Calgary Stampede and the Rockies

Combine the Calgary Stampede, the world-famous rodeo and festival held every July, with three nights in Banff, with your flights, hotels, transfers and Stampede tickets all arranged.

Spend three nights in Calgary, with breakfast included, and enjoy a two-day Stampede Thrill Package with reserved seats for the rodeo and the evening Grandstand Show.

Then take a coach transfer to Banff for three nights in the Rockies. A full-day guided tour includes the Banff Gondola, a cruise on Lake Minnewanka and lunch, and there’s plenty of free time to explore before you return to Calgary.

The best Stampede seats sell out, so it pays to book early. Like all our trips, it’s easy to adjust: add nights or extend your time in the Rockies.

Is this a private trip, and can I change it?

It’s a private trip built around your dates, not a group tour on fixed departures. The Banff day tour and the coach transfers are shared with other travellers, but you aren’t part of a tour group, and the rest of your time is your own. You can change anything: add nights, swap places, upgrade hotels or slow the pace, and we’ll reprice it for you.

When is the best time to go?

This trip is built around the Calgary Stampede, which runs for ten days in early to mid-July each year, so your dates are set by the Stampede.

Hotels in Calgary and Banff fill quickly during Stampede week, and the best rodeo and Grandstand Show seats sell out, so book as early as you can. If July doesn’t work for you, we can plan a Calgary and Rockies trip at another time of year.

Which airlines do you use?

We usually use Air Canada, British Airways or WestJet, which fly direct from London to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal, and we can book flights from regional UK airports.

Flights out leave during the day, so you arrive the same day. Flights home are usually overnight, which is why the length of each trip includes a night on the plane.

What are the hotels like?

We choose hotels for their location and character, from city hotels to mountain lodges and small inns. Some Canadian hotels add a resort or facility fee, and city hotels often charge for parking. Where we can, we include these in your price, and we’ll tell you about any you pay locally.

Do I need a visa?

UK passport holders flying to Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). It only takes a few minutes to apply online, but do it as soon as you’ve booked, and use the official Government of Canada website, as other sites charge extra. If you hold a different passport, ask us.

Calgary

Known as the “Gateway to the Rockies,” Calgary is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends Western heritage with modern urban energy. Towering skyscrapers define its skyline, while tree-lined streets, lively neighbourhoods, and the scenic Bow River offer a contrasting sense of space and nature.

Calgary is world-famous for the Calgary Stampede, an annual celebration of rodeo, music, and Western culture that transforms the city each July into a festival of energy and excitement. Beyond the Stampede, the city boasts a dynamic arts scene, with galleries, museums, and live performance venues alongside a diverse culinary landscape featuring everything from local craft cuisine to international flavours.

Stroll through districts like Stephen Avenue, Inglewood, or Kensington, or take a riverside walk along the Bow River pathway for a mix of culture, history, and urban charm. 

View Itinerary in Detail

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All of our Canada Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.