Wyoming/Montana/Alberta
The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks
Program No. 20524RJ
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The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks
The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks
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Participant Reviews
Based on 54 Reviews
SHOWING
Although my main goal was to see Glacier National Park, I enjoyed Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and the Canadian National Parks of Waterton Lake, Banff, and Jasper. We were fortunate to have great group leaders, great instructors, and beautiful weather!
— Review left October 20, 2025
This trip fulfilled a number of items on my bucket and because of all the information I feel I really got an understanding of what I was experiencing.
If I had done this on my own I wouldn't have gotten a true understanding of how the National Park were formed and how the Parks were managed. An amazing memorable experience with epic beauty.
— Review left September 25, 2025
We have been on numerous RS trips, Mike was one of the best guides/leaders ever. Worth the trip. As were "helper" Brent, and driver Dave.
You get a lot of bang for your buck on this trip, seeing MANY fabulous sights. It's a busy trip: up and going early and all day usually. Lots of time on the bus. But also many opportunities for good walks, easy hikes if you want.
Hotels and food a bit of a mixed bag: some good, some so so!!
Be prepared to be ON THE GO!
— Review left September 24, 2025
Our group leader, Michael, and his assistant group leader, Kathy, made a great team on our "The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks" tour. Our bus driver, Randy, added great chemistry to our Road Scholar leader group. This is a trip of a lifetime to see such different examples of US/Canadian National Parks. Our top experiences were walking on a glacier and taking the Red Jammers tour at Glacier NP. Take this trip -- you will not regret it!
— Review left September 15, 2025
Excelent program !
— Review left September 15, 2025
Overall, a great trip. Probably the very best way to see the national parks.
In addition to walking and standing some of the locations have inclines and a significant number of stairs to contend with. Educational materials and hop on lecturers were a very nice bonus. Our bus had an "emergency use only" rest room facility which was a significant draw back for us.
Tour guides and driver were excellent.
— Review left September 14, 2025
This trip was amazing! Our guide, Mike Phlaum, his assistant, Brent Greene, and our driver Chris, were excellent. They kept us well-informed about logistics, shared valuable knowledge, and kept our safety foremost in their minds. In addition, at several points local guides provided background and insight that enhanced the trip. The scenery was breathtaking. The trip covers a lot of mileage, and we had 2 days with fairly long drives; however, the bus was very comfortable and the itinerary was well-planned with educational and scenic stops along the way. If you expect 5 star accommodations, or you are a foodie, don't go on this trip. All hotels and meals were certainly adequate, but this trip is about the awesome beauty of the national parks in the US and Canada. Road Scholar did the planning, and we were free to appreciate the world around us.
— Review left September 6, 2025
I cannot say enough good things about our leader, Natallia, and all of our guides. I found them to be extremely informative and friendly and personable. Also, the itinerary surpassed my expectations. It was by far one of the most enjoyable trips I have recently taken.
— Review left September 5, 2025
Oh the beauty of the Tetons and the Rockies.
— Review left September 4, 2025
The National parks tour was amazing. Our tour manager Natallia was very organized and made the trip enjoyable. I met new friends that I will keep in touch with. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left September 2, 2025
If you love mountains and forests, this trip is for you. The itinerary takes you though some of the most breathtaking and beautiful areas in the US and Canada. This trip is a winner!
— Review left August 27, 2025
Excellent trip, there is very little I would change
— Review left August 26, 2025
excellent trip in all ways; guides, lectures, organization, and hotels.
— Review left August 21, 2025
It was a trip of a lifetime!! I had a wonderful time.
— Review left August 19, 2025
If you want to get a brief introduction and experience to Grand Tetons NP, Yellowstone NP and Glacier NP this is the trip for you. As an added bonus you also get to experience 3 of Canada's National Parks. A lot of time is spent on the road moving from one park to the next but the great thing is you aren't doing the driving and get to sit back and enjoy all on the different sights around you. Staying inside Yellowstone and Glacier is also an added benefit.
— Review left August 2, 2025
I am not responding to this item, but there was no other place for me to put this piece of concern about this program. Maintaining hydration was really important in this area and our group leaders stressed it repeatedly. I think there should've been more information in the preliminary paperwork that informed us about this us about this. I would've brought more bottles to keep filling I had known how important it was.
— Review left July 27, 2025
This was our first Road Scholar trip, but not our last! Our expectations were exceeded. The registration, planning and execution are top notch and everyone on staff is available, affable and able!
