Have you ever wanted to visit Canada, but still don’t have any travel plans? Well, now you do. In this blog, I am going to give you a complete 1-week guide so you don’t have to plan a thing, just budget for the holiday! When I use to travel the thing that would hold me back most times was the unexpected! I want to make sure each person feels safe, comfortable, and excited to visit this beautiful country I call home.
I am not just going to make your trip seamless, but I’m also going to go over my typical travel checklists to make so you don’t forget a SINGLE thing!
This Canadian Rocky Itinerary will provide you with the perfect Winter getaway in Canada! Not only can you enjoy this trip as a solo traveler, but this would also be a great Winter trip to Canada as a couple or family!
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR TRIP PLANNED AND YOU JUST WANT A FEW LOCATIONS ALONG THE WAY, SAVE YOURSELF SOME TIME AND GO CHECK OUT
“TOP 7 WINTER DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS “
Breakdown
FLIGHTS
CAR RENTALS
ACCOMODATIONS
CALENDAR OUTLINE
WHAT TO PACK/BRING
FOOD
ACTIVITIES
WHAT TO PACK/BRING
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
GUIDELINES OF CANADA
FLIGHTS
When you are planning a trip to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you have to fly into a specific airport! When you are checking out flight prices, look at various websites and compare prices so you ensure your getting the best rate
Booking your flights is the first step to start your Winter getaway in Canada
AIRPORT TO SELECT
YYC - Calgary Airport, Alberta Canada
MY TOP AIRLINE CHOICES + SITES
Air Canada
West Jet
Expedia
skyscanner
CAR RENTALS
Right when you plan for your flight, a big suggestion would be to plan for your car rental too! It can save you so much money if you book further in advance! I always try to search up prices each week until I find a discount!
Traveling throughout the Canadian Rockies doesn’t leave much room for public transit. In order to get to each location you will need to have a vehicle!
Compare these three Rental companies, they are the closest ones to the YYC airport and I have found them to be the most reliable and reasonable.
Options
ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
Address: 2000 Airport Rd NE Phone Number: 1(833)-619-3654
AVIS CAR RENTAL
Address: 2000 Airport RD NE Phone Number: 1(403)-221-1700
DISCOUNT CAR AND TRUCK RENTALS
Address: 20 Freeport Landing NE Phone Number: 1(888)-310-2277
ACCOMODATIONS
There are a TON of places to stay in the Canadian Rockies! Planning your accommodations ahead of time will allow you to save quite a bit of money! Typically if you book last minute you get an average to high price, opposed to a discount or sale!
You can go anywhere from $60 - $300+ a night in the Rocky Mountains! A lot of the time when you search travel sites they will show you the BEST room, not necessarily the cheapest, so don’t let the price stop you from traveling here! I am going to outline a few places below for you. This will give you a general idea on how much you want to budget for your 7-day stay!
Remember, it’s not about where you stay, its about the experiences you do outside of your hotel room! Besides, the hotels, motels, and resorts in Canmore are amazing, cheapest here - does not mean the worst BY ANY MEANS!
Options
(These hotels List from $60 Per Night to $300+ Per Night)
QUALITY RESORT CHATEU CANMORE
SUPER 8 NEAR WYNDHAM CANMORE
SILVER CREEK LODGE
BASECAMP RESORTS
CARIBOU RESORT
LAKE LOUISE LODGE
EMERALD LAKE LODGE
BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL
CALENDAR OUTLINE
CHECK THE WEATHER
Before starting your trip or vacation, if you can -Check the Weather! A calm morning could turn into a blizzard within minutes! You always want to make sure you don’t just check the overall temperature for the day, but really dive into the details.
Warnings
High, Low Temperatures
Sunrise/Sunset times
Wind Report
Location Snowfall Report
The Road Report
Locations
Johnston canyon
waterfowl Lake
Emerald Lake
Lake Louise
bow lake
Lake Minnewanka
icefield parkway
two jack lake
Banff Avenue
numa falls
WHAT TO PACK/BRING
THE POWER OF LAYERS
With frequent temperature changes it is important to make sure you are prepared for any situation! Things can take a turn at any second so be sure you have multiple layers to keep you warm! It is always easy to take some off, then put some on you don’t have! Always remember to make a checklist before you leave your houses, that way you make sure you're not missing anything!
