Canadian Rockies

National Park Society

Discover Your National Parks

Canadian Rockies

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park

Itinerary for July 21-28, 2010

Day 1 – Calgary / Welcome Dinner Calgary Tower

Arrive at the Calgary Airport from your home city. Transfer to the downtown Calgary Marriott Hotel or similar.

Enjoy a welcome dinner (included) at the Calgary Tower with sweeping views of Canada’s fastest growing major city, the Saddledome Sports Complex, and the beckoning Canadian Rockies to the west.

Day 2 – Kananaskis Country / Bow Valley Parkway

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Begin your mountain holiday with a journey into the Kananaskis Country. Made of hard quartzite and jagged limestone, these mountains will impress you with their wildness and solitude. Close to Banff yet much less visited, the area comprises six provincial parks and is a haven for wildlife.

Lunch at the Fireweed Grill in the Kananaskis Village. Continue past Mount Kidd and the Three Sisters formation, through Canmore, and up the slow-paced and scenic Bow Valley Parkway.

A 1.5 mile round-trip walk into Johnston Canyon takes us to Lower Falls. See also Castle Mountain and the Bow River. Arrive at Lake Louise Village and the Lake Louise Inn or similar for a two-night stay.

Day 3 – Moraine Lake / Yoho National Park / Lake Louise

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Drive a short distance this morning to one of the gems of the Canadian Rockies – Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. In the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake casts a spell on everyone who looks down on her unearthly turquoise-colored waters.

Cross into British Columbia and enter Yoho National Park. Yoho is Cree for “awesome” and no doubt you will agree. See Natural Bridge and the Kicking Horse River.

Stop at Emerald Lake for a deli picnic lunch. Enjoy an optional three-mile walk around this gorgeous lake or a drink at the historic lodge.

Above the lake is the Burgess Shale. This site is widely believed to contain the world's finest Cambrian-aged fossils. In recognition of the unique and exceptionally well preserved fossils of soft-bodied marine organisms that lived in Cambrian seas 515 million years ago, the Burgess Shale was identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

In the afternoon light we will visit the 833 feet high Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest.

Continue to world-famous Lake Louise and spend time photographing, walking along the north shore of the lake or exploring Chateau Lake Louise.

Day 4 – Banff National Park / Icefields Parkway North / Snocoach Ride

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Proceed north along the Icefields Parkway, called by many travel writers one of the top ten scenic drives in the world.

Enjoy one of the region’s most unique experiences – a ride in a specially designed snocoach (included) on top of 1,000 foot deep Athabasca Glacier! Walk atop the ice and drink 10,000 year-old water, some of the purest on the planet.

Lunch at Sunwapta Falls Resort and view splendid Sunwapta Falls. Continue to the town of Jasper for a two-night stay at the Chateau Jasper or similar.

Day 5 – Jasper National Park /Maligne Lake Cruise / Jasper Area Tour

Breakfast included at the hotel.

This morning we will travel Maligne Road, also called the wildlife road due to common sightings of Moose, Elk, Bear and Big Horn Sheep. At the end of the road is spectacular Maligne Lake where we will enjoy a 90 minute cruise (included) to historic and photogenic Spirit Island.

Lunch at Maligne Lake before a walk through Maligne Canyon. Afternoon sightseeing includes scenic Patricia and Pyramid Lakes. This evening visit Jasper Town or the classic Jasper Park Lodge for casual ambiance, conversation and travel stories.

Day 6 – Icefields Parkway South / Athabasca Falls / Kootenay National Park

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Travel south this morning on the Icefields Parkway for a different perspective of the world-class scenery. Stop at thundering Athabasca Falls and be humbled by its power. Look for mountain goats at Goat Lick.

View aquamarine Peyto Lake, named after the early explorer-guide Wild Bill Peyto. Continue to Bow Lake and lunch at historic Num-ti-jah Lodge. After lunch, visit Crowfoot Glacier.

A short side trip into Kootenay National Park brings us to gorgeous Marble Canyon for a walk of 30 minutes that takes you back 500 million years in geologic time.

