12 Day Self-Guided Canadian Rockies Motorcycle Tour in Western Canada

Itinerary

Picking up your bike and leaving Calgary, Alberta, you will ride through the rolling foothills and prairies of the Southern Alberta, home to many large cattle ranchers and wide-open prairie vistas. Experience the Canadian bush and wildlife up close.

Day 1: Calgary, 25 kilometers / 15 miles (0.25 hour riding time)

After arriving at Calgary International Airport, you will be met at the airport and shuttled to your hotel to check in and then to pick up your bike. Today is set aside to allow you to settle in and rest up before the adventure begins tomorrow.

Day 2: Calgary to Waterton Lakes National Park, 430 kilometers / 266 miles (approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes)

Leaving your hotel and the city behind you, you will head out into the foothills that run south alongside the Rocky Mountains. Stopping for breaks and lunch on the way to allow you to settle into the tour and grab some photos of the amazing scenery. The roads are in good condition and along the way, you will enjoy optional stops to visit an RCMP fort/Museum and interpretive center showing how the early inhabitants of the prairies lived.

The ride will end at the peaceful mountain town of Waterton for the night, where you are surrounded by mountains and wildlife.

Day 3: Waterton Lakes National Park to Creston, 269 kilometers / 166 miles (approximately 3.5 hours)

After a western breakfast, you will ride into the mountains on well-maintained roads, alongside clear lakes, with trees down to the edge of the roads in places. As you climb higher the mountains become more rugged.

Day 4: Creston to Osoyoos, 383 kilometers / 227 miles (approximately 4 hours)

Today will take you on some wild roads, through wide-open mountain countryside. This is "big sky" country where you can see forever while enjoying the ride. Tight turns take you down into lake country and up to mountain meadows. Today is a wild ride from start to finish, with lots of photo stops.

Day 5: Osoyoos to Vernon, 346 kilometers / 205 miles (approximately 4 hours)

Today is a smooth day with easy roads and vast scenery. Enjoy the ride. Have your GoPro ready. This is a riders' day.

Day 6: Rest day in Vernon

Today is a free day for you to catch up on all those important things like sorting out photos, writing down all the key points, and even getting that pesky laundry taken care of. Maybe enjoy exploring the local area.

Day 7: Vernon to Tête Jaune Cache, 457 kilometers / 282 miles (approximately 5 hours)

Heading northeast and following the great roads through the quiet mountain passes, you will pass beautiful lakes and fantastic mountain scenery. Great riding and lots of photo opportunities.

Day 8: Tête Jaune Cache to Saskatchewan River Crossing, 346 kilometers / 205 miles (approximately 4 hours)

Leaving BC and entering Alberta, this smooth road will take you through to Jasper for a well-earned brunch. From here you will ride along the “Icefield Parkway” which climbs over many passes, giving you fantastic views and great photo opportunities. Along the way, you can stop for optional walk on a glacier, visit majestic waterfalls, and ride through thick northern forests; before stopping for the night, in a peaceful location, where you are surrounded by mountains and wildlife

Day 9: Saskatchewan River Crossing to Radium Hot Springs, 264 kilometers / 156 miles (approximately 3 hours)

Continue south and then west on the Trans-Canada Highway for a while through lush mountain forests before turning south before stopping for the night in a sleepy mountain town. An optional soak in the hot pools followed by a relaxing dinner ends a great day.

Day 10: Radium Hot Springs to Strathmore, 454 kilometers / 259 miles (approximately 5 hours)

Leaving town and heading east takes you into world-famous Banff National Park towards the township of Banff. Stops along the way showcase these massive mountains and put you in the center of one of the most beautiful parts of the Canadian Rocky’s. This is a medium mileage day; however, with numerous stops, it is a full day. Leaving the park and following the highway, before turning south and then east brings you to your stop for the day.

Day 11: Strathmore to Calgary, 240 kilometers / 142 miles (approximately 3 hours)

Riding north through the open prairies brings you to the “Bad Lands” of Alberta. An optional stop at a museum displaying the area and the Dinosaurs that roamed the land at one time allows you get an up-close understanding of them. Leaving the town and riding west through canyons brings you back to Calgary and your stop for the night.

Day 12: Calgary

After a relaxing breakfast, and a short ride, you will drop off your bike and catch your shuttle to the airport. This shuttle ride is filled with talk about the adventure you’ve just had and the fun experienced.

Notes

Canadian drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road.

The roads in Alberta and British Columbia are in a good condition with light traffic out of the cities. Other than road repairs, you will not be required to ride on any unsealed roads.

Tour category A

• BMW R 1200 RT
• BMW R 1200 GS
• Honda Africa Twin
• Harley Tri-Glide

Tour category B

• BMW G 650 GS
• Triumph Tiger 800 XRX
• BMW F 800 GS
• Indian Scout 60
• Triumph Street Triple R 675
• Yamaha Bolt 950
• KTM 690 Duke
• Harley Road Glide Ultra
• Harley Ultra Limited
• Harley Road Glide Special
• Harley Street Glide Special
• Harley Road King
• Harley Softail Heritage
• Harley Sport Glide
• Harley Fat Boy

Tour category C

• Kawasaki KLR 650
• KTM 390 Duke
• Honda CBR 300 R
• Honda Rebel 300
• Harley Sportster 1200

Skill level

Intermediate

• can ride for three to four hours
• average riding experience
• little assistance required
• comfortable with extreme curves and leans
• average experience with unsurfaced roads
• steep ascents and descents

Advanced

• can ride for five to six hours
• extensive riding experience
• assistance on demand (if required)
• experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
• comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions

• Visit Icefields Parkway
• Visit Banff National Park

This tour will take place in Canada including Calgary, Waterton, Creston, Osoyoos, Vernon, Tête Jaune Cache, Saskatchewan River Crossing, Radium Hot Springs, and Strathmore.

+−

• Explore the Vernon area
• Stop at the Columbian Icefield and walk on the largest glacier in the Rockies
• Visit the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump interpretive center
• Visit the Radium Hot Springs
• Visit the RCMP Fort and Museum
• Visit the Royal Tyrrell Dinosaur Museum

• Bike rental
• Printed daily ride guide
• Shuttle fees (transfers to and from the hotel, airport, and bike rental location)
• Ferry fees
• 11 nights' accommodation
• Some national and provincial parks fees required for travel

• Airfare
• Insurance coverage and damage waivers (bonds) on rental bikes
• Optional equipment add-on’s to rental bikes
• Fuel
• All meals
• Various attractions
• Special / optional events
• Incidentals and other costs once inside various attractions (i.e. rental of bathing suits or towels)

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.