If you looking for tours to the Canadian Rockies, you may have come across the many options available. These vast choices available may confuse you and cause you to second guess your choice. It can get especially hard when you are looking for something that is budget friendly, covers all the places you want to see, and provides exactly what you are looking for.
Picking the ideal package can be a tedious task since everyone wants what’s best for them. Here are three few tips that can help you narrow down your choices to help you pick the right one.
What mode of transportation would you be comfortable with?
The first picture the anyone gets when thinking about the Canadian Rockies is the train journey. However, not all the Canadian Rockies guided tours include railroad travel. If you want that specific experience, you need to ensure that the package includes it. There are essentially two trains that travel to the Canadian Rockies: the Rocky Mountaineer and ViaRail Canadian. If your aim is to make use of the all-daylight travel that you have heard about from friends or other sources, you should pick a package that specifically mentions the Rocky Mountaineer. There are quite a few round trip packages that you would find on these two trains.
However, if you are looking for a total motorcar experience, make sure your itinerary does not include these two train names. Sometimes, people tend to assume that motor coaches are cheaper than rail but it is best to compare your rates before you make a decision as the prices vary based on a lot of factors. There are also self-drive packages that allow you to explore the Canadian Rockies at your own pace. Additonally, it includes all the elements of a guided tour. The best starting point, if you are looking to travel by car, is at Calgary.
Pick an accommodation mode that suits your travel style
Most people seeking adventure book something out of the oridinary but later regret it. Most often, when you pick a guided tour, the itinerary may just mention the hotel’s rating without the name. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. When you are looking for a Canadian Rockies guided tour, the first thing you need to do is call the operators and ask them to name the hotel or accommodation that they have as part of the plan. Even if they tell you that there are possibilities of other stays, get the detailed list so that you know what you are in for. Primarily, this will help learn about your stay and you can choose to look for other options if it fails to match your expectations.
Since the Canadian Rockies is home to some of the most renowned hotels in North America, hotels like Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Banff Springs are available. In case your Canadian Rockies guided tour package includes any of these hotels, they would definitely be advertising it in large print. Sometimes, they may have hotels with similar names, but be wary of such advertising tactics and make sure that you are absolutely clear about the name, services offered, etc. When you are looking at the itinerary, make sure to check the expected date of arrival and all the services included, like the accomodation. This will help you make other arrangements in case certain elements aren’t a part of your package.
What activities do you want to get involved in?
We all know that the Canadian Rockies is home to some great adventures but not everyone is up for all challenges. You can find a variety of activites here, such as helicopter flight-seeing, hot spring visits, river rafting and floating, tramway rides, gondola, wildlife viewing, kayaking, ice explorer rides, skiing, hiking, horseback riding, etc. When you pick a Canadian Rockies guided tour, look for two things: what are the activities mentioned in the package (assess whether you would enjoy them) and if they are inclusive of the cost. Sometimes, you would need to pay for each of them separately.
One last point that you need to remember is that a Canadian Rockies guided tour does not necessarily mean that a guide would be physically present with you through your journey. Some may include a travel escort while others may not. Make sure you always read the fine print before you sign up with any operator.
