Canada Holidays in Alberta – The Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise, Banff & More!

Canada holidays in Alberta combine vibrant cities and world class attractions with one of the world’s most scenic drives – all on one epic trip.

Did you know that Canada is the second largest country in the world? The options for Canada holidays from Ireland are endless, but despite its great cities, the majestic landscape and vast wilderness is what captivates visitors. Surrounded by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, with an interior full of jaw dropping lakes and mountains, Canada is a land of natural wonder.

The east coast of Canada has always been easily accessible from Ireland, but thanks to the five times weekly flights from Dublin to Calgary with Westjet, Western Canada is now one of our most sought after holiday destinations, and with very good reason! 

Why You Should Choose Canada Holidays in Alberta

Canada’s Alberta has 21 Lakes! It is also home to the Rocky Mountains, Banff and Jasper National Parks and many more world-class attractions, so you can experience spectacular scenery, stunning lakes and vibrant cities on one epic trip!

Alberta also has one of the top drives in the world – the Icefields Parkway winds for 145 miles along the Continental Divide between Jasper and Lake Louise – this western Canada road trip is firmly on my own bucket list.

Alberta offers many ways to see its top attractions. Choose the superb hiking trails or ascend the Banff Gondola for a spectacular view of six mountain ranges, ride on an Ice Explorer on the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies or take in the views from the Glacier Skywalk, alternatively, explore Alberta on horseback and unleash your inner cowboy at the Calgary Stampede.

And no visit to Canada’s Alberta would be complete without visiting Canada’s most photographed lake – Lake Louise. Marvel at its emerald green colour from the shore, or enjoy kayaking on cruises on the lake.

There are so many things to do in Alberta that makes it is a great choice for a family holiday in Canada too. Children will love the choice of water sports available on its lakes in the summer time, as well as sleigh-rides or dog-sledding during the winter time. You can also take wildlife tours of Banff or Jasper National Park and find some of the world’s most extensive dinosaur discoveries in the Badlands of eastern Alberta.

I have teamed up with Canadian Sky, the award-winning specialist tour operator who offer a wide selection of Canada holidays including escorted tours, self drive itineraries and city breaks throughout Canada.

Canadian Sky have dedicated Canadian specialists who can tailor make the perfect Alberta holidays to suit your requirements, and can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to book your dream holiday in person. 

Canadian Sky can also combine trips to Canada’s Alberta with an Alaska cruise or a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer luxury train. And, when you book western Canada holidays with Canadian Sky, you can enjoy FREE airport lounge access before flying direct from Dublin to Calgary!

I have selected a small sample of the many Alberta holidays that Canadian Sky offer – all of which can be altered to longer or shorter stays, and cities and hotels can be changed to suit your requirements.

Whether you want to rent a car and explore on your own, book an independent tour – where you choose your daily activities but have hotels and transfer booked for you, or want a fully escorted tour with a professional tour director to show you the highlights, Canadian Sky can arrange it for you.

Independent Tour of Alberta: 10 Nights, Flights, Hotels, Transfers & Tours from €2529  

Experience Alberta’s top attractions with this independent tour. This epic trip allows you the freedom to experience Alberta at your leisure or enjoy one of the many excursions available, such as the sidecar motorcycle tour of Jasper, a boat cruise, or helicopter tour.

Fly from Dublin to Calgary, enjoy a two night stay in the city and then transfer to the iconic Chateau Lake Louise for two nights. You will then be driven along the stunning Icefields Parkway where you can stop to ride on an Ice Explorer and take in the unique views from the Glacier Skywalk.

You will then enjoy three nights in Jasper where you can choose from a selection of optional tours before travelling onwards to the charming town of Banff, where you can visit the National Park, cruise Lake Minnewanka, ascend Sulphur Mountain on the gondola, or enjoy a birds-eye view of the Rockies on a helicopter trip. You can also choose to add on a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer – see more on this below.

Price from €2529 including flights, hotels and selected transfers and tours as per itinerary.

See more here

Self Drive Alberta Road Trip: 10 Nights, Flights, Hotels, Car Hire from €2559 

This Calgary to Edmonton road trip will bring you through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. You can explore at your leisure but this sample itinerary includes most of Alberta’s highlights.

After a two night stay in Calgary you will collect your hire car and drive to nearby Banff, your home for the next two nights. Your adventure continues as you depart for Jasper, where you can visit Lake Louise, drive the Icefields Parkway, ride the Ice Explorer onto the glacier, and walk the amazing Glacier Skywalk. 

Canadian Sky can organise entry to some of Alberta’s top attractions, as well as wildlife or food tours – click on the Optional Excursions tab on their website for more details.

