Walking in the Canadian Rockies

Our tour of the Rockies and Pacific Coast starts in Calgary. This dynamic city is a rich fusion of modern architecture and traditional heritage, where the pioneering history of the Canadian West is woven into everyday life. Due to the number of flights arriving into Calgary late, our tour leader - who for the duration of the tour will also be our driver - will meet you in the hotel reception on the morning of day two. A message will be left at reception with details of timings as well as anything else you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Calgary International Airport (YYC), which is a 20-minute drive from the hostel. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to explore the city and soak up the friendly ambience. Filled with museums, shops and cafes, the centre of the city is a great place to meander and take in Calgary's culture, as well as the ever-present mountains that provide an awe-inspiring backdrop.

To the west of Calgary lie the stunning landscapes of Kananaskis Country, Alberta's breathtaking mountain playground. Driving out of the city, we'll head along the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) towards the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. This landscape is home to bears, elk, moose, and mountain lions. We'll hike out along the Kananaskis Lookout Trail later this morning, taking us through the forest and up to a fire lookout point. This offers some spectacular panoramas across the park to a sea of trees, barren peaks, wide valleys, and large lakes. Please note, during this trip, we'll stay at some beautiful campsites. Everybody is expected to help set up and break camp, as well as loading and unloading the trailer. Each camp has toilets and showers, and some have laundrette and kitchen areas. In the evenings, our tour leader will cook up a tasty meal to share. Today's 12 kilometre/7.5 mile hike is expected to take around four hours with 530 metres/1,739 feet of ascent.

Today we'll continue our exploration of the mountain landscapes in the beautiful Kananaskis Valley, making our way through the forests and willow flats of the Burstall Pass Trail. The wide trail climbs steeply, heading towards a patchwork of alpine meadows, passing Burstall Lakes. Crossing Burstall Creek we'll continue through a wildflower alpine meadow ascending to the viewpoint. On a clear day, we'll be rewarded with views out towards Mount Sir Douglas to the south, Mount Birdwood to the north and the peaks of Mount Galatea, The Fortress and Mount Chester. Today's 16 kilometre/9.9 mile hike is expected to take around 5.5 hours with 675 metres/2,214 feet of ascent.

We'll begin hiking in the Banff region today. Set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and the site of the country's oldest national park, Banff is an expansive wilderness, taking up 6641 square kilometres and comprising mountain vistas, alpine meadows, and crystal lakes. One of the country's most spectacular wilderness areas, it's home to nearly 60 species of mammals, including grizzlies, black bears, wolverines, marmots, and moose. It also boasts around 280 species of birds including golden eagles, ospreys, and white-tailed ptarmigan. Today's walking route takes us on the Cory and Edith passes. An often-overlooked gem in the area, just a short drive from Banff's town centre. This route offers heart-pounding ascents (with around a 900 metre/2,953 feet gain), well-worn switchbacks, dense forest, and stunning alpine views. The loop trail takes us up to the Cory Pass - considered by many to be the most spectacular hike along the Bow Valley Parkway - around Mount Edith and past Mount Louis. Today's 13 kilometre/8 mile hike is expected to take around six-and-a-half hours with 1,135 metres/3,724 feet of ascent

Our next destination is Kootenay National Park, one of four protected reserves that form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. On arrival, we'll take a hike along the scenic Stanley Glacier Trail, a moderate trail that follows a series of switchbacks through a huge burn area that is covered in wildflowers and lodgepole pine, before crossing the creek and meandering our way towards the open expanse of the Stanley Basin. After our hike, we'll make our way to our campsite for a two-night stay. Today's 11 kilometre/6.8 mile hike is expected to take around 3 hours with 610 metres/2,000 feet of ascent.

Continuing our exploration of Kootenay National Park this morning, we'll begin our hike on the Kindersley Pass Trail, heading up towards the Kindersley-Sinclair Summit, where we'll join the Sinclair Creek Trail. Passing through alpine meadows and forests of Douglas Fir, the trail is dappled with wild roses, blue clematis, and yellow columbine. As we reach the 2,395 metre/7,858 feet Kindersley-Sinclair Pass, we'll hopefully be rewarded with spectacular views of Mounts Sinclair and Kindersley, as well as the Devil's Tooth. Later, we'll have the option to pay a visit to the Radium Hot Spring, where we can relax in the warm waters. Today's 18 kilometre/11.2 mile hike is expected to take around 6.5 hours with 1,304 metres/4,277 of ascent.