Drive the Trans-Canada Highway into Banff and check into the Banff Caribou Lodge or similar for a two-night stay. Rest up before dinner and shopping on the town.

Day 7 – Banff Area Tour / Afternoon Options / Dinner Theater

Breakfast included at the hotel.

See the best of Banff this morning with stops at Vermillion Lakes for the morning reflection of Mount Rundle and wildlife viewing. See Bow Falls and Cascade Gardens.

Drive Tunnel Mountain Road for overlooks into the Bow River Valley and fantastically shaped hoodoos as well as photo stops for Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle.

Enjoy a special lunch at the historic castle-like Banff Springs Hotel.

This afternoon choose between options that include free time in the town of Banff, the Banff Gondola up Sulfur Mountain, an area hike for wildflower viewing, or a visit to the town’s museums.

Or simply rest in preparation for our evening activity – a farewell dinner at the dinner theater presentation of “Oh Canada, Eh? (included.)

This award winning dinner show is a musical celebration of Canada. Meet singing Mounties, lumberjacks, a hockey player, Anne of Green Gables and many other Canadian characters as you enjoy the songs and scenes of Canada.

While you are enjoying the show, the performers also serve you a five-course meal representative of the culinary specialties of the different regions of Canada. A wonderful way to end a memorable tour of the Canadian Rockies!

Day 8 – Transfer to the Calgary Airport

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Drive about 1.5 hours to the Calgary Airport this morning for your flight home. Allow time to clear international customs. You should not book your departure flight earlier than 11:00 AM.

Bid farewell to your guide until your next fun-filled tour together.

Trip complexity: Walking over uneven ground to scenic overlooks with optional hiking available. Highest elevation is 7,000 feet. Suggested clothing and packing list available.

Price: $2,399 ($2,299 Pillar Member) per person double occupancy. $3,099 ($2,999 Pillar Member) single occupancy. We can assist with finding a roommate if desired.

Price includes your group's own private ranger-guide Kent Taylor, small group touring--20 persons maximum, 7 nights lodging in three-star properties, ground transportation, airport transfers, all breakfasts, all lunches, two dinners, all activities, park entrance fees, taxes, luggage handling and maid gratuities. Guide tip, airfare, alcohol and items of a personal nature are not included. Contact Kent Taylor for assistance with your airfare if needed.

Deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve space. Balance due 60 days prior to departure. No refunds after May 21, 2010. Travel insurance recommended.

For information and reservations, please contact Kent Taylor at the National Park Society at info@nationalparksociety.com. Or call 719-322-5694.

Banff, Jasper, Kootenay
and Yoho National Parks for Photographers with Kent Taylor

Co-sponsored by the National Park Society and Pillar Institute of Learning

July 21-28, 2010

8 Days, 7 Nights

The national parks of the Canadian Rockies have been given World Heritage Site status and named by National Geographic Traveler Magazine one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime.”

The jagged peaks, rushing rivers, towering water falls and abundant wildlife make this place a unique vacation area for lovers of all things wild and beautiful.

This tour will focus on photography with instruction for beginning and intermediate photographers in the creative aspects of composition and use of natural light for landscapes and wildlife. Optional early morning and evening outings will take advantage of magic light and wildlife viewing.

Non-photographers will also enjoy this tour for the scenic locations, history, geology, culture and wild animals.

Your Guide - Ranger Kent Taylor

Kent Taylor is a park ranger and former college professor and is the founder and director of the National Park Society.

Kent is a professional photographer and has created a line of greeting cards and calendars and produces travelogues featuring his photography from around the world.

He has worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife monitoring the health of deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep.

Kent has worked for the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service and is a member of the Association of National Park Rangers.

He has been guiding small-group national park tours in the United States and Canada since 1984 and leads yearly trips to the Canadian Rockies.

On this vacation you will improve your photography skills, return home with fantastic images and learn about the fascinating geology and history of the area as well as the diverse animals and plants that live here.

Tour highlights include:

Jasper National Park