Self-Launched Canadian Rockies & Calgary Stampede Adventure

Fly into Calgary International Airport and pick up your rental car — this is your wheels for the whole trip, so shop around on comparison sites like Rentalcars.com or Kayak. Budget motels and hostels near downtown Calgary are plentiful. Spend the afternoon exploring the city centre on foot: stroll the +15 Skywalk network, visit Prince's Island Park, and grab a bite on 17th Avenue. Book your Calgary Stampede tickets in advance online (Stampede.ca) to avoid queues and price hikes.

🚌Fly into Calgary International Airport. Rental car collected on arrival.

🛏HI Calgary City Centre Hostel or similar budget hotel (~£25–35/night per person sharing)

• →Pick up rental car at Calgary Airport (book in advance via Rentalcars.com, ~£35–45/day)
• →Self-guided walk around downtown Calgary and Prince's Island Park
• →Pre-book Calgary Stampede tickets online at Stampede.ca (~£30–40/day admission)

Hit the road early south towards Fort Macleod. Stop at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump UNESCO World Heritage Site — the interpretive centre here is run by the Piikani Nation and offers self-guided tours with excellent exhibit panels covering thousands of years of Blackfoot history. Entry is very affordable. Continue south to Waterton Lakes National Park, stopping at Cameron Falls just inside the townsite — a short walk from the car park. Check into accommodation in Waterton townsite. The drive is roughly 3.5 hours total.

🚌Drive Calgary → Head-Smashed-In (~1.5 hrs, ~160km). Continue to Waterton Lakes (~1.5 hrs, ~100km). Total ~260km.

🛏Crandell Mountain Lodge or Waterton Lakes Hostel, Waterton (~£30–45/night per person sharing)

• →Self-guided visit to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre (~£10 entry)
• →Photo stop at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park (free)
• →Scenic drive through Waterton townsite and along the lakeshore (free)

Cross the US border at Chief Mountain or Carway and enter Glacier National Park (purchase a 7-day park pass at the entry gate). Drive the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road — one of the most spectacular drives in North America. Stop at Logan Pass, Hidden Lake Overlook trailhead, and St Mary Lake viewpoints. Note: the Red Jammer bus experience from the tour can be replicated by booking a Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle/tour via GetYourGuide or Xanterra (the official concessioner). Have lunch at one of the park's lodges — try huckleberry jam on everything! Continue to Whitefish for the night.

🚌Drive Waterton → Glacier National Park entry (~45 mins). Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road to Whitefish (~2.5 hrs from park). Total ~150km.

🛏Whitefish Hostel or budget motel in Whitefish (~£30–40/night per person sharing)

• →Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park (7-day pass ~£25)
• →Hike to Hidden Lake Overlook from Logan Pass (~3 miles round trip, free with park pass)
• →Book a Going-to-the-Sun Road guided shuttle via GetYourGuide or Xanterra (~£40–55) as an alternative to driving
• →Lunch at Glacier's historic lodges — try local huckleberry specialities (~£15)

Re-enter Canada and head north through the Rocky Mountain Trench. Drive through Sinclair Canyon — a dramatic red rock gorge at the southern entrance to Kootenay National Park — and stop at Radium Hot Springs (a soak here is well worth it, ~£8 entry). Continue north to Banff, checking into your hostel or budget hotel in town. Pick up a Parks Canada Discovery Pass at the gate if you haven't already — it covers Banff, Kootenay, Jasper and Yoho for one fee (~£65 for 12 months, highly recommended).

🚌Drive Whitefish → Radium Hot Springs (~3 hrs, ~280km). Continue to Banff (~1.5 hrs, ~130km). Total ~410km.

🛏HI Banff Alpine Centre Hostel or budget hotel in Banff (~£30–50/night per person sharing)

• →Drive through Sinclair Canyon in Kootenay National Park (free with Parks Canada pass)
• →Soak at Radium Hot Springs outdoor pools (~£8 entry)
• →Arrive Banff and explore town on foot — Banff Avenue, Central Park, Bow River bridge

A full day to explore Banff at your own pace. Start with Bow Falls — a short walk from downtown, completely free. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies offers drop-in admission (~£10) with excellent exhibits on Rocky Mountain heritage. Join a self-bookable guided walking tour of historic Banff via GetYourGuide (~£20). Optional: splurge on the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain (~£45 direct booking) for panoramic views, or visit Cave and Basin National Historic Site (~£5). Budget hikers can tackle the Tunnel Mountain trail — a 2-hour return hike with stunning views, completely free.

🚌Self-drive within Banff area. Free ROAM Transit bus also covers key spots in town.

🛏HI Banff Alpine Centre Hostel or budget hotel (~£30–50/night per person sharing)

• →Walk to Bow Falls from downtown Banff (free)
• →Visit Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (~£10 entry, drop-in)
• →Self-bookable guided walking tour of Banff via GetYourGuide (~£20)
• →Optional: Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain (~£45, book direct at BanffGondola.com)
• →Optional: Cave and Basin National Historic Site (~£5)
• →Hike Tunnel Mountain Trail — 2 hrs return, great views (free)

One of the great road trips on Earth. Drive 45 minutes north to Lake Louise — arrive early (before 9am) to beat crowds and get parking. Walk the lakeshore trail for jaw-dropping views of Victoria Glacier. Then join the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) northward — pull over at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake viewpoint (a must — turquoise perfection), Crowfoot Glacier, and Sunwapta Pass. The whole drive to Jasper is around 230km and takes 3–4 hours with stops. Book hostel accommodation in Jasper well in advance — it fills up fast in summer.