— Review left July 27, 2025
I enjoyed seeing so many National Parks, but I could have used more time in each of them to experience more.
— Review left July 21, 2025
This was the 6th RS tour that I have taken. Like all of them, it was superb. Every place and activity on the itinerary were on my "bucket List". Our group leader, Michael, was fantastic, a walking encyclopedia. With his experience and time permitting, we were able to make unscheduled stops along the way at interesting locations. For example, the capitol building in Helena, WY; what a fantastic display of stained-glass windows in a beautiful building. This was a 12-day tour so be prepared to experience long days on the bus with many on-again, off-again stops. All the hotels and meals were exceptional. Although this tour was at the end of August, we experience summer and then fall/winter weather as we traveled north. Pack accordingly. While in Canmore, AB, Canada, we took the gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain; it was snowing, and the deck/viewing areas were covered in snow and ice. All in all, it was a wonderful tour, and I highly recommend it. This is especially true if you can get a tour with Michael. If you can do many days on a bus tour, you will love it. Again, I highly recommend it.
— Review left November 15, 2024
This program surpassed our already high expectations. All of the speakers enhanced our understanding. It was a pleasure to travel with our leader, Natallia. She is organized, knowledgeable, and has a wonderful sense of humor. Our bus driver, Dave, was steady and kind. The people were all interesting and interested in learning. The star of the trip was the unsurpassed beauty of these parks. We were full of wonder and joy the entire time.
— Review left September 11, 2024
A wonderful tour with an excellent tour manager and many expert guides. We learned so much and enjoyed the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, the landscape, the geology and the history of the area and people.
— Review left August 30, 2024
This is an excellent and enjoyable program. It's a great opportunity to visit and learn about another part of our vast continent. The parks are world-class treasures, well worth the time and effort to check them out.
— Review left August 20, 2024
Five Stars!! This is an amazing trip to SIX national parks in the US and Canada. The Rockies offer so much diversity and awe inspiring beauty and grandeur. We saw geysers, bears, an Olympic village. We rode a gondola to the top of a mountain and a snow coach to a glacier. A memorable experience that our able group leader Natallia guided us through flawlessly. The local experts were knowledgeable and interesting. Absolutely fabulous!
— Review left August 19, 2024
I anticipated a positive and life-changing experience, and I got it!
My tour guide / leader, Natallia was superb in every way imaginable... courtesy, charming, humorous, a good listener, attentive and a delight in every way.
Could not believe the tremendous sights we saw, which will surely last for me throughout my life.
I'm 74 and this was my first ever tour, and I couldn't have been happier. Wish I was still on the Road.
Joseph Jordan
— Review left August 19, 2024
A terrific journey to new places and a new perspective on places previously visited, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and a group of like-minded and friendly travelers. Highly recommended
— Review left August 18, 2024
You can't go wrong with this one!
— Review left August 17, 2024
This an exceptionally outstanding trip! We saw so much and covered a tremendous amount of territory with extremely different beauty. We learned so much and bonded as a group thanks to Bob our outstanding leader. It is a trip that was far beyond my expectations. We had a very competent Canadian bus driver whose skills also added to the quality of the trip. I feel very fortunate to have been able to have the opportunity to be on this trip.
— Review left September 17, 2023
Step on guides were very good.
Bob went out of his way to accommodate every participant.
Bob and Bus driver Don, worked TOGETHER as a team enhancing our tour experience. Don was a very safe and courteous driver. He was friendly to all and shared his local Canadian Rockies experience that added value to our trip.
— Review left September 16, 2023
Awesome program. Many unexpected surprises along the way. We had a great group and great leader, Bob. I wouldn’t change a thing.
— Review left September 16, 2023
Michael did a great job, and the driver, also Mike, contributed as a native Albertan. Learned.a lot, fulfilled a ‘bucket list' dream, and so glad we went with Road Scholar.
— Review left September 12, 2023
This program fulfilled a life long dream of visiting Glacier National Park and Lake Louise in Canada. The time spent at each national park was just enough to whet one's appetite for a return trip for a more extended visit to your favorite park or two!
— Review left September 12, 2023
The best of the Tetons to Banff is a tour that everyone should experience, the wonders of nature are truly awe inspiring.
