Set against Alberta’s big skies and the glaciated peaks of the Canadian Rockies, this 6-day itinerary blends city flavor and mountain adrenaline. Calgary grew from a frontier outpost into a modern energy hub, anchoring access to Banff and Jasper National Parks—two crown jewels known for turquoise lakes, wildlife, and world-class trails.

Banff National Park, established in 1885 as Canada’s first national park, makes adventure feel effortless: iconic viewpoints, bike-friendly paths, and hikes for every level. Jasper, the largest national park in the Rockies, slows the tempo with wider valleys, big wildlife, and the planet’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve for jaw-dropping stargazing.

Practical notes: Renting a car provides maximum freedom, but shuttles and guided tours cover the must-sees if you’d rather not drive (especially for Moraine Lake, which no longer allows private vehicles). Expect a moderate budget: casual mountain fare, mid-range stays, and a few strategic guided tours. Carry layers; mountain weather changes fast.

Calgary

Calgary pairs riverside parks and bold architecture with an evolving food scene. Walk the Peace Bridge and Prince’s Island Park, check the skyline from the Calgary Tower, and explore historic Stephen Avenue’s brick arcades. Coffee culture thrives here—perfect fuel before heading into the mountains.

• Top sights: Calgary Tower, Peace Bridge, Fort Calgary, Studio Bell (National Music Centre), Glenbow at The Edison gallery spaces, Prince’s Island Park.
• Good eats: Ten Foot Henry (vegetable-forward sharing plates), Native Tongues (Mexico City-style tacos), River Café (local-first, island setting), Hayden Block (Texas BBQ), Monogram Coffee or Phil & Sebastian for espresso.
• Fun fact: Calgary hosts one of the world’s largest rodeos—the Calgary Stampede—each July.

Stay in Calgary: Search stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Notables: The Fairmont Palliser (heritage grandeur), Hotel Arts (boutique design), or budget-friendly HI Calgary City Centre Hostel.

Get to Calgary (YYC): Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Banff

Banff Town is your postcard-perfect base: peaks on all sides, elk on the meadows, and a high street lined with outfitters and alpine eateries. The Bow Valley holds crowd-pleasers like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, plus bikeable roads, boardwalks, and falls.

• Top sights: Banff Avenue, Sulphur Mountain gondola, Bow Falls, Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Vermilion Lakes, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake.
• Food & drink: Park Distillery (campfire-inspired plates and house spirits), The Maple Leaf (Canadian classics), Bear Street Tavern (flatbreads), Whitebark Café or Wild Flour (baked goods).
• Biking: The Banff Legacy Trail (26 km) connects Canmore and Banff; the Minnewanka Loop and Vermilion Lakes Road are rolling and scenic.

Stay in Banff/Lake Louise: Browse VRBO Banff or Hotels.com Banff. Consider staying in Canmore for value and easy access.

Not driving? Scheduled shuttles run from Calgary/YYC to Banff and back: see this option with fixed daily departures here.

Jasper

Quieter and wilder, Jasper’s broad valleys and glassy lakes invite hiking, biking, canoeing, and wildlife-watching. Evenings reward you with some of Canada’s best stargazing in a certified Dark Sky Preserve.

• Top sights: Maligne Canyon, Pyramid Lake, Patricia Lake, Valley of the Five Lakes, Medicine Lake, Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls.
• Food & drink: The Raven Bistro (Mediterranean-Canadian plates), Harvest Food & Drink (brunch and bowls), Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen (smokehouse fare), Jasper Brewing Co. (post-hike pints).
• Biking: Pyramid Bench trails, the multi-use path to Pyramid Lake, and mellow lakeside routes suit most levels.

Stay in Jasper: Check VRBO Jasper or Hotels.com Jasper. Cabins near Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake offer tranquil bases close to trails.

Day 1 — Arrive in Calgary (Afternoon arrival)

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along the RiverWalk to the Peace Bridge, then loop Prince’s Island Park for skyline and Bow River views. Coffee boost at Phil & Sebastian in the Simmons Building or Monogram Coffee.

Late afternoon tour (optional): Join a gratuity-based small-group city walk to learn the stories behind Calgary’s architecture, public art, and history: Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based.

Evening: Dinner picks: Ten Foot Henry for seasonal small plates; Native Tongues for tacos and mezcal; or River Café for a locally driven menu on the island. Nightcap at Last Best Brewing or a twilight view from the Calgary Tower.

Overnight: Calgary (see hotel links above).

Day 2 — Calgary to Banff: Gondola views, canyon hiking, hot springs

Morning: Depart Calgary by 8:00 a.m. for the 1.5-hour drive (130 km) to Banff. Grab breakfast in Canmore (Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. or Communitea Café) and continue into the park. Pick up your Parks Canada pass en route.

Day plan (guided option): For a no-driving day that still hits the highlights—Sulphur Mountain gondola panoramas, Johnston Canyon walking, and time in Banff town—consider this guided outing with hotel pickup: Day Tour to Banff Gondola Johnston Canyon Hiking Cave Basin.

Afternoon (DIY alternative): Hike Johnston Canyon to the Upper Falls (5.2 km round-trip; catwalks and waterfalls). Then ride the Banff Gondola for a boardwalk stroll along Sulphur Mountain’s ridge. Lunch in town at Wild Flour (sandwiches, pastries) or Park Distillery (campfire chili, rotisserie chicken).

