Canadian Rockies Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

There are a few ways you can get to the Canadian Rockies depending on where you're travelling from.

The easiest (and quickest) way is to fly to Calgary, about an hour and a half from Banff National Park. (Most of our Rockies trips begin in Calgary or Vancouver, anyway). You can then hire a car at the airport or jump on a shuttle bus to Banff.

You could also fly to Edmonton, which is about a four hour drive away from Banff and Jasper.

Covering almost 200,000 square kilometres across Alberta and British Columbia, the best way to get around the Canadian Rockies is to join a tour or drive.

If you've flown into Calgary (the closest airport to Banff National Park), you can hire a vehicle from several car rental companies and continue your journey to the Rockies.

Without a car, you may struggle to travel around the region's national parks.

The best time to visit the Canadian Rockies depends on the activities you want to do. Summer is for kayaking, swimming, hiking and camping, while winter calls for ice skating, dog sledding and skiing down Canada's best slopes. Winter also offers a chance to see the Northern Lights.

The summer (June through August) is the peak season in the Rockies thanks to the milder weather, which also means higher accommodation prices and more people on the trails. Try going in the 'shoulder' months of April, May, September or October for a balance of good weather and smaller crowds.

Packing for a trip to the Canadian Rockies is similar to packing for a trip anywhere. What you pack largely depends on the time of year you're travelling.

If you're going in winter, pack appropriate weather clothing such as gloves, beanies, waterproof jackets, long pants etc.

If you're travelling in summer, pack sunscreen, a sunhat, t-shirts, dresses, and shorts.

You should also pack the essentials: a camera, a reusable drink bottle, and a backpack/day bag.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.