Glacier & Banff National Parks

From USD $2,699.00
  • Duration: 7 Days (approx.)
  • Product code: G&BKALISPELL2CALGARY

Glacier and Banff National Parks


Dates:   June 21-27, 2020

Arrival City:  Kalispell Montana

Departure City:  Calgary Alberta Canada

Arriving Airport: Glacier International Airport

Departure Airport:  Calgary International Airport

Culinary Inclusions

18 Gourmet Meals

A big part of travel means tasting great meals that capture the culture and flavor of the region. Our culinary inclusions cover all your meals and drinks while on vacation with us. We utilize fresh local ingredients and every meal is prepared to your liking. Your flex pass is loaded with money for meals where we dine at the finest local establishments to truly immerse in the region's culture.

6 breakfasts

6 lunches

6 dinners

In transit refreshments, snacks, appetizers and specialty cocktails included.

Some meals will be prepared in the field by your Hospitality Guide. These are custom made to order gourmet meals. You value spending time in the landscapes viewing the wildlife and wonders. No need to rush off for reservations or worry about waiting in long lines.

Included Attractions

Columbia Falls

Glacier National Park

Going-To-The-Sun-Road

Lake McDonald

Banff National Park

Columbia Ice Fields

Canadian Rockies

Athabasca Falls

Stutfield Glacier

Lake Louise, Victoria Glacier

Crowfoot Glacier

Peyto Lake

Vermillion Lakes

Premium Lodging

3 night at Lake McDonald or Under Canvas Glacier Glamping, Lake Mcdonald

3 nights at Rimrock Resort and Spa, Banff

Day 1: McDonald Falls, Welcome Dinner on Lake McDonald

Premium Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge or Under Canvas Glacier Glamping

The Expedition Cruiser will pick you up from the Glacier International Airport by 11am. We’ll continue into Columbia Falls for lunch before entering through West Glacier. Due to the narrow roads and rock overhangs, vehicle regulations prohibit the Expedition Cruiser from entering major areas of the park. Luckily there are several shuttle options, including guided bus tours, hiking shuttles, and the free Glacier’s Going-To-The-Sun-Road Shuttle System with 8 stops on the west side of the park. All that to say, your time in Glacier will be primarily self-guided. However, on this day, we will head towards McDonald Falls aboard a hiking shuttle. Here, you may hike the 0.7 miles to the cascading falls or embark on a longer route to a surrounding lake. Either way, you’ll have ample options to stretch out your legs before we go to Lake McDonald Lodge. We’ll eat dinner at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room before boarding a guided evening boat tour on Lake McDonald. For those who will be staying the lodge, the evening is yours to enjoy. For those who will be glamping with Under Canvas, the Expedition Cruiser will escort you to your accommodations.

Day 2: West Side Scenic Red Bus Tour

Premium Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge or Under Canvas Glacier Glamping

For our first day in Glacier, we’ll rise early to begin our exploration of the west side of the park on a scenic Red Bus Tour. There are a variety of routes to choose from ranging 3 to 8 hours in duration. Depending on your preference and how you wish to explore Glacier National Park, you may spend the entire day aboard the Red Bus, or choose a shorter tour in order to use the extra time to explore the park independently. The choice is yours! Your National Park Escapes guide will provide trail maps and an overview of the west side of the park to help you navigate regions such as Lake McDonald, Logan Pass, and North Fork - all of which boast breathtaking views of the park. We will meet at the west entrance around 5pm to check in to our accommodations, either at Lake McDonald Lodge or Under Canvas Glamping.

Day 3: East Side Scenic Red Bus Tour

Premium Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge or Under Canvas Glacier Glamping

Today we’ll head into the park to explore the east side of Glacier. Whether that’s aboard a Red Bus, or independently through the free shuttle system with 9 eastbound stops, the day is yours to experience Glacier at your own pace. Maps and overviews of the east side will be provided to help you navigate regions such as Two Medicine, Many Glacier, Goat Haunt and St Mary. The park also provides guided boat tours on Lake McDonald that can be scheduled for any day that we are in the park. We will meet at the west entrance around 5pm to head back to our accommodations.

Day 4: Glacier National Park - Explore West or East Side

Premium Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge or Under Canvas Glacier Glamping

This morning, have your luggage ready to be loaded onto the Expedition Cruiser. Today is a day to explore areas of Glacier that you may not yet had a chance to visit. With so much to see in the park, this third day is sure to be filled with majestic landscapes and gorgeous views at every corner. For those who will be Glamping, the Expedition Cruiser will be available to shuttle you into the park later in the morning if you wish to sleep in. Take this time to soak in every bit of Glacier as our time in the park comes to a close. We will meet at the Visitor Center at 6pm and make our way back to our accommodations.

Day 5: Cave and Basin National Historic Area, Sulphur Mountain, Banff National Park

Premium Lodging: Rimrock Resort and Spa: Banff, AB

Our journey towards Banff will begin after breakfast. We’ll spend the morning on a scenic drive along the Canadian Rockies, viewing lush mountainous landscapes. When we arrive in Banff, take time to explore the shopping districts, pubs, wineries and galleries before we embark on a guided tour of the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Known as the birthplace of all national parks across Canada, we’ll explore the cave and view the beautiful underground hot springs that make this region so unique. Later, we’ll ascend in a modern, fully enclosed four-passenger gondola cabin to the top of Sulphur Mountain to experience a stunning bird’s-eye view of six incredible mountain ranges. Glide up over the treetops to the crest of a steep-sided Rocky Mountain peak and observe jaw- dropping mountaintop views at 7,468 feet. Continue to marvel at the view through the glass walls of Sky Bistro, where we’ll enjoy a distinctly Canadian menu featuring a handpicked selection of local meats, produce and ingredients. Our night will conclude at Rimrock Resort and Spa, nestled in the heart of Banff National Park.

Day 6: Columbia Icefield, Waterfalls, Glaciers and Alpine Lakes of Banff National Park

Premium Lodging: Rimrock Resort and Spa: Banff, AB

Today we’ll travel along one of the world’s most spectacular routes to the Columbia Icefield. Once at the glacier, we’ll board a massive Ice Explorer for an adventure atop this ancient ice block. Learning about the area’s unique ecosystem and its formation, we’ll make our way through Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield. The views of sprawling rocky mountain vistas and local wildlife unfold along the way with photo stops at Athabasca Falls and Stutfield Glacier. We’ll breathe in the fresh mountain air at several scenic viewpoints such as Lake Louise, Victoria Glacier, Crowfoot Glacier, and Peyto Lake before returning to our accommodations at Rimrock Resort and Spa.

Day 7: Vermillion Lakes, Farewell Dinner in Calgary

The morning is yours to enjoy the shopping district and local culture of Banff or explore the surrounding hiking trails to the Vermillion Lakes. After lunch we will make our way towards Calgary with stops along the way for hiking and photographing the Canadian Rockies. Once in Calgary, we’ll stop for a farewell dinner to wrap up our adventure. The Expedition Cruiser will escort you to the airport if you are departing on this day. If you have booked post-trip accommodations, we recommend visiting the Calgary Stampede before you go. We hope you enjoy traveling with us. Thank you for choosing National Park Travel Club.