and transfer to Kananaskis
Day 2: Prairie View Lookout Trail
Day 3: Chester Lake or Burstall Pass 
Day 4: "Fire and Ice", Stanley Glacier Trail, Kootenay National Park.
Day 5: Lake Louise in Banff National Park
Day 6: Sentinel Pass or Iceline Trail
Day 7: Shuttle to Calgary

Day 1:  Arrive in Calgary
Upon your arrival in Calgary, you may take advantage of the group transfer to Kananaskis (please note, that only 1 transfer is provided and the time depends on the group's general arrival). Kananaskis Country, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, is one of Canada's most scenic areas. Get ready for incredible landscapes, soaring mountains, pristine lakes and waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The group meets in the evening to discuss plans and options for the following days.

Accommodation: Crosswaters, Kananaskis

Day 2:  Prairie View Lookout Trail, 8 mi. (13 km)
Your guide will meet you at the hotel after breakfast for your first hike in epic Kananaskis Country. The  Prairie View Lookout Trail is first on the agenda, a nice warm-up to your hiking adventure. This trail in the Front Ranges will allow you to see the incredible difference between looking east towards Calgary and the Prairies or west towards the incredible Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Elevation Gain: 420 m 
Duration: 3-4 hrs

Accommodation:  Crosswaters, Kananaskis
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Transfer to Banff and Kananaskis hike, 6 - 9 mi. (10 - 15 km)
Your transfer to Banff (125 km/2.5 hrs) will take you along the scenic Spray Lakes Road.

About halfway, you will stop for the day's hike at Chester Lake or Burstall Pass.

The Chester Lake Trail is a broader trail that begins with a climb through dense pine forest but then levels out into a beautiful alpine meadow surrounded by mountains. Burstall Pass Tail leads along several marshy lakes and streams before a steep ascent to level off on a high mountain pass with incredible views.

You, your guide, and your group will make the best decision on which trail to hike depending on the group’s ability and to let everyone get acclimatized to the higher elevation and dry air.

Elevation Gain: 350-450 m 
Duration: 3-5 hr

Accommodation:  Banff Park Lodge, Banff
Transfer distance: 125 km,  duration 2.5hr
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5:  Fire and Ice, 8 mi. (13 km)
Today’s hike leads into Kootenay National Park and the Stanley Glacier Trail. You’ll walk through a remarkable valley of “Fire and Ice.”  Fire refers to the 2003 wildfire that devastated much of the forest. New growth now blankets the same area but there are still visible signs of the fire.  “Ice” refers to the Stanley Glacier overhanging the cliffs at the head of the valley.

Elevation Gain: 600 m 
Duration: 4-5 hr

Accommodation: Banff Park Lodge, Banff
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Lake Louise, 11 mi. (18 km)
After a healthy breakfast, you will be transferred directly to Lake Louise, located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its natural beauty and abundance of activities. Here you will have a choice of hikes. You can walk to the historic Lake Agnes Teahouse, originally built in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a refuge for hikers, and serving tea since 1905.  Another option is the Plain of Six Glaciers classic hike which guides you alongside Lake Louise or you can do a round-trip circuit that will combine the two.  After your hike, you will head towards Lake Louise Village for the evening.

Elevation Gain: 400m
Transfer distance: 6-8 hr

Accommodation: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise
Transfer distance: 100 km (duration 1 hr)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Final Challenge, 8 mi.+ (12 km +)
For your final day of hiking, you will have a difficult choice to make, either Moraine Lake and Sentinel Pass with remarkable views over the Valley of the Ten Peaks, or the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park. You will discover why the Cree people called it Yoho, a name meaning “wonder and awe.” It’s a difficult choice to make because both trails are on the list of top hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies. You will be well rewarded at the end of the day with a farewell dinner.

Elevation Gain: 750 m+
Duration: 6-8hr

Overnight: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Calgary
Breakfast at Lake Louise Inn with a complimentary shuttle to Calgary included in the morning.

Meals Included: Breakfast

On each day’s details, the name of the preferred hotel is listed. Each of the lodgings has been chosen for its unique character and relatively easy access to other amenities.