Evening: Soak at Banff Upper Hot Springs, then dinner at The Maple Leaf (Alberta beef, game) or casual burgers at The Eddie. Sunset at Vermilion Lakes for mirrorlike peaks.

Overnight: Banff/Canmore.

Day 3 — Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: Iconic turquoise and trail time

Morning: Early start for Lake Louise to beat crowds. Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House (7 km round-trip, moderate) for lake-and-glacier views; or the Plain of Six Glaciers trail for bigger scenery. Grab trail snacks at Trailhead Café in the village.

Moraine Lake note: Private vehicles are no longer allowed on Moraine Lake Road; use a shuttle, bike, or guided tour.

Guided option: This full-day small-group trip covers Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Bow Falls, and Banff town—ideal if you prefer logistics handled and guaranteed lake access: Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Bow Falls, Banff Town.

Afternoon: If you’re keen to spin the legs, ride a section of the Bow Valley Parkway (1A). Portions are periodically limited to cyclists only in summer—quiet, wildlife-rich, and rolling. Otherwise, wander the Lake Louise shoreline for picnic spots and glacier views.

Evening: Back in Banff: pizza and a Caesar at Bear Street Tavern or house-brewed pints at Banff Ave Brewing. Blue-hour photos from Surprise Corner facing the Fairmont Banff Springs.

Overnight: Banff/Lake Louise.

Day 4 — Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway

Morning: One of the world’s great drives (230 km; plan 4–6 hours with stops). Classics heading north: Herbert Lake mirror views, Bow Lake, and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. Stretch at Mistaya Canyon’s short trail.

Afternoon: Around the Columbia Icefield, walk the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier viewpoint and consider a short hike on Wilcox Pass for sweeping glacier vistas and Parks Canada red chairs (even 2–3 km up gives huge payoff). Continue via Sunwapta Falls to Athabasca Falls—both thunderous and photogenic.

Evening: Roll into Jasper, check in, then dinner at The Raven Bistro (Mediterranean-Canadian) or Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen (smoked meats, campfire sides). Twilight stroll on Pyramid Lake’s island bridge.

Alternative (winter/shoulder seasons): If you’d rather join a guided day from Calgary/Canmore/Banff that chases seasonal highlights like Abraham Lake ice bubbles (winter) or Sunwapta Falls (spring/fall), here’s a popular option: Abraham Ice Bubble/Sunwapta Falls, Snowshoeing, Icefield, Bow & Peyto.

Overnight: Jasper.

Day 5 — Jasper: Canyons, lakes, biking, and dark skies

Morning: Hike Maligne Canyon along the bridges (choose your distance; the upper sections pack in narrow gorge drama). Coffee and breakfast at Bear’s Paw Bakery or The Other Paw Bakery & Café—cinnamon knots and sandwiches are trail-ready.

Afternoon: Bike the paved path to Pyramid Lake or sample beginner-friendly singletrack on Pyramid Bench. Prefer hiking? The Valley of the Five Lakes loop (4.5–6 km) delivers sparkling water in five shades of green and blue.

Evening: Dinner at Harvest Food & Drink (bowls, Alberta meats) or Jasper Brewing Co. (bison burger, seasonal ales). After dark, head to Lake Annette or Pyramid Lake for stargazing in the Jasper Dark Sky Preserve—on clear nights, the Milky Way feels close enough to touch.

Overnight: Jasper.

Day 6 — Jasper to Calgary and depart (Afternoon departure)

Morning: Early rollout for the 5-hour drive (415 km) back to Calgary via the Icefields Parkway and Trans-Canada Hwy 1. Stop briefly at Athabasca Falls or Bow Lake if you missed them northbound.

Afternoon (Calgary): If time allows before your flight, celebrate with one last bite in Inglewood—Spolumbo’s (Italian sandwiches) or Bite Grocer & Eatery (soups and salads). Pick up beans at Phil & Sebastian for the trip home.

Evening: Fly out of YYC. Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Logistics, distances, and budget notes

• Driving times: Calgary–Banff 1.5 hours (130 km); Banff–Lake Louise 45 minutes (57 km); Lake Louise–Jasper via Icefields Parkway 3–3.5 hours driving time (232 km; plan 4–6 hours with stops); Jasper–Calgary ~5 hours (415 km).
• Fuel estimate for the loop: roughly 830–900 km total; expect about CAD $120–$160 in fuel depending on vehicle and gas prices.
• Parks Canada pass: required for Banff and Jasper; budget for a per-person daily pass (or consider an annual Discovery Pass if visiting multiple parks).
• Shuttles/transfers: Daily scheduled service between Banff and Calgary/YYC available here. Private transfers to Lake Louise are also offered here.
• Bikes: Rent in Banff or Jasper for half-day rides; ask about helmets, locks, and bear-aware route advice.

Where the Viator tours fit your preferences: You asked for adventurous hiking and biking with Banff and Jasper included. The Johnston Canyon + Gondola day (Day 2) adds scenic elevation and boardwalk hiking; the Moraine/Louise/Johnston Canyon combo (Day 3) strings together the icons efficiently; the Icefields/Abraham Lake option (Day 4, seasonal) suits winter explorers with snowshoeing and ice features. All balance sightseeing with active time and are great if you’d rather leave driving/parking to pros.

In six days, you’ll sample Calgary’s culinary scene, scale gondola summits, hike waterfalls and high alpine lakes, and trace one of the planet’s most dramatic roads from Banff to Jasper. With a mid-range budget and an adventurous spirit, this route delivers maximum Rockies scenery, fresh air, and memory-making miles.