Holiday Overview
In prehistoric times, much of North America was a lush subtropical habitat embracing a vast inland sea. This is where the dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago. Fast forward to present-day central and southern Alberta where their bones now rest in ancient riverbeds, framed by the maroon-striped canyons of the mysterious Canadian Badlands. Find yourself a little bit out there. Wander through the cottonwoods along the banks of meandering rivers.
There is nowhere quite like the Drumheller Valley; Dinosaur Capital of Canada! Being here will take you into another world - the world of startling contrasts between the deep past and the exciting present. Rolling fields suddenly give way to steep, dry coulees ridged with the strata of hundreds of years of erosion by time, wind and water.
Jurassic Adventure in Southern Alberta Fly Drive includes:
- Return UK flights
- Accommodation for 9 nights
- Intermediate Car Hire
- Banff Gondola
- Admission to Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Admission to Royal Tyrrell Museum
- Admission to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre
Day 1 - Fly UK to Calgary
Arrive in Calgary, a place buzzing with innovative energy while embracing its rich western heritage. Take a trip up the Calgary Tower (not included). Another highlight worth visiting is the Heritage Park Historical Village (admission not included) on the city’s south side, a “living museum” representing turn of the century Calgary with costumed interpreters, a steam train and scale-model sternwheeler, an oldfashioned candy store and much more. In the evening, embrace Calgary’s vibrant entertainment and culinary scene.
Featured accommodation
Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
Day 2 - Calgary to Banff (155km/72mi)
Take the short (2-hour) drive from Calgary to Banff on either the Trans- Canada Highway or the more scenic 1A Highway. Once in Banff proceed to your selected hotel to check in and the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own leisure.
Featured accommodation
Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa
Day 3 - Banff Exploring
A full day to explore Banff and the surrounding area. In town you’ll find lots of excitement including shopping, cafés, nightlife and museums. Check out the Cave and Basin National Historic Site (not included), Banff Gondola (included) where you will see a panoramic view of the Bow Valley, and then take a dip in the restorative hot mineral pools at the Upper Hot Springs (included).
Featured accommodation
Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa
Unmissable Experiences
Banff Gondola
Day 4 - Banff to Drumheller (251km/156mi)
Depart Banff, heading east toward Drumheller. There is nowhere quite like the Drumheller Valley; Dinosaur Capital of Canada! Being here will take you into another world - the world of startling contrasts between the deep past and the exciting present. Rolling fields suddenly give way to steep, dry coulees ridged with the strata of hundreds of years of erosion by time, wind and water. Don’t miss the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology (included) - Canada’s largest dinosaur museum where you can journey through time and come face-to-face with incredible creatures that lived millions of years ago.
Featured accommodation
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Day 5 - Drumheller to Dinosaur Provincial Park to Cypress Hills Provincial Park
From Drumheller, travel two hours to Dinosaur Provincial Park, where you will have a chance escape the ordinary and venture into the rugged Canadian Badlands. Two interpretive displays allow you to see what a dig site really looks like. Check out the bones of a “duck-billed” dinosaur still partially encased in the sediment that buried them. Or, a full body (articulated skeleton) of a Corythosaurus, the “helmet headed lizard”. Continue to Cypress Hills Provincial Park – the hidden gem of Southern Alberta.
Featured accommodation
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Day 6 - Drumheller to Lethbridge (261km / 163 mi)
Today make the journey to from Drumheller to Lethbridge.
Featured accommodation
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
Day 7 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to Lethbridge (297 km/185 mi)
Travel west on the Red Coat Trail toward Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to experience the largest concentration of rock art on the plains. Explore this National Historic Site with an interpreter, lounge by the bubbling Milk River and hike the hoodoo trails. Visit the Interpretive Centre for a behind the scenes guided experience with a local aboriginal guide to explore the Archaeological Preserve. Drive approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Writing-On-Stone to Lethbridge where you’ll spend the night.
Featured accommodation
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
Day 8 - Lethbridge to Waterton Lakes National Park (119 km/74 mi)
On your way out of Lethbridge, you may wish to stop in at Fort Whoop-Up, an old fort and outlaw trading post, allowing visitors to step into life at a frontier outpost on the Great Plains, to discover exhibits about Canada’s first Mounties, whiskey and firearms traders and Blackfoot history and culture (not included). In Waterton, stroll through the town to shop, dine at the restaurants, visit the beach or hike the trails that start from the town site. You may wish to visit the Prince of Wales Hotel – a National Historic Site – for afternoon tea and lots of opportunities to take amazing photographs.
Featured accommodation
Bayshore Inn
Day 9 - Waterton Lakes National Park Exploring
The day is yours to discover the wonders of this beautiful region. You may wish to travel to Montana’s Glacier National Park (the U.S. half of this International Peace Park) via the famous Going to the Sun Road, an astonishing feat of engineering and spectacular scenery as well. A popular activity is the 16-km drive from the Waterton town site to Red Rock Canyon - a colourful canyon of red, green and white banded rock cliffs, green alpine forests and bubbling white waterfalls.
Featured accommodation
Bayshore Inn
Day 10 - Waterton Lakes National Park to Calgary (290 km/180 mi)
Travel north for 1 hour and 10 minutes to experience Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump (included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the hunting practice of the native people of the North American plains for the past 6000 years. A native guide leads you through the exhibit and out to the cliff jump, sharing the history and lifestyle of the first people. There may even be drumming in the plaza. Continue north for 2 hours to Calgary airport, drop-off your car and check-in for your flight back to the UK.
Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
The Alt Hotel calgary east Village is conveniently located in the Downtown Calgary of Calgary, within walking distance of many local tourist attractuions such as: The Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Calgary Zoo and Calgary Zoo Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park.
Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa
Located in Banff National Park, the Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa offers a mountain lodge hotel featuring luxurious spa services and facilities as well as comfortable accommodation, all in one outstanding location. This ideal holiday spot is located on Banff Avenue, the main street in the town of Banff. Surrounded by mountains, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Take advantage of the complimentary passes for the Banff transit, which offers service to various attractions.
Canalta Jurassic Hotel
Whether you are here to visit the world class Royal Tyrrell Museum or to check out the sweeping beauty of the badlands, The Canalta Jurassic has all the home from home touches
Coast Lethbridge Hotel
If you’re looking to explore all that Lethbridge has to offer, there’s no better place to do it from than the Coast Lethbridge Hotel & Conference Centre.
Bayshore Inn
The Bayshore Inn Resort & Spa provides everything you need for the perfect mountain getaway right in the heart of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. As the only hotel located right on the shores of beautiful Waterton Lake, the rustic family owned and operated Bayshore Inn, provides guests with friendly service and a relaxing environment to enjoy the beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2023, 2024 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 270 0069 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
Canada Holiday Offers
Rockies & Rainforest East Bound Fly Drive
- 15 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Parksville
- Whistler
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Banff
- Calgary
Canada Holiday Offers
Lakes & Lodges Self Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Emerald Lake
- Banff
- Calgary
Canada Family Holidays MCT
Ultimate West Fly Drive
- 20 Nights
- Vancouver
- Kelowna
- Emerald Lake
- Banff
- Jasper
- Clearwater
- Whistler
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
- Victoria
Peaks & Grapes Fly Drive
- 12 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Sun Peaks Resort
- Jasper
- Banff
- Kelowna
Canada Holiday Offers
Rockies & Rainforests Fly Drive
- 15 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Clearwater
- Whistler
- Parksville
- Tofino
- Victoria
- Vancouver
Canada Family Holidays MCT
Vancouver, Bears & Whales
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Campbell River
- Knight Inlet
- Tofino
- Victoria
Canada Wildlife Holidays
Vancouver Island & the Grizzlies Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Parksville
- Desolation Sound
- Whistler
Mountain Magic in BC Fly Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Osoyoos
- Nelson
- Invermere
- Emerald Lake
- Revelstoke
- Sun Peaks Resort
Holidays to Alberta
Alberta Dinosaurs, Lakes & Glaciers
- 10 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Edmonton
- Drumheller
Holidays to Alberta
Jurassic Adventure in Southern Alberta Fly Drive
- 9 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Drumheller
- Lethbridge
- Waterton
Canada Adventure Holidays
Saskatchewan’s Northern Wilderness and Ranches
- 14 Nights
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Meadow Lake Provincial Park
- Waskesiu Lake
- Saskatoon
- North Battleford
- Kyle
June Holidays
Spirit of the West Self Drive
- 11 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Sun Peaks Resort
- Vancouver
Canada Adventure Holidays
Explore Saskatchewan
- 11 Nights
- Saskatoon
- Kyle
- Maple Creek
- Moose Jaw
- Regina
Sunshine Coast Circle Tour
- 9 Nights
- Vancouver
- Sunshine Coast
- Campbell River
- Tofino
- Victoria
Ranchland and Prairies Fly Drive Holiday
- 14 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Kyle
- Lloydminster
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Banff
Holidays to Alberta
Alberta Highlights
- 13 Nights
- Canmore
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Banff
- Kananaskis
- Calgary
Prairies & Rockies Fly Drive Holiday
- 17 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Maple Creek
- Moose Jaw
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- North Battleford
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
- Banff
Canada Holidays 2023
Best of British Columbia
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Whistler
- Vernon
- Field
- Invermere
- Nelson
- Osoyoos
Alberta's Badlands and Rocky Mountains Self Drive
- 14 Nights
- Calgary
- Drumheller
- Lethbridge
- Waterton
- Banff
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
Canada Family Holidays
Discover Whistler & the Rockies
- 12 Nights
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Sun Peaks Resort
- Whistler
- Vancouver
Canada Family Holidays MCT
Wilderness Explorer Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Manning Park
- Penticton
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Emerald Lake
- Banff
- Kananaskis
- Calgary
Canada Holidays 2023
Wine & Dine the Okanagan Valley
- 15 Nights
- Vancouver
- Manning Park
- Osoyoos
- Penticton
- Kelowna
- Vernon
- Ashcroft
- Whistler
Calgary Stampede
Stampede & Alberta Self Drive
- 11 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Emerald Lake
Canada Holiday Offers
Ultimate Pacific Coast Experience Fly Drive
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Sunshine Coast
- Campbell River
- Tofino
- Victoria
Coastal Peaks to Plains Fly Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Port Hardy
- Prince Rupert
- Prince George
- Jasper
- Banff
- Calgary
Canada Holidays 2023
Lakes & Lodges - East Bound Fly Drive
- 13 Nights
- Vancouver
- Whistler
- Clearwater
- Jasper
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Emerald Lake
- Banff
Canada Holidays 2023
Pacific Coast & Alaska Cruise & Fly Drive
- 20 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Campbell River
- Whistler
- Alaska Cruise