Discover two of Alberta, Canada's top destinations in one fantastic holiday. Edmonton and Jasper.
First up Edmonton. Edmonton. Soak up everything this extraordinary city has to offer. Shop your way through North America's largest shopping and entertainment centre, West Edmonton Mall, which until 2004 was the Worlds largest Mall. Spend time in Edmonton's river valley that is 22 times the size of New York's Central Park! Take a day trip to Elk Island National Park for a close encounter with free roaming bison before taking in a NHL match at the impressive Rogers Place.
Your second destination is Jasper. Just four hours away from Edmonton is Jasper National Park - the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain parks. Part of a collective UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also the second largest dark sky preserve in the world, and the only one with a community in the centre of it. In the town of Jasper, you will find quirky shops, quaint inns, luxurious lodges and endless opportunities for adventure.
DAY 01 - 03: EDMONTON, CANADA
Holidays to Edmonton enjoy an exciting contrast to the surrounding province, offering modern shopping opportunities, fine dining, a vibrant nightlife and a wealth of attractions to cater to everybody.
The West Edmonton Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world, in fact it is more like a theme park with an indoor waterpark and some 800 outlets all under one roof. It also includes its own cinema, sea life centre, ice rink and other indoor attractions. The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton's downtown arts district produces plays throughout the year and also has an indoor atrium with an impressive three-storey waterfall.
Less than an hour’s drive from the capital lies Elk Island Nation Park, a place of quietness where pristine starry skies shine next to city lights. Elk Island National Park is the cornerstone of Canada’s bison conservation story; without this place and the dedication of its people, herds of plains and woods bison would not thrive in Canada today. Connections are made here; it is where you can become a steward of these iconic creatures, and discover their importance to the heart and soul of this nation.
Whilst in Edmonton be sure to take in a NHL match at Rogers Place. Home to young phenom Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, the arena features state of the art technology including the largest high definition screen in the NHL.
Why not adventure a little further afield to The Rocky Mountains and put a tick on that bucket list. The 325 km drive between the two goes by in a flash with incredible scenery along the way. Look forward to golden crop fields and crisp blue skies that transition into rolling hills and Alberta lakes before the grand finale, the white-capped mountain ranges of Jasper. As Canada’s largest national park in the Rocky Mountains and one of only fifteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jasper National Park should be top of your bucket list.
DAY 03 - 08: JASPER NATIONAL PARK, CANADA
Just four hours away from Edmonton is Jasper National Park - the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain parks. Part of a collective UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also the second largest dark sky preserve in the world, and the only one with a community in the centre of it. In the town of Jasper, you will find quirky shops, quaint inns, luxurious lodges and endless opportunities for adventure.
You can plan a round of golf at Canada's #1 Golf Resort Course located at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Maligne Canyon is one of the most spectacular gorges in the Rockies. In winter, you can do the famed ice walk here. Highly recommend is a boat tour on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island to see why it's one of the most photographed spots on the planet.
Marmot Basin is home to some of the most breathtaking and unspoiled views anywhere in the Canadian Rockies. In winter, you can ski or snowboard on terrain suitable for novices to experts.
Everywhere within Jasper National Park, you are likely to spot Rocky Mountain wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, deer and bears year round.