Explore Banff National Park

After arriving at the airport, if it’s lunch time, check out Tonic Kitchen and Bar on the way out of Calgary. Upon arrival in Banff, stop at Surprise Corner lookout for a view of the beautiful Banff Springs Hotel. After checking into your hotel, explore Banff town. Dinner recommendations: 3 Bears Brewery, Lupo (Italian). For rooftop cocktails: Elk and Oarsman or Rose and Crown.

Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in Banff National Park. Arrive early in the morning for fewer crowds. Consider bringing a picnic lunch from Wild Flour Bakery. In the evening, ride the gondola to Sulfer Mountain. Dinner recommendation: Sky Bistro

Golf at Banff Springs golf course in the morning. Have lunch at the Waldhaus. In the evening, drive the Vermillion Lakes Parkway to look for moose. They are more active in the late evening. Near the Fenland trail area is the best place to spot. Have dinner in Banff. Dinner recommendation: Park Distillery or Bluebird, known for its prime rib.

Feel free to catch any activities on this day that you haven’t had time for yet. You could visit the hot springs, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, have a spa day, go shopping, or take a boat ride on the lake. Dinner recommendation: Eden Restaurant, located in the Rimrock Resort hotel. It is supposed to be one of the best in Canada.

Check out of your Banff Town hotel, and begin the drive on the Ice Field Parkway, known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Some recommended stops include the Crawfoot Glacier Viewpoint, the Bow Summit and Peyto Lake Viewpoint, the Waterfowl Lake Viewpoint, and the Mistaya Canyon viewpoint. Visit the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center and have lunch. Take a tour on the glacier in the afternoon, or hike the Parker Ridge Trail. Drive back the Icefield Parkway for about one hour and 40 minutes. Check into your Lake Louise hotel.

Rise early and take the shuttle to Moraine Lake. Here, you can rent a canoe and explore the serenity of the beautiful lake. Hike the Rock Pile trail, an easy 20-minute hike, or the Lake trail, an easy 45-minute hike. In the evening, dine at the Fairview Bar and Restaurant at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Hike the Plain of Six Glaciers trail to the teahouse. At this point, you can go back the way you came to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. For a more challenging hike, continue on to the Lake Agnes trail, where you can visit a second teahouse: the Lake Agnes Teahouse. Then continue along the Lake Agnes trail back to the Fairmont. The Plain of Six Glaciers/Lake Agnes loop is a strenuous hike that covers six to seven miles with and elevation gain of 2,135 feet. It takes about 5–8 hours to complete this loop. After all your activity, reward yourself with a delicious dinner at Wallister Stube at the Fairmont.

Check out of your Lake Louise hotel. Drive to Calgary. Explore the city of Calgary. Visit the Canada Olympic Park or the Dinosaur Provincial Park. Have dinner in Calgary. Stay the night in Calgary before flying home tomorrow.