Due to the COVID-19 international travel restrictions for Canada, my boyfriend and I decided that it was the perfect time to explore more of our beautiful country. We knew that going to Alberta, specifically Banff and Jasper, would be amazing. Our visit to Alberta was from June 17-24, and it was the perfect time to go. We had amazing weather – not too hot, not too cold, hardly any rain, and some snow still on the mountains. I hope you enjoy my guide to a perfect week in Banff and Jasper, Alberta!
DAY 1: Fly into Calgary, Alberta and drive to the town of Banff
When visiting Banff and the surrounding area, most people fly into the Calgary Airport. Obviously arriving early in the morning is best to maximize your time in Alberta
If you plan on visiting both Banff and Jasper like we did, renting a car is a must. We reserved a car on rentalcars.com prior to our trip and picked it up at the Calgary airport. Super easy!
Once we arrived at our hotel in the town of Banff, had some lunch, and unpacked, we walked around downtown. Afterwards, I highly recommend visiting the Cascade of Time Garden and walking along the Bow River to Bow River Falls. We also went up the Banff Gondola and had dinner at the Sky Bistro, which was the perfect ending to our first day in Banff.
To read my blog post, “A Guide to Visiting Banff National Park,” click here.
DAY 2: Banff
Now that you have your footing, you can explore more of Banff National Park. There are tons of great lakes and hiking trails to explore.
DAY 3: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
When visiting Banff National Park, seeing Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is a must. If you are up for a challenge, I highly recommend hiking the Lake Agnes Trail up to Little Beehive and/or Big Beehive – the views are unforgettable! We had the best day at Lake Louise.
To read my blog post, “A Perfect Day Trip to Lake Louise,” click here.
DAY 4: Banff
We chose to spend four days in Banff because we spent a day golfing at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course. Afterwards, we spent time relaxing and enjoying the other amenities at the Fairmont.
If you feel like you’ve seen enough of Banff, you could drive to Jasper on this day to have more time there.
DAY 5: Drive the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper
One of my favourite days from our trip to Alberta was driving from Banff to Jasper on the infamous Icefields Parkway. Make sure you allow for a whole day to stop at all the incredible spots along the way. By the end of the day, you will be in Jasper National Park!
To read my blog post, “A Guide to Driving the Icefields Parkway,” click here.
DAY 6: Jasper
After spending your first night in Jasper, use this full day to explore all that Jasper National Park has to offer. Like Banff National Park, Jasper National Park has more beautiful lakes and hiking trails to explore. Checking out Pyramid Lake and taking the Maligne Lake Cruise are musts!
To read my blog post, “A Guide to Visiting Jasper National Park,” click here.
DAY 7: Jasper and drive to Calgary to fly out
Spend the first half of the day in Jasper. We hiked the Maligne Canyon before heading to Calgary. Since it’s a five hour drive from Jasper to Calgary, we quickly stopped at Lake Louise again to stretch our legs and had dinner in Banff before continuing on to our Calgary Airport hotel. We flew back home early the next morning. It was an amazing trip!
I hope you enjoyed my guide to a perfect week in Banff and Jasper, Alberta!