🚌Drive Banff → Lake Louise (~45 mins, 58km). Drive Lake Louise → Jasper via Icefields Parkway (~3.5 hrs, 230km).

🛏HI Jasper Hostel or budget guesthouse in Jasper (~£30–45/night per person sharing)

• →Walk the Lake Louise lakeshore trail (free with Parks Canada pass)
• →Drive the full Icefields Parkway — stop at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier (free with pass)
• →Stop at Sunwapta Pass viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: book a float trip on the Athabasca River via GetYourGuide (~£55–70)

Today's highlight is a narrated boat cruise on Maligne Lake to the iconic Spirit Island — one of the most photographed spots in Canada. Book directly with Pursuit (malignelake.com) in advance as this sells out weeks ahead (~£55–65 per person). After the cruise, drive back through Maligne Canyon for a self-guided walk along the gorge (free). In the evening, cook a lakeside meal at your hostel or treat yourself to Alberta beef at one of Jasper's mid-range restaurants — try Fiddle River or something similar.

🚌Drive Jasper → Maligne Lake (~50km, ~45 mins). Return same route.

🛏HI Jasper Hostel or budget guesthouse (~£30–45/night per person sharing)

• →Maligne Lake boat cruise to Spirit Island — book direct at malignelake.com (~£55–65)
• →Self-guided walk through Maligne Canyon (free with Parks Canada pass)
• →Optional: hiking trails near Jasper townsite — Old Fort Point loop (~free)
• →Optional: canoe hire near Jasper or Pyramid Lake (~£20–30/hr)

Drive south from Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. Stop first at Athabasca Falls — a powerful waterfall with a short trail network (free with Parks Canada pass). Continue to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and book the Ice Explorer glacier walk on Athabasca Glacier directly with Pursuit (banffjaspercollection.com, ~£50–60 per person). The glacier experience is unmissable. After, continue the 4-hour drive back to Calgary. Treat yourself to a decent dinner in Calgary to celebrate the mountain leg of the trip — a good steak on 17th Ave is well deserved.

🚌Drive Jasper → Columbia Icefield (~1.5 hrs, 105km). Continue to Calgary (~4 hrs, 390km). Total ~495km.

🛏HI Calgary City Centre Hostel or budget hotel in Calgary (~£25–35/night per person sharing)

• →Stop at Athabasca Falls (free with Parks Canada pass)
• →Ice Explorer ride and walk on Athabasca Glacier — book at banffjaspercollection.com (~£50–60)
• →Visit Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre (free)
• →Drive back to Calgary — dinner on 17th Avenue (~£20–30)

Welcome to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Purchase your Stampede admission online in advance at Stampede.ca (~£30–40/day). Today's highlights include the Elbow River Camp — a free First Nations village within the grounds featuring traditional Powwows and cultural demonstrations — the afternoon Chuckwagon Races, and evening outdoor stage shows. Get there when the gates open to make the most of the full day. Western attire is very much encouraged — rent or buy a cowboy hat from one of the many shops along Calgary's 8th Avenue.

🚌Calgary Stampede Park is walkable or a short C-Train ride from downtown (day pass ~£5).

🛏HI Calgary City Centre Hostel or budget hotel (~£25–35/night per person sharing)

• →Calgary Stampede grounds admission (~£30–40, book in advance at Stampede.ca)
• →Elbow River Camp — First Nations cultural village with Powwows and demonstrations (included in admission)
• →Chuckwagon Races in the evening (included in admission)
• →Outdoor stage musical show — check Stampede schedule for acts (included in admission)
• →Explore midway, food stalls, and agricultural shows

Return to Stampede Park for the centrepiece event — the Calgary Rodeo. Buy a souvenir programme at the gates (~£5). The rodeo features bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping and steer wrestling — some of the most thrilling live sport you'll ever see. In the afternoon, explore Rope Square for free Western entertainment including live music, street performers, and dancing. The grounds also host an enormous fair with rides, competitions and legendary Stampede food (mini donuts, beef on a bun, deep-fried everything). In the evening, catch a Nashville North indoor country music venue inside the grounds.

🚌C-Train or walk to Stampede Park from downtown Calgary.

🛏HI Calgary City Centre Hostel or budget hotel (~£25–35/night per person sharing)

• →Calgary Stampede Rodeo (included in grounds admission ~£30–40)
• →Souvenir Rodeo Programme (~£5)
• →Rope Square free Western entertainment and live music
• →Explore Stampede midway, fair rides, and food vendors (~£15–25 spending money)
• →Nashville North evening country music venue (included in grounds admission)

Check out of your accommodation and return the rental car to the airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you have time for a final Calgary breakfast at a local diner (try Nellie's Kitchen or OEB Breakfast Co.) and a last wander around the city. Calgary International Airport is well-connected with direct flights to London Heathrow and Manchester. Safe travels!

🚌Drive rental car to Calgary International Airport for drop-off. Allow 30 minutes from downtown.

• →Final breakfast at a local Calgary diner (~£10–15)
• →Return rental car at Calgary International Airport
• →Depart Calgary