CLOTHING
Touque or “beanie”
Face Mask/ Face Covering
Ear Muffs
Gloves
Winter Footwear
Socks + Extra Socks + XX socks (trust me)
Underwear
PJS
Winter Jacket
Sweaters
Shirts
Hoodies
Thermal Pants
pants - Jeans/Leggings/sweat
Under-Layers
Snow Pants
TOILETRY
Tooth Brush + Tooth Paste + Floss + Mouth Wash
Hair Brush + Hair Spray
Make up + Skincare Products
Dry Shampoo
Deodorant + Perfume
Shaver + Shaving Cream
Shampoo + Conditioner + Body Wash
Blow Dryer + Straightener + Curler
ESSENTIALS
Park Pass
Wallet - Credit Card/Debit Card
Passport
ID + Driver License
Gum
Hand Warmers + Feet Warmers
Re-usable Water Bottle
GEAR (optional)
Skis - Snowboard - Skates - Snowshoes
Hand Warmers + Feet Warmers
Crampons
Hiking Poles
Snow Goggles
Crampons
Hiking Poles
FOOD
Are you traveling from within Canada? PERFECT, this means you can pack and prepare your food and snacks prior to your trip. Keep in mind that luggage and extra bags cost so only consider bringing this with you if you have some extra space. If you are looking for a few portable things to bring with you, then feel free to check out my
“Best meals and snacks to travel with”
Blog for more suggestions and recipes to try out!
If you are flying internationally, then remember to plan out a budget for food over the duration of your travels. There are tons of grocery stories in Calgary, Canmore and Banff, but you will find the best prices to be located within the City of Calgary. Try to stop before leaving and heading off to the mountains, even though its going to be hard not to speed right there.
Save On - Walmart - SafeWay - Sobeys - Shopper Drug Mart
If you are on this holiday and you’re a foodie like me then you also want some suggestions on places to eat in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and don’t you worry, because I have a blog for you!
Head on over to my
“Best places to eat in the Canadian Rocky Mountains”
or
“Top 5 cafes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains”
Blog for some of my favourite place to go while I travel
Activities
Try to consider a few activities you would like to do before heading out on your trip! This will allow you to check the open times of certain rental stores so you don’t have to wait for things to open last minute! OR even worse, forget some equipment at your house.
Skates
Snow Shoes
Cross Country Ski - Split Board
Sledding
Skiing - Snowboarding
Winter walks
Rental Options
GEAR UP
Affordable and quick, they are located in Canmore so you can pick up your equipment on the way to these locations and drop it off on the way back!
Address: 1302 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, AB Phone Number: +1403-678-1636
LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT
If you are looking to rent some skiing or snowboarding equipment. Renting at the hill can eliminate the need of carrying your gear to and from the skiing
Address: 1 Whitehorn Rd, Lake Louise - Phone Number: +1403-522-3555
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
In my personal opinion, as a snowboarder - Sunshine Village is meant for all you skiers out there! If you ski and you only want to visit one hill for your time here, then I suggest you check this one out
Address: 1 Sunshine Access Rd, Banff - Phone Number: +1403-705-4000
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
My Favourite part of any trip, the budget breakdown! A lot of people wonder if Canada is expensive, and it is UNLESS you strategically plan out your vacation! Now im not saying its going to be cheap by any means, but there are ways of travelling where you don’t have to break the bank! I am going to outline a budgeting chart you should have for this specific trip.
guidelines while being in canada
NATIONAL PARK PASSES
In order to access the parks you will need to purchase a park pass upon entry! You can purchase them online, but I suggest just buying them at the gate on the way in!
LEAVE NO TRACE
There are 7 specific rules that each person must follow while outdoors. These rules are put in place to ensure we can preserve these places for generations to come.
Leave a place better than you found it! Whenever I travel I always make sure to bring a bag with me, so I can clean up the trails each time I find a piece of garbage. It would be so amazing if we could clean our planet by getting outside more, opposed to harming it! Always remember, we can keep visiting these places as long as we protect them in the process!
Plan Ahead & Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors