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Banff Jasper Itinerary Help - Need ASAP Married Couple 9 days

Banff Jasper Itinerary Help - Need ASAP Married Couple 9 days

Old Jun 6th, 2016, 04:40 PM
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Banff Jasper Itinerary Help - Need ASAP Married Couple 9 days

Hello. I know there are lots of topics and I've read through all of them. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of options. I have air tickets, need to decide on itinerary. We are 35/40 married couple looking to relax and be in nature. We like to get away from the parking lot, yet we are more along the lines of a flat easy walking path vs. long strenuous hikes. Just checked out a couple of books and starting to do research.

Typically what we like to do is rent a home on VRBO with a hot tub and make that one place our home base. Not an option in Banff/Jasper so trying to decide if we want to hop around to various motels/cabins or just pick a couple for a home base. Usually don't like packing up from hotel to hotel; however I also want to make sure we stay in areas that we're interested in and also I'm not really sure about true travel times (based on how many vista pull overs there are).

I have only contacted a couple of cabin - Patricia Lake (they have availability but checking out on July 12th which won't work due to my flight leaving at 6 AM) and Aurum Lodge (also has availability). I realize there may be limited availability, but I'm not too worried.

As far as budget goes, cheaper but decent is always better! I wouldn't really want to spend more than 200 Canadian per night and would feel more comfortable around the 150-175 Canadian. I'm open to cabins or cute ma and pop motels- as long as they are clean and decent reviews.

So, at the beginning of research would love some advice - mainly:
1. Multiple hotels 3+ or just pick a couple of home-bases (2-3) and where - towns for which nights?
2. Must see walking paths or activities (I have to go walk on a glacier and would love to go up in a gondola and/or take a lake cruise)
3. Itinerary

Mon July 4 Day 1 - arrive Calgary 3pm - want to get right out of town, not sure if we make Banff our destination or try and go further north.
Tues July 5 Day 2 - ?
Wed July 6 Day 3 - ?
Thurs July 7 Day 4 - ?
Fri July 8 Day 5 - ?
Sat July 9 Day 6 - ?
Sun July 10 Day 7 - ?
Mon July 11 Day 8 - drive to Calgary, overnight near the airport due to early flight - explore quaint neighborhood in Calgary or do something with Stampede Days?
Tues July 12 Day 9 - 6 AM flight out of Calgary

What do you all think? AND THANK YOU in advance to anyone that replies, especially quickly since I better get making some reservations!

Also, car rental- $350 US Dollars per week??!! is what I've been seeing. That seems ridiculously high. Is that the norm for high season?
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Old Jun 6th, 2016, 05:13 PM
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In advance, I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. You're planning a last minute trip at high season to a popular destination. I think your budgeted prices may be too low. During Stampede, I'd expect nosebleed prices and scarce availability at this late stage.

The car price to me seems right, maybe even favorable. The hotel prices - we typically visit in fall slightly past season, but still pay at least that much. Of course the depends - we don't book at either the lowest or highest ranges.

There are so many easy hikes/walks, you won't have any trouble finding them. Can you handle easier inclines? Johnson Canyon is beautiful.
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Old Jun 7th, 2016, 01:08 PM
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SLudick is right

You are planning very, very last minute. It's looking to be the busiest summer ever in the Canadian Rockies, and many places have been booked up for quite some time.

You need to book ASAP, and you are not going to be able to be fussy about prices or timing. Mid range hotel rooms average $250 per night in the parks in summer months, with the cheaper options likely long gone. For July, we generally suggest booking in no later than February or March.

We don't really have "mom and pop motels" in the parks - there are hotels, B&Bs/PHAs and a few hotels that will have self catering units or cabin style accommodation. Canmore has more options in terms of condos.

I suggest starting with Jasper because that's going to have the most limited availability, and there's no other place nearby to stay. If hotels are booked up (and likely they are), look at Private Home Accommodations (www.stayinjasper.com). They range from basic to very nice, and are often the best deal and best type of accommodation. They are also probably the only option within your price range, though you will need to e-mail or call each separately. Most will have a two or three night minimum stay.

Aurum Lodge is supposed to be nice, but it's not at all convenient for what will you will be wanting to do. It's outside the parks and a good 2.5 hrs from Jasper. You would probably be looking at least 1.5 hrs to any of the tourist activities and 2 to 3 hrs to any of the Jasper area activities. It's more a place for people to stay to enjoy hiking/boating in the David Thompson Country.

Then build the rest of your trip around that - for your first night, try Cannmore, Banff or Lake Louise. Nothing farther north than that. Generally the idea is to either start with one night in that areas or 3-4 nights, then Jasper for 203 nights, then back to Banff/Lake Louise/Canmore for your remaining nights.

