Alberta Holidays

Alberta is the land of breathtaking scenery, soaring mountain peaks and unforgettable experiences. From the prairie lands to the eponymous Canada Rockies, Alberta is the ultimate destination for outdoor pursuits. However there is much more to this province than the Rockies. Full of hidden gems, not many travellers know its fascinating fossil discoveries or about its fascinating cowboy and wild-west culture.

Discover epic mountain landscapes blanketed in vast sub-alpine forests that are criss-crossed by hiking trails; warm up in mineral-rich hot springs; or kayak through rivers or rushing rapids. Whatever you do in Alberta, there's always a heart-stopping view to go with it.

Tick off your wish-list on a glacier adventure to the immense Columbia Icefields before heading into Banff, with its châteaux-style hotels and boutique stores, and reserve a table at one of Canada’s finest restaurants. Get cosy in a mountain lodge to observe nature at its finest, or simply get behind the wheel to drive the stretch from Lake Louise to the Icefields Parkway on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Then continue your adventure in cosmopolitan Vancouver for rugged sea views, farm-to-table cuisine and First Nation culture. Travel on board the award-winning Rocky Mountaineer luxury train to soak up the natural splendour of Canada from the comfort of the panoramic observation car.

Great sample itineraries

Here's a selection of popular itineraries to give you some ideas. But almost anything's possible so call us now and we'll create an amazing holiday just for you.

11 days

Calgary, Rocky Mountaineer Journey Through the Clouds Explorer and Vancouver Multi Centre

Guide Price £5,019 pp

See the incredible Canadian Rockies in style on-board one of the world's greatest trains, the Rocky Mountaineer. Begin in Calgary with a chance to explore this modern city before joining the Journey Through the Clouds Explorer tour by coach, taking...

Luxury holidays

9 days

Vancouver, Banff and Calgary Multi Centre

Why limit yourself to visiting just one amazing location in Canada? With so much to see and experience, book a multi centre holiday. It's so easy and you can soak up the picturesque scenery of several destinations in one unforgettable...

Cultural holidays

16 days

Unlimited Adventures

Guide Price £4,439 pp

Take an epic adventure across the great Canadian Rockies. Journey from Calgary through the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the breath taking coastlines of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean. Experience the wilderness of Banff National Park, the magnificence of Lake Louise...

Fly drive holidays

15 days

Canadian Contrasts Tour

Guide Price £3,299 pp

Uncover Canada's most breathtaking treasures and journey through snow-capped mountains, rolling ranch-land and amazing cities. From the cosmopolitan culture and history of the eastern coast, to the awe-inspiring mountains and glaciers of the west, experience unique excursions and create unforgettable...

Escorted tours

Time Zone

GMT -7 hours

Flight Time

Approx 9 hours; Both British Airways and Air Canada offer a daily direct service to Calgary and Air Transat operate a twice weekly service from London Gatwick. The other major airport in the region is Edmonton which is currently served by indirect flights

Currency

CAD - Canadian Dollar

Visa Information

Please ensure you have a valid electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to your departure to Canada. Please check with the Canadian Embassy for all Visa FAQ’s.

Language

English

Health Information

No vaccinations required

There is so much to do in Alberta that the first decision you will need to make is, when do you want to go? The many National Parks are open year round but the wildlife can differ by season meaning you can go back again and again. We love describing Alberta as the ultimate adventure playground but it really is; kayaking, horseback riding, skiing, motorcycling trails… the list is endless and each one takes in the beautiful scenery and landscapes on offer. Something you cannot miss and is guaranteed to be on your wish list, is to witness the Northern Lights. We can make all this happen and more, so call our experts now and start your adventure.

Alberta National Parks

Alberta is home to the largest and oldest of Canada’s National Parks and some of the most visited. Guaranteed spectacular scenery - mountain vistas, turquoise lakes, ancient glaciers and vast open spaces are what draw people to these magical parks. Canada’s first national park and the flagship of the nation’s park system, Banff is the ultimate adventure pilgrimage for those wishing to visit the Canadian Rockies and see its breathtaking mountain scenery and turquoise lakes for themselves. Explore Banff’s 1000 miles of trails on foot, by bike or on horseback. Head out and discover the park's incredible wildlife on display with bears, elk, big horn sheep and many more to see. The largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is a year-round mountain playground and covers more than 11,000 square kilometres of untouched alpine wilderness. Located directly north of Banff National Park, Jasper is linked to it via the iconic Icefields Parkway – frequently named as one of the most scenic drives in the world.
Fossil Trail

Unlike Alberta’s other parks – Badlands National Park is a unique travel destination within Canada’s "Wild West" region. Home to the richest source of dinosaur fossils in the world, a drive along the “Fossil Trail” is perfect for families, from the jaw-dropping display of some of the largest full dinosaur skeletons at the Royal Tyrrell Museum; to taking a guided authentic paleontological dig at Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where many of the planet’s most important discoveries have been made and continue to be unearthed.
Wildlife experiences

In Alberta you'll find nearly 600 species across the five National Parks and two hundred and fifty provincial parks. From bison, elk, grizzly and black bears, to the elusive wolf, cougar and wolverine, there's plenty of wildlife for you to discover. Take an evening wildlife safari tour in Banff National Park, which becomes much more active in the cool hours before dark. Grab your binoculars and spot elk sauntering across a clearing, mountain goats perched high on a ridge, and sometimes even a grizzly bear snuffling through a berry bush.
Outdoor adventure

Alberta is the ultimate adventure playground – with five enormous National Parks to choose from – whatever activity you’re looking for, Alberta will have it – all with the stunning backdrop of the incredible Rocky Mountains. Travel through this incredible terrain on horseback - exactly how this country is meant to be experienced, allowing you to view sweeping landscapes and spot wildlife that you might not get to see while on foot. Have you ever thought about touring Jasper’s rugged landscape from the freedom of the sidecar of a powerful Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle driven by a professional rider as you view the soaring mountains and lakes of the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic drives in the world.
Alberta First Nations

The province of Alberta is home to the Métis peoples, with a population of over 85,000 – the largest in all of Canada. The Métis evolved many different and fascinating traditions, legends, cultures and celebrations that are completely unique to them, as well as their own language. Learn about the traditional First Nations way of life and gain a valuable skills you can use for a lifetime. Perfect for those who are interested in back to basics and getting up close to nature, with everything from hide tanning, plant medicines or even making soap, moccasins and learning to bead, these are all available to experience.
Northern Lights

Your best chance of seeing the hypnotising phenomena known as the aurora borealis is in September through to mid-May. As Alberta is home to the world's largest dark sky preserves, this means you are able to see the beauty of the kaleidoscope of colours dancing through the sky - a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on everyone's bucket list.

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Katie

Destination Specialist

"Make the most of your time and pre book as many excursions as possible. I would highly recommend if you are in Jasper or Banff, visit the nearby Athabasca Glacier on one of the Ice Explorers. On route, why not stop off and experience the Glacier skywalk where you get to walk across a glass floored walkway suspended off a cliff-edge."
Rachel

Destination Executive

"If you have time on your trip, try to fit in a helicopter trip over the Rockies. This will give you another amazing experience from up in the sky. They have a wide range of options beginning from a shorter 30 minute trip right the way up to spending a few hours up in the air exploring."