Jasper National Park Travel Forum

After stepping off an Alaska cruise 7-8am on 13th September we are undecided as to how to do and see the most through Banff, Jasper etc before heading back to Vancouver to fly home to Oz on the 18th. Have read through lots of advice to others but still SO undecided! Considered car hire but wonder how we would cope with being on the oppposite side of the road?? - (we are around the 60 yo range)
Doubt that we will get back to this area (So many places to visit) so the choicest if we can. Would consider all modes of transport!
Many thanks,
Shirley and Gary

Have you considered the Rocky Mountaineer??

http://www.rockymountaineer.com/australia/default.aspx?knc-nsggoogausb-ad1&gclid=CLLshd7K-JMCFR4sagodXlxjVg

We will be spending 3 days in Vancouver before OUR Alaskan cruise which sails on September 17 and are doing a day trip to Whistler (Whistler Mountaineer) and flying back via floatplane. Should be awesome.

Wasnt quite enough time AND money to do Jasper & Banff as well lol

Have a great trip.

Cheers
Col & Sue

I have not long returned from Banff and Lake Louise, I was lucky, it was a reward trip with work, we went to Vancouver then flew to Calgary and stayed at the Fairmont Banff and visited Lake Louise, I will go back and see more especially Whistler, I would have loved to have seen more but I can assure you every minute of the days were filled. Try not to miss Banff, I am 57 and my husband 61 and both of us have driven on the other side of the road you will be all right if that is what you choose to do. It is a pretty easy drive from Calgary to Banff once you are out of the city it is virtually just staying on the road with no turning off and you couldn't get lost in the Banff - Lake Lousie area. But I agree with the other posting, I had a float plane trip from Victoria back to Vancouver it was a wonderful experience. It is a long way to go not to see both Whistler AND Banff and the Farimont hotels are wonderful and in such stunning settings. On the way home on the plane I had a couple of Australians from WA sitting next to me who were very experienced travellers. They were saying that the one thing they were dissapointed with was that they saw Canada first and Alaska last if they had known they would have reversed it, they were not dissapointed with Alaska they enjoyed it but they said they thought Canada had such stunning scenery Alaska was almost a dissapointment.

I know you will love your time there, enjoy.

Hi Sue, thanks for your reply. You are leaving on your cruise as we are leaving for home!
Did investigate the Rocky Mountaineer but unfortunately it departs too early. We need to make the most of that day of the 13th - wish we had allowed a couple of extra days! You live and learn. Do think we have to consider flying.
Great to read your home page - beautiful pics.
Have a terrific holiday and look forward to reading about it when you come back!
Kindest regards, Shirley

Many thanks Chrissie for your reply... can see that we may also resort to flying and taking bus from Calgary to Banff. It's frustrating that we have so much little time after disembarking from ship and to take later land transport means we are arriving into Calgary early hours of morning, or travelling thru night and missing scenery. (Hubby very reluctant to drive even after showing him your comments.) Maybe 2 days in Banff, take bus to Lake Louise/ Whistler then return to Vancouver. The comments from the couple on the plane re. "visit first" Alaska or ROckies" was definitely food for thought as I can believe this would be the case but WE certainly hadn't thought about it. So pleased we are doing cruise first!
You were very fortunate to have had your trip thru work, what a way to go.
Thanks again
Regards,
Shirley

Thanks Shirley, hope you have an awesome trip as well.....plenty to see and do.

We have booked some other cool stuff for Vancouver as well. On our first day we plan to take in Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension Bridge. Day 2 is our Whistler trip and on day 3 we are flying to Victoria, doing a whale watch cruise and taking a city tour.

We figure we will get time to rest on the cruise lol

Cheers
Col & Sue

Is the Rocky Mountaineer the same as VIA Rail? VIA Rail also does the train tours - you might want to check them out at www.viarail.ca if you haven't.

If cost is not a consideration, I would suggest flying to Calgary then renting a car to drive back to Vancouver. Unfortunately a one way vehicle rental is quite expensive, but if this is "once in a lifetime", it'll be worth it.

As for route, here are my suggestions:

Day One from Calgary - drive to Banff ( a bit more than one hour driving from Calgary's western city limits) and visit the Banff/Lake Louise areas. Lake Louise is a 45 minute drive from Banff. Overnight in either Banff or Lake Louise.

Day Two - drive from Banff or Lake Louise up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper (stopping at Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefields, Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls) the Icefields Parkway is the most scenic route in the entire country, in my opinion. I never tire of it!! Overnight in Jasper.

Day Three - gondola in Jasper for a fantastic view of the Rockies (weather permitting), a short hike at Mount Edith Cavell, then drive south on the Icefield Parkway to Lake Louise stopping at places you missed the day before. Overnight in Lake Louise, or if enough time, drive through Yoho and overnight in Golden, B.C. (Yoho National Park also has some very attractive points of interest, you may want to spend a couple of hours there).

Day Four - Drive Golden to Kelowna. Visit the wine growing region of western Canada. Note that you gain an hour as you cross a time zone between Golden and Revelstoke (in B.C.)

Day Five - spend some time in the Okanagan/Kelowna region, then drive the 4-5 hours to Vancouver along the Coquihalla (highway).

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful visit in Canada!!!

Happy Trails!!!

Fly round trip to Calgary, otherwise almost four days are just spent driving to and from the Rockies.

In the Lake Louise area is Moraine lake, walk up to the top of the boulders and take the picture of a lifetime. If it is in your budget, the Fairmont Lake Louise is one of the great hotel experiences in the world. In Jasper, take the ferry at Maligne lake to Spirit Island it is beautiful. If you have the time, stay overnight at the Emerald Bay Lodge, near Golden $$$, set at a beautiful lake amongst mountains. It is so remote, they don't allow cars ( shuttles pick you up from their parking lot a short distance away.

I would agree with another poster that the ice field highway is one of the most scenic in the world.

Also, the roads are easy, and big, you only have to watch out for animals.

You will really have a tough time "seeing the sights" in and around Banff and LL without a rental car. Things are really spread out, and a car is really essential, IMO.

Having said that, there are some tour companies that you could look into tours out of Banff with. www.discoverbanff.com is a good website for tour info. This would allow you to see a bit of the area.

Hi Shirley & Gary.

Know your feeling, I am from Perth WA and we took the Alaska cruise 27th June 2007, a great trip. Back to your question , I am early 60's and we flew to Calgary, hired a car for 8 days and immediately drove to Canmore in the Rockies ( approx 1.5 hours, a little lost getting out of Calgary , but then driving easy for next 8 days.

We used Banff as a base and also drove to Jasper for overnight stay. A car is essential to see the rockies, not much traffic, just keep the speed down, roads very good. We took the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver.

With 5 days available I think the drive from Vancouver will be too much. I recommend you take a cheap flight Vancouver Banff or Calgary and then hire your car, you will see more and be relaxed. No need to put yourself under pressure. You are welcome to view my pages and email me any queries.

Good Luck,
Mike ( Perth, Australia)