UNC-TV Director and General Manager Tom Howe and staff members will host this amazing journey. Prior to departure we will create, with your input, a unique itinerary for any days or evenings with no planned group meals or activities. We will help you make this trip your very own!
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| The Fairmont Palliser |
Calgary (Thursday, May 17)
The adventure begins in Canada's spectacular city of Calgary. You arrive at the airport and are met by a limousine for the trip to your hotel, The Fairmont Palliser, a historical landmark hotel set in the heart of the city. Relax from your journey in your luxuriously decorated and elegantly appointed Gold Floor room or explore the town. Take a stroll along riverside pathways and visit one of the many area attractions to experience the small-town warmth coupled with a vibrant urban ambience that makes Calgary a metropolis of wonderful contrasts.
At the end of your first day in Canada, you join your fellow travelers for a welcome reception and gourmet dinner at the hotel.
Calgary/Banff (Friday, May 18)
Following a relaxing breakfast at The Palliser Hotel, we will depart Calgary and travel the scenic route to Banff via deluxe motor coach. At our next stop, the exciting town of Banff, we will visit some of the most breathtaking spots in the area and then take the gondola up Sulphur Mountain for lunch and an optional walk along the ridge of the mountain. In mid afternoon, we check in at the opulent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality, and scenery of the beautifully restored Fairmont Banff Springs. Its unique blend of opulence and seclusion has been a symbol of Canadian Rocky Mountain magnificence for more than a century. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs offers stunning vistas, championship golf courses, international cuisine, and a world-class European-style spa. The Fairmont Banff Springs offers all the amenities you would expect from a four-diamond hotel, from the superbly appointed guest rooms to the attentive, personalized service.
On your first night in Banff, relax and enjoy a leisurely dinner on your own. Dine at one of the hotel's many restaurants or at one of the town's famous eateries. Whatever you decide, we'll make sure that your evening is everything you want it to be.
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| The Fairmont Banff Springs |
Banff (Saturday, May 19)
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a tour that will be a feast for the eyes and spirit. We’ll travel along the Bow Valley Parkway, stop at Natural Bridge, Yoho National Park, and Emerald Lake—all places that will dazzle you with their unique, natural beauty. After lunch at Emerald Lake Lodge--a gem hidden in a pristine wilderness--we make our way back to Banff.
That evening, we get together for a specially prepared dinner at The Fairmont Banff Springs. As an additional treat, David Moberg, the resident manager of the hotel for 47 years, will give us an insider's account of what it's like to run The Fairmont Banff Springs and point out what makes the hotel so unique. You return to your room ready for a pleasant night's sleep.
Banff/Jasper (Sunday, May 20)
Another day of touring lies ahead on the fourth day of our trip. We leave The Fairmont Banff Springs in the morning to begin a breathtaking drive to Jasper in our own comfortable motor coach. We will stop at the spectacular icefields and take a ride in a special glacier ice explorer. Snacks and lunch are served as we make our way to the rustic and beautiful Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta's Jasper National Park.
Jasper Park Lodge
Surrounded by snowcapped peaks and sparkling lakes, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the embodiment of the Grand Canadian Lodge Experience. The rustic elegance of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is designed to bring you closer to nature's peace, tranquility, and natural beauty. With the Best Golf Resort in Canada, as rated by the readers of SCOREGolf Magazine, spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities and fine cuisine, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is your own special alpine retreat.
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| The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge |
Unwind at the end of the day and enjoy a relaxing dinner on your own—we'll make sure you find the restaurant that appeals to you most—then retire to your elegantly rustic junior suite. Of course, you may just decide to spend the evening right at the hotel and dine at one of its fine restaurants, which include Cavell's Restaurant & Terrace and The Emerald Lounge & Patio.
Jasper (Monday and Tuesday, May 21 and May 22)
On the second day in Jasper, arise and enjoy breakfast before we set out for another day touring the Jasper area. We’ll enjoy beautiful Maligne Lake and Canyon before traveling on to Pyramid Lake where you’ll have an opportunity for a short walk on a peninsula. It’s a great spot to see elk and bask in the majesty of the mountains. We’ll return to Jasper for lunch, and then you can return to the hotel—or stay in town. There will be shuttles to and from town available throughout the afternoon. You can enjoy dinner on your own in town or at the resort.
Our third day finds you awakening to a hearty mountain breakfast at the lodge restaurant before taking a break and spending the day your way. There's a lot to do at the resort or in the nearby town of Jasper, with an abundance of recreational activities and places to shop. We'll take a break from organized touring so you can spend an unstructured day on your own, whether it's playing a round of golf, boating on the lake, visiting the nearby boutiques, or taking a hike. Or just read a book and take a nap—it's all up to you!
After enjoying your free time, you join your fellow travelers for a reception and dinner to celebrate our last night in Jasper.
Jasper/Lake Louise (Wednesday and Thursday, May 23 and May 24)
After breakfast, bid Jasper auf wedersehen and board the motor coach for the next leg of your Canadian Rockies journey. We will pause at the stunning Chateau Lake Louise for an unforgettable lunch, delicious dinner, and an overnight stay at this splendid hotel. Stroll around the grounds, dip your toe in a glacial lake, and absorb the tranquility provided by the majestic view.
Lake Louise/Calgary (Thursday and Friday, May 24 and May 25)
On Thursday partake of a delicious breakfast at the Chateau Lake Louise and revel in the spectacular scenery Lake Louise offers before we embark on the return trip to Calgary. A wonderful farewell reception and dinner await you at The Palliser. Then it's time for a restful night in a luxurious Gold Floor room.
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| The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge |
Conclusion (Friday, May 25)
All good things must end, and so it is with your UNC-TV Great Canadian Rockies Tour. Still, as you depart for your return flight home, you'll leave enriched by the experience, refreshed from what you've seen and done, and filled with memories that are yours to enjoy forever.