Canada Road Cycle Tour

from $3,231 NZD

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6 Days
  • 2013
  • Best time to travel: July - August
  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
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  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Have an alpine blast with challenging road cycling through 520 km of the best scenery in the Canadian Rockies. Stay in luxury hotels, lodges and cabins.

You'll ride the entire Icefields Parkway from historic Jasper to fabulous Banff. Glaciers line your path to road level. Highlights include the huge icefield that feeds these glaciers, Lake Maligne, one of the world's most photographed sites, and popular Lake Louise.

This tour is geared to ambitious intermediate to serious road riders and features 5,300 metres of elevation gain.

Banff to Banff

Calgary
  • Road cycling
  • Grade
  • Group size is a minimum of 4
  • USD510 single room surcharge
  • USD250 bike hire
  • All prices subject to 5% GST
  • This tour is invoiced in USD
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Canada Road Cycle Tour Fitness and Preparation

Our guides have backgrounds in natural history, geology and anthropology of the region. They're also chefs and trained in wilderness first aid!

We only take 12 guests on our scheduled departures, to maintain flexibility and the ability to support almost all levels of cyclists. For the most part you can ride entirely at your own pace, and you'll always have the support of a back-up vehicle.

You'll stay in specially chosen luxury accommodation in tranquil and beautiful settings.

Grade 4 - Hard Tours

Hard tours are designed for the more experienced participant wishing to push themselves and experience new challenges. Routes will include longer climbs and more technical skills.

Note: This tour is geared to ambitious intermediate to serious road riders and features 5,300 metres of elevation gain.

Fitness required

A high level of fitness is required, you will need to be exercising four-five times a week during the build up to the tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Banff to Jasper

Cycling/Elevation: 68 km/300 m up

We'll meet at the Banff train station at 10 am, then shuttle to the historic fur trading post of Jasper (1062 m a.s.l.). The van ride is absolutely spectacular and today you'll get to enjoy the scenery without having to sweat! Once in Jasper we'll fit the bikes and take an afternoon acclimatisation ride to the Continental Divide at the stunning Yellowhead Pass on the Alberta/British Columbia border. Then we'll head to beautiful, kidney-shaped Pyramid Lake, beneath the Pyramid Glacier. We'll stay overnight in Jasper.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2

Jasper and Jasper National Park — Lake Maligne

Cycling/Elevation: 100 km/900 m up

After breakfast we'll ride into Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll see the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies. Lake Maligne is famed for the colour of its water, the 3 glaciers visible, and for Spirit Island. It's one of the iconic images of the Canadian Rockies, and one of the world's most photographed locations. On our way back to Jasper we explore Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Rockies which has many amazing waterfalls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3

Jasper to Sunwapta Falls

Cycling/Elevation: 88 km/1250 m up

This morning we'll ride up spectacular Mt Edith Cavell. The 14 km switchback climb takes us to a hanging glacier above a lake filled with icebergs at the foot of the mile-high sheer north face. Then we'll enjoy an exhilarating descent. The other 2 highlights of the day are the amazing waterfalls at Athabasca and Sunwapta ('turbulent waters'). We'll stay overnight at a resort in Sunwapta Falls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Sunwapta Falls to The Crossing

Cycling/Elevation: 101 km/1100 m

Today's climb will be the steepest of our trip. We'll follow the Sunwapta River up the Sunwapta Pass, with a sightseeing stop at the Athabasca Glacier, fed by the massive Columbia Icefield. Then we'll continue climbing up the pass. The descent is a fun, fast and extremely scenic 15 k to the bottom of the Weeping Wall, a sheer rockface that sometimes features waterfalls. From here we will head to the Saskatchewan River crossing, and to our resort hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5

The Crossing to Lake Louise

Cycling/Elevation: 110 km/1350 m

Our ride starts with a long climb to the highest point on the Icefields Parkway at Bow Summit. A side trip to Peyto Lake viewpoint (2133 m) is a must before we continue downhill past spectacular lakes, rivers, glaciers and mountain peaks to Lake Louise. Here another challenge awaits: climbing into the Valley of the Ten Peaks and to world famous Lake Louise. We'll stay at luxurious and historic Deer Lodge, a 5 minute walk from the lakeshore.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Departure Day: Lake Louise to Banff

Cycling/Elevation: 63 km/300 m

Our last day's ride takes us along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (highway) toward Banff, where Elks, bears and bighorn sheep are quite frequently seen. The turquoise Bow River and majestic Castle Mountain are a great backdrop to today’s ride. After lunch we'll ride together into Banff, along Vermillion Lakes. After saying our goodbyes, you'll be transferred to the train or bus station, or hotel of your choice by 3pm.

Meals: Breakfast

Hi, I'm Sandy

Call me if you have any questions.

Sandy

+64 (0)3 982 9933
NZ - 0800 829 933
AU - 1800 090 635
US - 800 732 0861

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Accommodation: mix of very comfortable lodges, hotels and B&B's
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary plus snacks and refreshments while cycling
  • Support vehicle and luggage transfers
  • Professional Tourguide(s)
  • T-Shirt

Tour Excludes:

  • International and/or domestic flights
  • Passport and travel visas (where applicable)
  • Single room surcharge
  • Bike hire
  • Personal expenses and drinks
  • Travel Insurance