Let the epic wild of the Rockies sink into your lens
O Canada, the glorious land of maple syrup, epic vast spaces and jaw-dropping moments that will rock your world! Home to five national parks and cute alpine towns, Canadian Rockies are just overflowing with dramatic mountain peaks, hanging glaciers, ethereally turquoise lakes, towering waterfalls, deep canyons, lush forests and wildlife.
So round up your gear and get ready to have your socks knocked off from all the spine-tingling beauty nature has in store for you. Simply put, great shots guaranteed.
Tour Itinerary
Locations up Rockies’ sleeve
Day 1 / Calgary
Arrival
Calgary meet. Pickup at the airport and arrival at the hotel. Once properly rested, we’ll go over the travel plans for the upcoming week and get to know each other a little bit.
Day 2 / Banff
Three Sisters
Setting off early in the morning, we’ll drive to Canmore to shoot some stunning views of the sunrise over the trio of peaks above the Bow River called Three Sisters.
Following the early morning shoot, our journey will take us to Banff where we’ll check in at our hotel and drop our gear off. A charming little town surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges - from here we’ll be setting out to Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, the Kootenays and also the less touristy Kananaskis Country. Each morning we’ll rise early to catch the first rays touching the peaks of the mountains and the peaceful azure lakes.
Day 2 / Banff
Two Jack Lake
The sunset photo shoot on this day will be all about Two Jack Lake in the Banff National Park. Always worth a stop, this place is nothing short of amazing views and a lot of great shots to be taken here.
Day 3 / Banff
Vermilion Lakes
This time, our sunrise location will take us to Vermilion Lakes on the outskirts of Banff, offering the famous view of Mt. Rundle in the back. Reflecting in the lakes, the mountain range is a great reward for all early risers. If lucky, we might be in for some alpenglow that turns the landscape into even more amazing colors.
Later that day, we will fill up on the beauty of the mysterious Johnston Canyon. Carved by the cold waters of Bow River, the steep walls of the canyon jutting high above are just something to watch and photograph. Just like the deep blue pools of the creek, waterfalls and river bends that we will be shooting as well.
Day 3 / Banff
Castle Mountain
Sitting silently with the Bow River in the foreground, Castle Mountain will be our sunset treat. This castle-like mountain dominates the views and is one of the most imposing peaks of the Bow Valley.
Day 4 / Lake Louise
Moraine Lake
Getting up early, we’ll be headed to the famous Moraine Lake. Being one of the most iconic lakes in the Canadian Rockies, its beauty is simply out of this world and is a must-see on our list. Here, we’ll be shooting different compositions from the rock pile above the lake or the lake shore. Pure and turquoise waters, this one’s a real candy.
Leaving Moraine Lake behind, we cannot miss the crystal clear Consolation Lakes surrounded by magnificent glacier panoramas. This will be our photographer’s yummy before we move on to check in to our accommodation in Lake Louise.
Day 4 / Lake Louise
Bow Lake
Our evening agenda will take us to the pristine Bow Lake, one of the smaller lakes in Banff National Park. Boasting spectacularly colored water and a ring of peaks towering above, this site a top-notch mountain scenery.
Day 5 / Lake Louise
Emerald Lake
Another early morning will see us chasing sunrise at the Emerald Lake with the iconic lodge perched on its edge. This site is a great proof that Rocky Mountain Lakes are all different in color - from green to bright blue or even brownish. Vivid turquoise is the color of Emerald Lake, just you wait.
Day 5 / Lake Louise
Takakkaw Falls
Our next stop, Takakkaw Falls, the second highest waterfalls in Canada resounding with a tremendous thunder, will leave your jaw drop. We’ll also go to capture the Natural Bridge with the Kicking Horse River sculpting its way through it.
Day 5 / Lake Louise
Peyto Lake
Sunset will be about the unbelievably blue Peyto Lake. Getting its blue from large amounts of glacial rock flour, it changes color depending on the time of year and day. Another sunset spent photo shooting is another sunset well spent!
Day 6 / Lake Louise
Icefields Parkway Road
Another day, another great opportunity to salute the sun. This time, we will drive out to the stunning Waterfowl Lakes to enjoy the epic panoramas located right by the scenic Icefields Parkway Road.
During the day, we’ll make a stop at the Morant’s Curve viewpoint to photograph the railroad tracks running below - long trains and magnificent mountain scenery will be a great mixture of nature meeting with the human element.
Day 6 / Lake Louise
Larch Valley
We might also decide for a hike to Larch Valley above the Moraine Lake, offering fantastic views of several lakes and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, with ten notable peaks crowning the valley.
Day 6 / Lake Louise
Herbert Lake
In the evening, we will hit the road to Herbert Lake. Surrounded by deep woods, the waters of this tiny slice of paradise reflect the snowy peaks of the Rockies, waiting for the admiration of our lenses...