— Review left September 11, 2023
WE HAD A GREAT TIME ON OUR TRIP. THE SCENERY WAS AMAZING. OUR TRIP GUIDE MICHAEL SNYDER WAS SO NICE AND KNOWLEDGABLE. OUR DRIVER MIKE NEVER MISSED AN EXIT OR A SCENIC PULL-OVER. BUT, I GOT A MESSAGE FROM ROAD SCHOLAR THAT MY RETURN FLIGHT FOR SEPT. 9TH WAS CANCELED. SO, THEY REBOOKED IT FOR THE 10TH. THEY ALSO BOOKED A HOTEL ROOM NEAR THE CALGARY AIRPORT FOR ME. THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING ME TO THE AIRPORT, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOTEL AND BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND PAY FOR MY HOTEL ROOM. SO, I HAD TO PAY 150 EXTRA FOR SOMEONE TO WATCH MY PET THAT EXTRA DAY. ON THE TRIP I LEARNED THAT EVERYONE HAD A RETURN FLIGHT THROUGH DALLAS, JUST LIKE MY ORIGINAL FLIGHT. SO, I CALLED AMERICAN AND THEY SAID THAT MY FLIGHT WAS NEVER CANCELED, JUST CHANGED TO A LONGER LAYOVER IN DALLAS THAN THE ORIGINAL TIME. I WAS SO UPSET THAT THEY WERE NOT HONEST WITH ME. SO, ON SEPT. 5TH, I CHANGED MY FLIGHT BACK TO THE 9TH AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY, FOR A FEE OF 198.00 DOLLARS. ROAD SCHOLAR IS NOT WANTING TO REIMBURSE ME THE CHANGE OF FLIGHT FEE, THAT WAS THEIR FAULT. I AM VERY UP SET WITH THEM ABOUT THIS, AND FINDING SOMEONE TO TALK TO IS EVEN WORSE. I CAN NOT SEEM TO REACH ANYONE. SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!
— Review left September 11, 2023
Excellent opportunity to visit key National Parks in good company and with excellent staff and faculty.
— Review left September 9, 2023
The scenery of the Grand Tetons to Banff trip was spectacular and we appreciated the opportunity to visit six national parks on a single trip. There was plenty to do and see and good planning made it possible.
— Review left August 31, 2023
Wonderful, wonderful, scenic trip with great guides. Highly recommended. Just a few helpful hints:
1. It is strenuous in that it is 6 parks in 12 days so lots of early mornings on the bus. While there are no "hikes" per se, there is quite a bit of walking especially at all of the Yellowstone sites. Lots of getting on and off the bus and walking on paved paths or boardwalks. The hardest was Mammoth Hot Springs where you are let off at the top of the mountain and walk down on stairs, boardwalks, and one rather short, steepish asphalt section for about 2 miles total. Best for people with no ambulation difficulties.
2. At least in August, there was quite a temperature change during the 12 days. It was in the 80's in Jackson and the high 40's on the glacier. Bring a coat and sweater, a wool hat, mittens, and shoes with a good tread or hiking boots. They rough up the surface of the glacier where you are allowed to walk so it is like crushed ice and not so slippery, but hiking poles are good here.
3. The food at Yellowstone Village cafeteria is not very good and one reason is that there are no fresh fruits and vegetables served. Look forward to the salad in Helena. Food at Many Glacier Hotel is great because you get to order off the menu, not a cafeteria or buffet, for lunch and dinner.
4. If your tour still goes to the Helena Colonial Hotel, there are 2 guest washing machines. Bring laundry detergent, $3 in quarters and be prepared to get there first to get a load in before dinner.
5. If you are a shopper, there are plenty of gift shop opportunities. You have an evening free in Jackson the first day and can easily walk to restaurants and shops. The other good opportunity for shopping is 2 hours in cute Banff, where you are paying with Canadian dollars. No need to get Canadian currency, you can use a credit card everywhere, just make sure it isn't one that charges a foreign currency exchange fee.
— Review left August 27, 2023
This is a wonderful way to enjoy three of our country's beautiful national parks and also to see equally beautiful parks in Canada. The program structure includes time for hiking, boating, or just relaxing.
— Review left August 13, 2023
We need Wi-Fi and cup holders on the bus
— Review left August 13, 2023
Great trip, be prepared for lots of walking, on and off bus, packing and unpacking a lot! Unbelievable scenery!
— Review left August 1, 2023
Wonderful experience in Wyoming, Montana and the Canadian Rockies! It makes me so thankful that we have these beautiful protected areas.