We'll take on two relaxed hikes today, aimed at regaining our energy and enjoying the stunning mountain scenery. In the morning, we drive into Kootenay National Park and follow the rugged, water-hewn Marble Canyon, cut through by Tokkum Creek. The walk is predominantly flat, and we'll cross over the water on wooden bridges at various points, taking in the canyon surroundings. Returning to our vehicle, we'll continue to Lake Louise, home to one of the most photographed glacial lakes in Canada. In the afternoon, we head to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise's emerald-hued neighbour, for a hike to Consolation Lake. Part of the hike passes through a (flat) boulder field, which does require some concentration as you navigate the uneven rocks, but otherwise the path is easy, very well-maintained and in the constant peaceful shadow of the Rockies. Our two leisurely hikes today are 1.9km / 1 mile and 5.8km / 3.6 miles. The first hike is predominantly flat and the second has an elevation of 135m / 440ft. They should take approximately 45 minutes and 2 hours respectively. During your two nights at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre, the hostel rooms are multi-share, with shared bathroom facilities. You'll be in four-bed dorms, which we'll endeavour to keep private and same-sex where possible, although there may be other travellers outside of the group. The hostel is simple, but sociable and facilities include a living room and kitchen where meals will be cooked for the group.

Today we'll undertake a classic hike in Banff National Park, following a section of the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, that gives us spectacular views of the Lake Louise area. Walking around the lake in summer, we'll most likely be met by crowds of people that quickly start thinning out as we get further away from the entrance. This lakeside section of the hike is completely flat, before as we veer off the lake, we'll start to slowly climb past tall cliffs and continue through forest and onto open, rocky mountain paths. The hike climbs steeply up to a traditional Canadian teahouse and offers stunning glacier views and a look back across Lake Louise and the iconic Chateau. From the teahouse, views of some of the tallest mountains in the Canadian Rockies are plentiful. Today's 15 kilometre/9.3 mile trek on the Plain of Six Glaciers trail is expected to take around 5 hours with 590 metres/1,936 feet of ascent and descent.

We'll drive to Yoho National Park today, starting our hike at the breaktaking Emerald Lake, which looks exactly as it sounds. Ringed by a forest trail, the lake has a gorgeous setting, and we being our hike through the woods, skirting the shoreline of the lake. After a walk of around 2km / 1.5miles, the trail starts to climb. Nearly all of the hike's elevation takes place in this short but steep section, as we make our way out above the treeline. We'll find ourselves coming closer to the glacial bowl of the Emerald Basin, with the towering peak of El Presidente in front of us, and views of Emerald Glacier next door (receding, but still visible in the distance). The further we walk into the basin, we'll come across waterfalls and small creeks, as well as barren boulders and scree as the vegetation thins. The return walk is back the way we came, and on our return we drive to Revelstoke, with our final stop for the night at the Hot Springs Campground. Today's moderate 10 kilometre/6.5 mile hike is expected to take around 3 hours with 240 metres/800 feet of ascent.

Today we'll add a new national park to our list, with hikes in Glacier National Park, just a short drive away from Revelstoke. We'll visit the Rogers Pass Visitor Centre on our way into the park, a fascinating look of the geology of the region, which has been carved out by glaciers over milennia. Our hiking trail takes us along the Balu Pass, a lightly-trodden route with incredible alpine scenery and a varied terrain that includes an uphill climb through dense forest before opening out into glorious open meadows with panoramic mountain vistas. Today's 11.5 kilometre/7 mile hike is expected to take around 5-6 hours with 860 metres/2,825 feet of ascent.

We'll stay in Revelstoke today, a national park that has gained renown as one of Canada's first ever designated ski areas. The town of the same name is seriously charming, with wooden facaded buildings providing an old-world feel, and lots of cafes, restaurants and outdoor shops to enjoy. We'll have the chance to explore the town during our three nights here. Today, however, we're getting into the mountains around Revelstoke National Park with a hike at Eva Lake. To get to the trailhead, we take the evocatively-named Meadows in the Sky Parkway; a 26-kilometre route that takes us past dense forest of fir, spruce and cedar, before opening out on expansive subalpine wildflower meadows. Flowers are at their most brilliant in August, but blooms may last into September. We drive up to an elevation of 1,835 metres to Balsam Lake, and start our hike nearby. The out-and-back walk has a fantastic mix of terrain including forest, alpine meadows and the picturesque waters of the mountain-top Eva Lake. Due to the start elevation, mountain vistas are superb throughout the hike, and the remaining hike elevation is low. The paths are well-marked, with occasional rocky sections but predominantly very well maintained. Today's 15 kilometre/9.3 mile hike is expected to take around 5 hours with 493 metres/1,617 feet of ascent.

This morning, we'll drive to Golden, where we'll have an opportunity to take a rafting trip down the Kicking Horse River. Running through iconic British Columbian scenery of pine forests and jagged mountains, the Kicking Horse River showcases Canada's landscapes at their finest. Class II-IV rapids are on the menu, and there's the option to have a BBQ lunch after the trip. For those who aren't keen on rafting, there's the option to visit the Takkakaw Falls or the Wapta Falls, in Yoho National Park. In the afternoon, we'll travel back to Banff National Park. We may have time to explore the town before we journey on to picturesque Canmore for our final night.

This morning, we'll leave our hotel in Canmore after breakfast and drive to Calgary, where our trip ends. We'll arrive at the Ramada Downtown Hotel in Calgary at around 10am, from where you'll be transferred to the airport according to your departure time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Calgary International Airport (YYC). The earliest your flight can depart is 1pm. If your flight departs later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at the Ramada Downtown Hotel.