Jurassic Adventures in Southern Alberta
SELF DRIVE TOUR
Discover Alberta’s wild side as you journey through landscapes created over millennia. From the majestic Rocky Mountains to the rugged canyons and prehistoric fossils of the Canadian Badlands and Dinosaur capital of the world. Through the wild prairies, enormous spaces where vast skies stretch as far as the eye can see to the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. This is a self-drive of epic landscapes, memorable indigenous experiences, and geological wonders.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Historic walking tour of Calgary
- Magnificent Banff with an included choice of touring
- Drumheller – Dinosaur capital of the world
- Hoodoos and history of the Canadian Badlands
- Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo Jump
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Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3&4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9&10
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Day 11
Day 1 : UK to Calgary
On arrival at Calgary Airport a private transfer will take you to your downtown hotel for a 2-night stay.
Day 2 : Calgary
This vibrant city is known for its western hospitality, live music events and great dining, all against the backdrop of the snow-capped Rockies. A walking tour of the historic downtown tells the stories of this city which has grown from a brash frontier town into a vibrant, urban place. It’s an easy and useful insight into the city.
Day 3&4 : Calgary – Banff
Your destination today is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jasper National Park, home the 2nd largest dark sky reserve in the world. It’s a truly magnificent place of wilderness and adventure, The town of Jasper is unpretentious and welcoming and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which is your base for the next 3 nights, a memorable place to wake up.
Day 5 : Banff – Drumheller
From Banff head east to Alberta’s Badlands and the Drumheller Valley, Dinosaur capital of the world. Admission to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada’s only museum dedicated to exclusively to the science of palaeontology.
Day 6 : Drumheller – Cypress Hills Provincial Park
Explore the Dinosaur Provincial Park, deep in the rugged Canadian Badlands. There are a couple of interpretive displays revealing what a dig site actually looks like before continuing to the Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Day 7 : Cypress Hill Provincial Park
The day is free to explore. Perhaps visit the Interpretive Program Schedule and book an interpretive hike or head to the Dark Sky Planetarium to navigate the night skies. In Elkwater there are a wealth of outdoor experiences including bike hire, canoeing, paddleboards, and kayaks.
Day 8 : Cypress Hills Provincial Park – Lethbridge
Follow the Red Coat Trail west towards the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park where you can view the largest collection of rock art on the plains. Explore with an interpreter, hike the hoodoo trails, and follow the waters of the Milk River. At the Interpretive Centre you can enjoy a behind the scenes experience with a local Aboriginal guide.
Day 9&10 : Lethbridge – Waterton Lakes National Park
As you leave Lethbridge, take time to stop at Fort Whoop-Up, an old fort and trading post. Continue on to Waterton. This national park is filled with breathtaking scenery, sparkling lakes, and wildlife. Visit the visitor centre to get information and maps and learn about the unique eco-systems of the park.
Day 11 : Waterton Lakes National Park – Calgary - UK
It’s time to return to Calgary, but ensure you first visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump. Entrance is included to this site which tells of the hunting practices of the native people of the North America plains for more than 6000 years. A native guide will walk you through the exhibit and out to the cliff edge. From here continue to Calgary returning your car to the airport.
