Recently Back from the BCR tour - thoughts and tips...
Having recently completed the Best of the Canadian Rockies Tour, I thought I would share our experience and provide what I hope are some helpful tips for those who have already booked, or are considering this trip. I’ve also looked at some of the questions which have been raised in other threads about this tour, but have not been addressed at all. I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I think the length was necessary to cover many of the questions people were posing.
Booking an additional night in Calgary prior to the Tour:
I think this is a no-brainer… any seasoned traveler knows all the things which can go wrong when air travel is part of the equation. We booked a night in Calgary at the Westin Hotel, giving us slightly more than 24 hours in Calgary before the tour departed. Scheduling your arrival at the airport on the same date as the tour departure just allows for too many variables to enter the picture in my opinion. We experienced 7 hours in flight delays due to a connecting flight cancellation, so we were okay. Did our group have some people arrive at the airport after our tour had departed? Yes. Did we have travelers who departed on the tour without their luggage? Yes. Give yourself an extra day to work out any of these potential problems, and ensure you will have a great trip. If you don’t experience any issues, you’ll have a wonderful and relaxing day exploring Calgary (be forewarned, Calgary isn’t much of a tourist destination – although it is a beautiful city). NOTE: Keep the 800-numbers for Tauck handy if you do have last minute flight changes as we did – once notified, Tauck can make the necessary changes for your limo pick-up at the airport or assist in transportation to so that you can catch-up with the tour if the tour leaves before your arrival in Calgary.
YYC (Calgary) is a relatively recently renovated airport as of the summer of 2017 (locals were telling us the international portion was about a year old). I’m not sure if we were an anomaly or not, but we passed thru customs very quickly. From the time we exited our airplane, picked-up our luggage, spoke to customs personnel, and exited the terminal to be contacted by our Tauck limo driver - was less than 30 minutes. We arrived on a Saturday evening, so I’m not sure if our experience was atypical or not.
I’ve seen a number of people ask questions on the forum about dining in the City of Calgary. When you arrive at the Westin, a welcome letter from your tour director will be waiting for you when you check-in. One of the sheets will outline the various dining establishments in the nearby area – as well as every sort of other location you might need (shopping; dry cleaning; movies; etc.). There are all manner of dining fare available within a short walk from the hotel (Check on YELP for reviews). Prince’s Island Park is a short walk from the Westin, and definitely deserving of a visit as a post-meal stroll. We found the city to largely abandoned during the weekend (hardly any people at all). Locals told us Calgarians stay out of the city on the weekends, but weekdays are highly congested within the downtown area.
Beyond the one item of luggage for each traveler guideline, there is room on the bus for a small (and I mean small) item in the overhead storage compartments (something along the line of a small day-pack). We saw people try and bring an additional small roller type luggage items (typical of overhead airline size luggage) which were far too large for these overhead bins on the bus. I brought a small backpack with me, which came in handy on some of the hikes (to stow cameras, snacks, water, jackets, etc). Do everyone on the bus a favor, and only take one item of luggage per person (too many items slows down the loading/unloading process).
This is a very casual tour, so “country club casual” attire is totally appropriate at every dining venue. For the men, collared shirts and dockers/khakis are fine for all the restaurants you will visit (some wore jeans too – although I could see this was frowned-upon in the hotel restaurants) with no need for ties or jackets – and for the women there is no need to pack dresses for the dining establishments (britches and nice tops work well).
Be sure to carry some Canadian cash with you. Although you will be able to make the vast majority of purchases with your plastic (check with your credit/debit card companies to see if they have foreign transaction fees to determine which ones to use, and how sparingly you might want to use them if these fees do apply to your cards) – BUT, there are some situations where you will absolutely need Canadian cash. No need for a lot of CAD, perhaps only $20-$40.
Cell phone reception can be a little spotty on traveling days (no wifi on the bus), but is not an issue at any of the hotels you will visit on the tour.
It was my impression that each TD has a little latitude to run their tour how they choose, so your experience may not be exactly what my wife and I experienced.
Day 1
The tour departs from the Westin at 1PM, so grab a quick bite of lunch before you board the bus – there won’t be an opportunity for a snack for a few hours (unless you grab something at the airport when the bus pick’s up the last few travelers). We were at the airport for less than 30 minutes, so if you plan to grab a bite or use the restroom – you’ll need to be quick. Our motor coach driver had a fresh bottle of water in every seat each morning before we departed on a drive to keep us all hydrated. Back to restrooms – there is one on the bus, but they really want it used as little as possible (if you are seated at the rear of the bus, you’ll appreciate people NOT using the on-board restroom for obvious reasons). There are frequent stops, so this really shouldn’t be an issue.
