Self-Drive Wilderness & Fossils

Tour Information

Take a step back in time! Head-Smashed-In Historic Site and Museum commemorates the oldest buffalo jump on the Canadian prairie. In contrast, you will also visit Drumheller and see the Badlands where dinosaurs used to roam!

Day 1

Calgary
Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport, pick up your rental car and proceed to downtown Calgary and your selected hotel. Calgary, a city of over 1,000,000 people, is renowned for its Western hospitality and first-rate attractions to visit including, Fort Calgary. This attraction brings history to life by telling the stories of the Northwest Mounted Police site, the settlement and the people of Calgary through dynamic interpretation and exciting exhibits. Interactive and hands-on opportunities are found around every corner! Also included is admission to the Calgary Tower observation level and revolving restaurant which afford great views of the city and the mountains to the west.
Overnight: Calgary Marriott Hotel
Deluxe: The Fairmont Palliser Hotel

Day 2

Calgary to Waterton (171 miles)
Visit Heritage Park this morning before departing Calgary. Travel south to Waterton Lakes National Park via the Bar U Ranch. Established in 1882, this was one of the foremost ranching operations in Canada, and is now a National Historic Site. Continue the day’s travels through this amazing part of southwestern Alberta, a land where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains and where more than half the plants native to Alberta can be found, a wildflower paradise. Then continue to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Head-Smashed-In is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved bison jump sites in North America, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1981 by UNESCO. According to legend, about 150 years ago a young brave wanted to witness the plunge of countless buffalo as his people drove them to their deaths over the sand-stone cliffs. Standing under the shelter of a ledge, like a man behind a waterfall, he watched the great beasts cascade past him. But the hunt was unusually good that day, and as the bodies mounted, he became trapped between the animals and the cliff. When his people came to do the butchering, they found him with his skull crushed by the weight of the buffalo. Thus, they named the place "Head-Smashed-In". The Interpretive Centre documents the buffalo hunting culture of the Plains people from the ancient times to the arrival of the Europeans. Continue to Waterton Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1931 Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta and Glacier National Park in Montana were named the first International Peace Park. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight: Bayshore Inn
Deluxe: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 3

Waterton
The day is yours to discover the wonders of this beautiful region. You may wish to travel to Montana’s Glacier National Park (the U.S. half of this International Peace Park) via the famous Going to the Sun Road, an astonishing feat of engineering with spectacular scenery as well. This afternoon board the International Boat for a breathtaking interpretive tour of Waterton Lake.
Overnight: Bayshore Inn
Deluxe: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 4

Waterton to Banff (237 miles)
Your morning is at leisure to enjoy the park. This afternoon, depart Waterton Lakes and travel to Banff National Park and the mountain resort town of Banff. Hot sulphur water bubbling from the side of Sulphur Mountain was well known by the local aboriginal peoples of the 1800’s. The hot spring was "discovered" by a pair of American hunters in 1875 and Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors who happened upon the location in 1883. The Canadian government declared the hot spring to be a "federal preserve" in 1885 and two years later, Rocky Mountain National Park, Canada’s first national park, was officially established. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Mount Royal Hotel
Deluxe: The Fairmont Banff Springs

Day 5

Banff
Enjoy a day to explore in Banff. A river rafting float trip is on the agenda today. Sit back and enjoy the grandeur of the Canadian Rocky Mountains while floating down the magnificent Bow River. A short nature stop allows viewing of wildflowers and an opportunity to take pictures. Your experienced river guide will share information on the Bow Valley’s natural and local history along the way. Also enjoy a ride today on the Banff Gondola, which rises 700 metres (2,310 feet) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (2,286 metres/7,544 feet) for panoramic views of the Bow Valley, Banff town site and surrounding mountain peaks. One more item included today is admission to the Banff Park Museum. The museum is a National Historic Site, and is Canada’s oldest natural history museum. The museum has wildlife specimens dating back to the 1860’s.
Overnight: Mount Royal Hotel
Deluxe: The Fairmont Banff Springs

Day 6

Banff to Columbia Icefield (83 miles)
Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Park accounts for most of the 22,990 square kilometres of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depart Banff today on your way to the Columbia Icefield. You may want to stop at Lake Louise, the "Jewel of the Rockies" and take a walk by the lake or rent a canoe. Leaving Lake Louise, travel to Cline River where a helicopter tour awaits. This scenic flight will allow you to explore the 6 glaciers of Mount Resolute, Mount Cline and the Whitegoat Peaks. You will also view the 900 foot waterfall, some spectacular aqua-green high alpine lakes, and cross a 9,000 foot mountain pass. Continue on your way to the Columbia Icefield. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and then take a ride out on the Athabasca Glacier on a specially constructed Ice Explorer. The Athabasca Glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield, the greatest mass of ice outside the Arctic Circle. The ice is 365 metres (1,200 feet) thick - about the height of the Empire State Building.
Overnight: Glacier View Inn
Deluxe: Glacier View Inn

Day 7

Columbia Icefield to Drumheller (269 miles)
Today, depart the Columbia Icefield and travel to the badlands of Alberta. Drive to Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site. This site shows the history of the fur trade from 1799 when both the Hudson Bay and the Northwest Companies built trading posts at Rocky Mountain House. For 76 years, Rocky Mountain House witnessed a colourful history, which included trading with eight different Aboriginal tribes, voyageurs, explorers and missionaries. Continue through the Rocky Mountain Forest. Continue to Drumheller through the cities of Red Deer and Stettler. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. Take time to explore the area. This is where the dinosaurs used to roam!
Overnight: Best Western Jurassic Inn
Deluxe: Best Western Jurassic Inn

Day 8

Drumheller to Calgary (87 miles)
Take a full day to explore the amazing Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Since 1985, the largest collection of treasures from the Dinosaur Provincial Park has been housed in the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology located six kilometres north of Drumheller. Imagine tracing the path of life on Earth back 3.5 billion years. This journey is made possible through the science of paleontology, the study of ancient life through fossils. At the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the results of this study are revealed in displays, hands-on exhibits, computers and mini theatres. The unique display area houses plants descended from those that existed on Earth 350 to 15 million years ago. Drive to Calgary this afternoon for your final night in Alberta.
Overnight: Calgary Marriott Hotel
Deluxe: The Fairmont Palliser Hotel

Day 9

Calgary
Your Wilderness & Fossils vacation concludes with a morning checkout from your Calgary accommodation.

Day 10

Arrive back to the UK

What's Included

• Transatlantic schedule flights
• Car hire (economy size)
• Accommodation for 8 nights
• Trail of the Great Bear Travel Pack
• Luggage handling at hotels
• National Park fees
• Self-drive routing, maps, itinerary and general information package
• Admission to the following: Heritage Park, Calgary Tower, Calgary Zoo, Glenbow Museum, Bar U National Historic Site, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton Lakes International Cruise, Banff Gondala, Bow River Float Trip, 20 minute helicopter ride - Cline River, Ice Explorer on the Athabasca Glacier, Photograph at the Columbia Icefield, Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology.