The hip and stylish city centre of the Rockies welcomes all visitors with western flare. World-class eateries thrive beside traditional barbeque smokehouses, and the walkable downtown core invites you to explore the city before heading off to discover the less well-known side of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Visit the Calgary Tower for a panoramic view of the city’s skyline and the iconic Rocky Mountains, or get a different perspective on the city on a rafting tour on the original highway, the Bow River, where you can marvel at Calgary's architecture as you float under the modern Peace Bridge and the historic Centre Street Bridge. 

Calgary’s Glenbow Museum showcases western Canadian, Indigenous and international history, arts and culture. You can also visit Canada's largest living history museum, Heritage Park Historical Village, bringing southern Alberta's pioneer past to life. Sports fans will enjoy Winsport's Canada Olympic Park, where you can get your adrenaline pumping with everything from mountain biking trails to a zipline and Skyline Luge.

 Stay two nights in Calgary. 

Drumheller is your base for visiting the Canadian Badlands and Dinosaur Provincial Park. The Badlands were created over 10,000 years ago when glacier floodwaters carved the Red Deer Valley, and is an area with rich deposits of fossils and dinosaur bones that have been unearthed from 75 million years ago. Drive the Dinosaur Trail, take a guided hike in Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum that houses exhibits of dinosaur bones and fossils from the area. You can also check out the world’s tallest dinosaur at the Drumheller Visitor Center! See stunning Horseshoe Canyon and the hoodoos along Hwy 10 (the Hoodoo Trail) southeast of Drumheller. While you’re out watch for prairie dogs, which can often be seen scurrying about and popping up from their ground burrows.

Stay two nights in Drumheller. 

Located in southern Alberta, just outside of Medicine Hat, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a lush protected oasis offering a plethora of wildlife and picturesque landscapes. Discover an array of recreational opportunities, like hiking, paddling mountain biking segway rides and ziplining throughout the summer. In winter, the highest point between the Canadian Rockies and the east coast is best explored on snowshoes or cross-country skis.

Stay two nights at The Resort at Cypress Hills, a full-service waterfront retreat offering 31 lodge suites, six cosy cabins and 23 well-appointed condominiums. Onsite you will find a restaurant and lounge, and an indoor saltwater pool and hot tub.

Throughout southwest Saskatchewan, the vast tracts of prairie, colourful wildflowers, rustling native grasses and the earthy aroma of wild sage provide a feast for the senses. Grasslands National Park preserves the landscape and reflects a time when bison roamed the plains. Spanning more than 900 sq. km, the park is split into two blocks, each with a distinct personality. The West Block Visitor Centre is located in the village of Val Marie, a welcoming community that is the gateway to Canada’s only national park that represents prairie grasslands.

Enjoy the prairie landscape in all its beauty. Explore the Frenchman River Valley and see some of the rarest wildlife in Canada. Drive the Back Country Loop for a spectacular view of the area. You’ll discover a true appreciation for the remote landscape. A hike to 70 Mile Butte, one of the tallest buttes in the park, is an adventure all of its own. The park has its own resident bison herd. Catching a glimpse of these rare, majestic icons of the North American plains is a treasured experience.

Stock up with groceries before coming into the park if you prefer to keep cooking to a minimum. There is a good restaurant at the Val Marie Hotel if you would like to eat out. Alternatively there is the Honest Eatery and the Blind Boar is a wonderful place to visit. 

Stay two nights at the Crossing located on the edge of Grasslands National Park. The Crossing offers self-catering accommodation with exceptional views and direct access to Grasslands National Park. 

Today’s drive takes you through the rolling prairies to La Reata Ranch. German-born host and owner George Gaber and his ranch hands introduce guests to the cowboy way of life under the endless sky of the Canadian Prairies. Ride where the Blackfoot and Crow once camped as they hunted bison across the vast plains. La Reata is a working cattle-guest ranch with nine miles of water frontage and more than 5,000 acres of rolling pasture. The views of the rolling hills, the sunshine sparkling on the lake, the golden prairie grass swaying in the wind, a mama cow caring for her calf, will refresh your soul and make you feel alive. 

Discover your inner cowboy with ranch activities which are suitable for beginners or experienced riders. Explore the open range and enjoy the picturesque landscapes along Lake Diefenbaker. Guests are welcome, but not required, to help with traditional ranch duties. The ranch stretches more than 14 km along the lake. Activities such as canoeing, fishing, water skiing, swimming or relaxing on the beach offer a welcomed change after riding the range. In the evening, gaze at the starlit prairie sky from the comfort of a hot tub or swap tales of your adventures of the day at La Reata Saloon.

Four nights at La Reata Ranch, including all meals, riding and ranch activities. 

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s largest city, is described as being the best of both worlds – dynamic urban energy in sync with nature. Saskatoon itself delights with its picturesque cityscape. Seven bridges cross the South Saskatchewan River, which meanders through the city, earning it the nickname 'Paris of the Prairies.' In the evening, enjoy the sunset while strolling along the scenic riverside walks.

A visit to the Remai Modern Art Gallery is a must which has a lovely Picasso exhibit as well. 

On the city’s northern edge sits Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a National Historic Site that has yielded evidence of human occupation dating back 6,400 years. Traces of every cultural group that existed on the Northern Plains have been discovered here and for the first time in over 150 years bison are back! This iconic symbol of the prairies has gone from the brink of extinction to saving the grasslands. Bison provided food, shelter, and clothing, and are the spiritual centre to life on the Northern Plains.. Authentic First Nations culture and traditions are experienced through dance performances, exhibitions of Indigenous art and hands-on activities. An onsite restaurant serves traditional Indigenous cuisine with a contemporary twist and lovely Han Wi Moon dinners are planned during the summer months. These include a guided trail walk and storytelling are held in the evenings around a campfire  - please ask us for dates.  

Stay two nights in Saskatoon.  

Depending on the time of your flight, you can spend part of your final day exploring more of the city before heading to the airport and dropping off your car.