My suggestion is to do one night in Canmore or Banff to start - that will be a tricky night because it's holiday time. Then head to Jasper during the week when there may be more availability. Then back south for the rest of your trip.

And finding a hotel in Calgary for that night is going to be very tricky now. I would look for something by the airport - anything near downtown will be very expensive and likely booked up. Prices do skyrocket during Stampede.

For the glacier, you have two options. The cheaper, basic option are the Brewster's snocoach tours which give you a brief chance to be on a safe spot on the glacier. The issue is that you are now forced to do a combined tour which also includes the not at all great Glacier Skywalk (nowhere near a glacier, overhyped and controversial). The combined tour lasts a good three hours which is a long chunk out of your day. The other option are 3 or 5 hr IceWalks led by certified guides. They give you a lot of time on the glacier. However, they definitely need to be prebooked and may be sold out by now.

For your two days on the Icefields Parkway, the drive is 3.5 to 4 hrs without stops. However, most people take 7-8 hrs in order to stop at all the sites, hike, take photos etc.
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Old Jun 7th, 2016, 07:02 PM
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Thank you that is very helpful. So you're thinking first night monday in Banff area and then head north to Jasper area for 3-4 nights and then back to Banff area for 3 nights. Does that sound right? Does anyone think I should stay any where in between Banff and Jasper on the drive north or back south?

After the first night in Banff then heading north all the way to Jasper, will we have time to stop any where?

Yes we are fine walking slight inclines.
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Old Jun 7th, 2016, 07:05 PM
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PS we always plan last minute, always works out ok. and I'm fine increasing budget. I will start looking right away. I'm assuming its not one of those areas where we can just drive and find a room when we feel like stopping.
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Old Jun 8th, 2016, 08:57 AM
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Yes - that is the general itinerary I was suggesting. Or if you can't find a place in Jasper early on, you could spend more nights in Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise, then Jasper, then fewer nights back south on your return.

Other than Lake Louise, which is less than an hour from Banff, there are only a handful of places between Lake Louise and Jasper. Those are along the Icefields Parkway, and are likely to expensive and fully booked at this point.

From Banff to Jasper, it's about 4.5 hrs, and you can easily take all day to make this drive. So you have plenty of time for stops. What you don't get to on your drive north, you can do on your return trip (which is why we suggest driving the parkway twice). Most folks probably spend at least 7-8 hours driving the parkway.

While you may always plan last minute, this is not an area or year in which last minute planning is likely to work out well. Hotels are literally sold out for the entire summer, and if you can't find a spot, especially in a place like Jasper, you are looking at a good 1+ hour drive to the next closest place with lodgings.

And no, this is not an area where you can just find a room when you feel like stopping. It's almost entirely national and provincial park where development is strictly limited, so there are almost no places to stay outside the townsites (Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise). The handful of hotels along the parkway are likely to be completely booked up by now, and even the hostels in that area could easily be totally booked, especially the smaller ones (and the ones on the parkway are wilderness hostels with minimal facilities). Also, if rooms are available, they are likely to be the most expensive ones or the ones in the least desirable places.
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Old Jun 10th, 2016, 04:48 PM
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Very helpful and most appreciated! I was able to secure a car reservation, though not at the airport. It was much, much cheaper (by about half) and will take UBER or TAXI or bus (?) from airport to downtown to pick up car.

Now that I know the Stampede is going on, I'm torn. I had originally not wanted any "city" time and just needed to get to nature; however it looks really fun.

At any rate, I like your idea of the first night in Banff and then heading north early the next morning towards Jasper. Would you say that it's better to stay more nights near Banff or more near Jasper? I know it depends on the individual, of course. We are not avid hikers, but would love picnics somewhere off the highway, gondola rides, etc. Are there truly any soaking hot springs area? Trying to decide where to spend the most nights (of course depends on what I can find too) and also trying to decide if I should spend two nights in Calgary at the end (vs the one night just prior to leaving).

I have two books I checked out from the library and am reading through them quickly. I hadn't even considered Yoho, Golden, Kootenay until I was reading the book. In your opinion, would you still stick more to Banff and Jasper? (sorry, a lot of questions).

Also, it doesn't look like there are many roads in the area - do you have any favorite "easy" walking or paths (we can do slight elevation, I just don't want to get out too deep) - maybe 1-2 hours round trip max? Any special picnic areas or lakes that you recommend? Also, I have been reading about boat tours on lakes - do you have a favorite? I guess I just need to determine if most of these activities would be accessed from Banff or Jasper (or if both, then all good!)

Thanks in advance, I am grateful for any thoughts. I am so excited, the entire area looks gorgeous. I have emailed a number of homes from Stay In Jasper and we'll see if they have anything.

