Alberta
Christmas in the Canadian Rockies
Program No. 16593RJ
Join us for Christmas in Banff to experience the winter wonderland of the Canadian Rockies. Learn about the local wildlife and culture, and marvel at the majestic mountain scenery.
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800-454-5768
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6 days
5 nights
10 meals
4B 2L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Banff, Alberta
2
Banff Geology, Cave & Basin, Whyte Museum
Banff, Alberta
3
Banff & Bow Valley, Free Time
Banff, Alberta
4
Banff Park Museum, Banff, Free Time, Christmas Eve
Banff, Alberta
6
Program Concludes
Banff, Alberta
At a Glance
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas filled with old-fashioned charm and stunning mountain scenery, then join us for the holidays in Banff! Savor breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies as you learn firsthand about local wildlife like deer and elk. Dip your hands in thermal waters at Cave and Basin National Historic Site, marvel at colorful lights shimmering in the cavern and discover plumes of steam billowing through the cave’s vent. Experience everything Christmas in the Rockies can offer as you celebrate the season with new friend and Christmas cheer!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to one mile daily on varied terrain; snow and ice, slippery conditions. Elevations up to 4,540 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Harken back to a bygone era as you dash through the snow on a horse-drawn sleigh through the pristine Bow River Valley.
- Sip afternoon tea in the luxurious Banff Springs Hotel as you gaze out at the majestic mountain peaks of Banff.
- Learn about the culture shaped by the mountain landscape at the Whyte Museum and hear the stories of the early explorers drawn to these rugged mountains.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Brent MacDonald
Brent Macdonald has been a resident of the Canadian Rockies for almost 30 years. As a geology expert, he provides a wealth of knowledge about geography and geomorphology. Brent has had a diverse career as a freelance natural history interpreter, also working as a consultant for a geotechnical engineering company. He has shared his knowledge of geology and natural history as an interpreter and guest lecturer. Brent is also a certified mountain leader and ski instructor.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Brent MacDonald
View biography
Brent Macdonald has been a resident of the Canadian Rockies for almost 30 years. As a geology expert, he provides a wealth of knowledge about geography and geomorphology. Brent has had a diverse career as a freelance natural history interpreter, also working as a consultant for a geotechnical engineering company. He has shared his knowledge of geology and natural history as an interpreter and guest lecturer. Brent is also a certified mountain leader and ski instructor.
Greg Allemang
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Growing up in the military has brought Greg across Canada and given him a real taste of everything the country has to offer. Finally settled now in the Calgary area, Greg has followed his passions for his country to study travel management and become a certified hiking instructor. Greg also enjoys climbing and enjoying the beautiful wilderness that surrounds his home. His love of nature has fueled his passion for connecting people to their environment and showing off his country to visitors.
Jennifer Royal
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Jen Royal graduated with a bachelor’s in Canadian history from the Wilfred Laurier University and has over ten years of experience teaching, leading and interpreting history. She has worked at the Whyte Museum since 2014 in both the Education Department and the Archives and Library.
Jacob Johnson
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Jacob Johnson has spent the better part of his life in the mountains, from growing up in Fernie, B.C. to his current home in Canmore, Alberta. His love for being in the mountains has taken him rock climbing in Thailand, mountain biking in Italy and skiing and mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. Now retired from a career in engineering, you will often find Jacob with a camera in his hand as he’s also a professional photographer, constantly seeking to capture the beauty of the environment.
Routes Adventures Mobile Phone
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Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.
Suggested Reading List
(7 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Christmas in the Canadian Rockies
Program Number: 16593
Switchbacks, True Stories from the Canadian Rockies
A native Albertan and park warden in the Canadian Rockies, Marty relates colorful anecdotes from friends, colleagues and his own youth in this collection of tales, which includes A Horse Named Candy.
This Wild Spirit: Women in the Rocky Mountains of Canada
In 1912, Mary Vaux, a botanist, glaciologist, painter, and photographer, wrote about her mountain adventures: “A day on the trail, or a scramble over the glacier, or even with a quiet day in camp to get things in order for the morrow's conquests? Some how when once this wild spirit enters the blood…I can hardly wait to be off again." Vaux's compulsion was shared by many women whose intellects, imaginations, and spirits rose to the challenge of the mountains between the late-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. This Wild Spirit explores a sampling of women's creative responses—in fiction and travel writing, photographs and paintings, embroidery and beadwork, letters and diaries, poetry and posters—to their experiences in the Rocky Mountains of Canada.
Alberta Wildlife
FIELD GUIDE, 2005, PLASTIC CARD
A fold-up, laminated card featuring color drawings and short descriptions of commonly encountered wildlife in Alberta. (CND279, $5.95)
Canadians, A Portrait of the Country and Its People
A journalist and popular author, MacGregor takes the full measure of Canadian life in this irreverent, entertaining portrait of a people.
Raven's End
A young raven, with no memory of his past, arrives to the beautiful and dangerous landscape of Yamnuska, Banff. A book that looks at the complex world of ravens.
Moon Handbook Canadian Rockies
Canada resident and avid outdoorsman Andrew Hempstead knows the best way to experience the Canadian Rockies, from rafting on the Bow River and hiking Lake O'Hara to staying in a remote log cabin. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Canadian Rockies has lots of options for a range of travel budgets. With must-see sights, maps, aadvice on planning and itineraries -- and an essential dose of humor.
Scats and Tracks of the Rocky Mountains
An essential pocket guide to 70 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds, with line drawings, range map and description.
