Holidays in Alberta and Rocky Mountains

Alberta, a province of superlatives, where the scenery is quite simply off the scale. A place of soaring mountain peaks, vividly coloured mountain-fed lakes, and ancient glaciers. Yet, it’s also a place of mind-boggling history that dates back millions of years.

Banff was Canada’s first National Park and has everything you could want from a Canadian holiday and more. Kayak the emerald waters of Lake Louise and explore the Valley of Ten Peaks, where you’ll find Moraine Lake. Surrounded by mountains and thundering waterfalls, the vivid turquoise colour intensifies in late June as the glaciers begin to melt under the warm summer sun. Jasper National Park is the largest in the Rockies, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the waterways with gentle float tours, canoeing and kayaking, or if you’re a thrill seeker at heart, take to the rapids with a white- water rafting adventure.

The Icefields Parkway is Alberta’s ultimate road trip. Starting in Jasper, this breath-taking drive winds its way through a vast wilderness of dramatic mountains, ancient glaciers, and truly outstanding scenery. Break your journey at the Columbia Icefields Glacier and Skywalk, a must-see experience where you can hop on one of the Ice Explorers for a memorable ride on to the Athabasca Glacier.

Jasper is also designated as a Dark Sky Preserve, and with little artificial light visible, the night skies are quite simply spectacular.

From ancient glaciers to the pre-historic age, Alberta is also where the dinosaurs once roamed. In the Canadian Badlands you’ll find towering hoodoo’s and walk in the footsteps of some of the largest creatures known to man. From the friendly city of Calgary host to the annual Calgary Stampede, a celebration of all things western, take a drive through the open prairies and pay a visit to Fort MacLeod, Head-Smashed-In- Buffalo-Jump and Waterton National Park. Alternatively, head north to Edmonton, home to the West Edmonton Mall, where you’ll find some of the best shopping in Canada, Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and Elk Island National Park.