Update: I emailed 88 properties in Jasper, it was a lot of work. You were right! Almost everyone's full. Should make things interesting, but I have had a number of replies of availability, so I'm looking into those properties ASAP.

Thanks again, can't wait to see how beautiful it is!
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Old Jun 11th, 2016, 06:48 AM
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Looking forward to your trip report -
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Old Jun 11th, 2016, 09:30 AM
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I will try and keep some detailed notes to post as a trip report. I've never posted one before, but I'll make a stab at it! Luckily, I was able to find accommodations in Jasper. Now I'll start on Banff and Calgary.

I've also decided to try and go to the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.
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Old Jun 18th, 2016, 03:59 AM
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Updated with our itinerary, any thoughts are welcome. There seem to be many lakes/tours and many trams/gondolas. Trying to determine which is the best/most bang for your buck. Don't figure we need multiple tram rides (?) or lake boat rides (?)

Day 1 - arrive in Calgary 2:30pm, UBER to downtown to pick up rental car, drive to Lake Louise for overnight. Probably no stops en route.

Day 2 - awake in Lake Louise - see Lake Louise, possibly Moraine Lake, possibly go to the Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint and Takakkaw Falls. Drive to Jasper. Overnight in Jasper. Hopefully time to do all of the prior with just short walks.

Day 3 - Drive to Colombia Icefield and do a SnoCoach tour (OR do this on the drive back to Banff). Visit Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls. If time permits, Jasper Tramway. overnight in Jasper

Day 4 - Miette Hot Springs, Maligne Lake. overnight in Jasper

Day 5 - drive to Banff, stopping at all the viewpoints on the way, overnight in Banff

Day 6 - ?? Visit Banff Fairmount, possibly take tram; if we didn't get to the spirals and items in day 2, then do that here, overnight in Banff

Day 7 - drive to Calgary overnight in Calgary

Day 8 - Calgary Stampede and Rodeo; overnight in Calgary

Day 9 - Depart at 6AM!
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Old Jun 18th, 2016, 05:28 AM
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It doesn't make sense to do a day trip from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield when you will be passing it on your return to Banff. Visit it then.
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Old Jun 18th, 2016, 05:35 PM
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Thank you, I appreciate that tip. After researching the Columbia Icefield reviews, I'm thinking of not going. I'm not interested in the skywalk and it seems the tickets include that.

All - I would be interested in knowing if Day #2 seems to over zealous with the drive up to Jasper and I would also like to know opinions on where to fit some of the items from #2 in to other days. I researched the gondolas and definitely want to do the lake louise gondola. So now thinking on one of my overnights in Banff, do the gondola and perhaps lake louise (?) And on day 2 - get an early start for lake moraine and rent a canoe and then spend the rest of the day on the parkway. But I do want to see Takakkaw Falls and the Spiral tunnels. Too many things, too little time!

I also have to figure out where to put Johnston Canyon Falls in. And perhaps Mt. Edith Cowell.
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Old Jun 20th, 2016, 12:23 PM
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Day 2 would be very full. Especially with the construction on the TransCanada - you could hit delays at several spots on the TransCanada.


If you get out of Calgary (going downtown is going to add time/gas to your trip) and through the TransCanada construction with time, might be worth stopping at Johnston Canyon on this day. You'd probably hit it when the crowds are starting to thin.

I agree - do the Icefields going to or from Banff. Use that day to go to Edith Cavell and Maligne Canyon.

Use Day 6 for other stuff - maybe more at Lake Louise, perhaps going to Yoho NP. That could easily be done in a day.
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Old Jun 28th, 2016, 08:10 PM
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Not sure if this will be of any help to you now, but we stayed at Paradise Bungalows, just a few minutes from Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. We stayed in a one-room beautiful cabin with a clawfoot tub. Not sure what your budget is, but that cabin was $290CDN + tax (about $220US), through hotels.com. They had regular hotel rooms there too, but not when we were looking to reserve. Don't know what availability is but we got ours about 2 weeks before our trip in mid June.

Feel free to stop by my blog to check out easy short hikes that we did.
http://www.budgettravelwithkids.com/...lberta-canada/
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Old Jun 30th, 2016, 02:44 AM
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Thanks everyone! We are actually staying at Paradise Bungalows for the first night prior to heading north to Jasper. I also found this Via Ferrata that I think we will do, so excited!

Updated itinerary....


Day 1 - arrive in Calgary 2:30pm, UBER 10 miles off airport (not downtown) to pick up rental car, drive to Lake Louise for overnight. Hope to stop at Johnston Canyon en route. Need to figure out where to eat lunch and/or dinner. Might stop in Canmore for a late lunch/early dinner. Want something fast.