The drive to the Delta Lodge was a relatively short drive from the airport. I’ve seen a lot of complaints on the Best of the Canadian Rockies main web-page regarding the Delta Lodge being sub-par lodging (by Tauck standards). The Delta Lodge has been, and is undergoing extensive renovation (at the time of this writing). We stayed in the John Palliser wing of the hotel, where all the rooms have already been renovated. There should no longer be any complaints (I believe the DL is primarily geared for winter sports activities – so travelers can be hard on the facilities in general – but we found the facilities to be in a fine state of repair). Following your arrival at the Delta Lodge, you have a short period of free-time to explore the grounds, and then you will be off to the Boundary Ranch for the welcome dinner. It’s a casual evening, where a few folks wore western attire as Tauck suggested… but, It was totally appropriate to wear jeans and a collared shirt. This is essentially a low-key mixer for people to get to know each other. Good “grub” and for those interested in comp’d wine, this is one of those stops. You’ll be back in the hotel early, so if you were tired from air travel that day, you’ll have ample time to recover.
Day 2
After breakfast at the Delta Lodge, the morning starts out with a few scenic stops along the Bow River, before arriving in Canmore for a short helicopter ride. The helicopter ride only lasts 12-15 minutes, and can be mildly bumpy at times as you move past the Three Sisters Peaks (nothing too significant in terms of turbulence – just not the smoothest heli ride you’ll ever experience due to the dynamic area weather patterns and mountainous topography). The squeamish should not be concerned – it’s well worth the experience. Following the helicopter tour, you continue along the Bow River to the town of Lake Louise, where you will stop for a fantastic lunch experience at the Lake Louise Post Hotel. There are many courses to this lunch meal (including a great dessert), so be careful you don’t over eat – or you’ll want to pass on supper (which you won’t want to do). For the winos, I believe the spirit was comp’d at lunch. Then you are off to visits of the Spiral Tunnels; the Natural Bridge; and Emerald Lake. You’ll then retrace the route to Emerald Lake back to the Chateau Lake Louise for the second and third night of lodging.
Keep in mind, the Chateau Lake Louise Hotel (as well as Banff Springs Resort) are both older hotels. While the rooms are very well appointed, they are small by modern hotel standards. But, the room views are nothing short of spectacular. You won’t be disappointed.
Upon your arrival at the Chateau Lake Louise you will receive a "Fairmont Discount Card” – good for all sorts of discounts at the various Fairmont properties (good for both activities and merchandise). Keep this card handy… as some of the discounts are up to 50% for Tauck guests.
Day 3
Following breakfast at the Chateau Lake Louise, you will have the opportunity to tour Moraine Lake with a naturalist. The “hike” is on relatively flat (and often uneven) trails. It’s an easy walk with many stops. The naturalist guide will likely only take you back ½ to ¾ of a mile, providing you with information about local lakes, wildlife and early exploration of the area along the way. You can choose to go further around the lake on your own once the naturalist completes his narrative. Take the short walk to the top of the “rock pile” (near the parking lot) for a great view of the lake. I’ve seen some ask about doing the hike in sandals – and I suppose it’s possible. Sneakers are just fine for this activity (unless there is foul weather). Following your time at Lake Moraine, you will return to the Chateau Lake Louise for “free time”. You can hike around the lake or take a hike up to the Tea House. Just be aware the “trails” both begin as wide, nicely paved walkways – and become much less manicured the further you go. Both trails will eventually become uneven earthen paths. If the weather is nice (as it was for us), sneakers are fine – but, if the weather is more inclement – you may want more sturdy footwear. If you take the trek up to the Tea House, or go beyond to the “Beehive” and plan to buy any refreshments or baked goods at the Tea House – take cash. They do not accept credit/debit cards at the Tea House (there is a primitive restroom at the Tea House). You may also wish to take a canoe ride on Lake Louise – however, my tip would be to wait to canoe on Lac Beauvert at Jasper Park (much less expensive and less wind on the lake).
Day 4
On this day you will drive up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper Park Lodge (JPL). This is your longest day on the bus, but with frequent stops, it’s just fine. There are many sights to see (too many to list), and depending on how your day is progressing (from a timeline standpoint) as well as the weather, your TD might stop at some locations and catch the others on your way back down the Icefields Parkway on Day 6. JPL and the Icefields Parkway are your best opportunities to see wildlife – so keep your cameras at the ready. We had lunch at the Sunwampta Falls Lodge – a very good meal (comp’d wine for the cork dorks). You’ll ultimately end-up at JPL with ample free time to explore the grounds. If you plan on going to town, you are going to need a taxi (JPL is a good distance out of town – and IMHO, not much to see in town). If the weather is cool, you’ll often see wildlife roaming the grounds of JPL. My wife found the accommodations at JPL to be a little too “woodsie”; “cabinish”; or rustic for her taste – but, I found our room to be just fine. The feel of the rooms really fit the area. The rooms here are generally larger than Lake Louise or Banff.
