The great winter adventure
6 NIGHTS • 7 DAYS
DAY 1
Arrive in Calgary, Alberta and fly to Yellowknife, NWT
Arrive in Yellowknife
YELLOWKNIFE
Set in the wondrous natural surroundings of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife is a remarkably modern city. A city where you can experience rustic nature and traditional culture without forgoing urban amenities. Whether you are driving on an ice road, dancing under the Aurora Borealis, enjoying a dogsled ride, ice fishing for world-class trophies or watching the creation of a brilliant northern diamond, we know you’ll enjoy the character of our city and feel the warmth of our northern hospitality. City Tour: See the city and learn about the history of Yellowknife from its beginnings with gold mining to its deeply entrenched traditional culture that makes this area unique. Spectacular views, visits to historic “Old Town”, stops at the museum, gift shops and more await you on the city tour. This tour is approximately 2 hours in length.
Aurora Viewing by Dogsled: Bundle up and snuggle in for an experience of a lifetime. A dog team trained by a world champion dog musher will pull your sled on a 30 minute trip across frozen lakes and trails. A rustic heated cabin with hot drinks and snacks awaits you at the end of the trip. Relax and warm up before stepping outside once more to gaze at the aurora. Lore states that whistling beckons the Aurora
and sets them dancing.
OVERNIGHT IN YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
DAY 2
Ice Road and Art Gallery Tour: One of the most awe-inspiring attractions in the Northwest Territories is the network of ice roads used in winter. Spend part of your afternoon on the six kilometre ice road linking Yellowknife to Dettah, a small aboriginal community across Yellowknife Bay. The dazzling white landscape along the road is stunning. Be sure to snap photos of yourself walking across the frozen bay. The territory is a hub for superb aboriginal arts and crafts. After your ice road experience, step inside some of Yellowknife’s finest galleries which feature locally made moccasins, carvings, jewelry, birch bark baskets, dream catchers and paintings.
Aurora by Snowmobile: For another evening of sky-gazing, hop onto a snowmobile. Your guide will lead you along a trail over the snowy frozen lake. Your rest will be well deserved when you arrive at the cabin on Great Slave Lake. Take time to lounge in the comfort of the cabin before donning your parka to watch the light show. You’ll be far enough from the city that your unimpeded view will be all the more brilliant.
OVERNIGHT IN YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
DAY 3
Snowshoeing, Tubing and Dogsledding: Kick start your day with an adrenaline rush. Shuffle over packed snow on snowshoes, get cozy in a dog sled, and rush down a snowcovered incline on an inflated tube. These are wonderful ways to see the landscape and these activities will set the mood for the rest of the day. Aurora Viewing from Traditional Teepee: Relax on the edge of a lake beside your lit teepee or walk up to the hill top viewing platform where heated seats will position you at the perfect angle to watch the lights dance across the sky. Enjoy fresh bannock and a northern speciality such as whitefish stew while you await the show. The aurora is a natural light show caused by a blend of oxygen, nitrogen, solar wind, and magnetic fields producing 10 million megawatts of luminescent power. Beyond the science, there have been different opinions of it for centuries. The Cree called it “The Dance of the Spirits,” while in the Middle Ages it was believed to be a sign from God. Gaze up at the radiant glow and you will feel like you can reach out to touch. its beautiful charge.
OVERNIGHT IN YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
DAY 4
Fly to Calgary, Alberta. Drive to Canmore – 1 hour
CANMORE
There’s lots of accommodation, dining and shopping in the town of Canmore. This authentic alpine town is located in Kananaskis Country, a vast network of provincial parks. Afternoon Dogsledding: Your clients can enjoy the ride snuggled in a cosy buffalo rug or learn to drive their own team. Seeing the Canadian Rockies from a dog sled provides the best story to bring home with them!
DRIVE TO BANFF – 20 MINUTES
BANFF
Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site Banff National Park, the town of Banff offers visitors unparalleled rugged beauty. Its pristine mountain ranges and lush wilderness are perfect for visitors craving outdoor adventure.
Banff Gondola: Ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views of six mountain ranges and the town of Banff nestled far below. Take a short hike along the walkway to Sanson’s Peak and watch for wildlife. Banff Upper Hot Springs in the evening: The natural hot mineral water of Banff Upper Hot Springs and luxurious spa treatments inspired by the energy of magnificent alpine settings revitalize the mind, body and soul.
OVERNIGHT IN BANFF, ALBERTA
DAY 5
Spend the day Skiing in the Rocky Mountains or Exploring the area Ski in the mountains: Not many national parks have ski resorts tucked inside. Your clients will enjoy a big mountain adventure at one of Banff’s ski resorts – Sunshine Village or Mt. Norquay. Sunshine Village straddles the continental divide and receives the most snow of all the resorts in the region. Your clients can ski, snowboard or tube down Mt. Norquay, a popular family resort five minutes from the town of Banff.
Or
Johnston Canyon Ice Walk: Along the way, your clients can stop at Johnson Canyon between Banff and Lake Louise. The views of the frozen waterfalls on this easy to moderate hike are simply amazing. Luminous ice sheets cling to the walls and spill out over the canyon’s edges.
DRIVE TO LAKE LOUISE (45 MINUTES)
LAKE LOUISE
Your clients will find all the creature comforts in the hamlet of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The famous lake, known as the jewel of the Rockies, is magical in winter. Ice Skating on Lake Louise: Your clients can rent skates and glide over the smooth lake under hanging glaciers and snow peaked Rocky Mountains. But can they catch snowflakes on their tongues while they’re doing it?
Walk around the Snowy Lake: Your clients will arrive in peaceful Lake Louise and enjoy a leisurely walk around the lake surrounded by majestic snowy mountain peaks, hanging glaciers and sparkling winter scenes.
OVERNIGHT IN LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA
DAY 6
Drive to Calgary stopping along the way to experience some winter adventure (1 hour) Guided Snowshoeing at Sunshine Village Mountain Resort: Ride the gondola and chairlift up above the trees, deep into the heart of Banff for a guided snowshoe tour of
the mountain. It’s an easy skill to learn – if you can walk, you can snowshoe!
Snow Tubing: Visitors both young and old can feel the wind through their hair and watch the snowy slopes rush by as they whiz down the hills on the tubing parks at Mt. Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort, or the new park at Canmore’s Nakiska Mountain Resort.
CALGARY
With so many top attractions, fine dining and shopping in the downtown core and local communities, your clients may want to schedule in extra time in Calgary. Explore our Neighbourhoods: Your clients will go by foot through Calgary’s unique shopping and dining neighbourhoods. Shop the stylish boutiques on 17th Ave, eat local food in the urban village of Kensington and stroll
along Inglewood’s historic streets to see where locals live, eat and shop.
Shopping: High-end malls and unique retail locations make Calgary a perfect destination for visitors seeking exclusive shopping experiences. Your clients can choose from downtown shopping and large shopping centres. Chinook Centre features more than 250 stores and over 25 unique to market retailers. CrossIron Mills just outside the city is Alberta’s newest destination shopping mall, where it’s easy to spend the entire day shopping the 100 outlets and 200 stores.
OVERNIGHT IN CALGARY, ALBERTA
DAY 7
Fly to YYC (6 nights, 5 days)