Few landscapes on earth carry as many layers as the Canadian Rockies — from the rolling prairie lands of the Métis to the ancient blue ice of the Columbia Icefield. Connect with this extraordinary landscape through the stories of its original stewards and the lens of world-renowned naturalists, on an expedition where geology, wildlife, and living Indigenous culture converge.
Travel Style
National Geographic Signature
Service Level
Luxury
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Edmonton
Signature Moment: Bison Wisdom Park Tour and Meet the Métis, Smoky Lake
Signature Moment: Meet Jo-Anne Oucharek & Banff Wildlife Tour, Banff. Arrival and departure transfers. Fort Edmonton Historical Park Tour. Bison Backstage Tour. Bison Wisdom on the Land and Métis Wildlife Crossing Tour. Bison Stew Lunch & Buffalo Talk. Maligne Lake Cruise. Columbia Icefield Visit and Athabasca Glacier Ice Walk. Fairview Lookout trail Walking Tour. Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation Presentation. Emerald Lake Hike. Medicine Walk & Cascade Pond Tour with Indigenous guide. Banff Wildlife Tour with Jo-Anne Oucharek. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout. Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles. Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Witness the restoration of the prairies through Indigenous-led bison reintroductions, Step on the ancient, shimmering surface of the Athabasca Glacier, Capture the raw spirit of the Rockies during a wildlife photography session with an award-winning professional, Uncover the mysteries of prehistoric life with an exclusive presentation on the secrets of the Burgess Shale, Soak in the spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery along the Icefields Parkway en route to Lake Louise.
How large will the group be?
Max 22, Avg. 16.
What meals are included in this trip?
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private vehicle, boat, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
Yes, for those travelling solo there is a single supplement
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotel (9 nights)
Itinerary
Edmonton
Touch down in Alberta's capital, where the vast prairie sky meets an urban heartbeat. After settling into your hotel, meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and Expedition Expert for a warm welcome reception — an introduction to the wonders that await in the days ahead. As the sun sets over the plains, enjoy a welcome dinner celebrating the start of an immersive exploration into the history, geology, and vibrant cultures of the Canadian West.
Edmonton to Métis Crossing
The morning begins with the echoes of the past at Fort Edmonton Park, where the stories of First Nations ancestors come alive through vivid storytelling. After a quiet lunch, head toward Elk Island National Park to join a naturalist for a driving tour through the brush — scanning for the shadowy movement of bison, saved from the brink of extinction through decades of careful conservation. Go behind the scenes at a handling facility to understand how that remarkable recovery was achieved. As dusk falls, the air fills with fiddles and laughter at a traditional Métis kitchen party — a hearty, communal meal that bridges generations and captures the deep spirit of community at the heart of Métis culture.
Métis Crossing
Wake to the rustle of the prairie grasses and search for rare white bison grazing on rehabilitated land — a living symbol of what careful stewardship can achieve. The morning rotates between the wildlife park and an immersive dive into regional history, with the local Métis sharing the layered story of a culture born from the meeting of First Nations and European worlds. In the late afternoon, enjoy free time to choose from several optional activities at the lodge or simply relax while looking across the prairies where the stories of the past come to life. The day concludes around the amber glow of a campfire, as an Elder shares oral histories that have shaped this land for generations.
Métis Crossing to Jasper
Leave the wide-open prairies behind as the horizon begins to ripple with the jagged silhouettes of the Rocky Mountains — a transition that feels almost cinematic, the landscape shifting mile by mile from golden grassland to alpine wilderness. Follow the winding paths of fur traders past, pausing for lunch as the air grows cooler and the trees taller. Visit Jasper House, a National Historic Site that once served as the beating centre of mountain trade. After settling into your lodge, join your Expedition Leader for a gentle stroll around the turquoise waters of Beauvert Lake, the reflection of the peaks on the glass-like surface providing a quietly perfect introduction to Jasper National Park.
Jasper
Morning light reveals the staggering scale of the mountains as you head toward the deep blue expanse of Maligne Lake. Board a boat to skim across the water, the surrounding peaks reflected in perfect stillness below. After the cruise, find your own rhythm — explore the charming village of Jasper, or join the Expedition Leader along the Mary Schaffer Loop trail, where the views reward you without effort. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure to soak in the mountain atmosphere and enjoy the stillness of the Rockies. Days like this are where the real transformation of travel quietly happens.
Lake Louise
Prepare for one of the most scenic drives on Earth along the Icefield Parkway, a corridor of hanging glaciers and limestone towers. Feel the mist on your face at Athabasca Falls, where the river thunders into a narrow canyon with raw power. The day’s highlight is a private walk onto the Athabasca Glacier. Step onto the ancient glacier ice, hearing it crunch beneath your feet as you learn about its slow, majestic movement. After lunch, continue past the brilliant hues of Peyto and Bow Lakes. Arrive at the iconic shores of Lake Louise, where you can walk the shoreline trail as the peaks turn gold in the fading light.
Lake Louise/Banff
Enjoy a gentle morning walk along the Fairview Lookout Trail before the road leads south to the village of Field. Here, you have a private presentation from the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation, on the bizarre creatures frozen in time within these UNESCO-protected fossil beds — a window into an ocean that existed half a billion years ago. After a lakeside lunch at Emerald Lake, a trail walk around the shoreline provides one of the Rockies' most beautiful afternoons before continuing to the vibrant town of Banff, where the towering presence of Mount Rundle makes its first impression.
Banff
Connect with the spirit of the park through the eyes of an Indigenous guide during a storytelling walk at Cascade Pond — the mountains, water, and sky woven into the fabric of First Nations culture in ways that reframe everything you've seen on the journey so far. After free time in town, an award-winning wildlife photographer reveals the patience and passion required to capture the Rockies' most elusive residents. Follow her to secret spots within the National Park, honing your own eye for the raw beauty of the landscape. The expedition concludes with a farewell dinner, sharing memories that stretch from ancient prairie to living glacier.
Banff/Calgary
Enjoy one last mountain breakfast as the morning light hits the peaks. As you depart the Rockies and head to the Calgary airport, the jagged horizon softens. Take with you the echoes of Elder stories, the crisp memory of glacial air, and a new perspective on the enduring bond between the land and those who call it home.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