Day 2 - awake in Lake Louise - see Lake Louise, possibly Moraine Lake, drive the parkway to Jasper and stop at various viewpoints including Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls as time permits. Overnight in Jasper.

Day 3 - Maligne Lake boat tour and Maligne Canyon. If time permits, Jasper Tramway. overnight in Jasper

Day 4 - Miette Hot Springs, Edith Cavell, maybe drive 16 west for a bit. overnight in Jasper

Day 5 - drive to Banff, stopping at viewpoints on the way, possibly doing the Columbia Icefields (still undecided on that), hopefully, if time permits, Spiral Tunnels and Takakkaw Falls. overnight in Banff

Day 6 - Probably do the Via Ferrata 4 hour tour (?), Visit Banff Fairmount, possibly take tram; overnight in Banff

Day 7 - Perhaps Banff Gondola if not already done and Hot Springs (?)/Lake Minnewanka, then drive to Calgary, check in at hotel and have dinner/relax. overnight in Calgary

Day 8 - Calgary Stampede and Rodeo; overnight in Calgary

Day 9 - Depart at 6AM!

I'm still trying to determine the following:
1. If I have way too much in those days
2. If I have to narrow down lakes to see, which are the top choices.
3. If I want to take a boat tour or rent a canoe, which is best and which lake to do it at is best based on my itinerary above.
4. If I have to decide between all the trams/gondolas, which are top choices.
5. Anything that I may have missed (I know there's tons of things and not enough time)

We are super excited, can't wait! Now I just have to decide what to pack!
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Old Jun 30th, 2016, 06:40 AM
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Day 1 - as I remember, UBER isn't legal here - yet - they have to get the proper insurance coverage before they're allowed to continue operating here. So you would be taking a taxi or bus.

Canmore would be a good place for a late lunch -- plan for delays between Calgary and Canmore due to road construction. They are stopping for the weekend, but on Monday it could be 20-60 minutes delay. Then stop at Johnston Canyon on the way to Lake Louise - good time to visit as it should be less crowded. Note that there is construction around the Banff exits on the TCH, which is also causing considerable delays.

Day 4 - Miette and Edith Cavell are in opposite directions from Jasper townsites, each 30-50 minutes away. Longer to Miette with the current construction. So that could be a long day. See if you have the energy.

Day 5- Takkakaw Falls and the Spiral Tunnels are in Yoho NP which is beyond Lake Louise. They would be 15-40 minutes beyond the turn off to Banff, and then a good 1.5 hrs back to Banff. Plus extra time for construction - there is construction on the TCH in Yoho NP as well as major delays with repaving around the Banff exits on the TCH. So that would be additional driving, especially up to the falls. I'd concentrate on the parkway. You may well have time to head there after the Via Ferrara - the Fairmont Banff Springs is nice, but is a quick walk around the lobby. Do that on your last day - you could have brunch or lunch there. Not sure I'd bother with the hot springs during the day - they will be crowded and not much fun if it's hot. Best done later in the evening when it's cool and many fewer people. If you do the via ferrata in the morning, plenty of time to head to Yoho NP in the afternoon.

1. See my comments above
2. I would not miss Moraine Lake. You can walk along Lake Louise the night you spend there, so go to Moraine Lake early the next morning before heading to Jasper.
3. You won't really have time for canoeing or boat tour (via voyageur canoe) at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. With your current itinerary, your best shot is at Maligne Lake. You'd have plenty of time to do the boat tour there.
4. Jasper Tram is probably the best.
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Old Jun 30th, 2016, 03:03 PM
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That is perfect, thanks for taking the time to help!
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Old Jul 2nd, 2016, 08:24 PM
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kgsneds really knows his stuff!
I second the motion to make Moraine Lake a must. Along with nearby Lake O'Hara, probably my 2 favorite locations, of all the places that I have ever been (especially when you are there at times when there are no crowds...or even people! Not so easy to accomplish, these days, in July or August.)
The Canadian Rockies are amazing. We are heading there in August, and I figured out in February that this was going to be a busy year for tourism there, based on difficulty getting our 'preferred' accommodations, even then.
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Old Jul 3rd, 2016, 03:56 PM
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Thanks to all for your wonderful help! We are heading out! I've got a journal to take some notes for a trip report.

I see in the weather report it's supposed to be raining in Lake Louise/Banff area almost the entire time we're in the area. Oh well.
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Old Jul 4th, 2016, 06:32 AM
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I wouldn't worry. We've had rain, but it's been short storms going through the area - never an entire day of rain. In fact, most days have been primarily sunny or partly cloudy.
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