In the evening, Tauck arranges for a “1st Nations” speaker to give a presentation on Canadian “native peoples” in one of the downstairs conference rooms. This is a highly informative presentation. Anyone who thought the United States treated their native peoples poorly won’t feels so guilty after listening to what our Canadian brothers have done. Everyone in attendance felt they learned a great deal – and from a different perspective.
Day 5
This is a free-day. Tauck includes one activity for you to participate in this day (River Rafting; Gondola; or a Wildlife Tour) – and if you wish to take two excursions – the second will be at your expense. Our TD arranged second excursions for our group (the preferred method), but you may have to make your own arrangements thru the hotel concierge. If your TD does assist in coordinating an extra excursion for you, they should ensure Tauck pays for the more expensive excursion (keep an eye on this just to make sure).
As far as the three activities are concerned:
The river raft on the Athabasca River is relatively mild ride. Not quite a “float” – but not a “white knuckler” either (it’s only class 2 – just a little white water). They provide you with “wet suits” (if you think about what surfers wear – this will be your attire – which will include footwear). Wear a bathing suit when your group assembles in the hotel lobby. The wet suit will be put on over your bathing suit (you will change-out on the bus should you decide to wear regular clothing – not recommended). You will get wet on this ride, but we never felt cold (due to the wet suits). Some were concerned with bringing cell phones to take pictures. DO NOT take your phone (or camera) – as many end-up at the bottom of the river (which is only 2-4 feet deep in most places). Your paddle will occupy both of your hands for over 90% of the time you are on the water (so you won’t have much opportunity to take your own images anyway). The tour company does have people along the side of the river at key points to take photos of your group – and they are available for purchase following your tour (great pics too). Given the currency conversion, the images are only about $20 USD – and well worth the price. Leave your wallets and purses locked-up in your room safe. (Tip: To be captured more prominently in the images taken by the tour company, sit at the front of the raft – or on the left side of the raft as you go down river).
The line for the gondola (both going up and coming back) can be long at times (depending on the day of the week and tourist volumes) – and at JPL you have a chance to see wildlife on the gondola. The views from the top are great – but, the best views (both at JP and at the Banff gondola) will require you to take a short hike (a little over a mile) to observation points. For the most part, sneakers are fine in good weather – but, if the weather is inclement you may want more sturdy footwear. Although the trails are decent, don’t underestimate your level of fitness considering the altitude (you are in for a small climb at both locations).
The Wildlife Tour is during the evening, which is when the wildlife is frequently active (as are the mosquitos). You’ll be placed into a 15 passenger van and taken to areas which are hot-beds for wildlife activity. You will be given a few opportunities to exit the bus and get a closer look (obviously not when bears or other large critters are in the vicinity). Bring your bug repellant and make sure your arms and legs are covered-up – you will be traversing some brush and tall grass. Also, ensure you pack your “After Bite” before embarking on your tour (pack it or buy some in Calgary) – as we found it hard to come by at the various hotels we visited.
At JPL, the pedal boats on Lac Beauvert are free (pedal driven – like a bike). You can also rent a canoe (this best location for this in my opinion). Because Lac Beauvert is a low spot in the water table (water filters into the lake from the floor of the lake and is not filled by a river or stream) – the water is incredibly clear – to a depth of about 30 feet. One hour is sufficient to paddle all over this lake at a leisurely pace (rentals are by the hour).
There are also several golf courses, and equestrian stables (there are stables at the Chateau Lake Louise too).
Day 6
Depart JPL for Banff. You will travel back down the Icefields Parkway a second time and stop and see some sights along the way. You will also stop at the Colombia Icefields. You will only be on the glacier for 15-20 minutes, so there really isn’t a need for a super heavy jacket here unless the weather is inclement (or you are the kind of person who is easily cold). If the weather is poor, you will want sturdy footwear too (we were fine with sneakers in good weather). Even in good weather, the glacial surface is “mushy” in places, and there is glacial run-off (small streams of water) in many spots, so watch your step or you will find yourself with wet/cold feet. TIP: Before leaving JPL, find a disposable cup (they usually have some in the lobby) you can take with you so that you can sample drinking some pure glacial water at the source – it’s fantastic!
