Hi

Myself and 2 friends are heading to Canada for 6/7 days in March 2006. We want to spend 2-ish days in Vancouver (where we fly into) and then we want to do a tour of the rockies. Only need some good tour company's....

Firstly, we can get a 5 day/4 night tour from Vancouver - all by coach!! but I figure (and please tell me if I am wrong) we only really need to see the stretch from Jasper to banff (or Calgary to Jasper) as we are pushed for time and I am not too sure about spending 4 days in a coach/bus (one day is the Jasper to Banff)

So I am looking for a day tour or a 2 day tour from with Calgary/Banff to Jasper taking in the best sights of Lake Louise (would LOVE to stay overnight at Lake Louise) and Icefield Parkways and all the frozen lakes etc.

Please HELP!!

Thanks in advance
Tam

Hi,

try Brewster's at the following web site. They are the oldest and biggest tour company for Banff National Park. You may want to consider renting a car as well so you can go where and for how long you want. Jasper is very nice and not as commercialized as Banff BUT the Highway between Lake louise and Jasper in March maybe nasty if not closed so be ready. Calgary to jasper is about 6- 6.5 hours by car with a good scenic chunk being two lane. The Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs are beautiful but not cheap.

email me if you need more

Zoom

http://www.brewster.ca/

Hi Tam,

If you do not like to spend so many days on a coach, why don't you rent a car for a few days to explore Banff and Jasper. It might be well worth it and this way you can stop wherever you want and stay as long as you want at the places you like. If you have no other choice than go by coach then Brewster might be your answer, like someone already suggested. If you can get to Calgary or Banff on your own, then you can get trips from Calgary to Jasper and back. They offer several different coach trips through the Canadian Rockies: http://www.brewster.ca/Holidays/Motorcoach.asp

I have been to the Rockies several times and would strongly suggest to take in Yoho National Park aswell (located just over the border of Alberta in British Columbia) which borders with Banff National Park at the area of Lake Louise. It might be worth looking into! I find that the area from Lake Louise to Jasper is really worth to see. Banff town itself is nice too, but the stretch between Lake Louise and Jasper is more spectacular and more rugged.

Lake Louise is a nice place to stay overnight. While you are in that area, don't forget to visit Moraine Lake...this is a gorgeous lake near Lake Louise. Although it might be closed if there is too much snow on the roads.

If you do go to Jasper town you might want to go out to Maligne Lake and take a cruise to Spirit Island. The cruise takes 90 minutes and costs $35 CAD, but it's really worth it. It's a gorgeous place.

Good luck in planning! (and questions are welcome!)
Take care,
Ann

I have just returned home to the Bahamas from the Edmonton/Jasper/Banff areas. We, my wife and I, rented a car in Edmonton and drove over to Jasper, and then down to Banff, over to Calgary, then back to Edmonton. Of course this took about ten days. The point I wish to make is this - however you make the journey, I would recommend going from north (Jasper)to south (Banff) as this is supposed to be the more picturesque direction I am told by the locals. The scenery is AWESOME! Have fun.

Another point:
Unless you are really into the big city scene, I would skip Calgary. Nothing very important there to see. However, all Albertans are very nice.

Sounds like an interesting trip, though I'm thinking March may be a little early (though I've never been there). I'm considering traveling with 2 other couples by train Vancouver -> Jasper then Banff -> Vancouver. There are packaged tours at about $6K PP for a 9-10 day excursion, but you can get a train-only ticket for about $750 each way (i.e., about $1,500 for the train rides). We would rent a ven to drive from Jasper -> Banff. July, 2006. I'm in the beginning/thinking/daydreaming stage right now, and hope to get more educated as time goes by. We went to Alaska summer 2005 and I found that a little research helps. One thing that I need to know is whether there is a rainy period and about insects. I understand that biting flies can be bad is certain parts of southern Canada, and noticed somewhere in my browsing for this trip that one of the locations between Jasper/Banff is called mosquito pass/mountain/summit or something like that.

Hi. I will be travelling to Vancouver and moving on to banff from 21-31 March 2006 for my honeymoon. Heard the views of mountains and lakes are the nicest during summer. A pity we are going in March. Let's hope we don't lack any activities during this period of March.

I am planning on driving from Vancouver to Banff. Anybody has any tips on driving along Trans Canada Highway during March? Hope it isn't too complicated.