Experience the wild heart of Canada

Canada is simply brimming with beautiful landscapes, from the thunderous Niagara Falls to the dramatic cliffs of Gros Morne and the teetering seastacks in the Bay of Fundy. But arguably one of the best places for visitors new to the country – or even those on a repeat trip – to explore is the Rocky Mountains.

Also known as the Rockies, it’s a major mountain range which stretches for over 750 miles from the border of the USA to the Liard River. Large portions of the range are protected inside famous, sprawling national parks such as Banff (Canada’s oldest national park) and Jasper, both recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is Canada at its wildest – all rugged peaks, endless forests, valleys carved by glaciers, and huge cliffs of grey, rust and ochre rock.

Just as spectacular are the animals and birds which call this part of the world their home, from grizzly and black bears to elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and even caribou, lynx and cougars, while golden eagles, bald eagles and osprey are often found soaring above. It’s almost too much to take in, and for the first timer especially, it can all seem overwhelming.

With so much to see, and do, in this extraordinary region, where’s the best place to even start? Well, how about Saga’s Rocky Mountains and Alaska Adventure tour, which spends several days traversing some of the most majestic scenery you will ever see.

Visiting from May 2027 to September is recommended – it’s the best time to be there, thanks to the gorgeous weather (with no snow), and with more wildlife appearing from the beginning of spring to end of summer. Here’s what to expect…

Lake Louise, Banff National Park

The trip of a lifetime starts at your own front door, with Saga’s nationwide shared chauffeur service picking you up and taking you to the airport, from where you’ll fly to Calgary, in the province of Alberta.

Then your journey of discovery truly begins, as you transfer west into the Canadian Rockies to Banff, your stopping-off point before heading to Lake Louise, a glacial lake famed for its incredible turquoise hue.

The lake owes its startling colour to meltwater from overhead glaciers, which carries fine rock particles, known as rock flour, into the water – these reflect the sunlight to create this otherworldly shade. Surrounded by high peaks and the towering Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is truly one of the most photogenic locations in the Rockies. A stroll around its pretty shoreline, on the flat and easy Lakeshore Trail, takes around an hour, passing subalpine forest and waterfalls.

Just a few miles away is another impressive body of water, Moraine Lake, just as strikingly-coloured as its neighbour (a regular shuttle connects the two). One of the most interesting things you’ll see on a walk around its shores is the Rockpile, a natural, 30m-high mound of sharp, angular quartzite rocks.

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park

An easy, round-trip trail leads you to the top of a natural rock formation called a moraine, from which the lake gets its name, and provides the best view of both the lake and the surrounding Valley of the Ten Peaks (which is exactly as its name suggests). It’s even better if you time your visit for sunrise.

But you’ll also spend some time in the town of Banff itself, a charming place at an elevation of 1,383m. Stroll down the main street and grab a coffee and a pastry at one of the local bakeries; take the flat, easy Bow Falls trail along the river to see the wide, roaring waterfall just minutes from downtown; or ascend by gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, so-named for the hot springs you’ll find on its lower slopes.

Columbia Icefield

From Banff, you’ll journey north along the Icefields Parkway, widely regarded as one of Canada’s most scenic drives, which connects Lake Louise with the small, quiet mountain town of Jasper.

En route, you’ll stop at the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest masses of glacial ice south of the Arctic Circle. If you’re feeling brave, you can stroll along the Icefield Skyway, a cliff-edge walkway with a glass-floored observation platform suspended 280m above the Sunwapta Valley. Just as exciting is riding onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier in a massive, purpose-built, all-terrain Ice Explorer vehicle, from where you can walk right on the ancient ice and taste fresh glacial water.

Then you’ll reach Jasper, set within Jasper National Park – the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. There are other superlatives here, including Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the park, and Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Rockies.

Spirit Island in Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

Here you can take a boat trip out to Spirit Island, one of the region’s most recognisable landmarks. A small grove of pine and spruce trees on a strip of land connected to the shore by a narrow isthmus for most of the year, it only becomes a true island for a brief period in the summer.

Another memorable spot in the park is Medicine Lake, known for its disappearing waters; the lake is filled with glacier meltwater in summer, but in autumn and winter it all simply… vanishes (it actually drains out through sinkholes in the bottom).

Rocky Mountaineer

Perhaps the most epic part of your journey comes via a two-day rail trip on the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper to Kamloops. Thanks to the majestic peaks and lofty alpine scenery you’ll be passing by, it’s known, poetically, as the “journey through the clouds”.

One of the most dramatic sights is Mount Robson, the highest peak in the range at a dizzying 3,954m, its upper reaches permanently dusted in snow and ice. You’ll also trundle along past the Albreda Icefields, enjoying panoramic views of these large, glittering expanses of ice and hanging glaciers from the Rocky Mountaineer’s vast windows or outdoor viewing platforms.

The journey continues through river valleys and forested landscapes – keep your eyes peeled for black or grizzly bear, which often forage at the river’s edge; or moose, which occasionally wade into marshy lakes and wetlands near waterways. Don’t forget to look up, in case eagles or osprey are passing overhead – but don’t worry: if any wildlife is within sight, the train’s onboard Hosts will make sure that all passengers know about it!

Rocky Mountaineer

You’ll also pass Pyramid Falls, a stunning, 92m cascading waterfall almost exclusively viewable from the train’s tracks, and the Monashee Mountains, primarily known for their world-class heli-skiing, deep powder snow, and rich gold- and copper-mining history.

After an overnight stop in the riverside city of Kamloops, you’ll carry on west through ever-changing scenery, from the semi-arid interior of British Columbia to the fertile farmland of the Fraser Valley. You’ll also experience the fascinating Cisco Crossing, a feat of engineering which features two side-by-side railway bridges spanning the fast-moving Fraser River within the rugged Fraser Canyon.

Finally, you’ll arrive in Vancouver, a handsome coastal city set between mountains and the Pacific Ocean, which has plenty of nature of its own – head to Stanley Park, thickly forested with over half a million trees, and walk the renowned Seawall loop which skirts the perimeter.

Your Saga trip will then continue on to Alaska – but we guarantee you will never forget the sights and experiences you’ve had in the magnificent Rockies.