Welcome to beautiful Edmonton, Canada. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you arrive early, perhaps visit the biggest mall in North America: West Edmonton Mall, or instead, learn about Canadian living history at Fort Edmonton Park, visit the nearby Ukrainian Cultural Village, and explore the small theatres and diners of the University District.

Start your day at the Telus World of Science in Edmonton, exploring interactive exhibits and the Indigenous Traditional Room. Afterward, drive north to Metis Crossing near Smoky Lake. After dinner, you will head out in search of a view of the spellbinding northern lights (clouds permitting). Enjoy a bonfire under the darkness of the night sky and cook some s’mores while you’re waiting.

Included Activities:

• Peace River - Bonfire and Smore's
• Edmonton - Telus Science Centre

Prepare for an active day exploring heritage species at a wildlife park. After lunch, join Tales from the Trapline: A Métis Traditional Experience. Build a shelter, walk the land, and embrace nature. In winter, try traditional snowshoes. After dinner, venture out for another chance to see the northern lights. Alberta’s wide-open spaces and the clear skies at Métis Crossing offer an ideal aurora viewing experience. As a designated Dark Sky Preserve, Métis Crossing ensures minimal light pollution, providing excellent conditions for stargazing and northern lights sightings.

Included Activities:

• Smoky Lake - Snowshoeing
• Métis Crossing - Indigenous Knowledge & Wilderness Survival Course

Drive to Jasper National Park (approximately 5 hours), arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon. Once settled in, go searching for wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bears, and coyotes. In the evening, perhaps take yourself out for dinner in Jasper, as there are a variety of restaurants to choose from. Ask your local leader for suggestions on where to go.

Included Activities:

• Jasper National Park - Entrance Fee

Experience the caves, icicles, and frozen waterfalls of Maligne Canyon on an ice walk in the morning. The canyon’s name refers to its ethereal beauty in winter, where waterfalls freeze over and icicles cascade like teeth in the mouths of the park’s many caves. A local guide will safely escort you through this maze of natural ice sculptures while learning about Jasper’s karst topography and the mystery of disappearing Medicine Lake. Today is lunch at Jasper Brewing Co: Canada’s first National Park Brewery. The rest of the afternoon is free. Try one of Jasper’s short walking trails, admiring the scenic mountain ranges that greet you in every direction.

Included Activities:

• Jasper - Maligne Canyon Icewalk
• Jasper - Lunch at a National Park Brewery

Prepare for an unforgettable drive as you set out on the Icefields Parkway. The world-renowned roadway between Jasper and Banff stretches 232 kilometers (144 miles) through a landscape of jagged mountaintops and past 100 ancient glaciers. At its heart is the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains. The massive Athabasca Glacier, measuring 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long and 1 kilometer (.62 mile) wide flows within walking distance of the roadway, so take a hike to its toe (the current lowest endpoint of a glacier). Tonight, arrive at Lake Louise to relax and ready yourself for another active day tomorrow.

Included Activities:

• Icefields Parkway - Hike to toe of Athabasca Glacier

Lake Louise is an iconic snapshot of Canada, and today you’ll experience one of its many beautiful moods. There are many options on how to spend the day, including an optional horse-drawn sleigh ride past the glacial lake. You’ll be able to take a snowshoe hike along one of the lake’s many trails, or perhaps pop on a pair of skates and practice some figure eights (or ice stumbles) while gliding across the surface of the lake. Included today is lunch at The Station Restaurant – a heritage railway station that serves hearty Canadian favourites. If you’re looking to continue to put your feet up, the Fairmont Chateau does a beautiful afternoon tea. For those lucky enough to be in Lake Louise during its annual Ice Magic Festival in January, be sure to take a look at the precision and delicate skill on display in the various ice sculptures by the lake.

Included Activities:

• Lake Louise - Snowshoeing
• Lake Louise - All Canadian Lunch

Drive to nearby Banff (approximately 1 hour): Canada’s most famous mountain resort town. While located inside a national park, Banff offers plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars to distract you from the surrounding natural beauty. Gain a sense of Canadian Rockies culture at the Whyte Museum, where over 200 years of artwork tells the story of the rugged men and women who settled in Banff. Sub-zero temperatures turn Banff’s waterfalls into glittering ice sculptures, and today visit Johnston Canyon Ice Walk to see this all on display. Hike along steel catwalks built into the canyon walls and wander among massive pillars of ice. With all this adventuring, it’s a perfect time for a Beavertail tasting experience. Beavertails are deep-fried sweet dough made with whole wheat flour and pulled by hand to resemble the long flat tail of a Beaver. Order classic cinnamon and sugar or, go a little bit wild with some whipped cream and decadent Nutella.

Included Activities:

• Banff National Park
• Banff - Johnston Canyon Icewalk

Enjoy a free morning in Banff before an included snowshoe hike with your group at Sunshine Village Ski Resort, about 20 minutes out of town. To start, head above the tree line, and then put on your snowshoes and trek across the white powder with a professional guide. Your backcountry hike will be made extra sweet with a stop for hot cocoa and cookies on top of the (Sunshine Village) world. If you wish for additional excursions during your time in Banff National Park, pick from the following optional activities and contact us for current excursion pricing.

Included Activities:

• Banff - Guided snowshoe hike on Top of the World

In the morning, take a short drive to Canmore, which is within the Kananaskis Country park system, and embark on an included ice walk at the Grotto Canyon, using special hiking crampons to grip the smooth frozen creek beds. Alternatively, book yourself a dogsledding adventure with a trusted provider, where you’ll meet and greet the dogs on your team before being pulled along the frosty trails by these canines. Return to Banff for the night – a group dinner in town may be on the cards. If you wish for additional excursions during your time in Canmore, pick from the following optional activities and contact us for current excursion pricing.

Included Activities:

• Canmore - Grotto Canyon Guided Icewalk

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before a drive back to Calgary (approximately 1.5 hours). Your trip will end at Calgary International Airport, the arrival time depends on each group however If you decide to fly out this day, please don't book a flight before 3 pm. Drop off in Calgary city can be arranged, please discuss this with your Trip Leader.