Day 7 / Jasper
Mistaya Canyon
Returning to the crime scene, we will spend the morning back at Bow Lake, capturing its calm and cold waters dotted with colorful pebbles.
The greater part of the day will be revolving around the mysteriously deep Mistaya Canyon and the duo of Sunwapta Falls, both locations along the way of the iconic Icefields Parkway which we will take on our way to Jasper where we will check in.
For our sunset photoshoot, we will go to Athabasca River at Goat Lick. With blue waters and mountain peaks in the back, this is where the river flows through gorges, offering wildlife viewing opportunities on its shores.
Day 8 / Jasper
Pyramid Lake
Sunrise will catch us at Pyramid Lake at the foot of Pyramid Mountain. If there’s time, we might make it to Patricia Lake on top of it the very same morning.
Day 8 / Jasper
Maligne Lake & Spirit Island
This is the day of the promised cruise to the sacred Spirit Island nestled on the iconic Maligne Lake. Gliding past the jagged mountain peaks, we’ll find ourselves on the track of one of Canada’s most popular attractions.
On this night, we will be enjoying the warm evening light around Medicine Lake, a fascinating body of water that actually is not a lake. The peaks and trees reflecting in its waters are definitely worth your photographer’s while.
Day 9 / Jasper
Cavell Meadows
On our last day before departure, we’ll be catching the first morning rays orchestrating a play of light on icebergs set in a valley with a lake, surrounded by mountain peaks and smashing meadows. Pure delight.
Day 9 / Jasper
Athabasca Falls
After that, we have another unforgettable experience ahead of us - the Icefields Parkway, one of Canada’s national treasures. Riding along this iconic route, numerous stops can be expected along the way, as we want to make the best of our Rockies tour. You will find the force of the powerful Athabasca Falls astonishing. Just like the Horseshoe Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Jasper, surrounded by tall cliffs. And these are only some of the treats that await us on the drive back to Calgary, where we’ll be checking in to spend our last night. Oh, one more thing, a little party is in order, of course!
Meet Your Tutors
Explore the Canadian Rockies with the real adventures
Tour Details
Check out price, accommodation, and other details about the tour
9 nights
up to 10 attendees
intermediate photographers
moderate hiking involved
Included in the price
- Professional photography instructors
who will guide you through the area, show you the best photo locations of Canadian Rockies and lead you throughout the whole workflow of landscape photography (choosing the right gear, scene selection, composition, post production). - 9 nights of accommodation
twin share or single room available - Transport
including airport pick-up / drop-off - One boat cruise
- Park entry fees
- In-field water and snacks
while shooting
Excluded from the price
- Flight tickets
to and from Calgary - Travel insurance
please note that travel insurance is compulsory - Meals and drinks
excluding in-field water and snacks - Any visa fees
when applicable
Recommended Gear
We want you to get a kick out of the tour, so we suggest that you bring the following:
- Good tripod
and a remote shutter release (for tack sharp pictures) - Lens filters
Neutral density and polarizer filters (if you have any) - Wide angle lenses
highly recommended for landscape photos - Telephoto lens
comes in real handy, as we may spot wildlife - deer, moose, bears or coyotes
- Headlamp
- Warm and waterproof gear
Make sure you pack up some. You know, it can get pretty cold or damp. This is Canada we’re talking :)
Accommodation
Upon arrival, we will stay at the Wingate by Wyndham Calgary Airport hotel, located just a 5 minutes’ drive from the airport, with fine amenities, including a heated pool and breakfast to get us started for the eventful journey ahead. We will call it wrap on the final night of our tour in this hotel as well.
Then we’ll move on to the Charltons Banff, situated some 500 m from the Banff city centre, so you can fully enjoy the spectacular mountain ranges around. This will be our base camp for the next 2 days.
From Banff we’ll relocate to Lake Louise Inn, Featuring a heated indoor pool and hot tubs, the hotel offers 2 on-site restaurants with family dining and a lounge. Surrounded by soaring pines and sweeping mountain views from balconies in each room, we will make this place our home for the next 3 days.
And finally, we’ll move way to the north to Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Jasper, with Athabasca Falls only a 27 minutes’ drive away. Featuring big rooms, an indoor pool and on-site spa services, this hotel offers 3 restaurants, and the Jasper city center is pretty much round the corner, just a 3 minutes’ drive away.
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- Is the tour itinerary fixed?
- Will there be any night photography included?
- How difficult will the hiking be?
Mariel Feldman, Designer, United States of America“Between the gorgeous landscapes, the wildlife, the photography lessons, and the overall fun energy of the group, the trip to the Canadian Rockies far exceeded my expectations and created memories that will last a lifetime.”