Lunch at the Saskatchewan River Crossing was the most disappointing stop on our trek (it’s essentially a truck-stop). Although the food was okay, I just didn’t expect to eat at a truck stop on a Tauck tour. Perhaps there weren’t many other available options. You’ll end-up at the Banff Springs Resort in the early afternoon, with plenty of time to explore. Check with the desk, as they hold a free historical tour of the hotel a few times a week (not every day) which is very interesting and well worth your time. Bow Falls are just below the hotel, and there is a path along the river which takes you right into the downtown Banff area (be forewarned, the mosquito activity along the river is pretty intense). The walk from Bow Falls to town is also slightly uphill.
Day 7
A free day. The walk to town from the hotel is short (less than ½ mile) and downhill (unlike the towns of Lake Louise and Jasper – which you really can’t easily walk to town). You can also take the bus from right in front of the hotel for a nominal fee (cash only). We were fortunate enough to be in Banff on Canada Day (the equivalent of Independence Day in the USA). They hold a great parade in downtown Banff on Canada Day – and if you can arrange your trip to coincide with this event – you won’t be sorry. You’ll have ample time to shop in town; take the gondola (be prepared for long lines – this side trip will easily eat-up more than half your day); walk to Bow Falls (right below the hotel); float down the Bow River (no rapids); and engage in a myriad of other activities. Banff is much more crowded than any other location you will visit, so always be prepared for crowds (especially on weekends) and lines.
The Farewell Dinner is a the end of this day (and yes, this is your last chance for comp’d wine). Some have asked when the best time to tip your TD and driver might be. This is that time for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, this is somewhat “down time” for your TD and driver (they won’t be overly occupied with loading the bus and/or making arrangements for the next stop on the tour). When loading back on the bus to go back to the hotel would be the perfect time to tip the Tauck personnel. A little less so the next morning at the hotel or at the airport, as both venues can be a bit busy for them.
Day 8
This is the last day of the tour, and you’ll leave for the airport in the morning after breakfast. You’ll arrive at the airport in a little over an hour (short trip). A few people on our tour opted to stay an extra day in Calgary – perhaps due to air travel considerations. If you take an extra day in Calgary, Tauck will arrange your transportation to the airport.
Again, I’m not sure if we were an anomaly or not – but including the time we dropped off our checked-luggage, going thru Canadian airport security, and thru US Customs (you will clear US Customs in Calgary) we were inside of security in well under 45 minutes (maybe closer to a little over 30 minutes). Tauck recommends you give yourself 2-3 hours, which I’m sure is wise – but, our experience was that everything moved quite quickly at YYC. They do have Global Entry kiosks to speed you thru the process at this airport. Again, we were at the airport on a Sunday morning, which may be a low volume day at this particular airport. Your experience may be completely different.
The tour director and the motorcoach driver were both wonderful, knew the area well, and were able to answer all questions we posed to either of them. The TD always made herself available to the group in the hotel lobby every morning and evening, to resolve any issues or answer questions.
The activity level and pace of this tour is pretty low. We did have travelers on our tour who had mild mobility issues, and they were able to participate in just about every activity. The only locale of any concern might be Athabasca Falls, were there are MANY sets of stairs to descend and ascend if you wish to go from the top of the falls to the bottom (especially if it’s raining or there are puddles on the walkways).
Regarding the timing of your trip – Lake Louise (and many of the other lakes in the region) can still be frozen-over in early June. If that could effect your feelings about the trip, you need to take this possibility into consideration when booking your trip. The beginning and end of this tour season, when the weather is typically coldest, is when you have the greatest opportunities to observe wildlife (and you can also experience snowy weather conditions). During the warmer months (July) the animals typically remain in the higher elevations to stay cooler. Also, as I previously mentioned – being in Canada for “Canada Day” (July 1) is a great plus if you are in an area of the parks holding celebrations. And always consider when the Calgary Stampede is taking place (typically in early July). It’s a 10 day event, and not only do the crowds in Calgary (and the adjacent parks) increase, so do the prices for just about everything. If you wish to book a pre-night or post-night stay at the Westin, expect to pay nearly double what you would pay during non-Stampede dates. But, being in Calgary for Stampede could be a great add-on to your tour (or a nightmare if you aren’t into it). Last, look at the other Tauck Western Canada sub-forums for additional tips/advice… as many of the other tours stop at the same locations as the Best of the Canadian Rockies tour.
This is a GREAT trip, and the best endorsement I can give it is that I would do it again – tomorrow if only time allowed. We made a tongue-and-cheek video chronical of our Canadian Rockies tour (if you are at all curious at all about what you’ll see during your tour) which can be found on that very popular video viewing internet web-site if you search under: jncperkins .
I’ll try and check in periodically to answer any questions if I’ve forgotten anything…
- Jeff