You will then drive to the most northerly city in North America, Edmonton, where you can stay overnight and shop till you drop in the largest mall in North America.

This trip then takes you to Drumheller where you will find a unique landscape dating back 70 million years and it is home an enormous collection of dinosaur skeletons.

Your trip ends with a two-night stay in Waterton Lakes National Park, where the peaks meet the prairies, and many say is one of Alberta’s hidden gems. A lake cruise here will bring you into Glacier National Park Montana USA – the only national park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Peace Park and Biosphere Reserve!

Price from €2559 including flights, hotels and car hire.

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Western Canada Family Road Trip: 13 Nights, Flights, Hotel, Car Hire, 2ad & 2ch from €7049

Want to bring the kids along? This is the exact itinerary I have planned for our West Canada road trip! As well as exploring Alberta’s highlights including Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, Canadian Sky have chosen accommodation with plenty of family activities nearby, including white-water rafting, horse riding, and stand up paddle boarding.

This Calgary to Vancouver road trip finishes in Vancouver, but if you prefer to fly back to Dublin direct from Calgary, simply talk to the team in Canadian Sky and they will tailor-make a family holiday in Canada to suit you. 

Price of €7049 is based on two adults and two children (under 11) sharing and includes flights, hotels, ferry crossings and car rental ( one way drop off fee will apply if returning from Vancouver).

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Alberta Escorted Tour: Luxury Canadian Rockies and Glaciers of Alberta, 7 Nights, Flights, Hotels, Tours, Meals, from €4699 

If you would rather not hire a car, and you prefer the luxury and convenience on an expert tour director, then this escorted tour of Alberta is for you. Luxurious hotels, authentic experiences and delicious meals are all included in the cost.

Visit the Athabasca Glacier on an Ice Explorer, enjoy a private after-hours visit to the amazing Glacier Skywalk and a cruise on stunning Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. At Lake Louise you have a choice of taking the sightseeing gondola to an alpine walk or enjoying a painting session.

You will be staying in the unique Glacier View Lodge – Canada’s only glacier-view resort, the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge & Spa, as well as three night stays at the fabulous Fairmont Banff Springs and two nights at the charming Sawridge Inn in Jasper. You can also choose to add on a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer – see more on this below.

Price from €4699 including flights, hotels, 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners with wine, professional tour director throughout with local guides, excursions and activities as per itinerary.

See more here

Alberta Winter Wonderland Experiences: Flights, Hotels, Transfers, 7 Nights from €1779, 10 Nights from €2199 

Take a sleigh-ride through the snowfields, try dog sledding or snowshoeing, and bask in a hot tub surrounded by the snow covered Rocky Mountains – move over Lapland, Alberta is the place to visit this winter!

Canadian Sky can tailor make any winter holiday in Alberta to suit you, whether you want a Spa experience in Banff Hot Springs or want to bring the kids on a winter wonderland adventure.

You can experience the exhilaration of iceskating on the frozen Lake Louise, take a sleigh ride through Banff National Park, a helicopter tour of the Rocky Mountains, or simply enjoy the peace and serenity in the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Who knows, you may even see the Northern Lights!

Price from €1779 includes flights, coach transfers, 7 night hotel stays, sleigh ride in Banff and entry to Banff Hot Springs. Click on the Optional Excursions tab to see many more tours available.

View 7 Night Trip

Price from €2199 includes flights, coach transfers, 10 night hotel stays, Jasper Planetarium, Jasper Wildlife Discovery tour, sleigh ride in Banff and entry to Banff Hot Springs. Click on the Optional Excursions tab to see many more tours available.

10 Night Trip

Add on a two-night trip on the Rocky Mountaineer  

If you want to finish off your Alberta holiday in style, then add on a two-day trip on one of the world’s most luxurious trains – The Rocky Mountaineer. You will see stunning scenery as you pass through the heart of the Canadian Rockies in a glass domed coach, while you are served gourmet meals and complimentary drinks.

You can add on this trip to most of the Alberta holidays listed above, or Canadian Sky can tailor make an itinerary to suit your requirements. The Rocky Mountaineer travels from Jasper or Banff to Vancouver, where you can choose to extend your holiday or even add on an Alaska cruise!

I have selected two Canada holidays with Rocky Mountaineer experiences below, but there are many more to choose from on the Canadian Sky website.

View 9 Night Trip 16 Night Trip

I hope this post on Canada holidays in Alberta will inspire you to plan a trip there soon. This is just a small sample of the many holidays to Canada from Ireland that Canadian Sky offer. They can tailor make the perfect trip to suit your requirements, and can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to book your dream holiday in person. 

While every effort was made to ensure accuracy, prices, attractions and activities are subject to change. This post was sponsored by Canadian Sky.