I recently returned from this excellent tour. There were 20 travellers with local guy Patrick Twomey as our Tour Manager and Mike as our driver. Patrick is passionate about travel and leads many tours for JY and Travelsphere. He is the TM on 8 February to the Rockies and Chile & Easter Island on 6 March. Catch up with him here www.twomeytravel.com.
Day 1
Most of us met in the lounge at Heathrow which for the newbies is a great ice-breaker. The flight to Calgary is about 9 hours with a time difference of GMT-7. On arrival at Calgary, we met the TM in the arrivals area where we made our way to the coach for the transfer to Banff. Lots of snow around and quite cold. We checked in to the hotel and went off in our groups to dinner. I went with the group that tried The Old Spaghetti Factory and a few of us hit the shops later but some returned to the hotel as it was very cold and we did not have our thermals on! The welcome drink and dinner was postponed until day 2. Not much sleep for some of us that night.
Day 2
With a temp of –29C we departed at 9am for our sightseeing tour of Banff and surrounds. Where you go depends on the weather and the roads to get there. Look out for wildlife in the gardens of houses and on the side of the road – we saw mule deer and white tailed deer. We visited Canmore and the Nordic Centre. The Banff gondola was closed for annual maintenance. We arrived back at the hotel by about 1pm. Kathryn and I had lunch in the Old Spaghetti House where we both had soup, bread and a drink. We then did a bit of sightseeing and shopping, stopping off for a coffee before returning to the hotel later. The welcome drink and buffet dinner in the hotel was at 7.30 pm.
Day 3
Another cold start at –19C as we departed at 9.30am for our included horse drawn sleigh ride. Despite blankets being provided, every layer of clothing will be needed for this!! On return we had a welcoming hot drink and cookie. Later we went for our included dip in the Banff natural hot springs, which was divine after the sleigh ride. Kathryn and I had lunch again in the Old Spaghetti House. A group of us had a steak dinner in the Saltlik Steakhouse. Bought lunch for the following day.
Day 4
Cases outside room for 8am with a departure at 9.15am. A day on and off the coach as we travelled to Jasper via the Johnston Canyon, Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise Ski Resort, frozen waterfall climbers, goats eating salt off the road and the Athabasca glacier and River waterfalls, with even a crazy dude slacklining. We checked into the hotel at Jasper and Kathryn and I went off to have dinner at Cassios Italian Restaurant. After dinner, with the compliments of the waitress, we went to see their museum of stuffed animals before wandering around the town and then heading back to the hotel, where we saw a herd of elk sleeping across from the hotel. The Lobstick Lodge Hotel is a bit dated and rooms are either very hot or cold and there is no quick way of regulating this. Washers and dryers here so at least I was able to do my laundry and get it dry!
Day 5
We departed at 9.15am for a tour into Jasper National Park taking in Pyramid Lake where we viewed the sunrise reflecting on Pyramid Mountain. A couple decided to do snow angels on the frozen snowy lake and the TM did his trademark handstand! We then went on to see the frozen Athabasca River. A quick bite to eat at Smitty's before we had to meet for fitting of boots and cleats for the Maligne Canyon ice walk. A bit of an uneven trek to there and back but we saw a red squirrel sunbathing and some more ice climbers and on departure once on the coach we saw a 10 yr old elk bull with huge antlers. Kathryn and I had tea and cake in the Other Paw Bakery Café and a wander around the shops (Our Native Land is a must) before dinner later in the Canadian restaurant Syrahs of Jasper.
Day 6
Cases outside room for 8am with a departure at 9am. Another day on and off the coach as we made our way to Lake Louise, taking in a stop to view a glacier and small avalanche, a raven and a Clark's nutcracker, our included gondola ride at Lake Louise Ski Resort, Yoho National Park's Natural Bridge and Emerald Lake. We stopped off at Lake Louise Village for lunch. The TM and driver took our suitcases to the Chateau, which meant on arrival our suitcases were already in our rooms – a wonderful touch! On arrival at the Chateau time for a quick change before we had a welcome drink around the outside fire pit. Kathryn and I dined at the Alpine Social.
Day 7
A free day. The TM organised a walk on Lake Louise at 10am, which took a couple of hours. It had been snowing since the early hours and continued to do so throughout the day. Those who were booked on the snowshoe experience did this in the afternoon. I chose to have a light lunch in the deli (which is open 24/7) and then a 90 mins massage instead! Kathryn and I had dinner in the Lakeview Lounge.
Day 8
Cases outside room at 7.30am with a departure of 9am. We made our way to Calgary, spotting coyote on the prairie and then we stopped off at the University of Calgary to view the students playing ice hockey and speed skating, then on to view the statues of Col James Farquarson Macleod and a bison at Fort Calgary, eventually arriving at the Calgary Tower where we had time to ourselves. Most of us went up to the top of the tower to view the city and surrounding area. Kathryn and I bought some last minute things in the shop and then had a light lunch in the revolving restaurant before re-joining the coach to make our way to the airport for our overnight flight to Heathrow.
Conclusion
Please ensure you have a valid eTA before arriving at Heathrow or you will be denied check in – as happened to one of our travellers, who was eventually able to apply for one with assistance from check in staff. Please also ensure you have the correct clothing and footwear for the possible -29C or lower temperatures and don't forget your sunglasses. Don't carry any food through Calgary airport as the lively dog will sniff it out on the carousel or your hand luggage. All hotels had fridges, coffee/tea makers, toiletries and hairdryers but no shower caps until reaching the Chateau which also provided bath robes, slippers and a kettle. Jasper was the only hotel that had a laundry for guest use. If eating as a group for lunch or dinner ask for separate bills as less complicated than trying to split it yourselves. Tax is added afterwards as well as a service charge if more than 6 or 8 people. And finally, as for upgrading, one person had booked and upgraded the holiday through a travel agent with a good deal. Another booked an upgrade with JY with a possibly less favourable deal. I myself, travelled economy out and on checking in on line for the return opted for an upgrade which I found very attractive and possibly better than the JY offer.
I had visited this area before in September a couple of years ago so it was nice to see it in the winter.
Fellow travellers might like to add things or correct my continuity....
Regards
Sylvia