Self Drive Packages
Most travellers are choosing to explore the Canadian Rockies independently. Renting
a car allows you the most flexibility to travel at your own pace, spending
more time in the areas you prefer and enjoying the activities you love.
All packages can be customized to suit your
personal preferences such as trip length, activities and different
accommodation options nightly. (eg. so you can "splurge"
for one night at somewhere special)
Things to consider when planning your self drive vacation to
the Canadian Rockies.
Arriving/Departing
Are you flying in and out of the same airport? You can also choose
to “open jaw” which means to fly into one airport (eg. Calgary)
and out of another (eg. Vancouver or Edmonton). Be aware, there
are surcharges if you pick up a car rental in one city and drop in another
(usually $100-$400, depending upon the distance).
 Cruising
the Canadian Rockies
Some of our overseas visitors are nervous about driving in the mountains,
especially when it’s on the other side of the road! While
the Trans Canada Highway has high volumes of commercial traffic, it’s
slowly being developed into a divided two lane highway in all mountain
areas.
The National Parks have an enforced lower speed of 90kms. It is
in place to save wildlife, but as these passes are generally used by
other visitors, most drivers enjoy the relaxed scenic pace.
How Long in Each Area?
Read our reviews on each destination,
and then decide, do you want a more relaxing holiday, staying in one
location and day tripping, or would you like to experience all the mountain
towns?
- The Banff townsite
is the hub of the Canadian Rockies and is a great base to settle yourself
in for a week, or more, as it provides a wide choice of accommodation
styles, great amenities and nightlife and many of the most spectacular
sightseeing and activities are close by.
- Lake Louise is
ideal for those who want a getaway experience, with only the mountains
to distract you, and Jasper,
is a perfect mix inbetween. Jasper requires a min 2 night stay,
one full day to enjoy the scenic Icefield Parkway drive and one extra
full day to enjoy the sites, which are located further out of the town.
- Canmore offers
an artistic mountain town with many large condo style apartments and Golden offers
very economical accommodation just outside the National Parks.
A popular itinerary for a longer stay is a circle route (ie the 5 night
Taste of the Rockies) starting in Banff, then up to Jasper
and finishing in Lake Louise, which is located closer to Calgary, if
you have an early flight.
Budget
Our high season is mid June to mid Sept. Budget hotels
start at around $140, mid range is $250 and luxury properties start at
$400, per room and go well up from there. Consider mixing the hotels
to the locations and experience available. Stay mid range in Banff,
where the accommodation standards are high, go for a woodsy experience
in Jasper, where there are many cabins, spoil yourself in a secluded luxury
lodge right on a lake in the Lake Louise/Yoho areas.
Book ahead
Reservations are required for the peak summer months of June/July/August/September. Perhaps
there will still be availability if you were to drive into town, but
the best value and most popular properties are always booked out. It’s
not a fun way to spend your vacation, wasting precious time looking for
a place you really don’t like and feel is overpriced.
 GyPSy
Guide
What’s that lake called, where do we turn off for Jasper, I wonder
if anyone has climbed that mountain, how do we find wildlife??? Arghhh,
being independent is fun, but it can be stressful.
This new electronic device is a must for all visitors who are driving
through the Rockies. It’s like having a local tour guide
in your car, making sure you don’t miss a thing while entertaining
you with stories of past and current adventurers, making sure you are
in the right lane for an important intersection, telling you to keep
your eyes peeled for wildlife here and making you laugh with quirky Canadian
tales. Much cheaper than taking tours each day as well.
For the technically challenged, it’s as easy as plugging it into
the car stereo, for the technogeeks, it’s a PDA working with GPS
mapping technology and recorded MP3 files.
Regardless, it’s pretty cool device for everyone to enjoy (and
I’ve witnessed it saving a marriage or two).
Call Us
We have a collection of the most popular self drive itineraries to assist
planning your self drive vacation. These suggestions cover all the major
tourist attractions and can be added to or changed to suit your time,
interests and budget.
However we often custom build packages to suit our clients specific
requirements for time, taste and budget. Flexibility is key and
all our clients benefit from our local knowledge and free, friendly service.
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