— Review left July 24, 2023
Our National Parks are superb!! They can outshine anyplace in the world! Just GO! This trip is not too demanding but it is busy and full of offs and ons the bus and walking and early mornings. You will be “on the go” every day. Fabulous trip!!!
— Review left July 23, 2023
If you are able to take this tour, please do. It is a beautiful area of the USA and Canada. The trip certainly touches the majesty of the National Parks. There is a lot of "Wow" in this program.
— Review left September 27, 2022
This trip was just exceptional. It exceeded our expectations on every level. We so appreciate the very capable management by our program leader. We feel so fortunate to have had such special access to these 6 national parks!
— Review left September 26, 2022
Fantastic! Beyond expectgations in everyway. Great tour coordinator. Good-to-very good accommodations. Very good meal selections. Fulfilled a 50-yr dream to visit this beautiful, unique area of the US & Canada. Wonderful co-travelers to share the experience.
— Review left September 24, 2022
This was an amazing trip! Each park beautiful in its own way.
Penny Island is a perfect trip leader. within a few days we were no longer a bunch of folk traveling together. We were a group enjoying each other as we traveled to the different parks.
Penny was knowlegable, organized, able to work with us to make the trip perfect, not rattled by our differences/needs, etc., calm in an emergency, able to flex as necessary.
She and Mike the coach driver made quite the team.
— Review left September 20, 2022
RS site is terrible. I searched for Small Group and this came up. FYI it is not small group. That being said trip was amazing. Penny one of the best RS Group leaders. Plan ahead re packing list. My trip was much warmer than expected and luckily I threw in some lightweight clothing. Check the forecast. Be ready to be gobsmacked by what you are about to see.
— Review left September 11, 2022
A very enjoyable introduction to our and Canada's National Parks. Very educational and enjoyable
— Review left September 6, 2022
Helpful, organized, necessary
— Review left September 1, 2022
If you are interested in increasing your knowledge of the world in which you live, THIS IS THE PROGRAM TO CHOOSE.
— Review left August 30, 2022
This was a very enjoyable trip. So many sites that were unforgettable. This is a trip of a lifetime starting in Jackson and each site just got better and better. Meals were ok except for Many Glaciers which were outstanding and Canyon Lodge which was horrible)
There were issues with Covid as our trip progressed as too many did not wear masks on the bus and indoors and as was stated some had to leave the tour or got Covid on their return home. RS has to enforce this policy even though no one likes to wear masks the results from our tour left many with Covid.
— Review left August 15, 2022
Outstanding program and highly recommend! You won't be disappointed!
— Review left August 4, 2022
I just wrote a comprehensive review and got an error, try again later. Don't feel like retyping everything so will summarize. Beautiful itinerary, wonderful sights, great well-located hotels, guides very interesting. The bus driver was courteous and friendly and a very good driver.
Pacing needs tweaking, too many early mornings. Leader rushed us to be 15 minutes early for everything and got places an hour or two early. Meals disappointing except for Glacier Lodge, too many hotel buffets and box lunches. Canyon awful meals: more than an hour in line for cold, inedible food and out of many things. Don't know a solution as no other options there--even the store closed early. Thank heavens for the gift shop with expensive wine and snacks. Pretty sure covid picked up there.
Whether it was Road Scholar policy or our leader the covid situation handled terribly. Those who went home given little support. One had to fly home while positive because no hotel available. In Glacier we were not given enough information to make an informed decision as to whether to continue to Canada and risk being quarantined for 10 days in expensive hotels or given reasonable options not to continue. Many of us would have not continued on if we knew who was positive (knowing it was people with whom I spent much time I definitely would not have stayed). We should have been tested and given options, instead were told we would discuss it on the bus--too late. When I asked our leader to speak to a couple who refused to wear masks was told to tell them myself. Consequently the rest of the trip was stressful; too many of us got sick; needlessly exposed others; and many ended up flying home while contagious.
I have really enjoyed Road Scholar trips and never had these problems but hesitate to book any others until your Covid policies change and made clearer. I understand travel is difficult during Covid but much more can be done to keep people safe.
— Review left August 1, 2022
You will be glad you took the tour and saw all the beauty of the parks. You will enjoy Penny and Dave the bus driver.
— Review left September 22, 2019
Incredible, breath-taking scenery; several interesting, knowledgeable speakers, comfortable accommodations and a positive, professional and personable group leader. Who could ask for anything more!
— Review left September 15, 2019