#2 Delta Hotels Calgary Airport In-Terminal
marriott.com · Both are Marriott Bonvoy properties
🐻 Bear Spray — BUY DAY 1
REQUIRED
Cannot fly with bear spray. Purchase on arrival at:
Monod Sports
129 Banff Ave · 403-762-4571 Open 10 AM – 8 PM daily
⛵ Moraine Lake — Shuttle Required
BOOK NOW 🔴
Closed to personal vehicles. Shuttle only. Book at 8:00 AM MT on Saturday Jul 25 (from ORD layover)
Departs: Lake Louise Park & Ride, 1 Whitehorn Rd
Every 30 min · 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
🌅 Vermilion Lakes — stunning sunset, only 5 min from town
4:00 PM → Check into Peaks Hotel & Suites, 218 Lynx St
🚡 Option: Banff Gondola + Sky Bistro
BOOK IN ADVANCEUNVERIFIED HOURS ⚠️
Banff Gondola · 100 Mountain Ave · 403-762-7486
Sky Bistro at summit — 11 AM–8:30 PM (hours unverified 2026) · OpenTable
Must book gondola ticket separately from restaurant.
MON JUL 27 · Day 3
⭐ Moraine Lake Sunrise — THE DAY
Shuttle required · Book at 8 AM MT Saturday
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SHUTTLE REQUIRED 🔴⭐ SIGNATURE DAY
🚌 Depart Lake Louise Park & Ride (1 Whitehorn Rd) on earliest shuttle Shuttles every 30 min, 6:30 AM–6:00 PM. Earlier = fewer crowds + sunrise light.
📸 Rockpile Trail — Ten Peaks iconic shot. Short walk, incredible payoff. Aaron: Insta360 X5 wide angle!
🚶 Lake Connector Trail → Lake Louise shoreline
🚣 Canoe at Fairmont Boathouse — 111 Lake Louise Dr · 403-522-3511 ~C$165–170/hr UNVERIFIED 2026 ⚠️
Drive time Banff → Lake Louise Park & Ride: ~45 min
🍵 Option: Lake Agnes Teahouse Add-On
CASH ONLY 💵
7 km RT · ~380 m gain · ~2.5 hrs · No reservations Trail from Lake Louise. Best payoff-to-effort ratio.
TUE JUL 28 · Day 4
🗺️ Adventure Day
Big hike or Icefields Parkway
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⚠️ Grizzly House CLOSED TUESDAYS — save for another night
🥾 Option A: Plain of Six Glaciers
11.4 km RT · 595 m gain · 3–5 hrs · Quieter than Lake Agnes Teahouse at summit — CASH ONLY 💵
🚗 Option B: Icefields Parkway Sampler
Herbert Lake → Bow Lake → Peyto Lake/Bow Summit (stunning!) → Mistaya Canyon
Turn at Saskatchewan River Crossing (~1h30m each way) or go full day to Columbia Icefield (~2h15m).
🌊 Option C: Johnston Canyon + Lakes
Johnston Canyon (5.2 km RT catwalks — go before 9 AM!) + Lake Minnewanka + Two Jack Lake
WED JUL 29 · Day 5
🌲 Banff → Lake Louise Transfer
Peaks checkout 11 AM · Paradise check-in ~4 PM
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Checkout Peaks Hotel by 11 AM
🛣️ Drive Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) instead of Hwy 1 — slower, far prettier, best wildlife odds Verify current access restrictions before departing.
~4 PM → Check into Paradise Lodge & Bungalows — Wilson Cabin Conf: 2373036179 · 403-522-3595
🌅 After 7 PM → Lake Louise lakeshore walk — tour buses gone, best light of day
THU JUL 30 · Day 6
🏔️ Lake Louise Base Day
Your choice — hike, Yoho, or rest
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🥾 Option A: Big Hike
Whichever signature hike you haven't done yet — Plain of Six Glaciers or Johnston Canyon
🌿 Option B: Yoho National Park
~40 min from Lake Louise (still Mountain Time)
• Natural Bridge
• Emerald Lake — 5.2 km flat loop (~1.5 hrs)
• Takakkaw Falls
• Lunch at Emerald Lake Lodge · 250-343-6321
😴 Option C: Rest Day
Sleep in · Lakeshore walk · Spa · Early dinner — you've earned it
FRI JUL 31 · Day 7
🎂 Last Day + Drive to YYC
Paradise checkout 11 AM · Car drop 11:30 PM
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⚠️ HARD DEADLINES — DO NOT MISS Leave Banff by 8:30 PM → 1h30m drive to YYC → Drop car 11:30 PM
Enterprise CLOSED 1–7 AM. 11:30 PM is the correct slot. Do not change it. Elk on highway at night — do not let the day run long.
Checkout Paradise Lodge by 11 AM
🌅 Morning at Lake Louise lakeshore
🚗 Drive back toward Banff
🎂 Birthday dinner in Banff or Canmore The Bison (Banff) or The Grizzly House (Banff) are great. Leave Banff by 8:30 PM at latest.
🛣️ Depart Banff ≤ 8:30 PM → YYC via Hwy 1
🚗 Drop car at Enterprise YYC — 11:30 PM
🏨 Check into YYC in-terminal hotel (booked via Marriott Bonvoy)
SAT AUG 1 · Day 8
🛫 Home — Bon Voyage!
YYC 7:00 AM → ORD → BHM 3:02 PM
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~4:15 AM — hotel shuttle or walk to terminal (you're in-terminal!)
Now rebranded "Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection" (Accor). Call to confirm fine dining availability. Eden restaurant may be replaced — verify when booking.
Lake Agnes Teahouse
CASH ONLY 💵
🥾 7 km RT from Lake Louise · ~2.5 hrs
No reservations. Cash only. Hike up and earn your tea. Best payoff-to-effort in the park.
Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
CASH ONLY 💵
🥾 11.4 km RT from Lake Louise · 3–5 hrs
No reservations. Cash only. Quieter than Lake Agnes. Stunning glacier views at the teahouse.