Example of a 14 day tour of Southern and Central Alberta with an excursion into British Columbia.

Tours are customized to suit your preferences.

This particular tour was customized for a Yodel Group from Switzerland with farming and ranching interests.

Day 1

Arrival - Calgary - Canmore

The tour preferentially starts in Calgary, though arrangements for starting the tour in Edmonton can also be made. The guests are welcomed at the airport by tour coordinator and tour guide Fred Salvisberg. After a short coffee and refreshment break we board our luxury coach, driven by a certified professional driver, and head for the Rocky Mountains. Travel time: 75 - 90 minutes from Calgary.

We will stay in the Banff-Canmore area for three nights in a comfortable lodge.

Day 2

Canmore - Kananaskis Valley (Winter Olympics 1988) - Canmore

To minimize the effect of jet lag, we start off our program with a relaxing coach tour into the beautiful Kananaskis Valley. The Kananaskis Valley was a spectacular venue for alpine events during the 1988 Winter Olympics.

There is the opportunity, for those who wish, to participate in a short walk (1.5 hours) in this beautiful scenery.

Lunch will be served at a Mountain Lodge and after some more sightseeing from the comfort of our coach we return to "headquarters".

Day 3

Canmore - Calgary - (Calgary Stampede) - Canmore

Today we head for Calgary and for the world-renowned Calgary Stampede (travel dates permitting). Note: If the travel dates do not allow a visit of the Calgary Stampede, SALRANCH TOURS will try to organize a visit at another Alberta stampede.

Dinner in an authentic Swiss restaurant. There is the opportunity to give a yodel performance to appreciative guests. Return to "headquarters" by coach.

Day 4

Canmore -Banff - Vermillion Pass - Fernie

We start the day with a visit of Banff in Banff National Park. After stowing all our newly acquired souvenirs in the coach, we cross the Vermillion Pass (Kootenay National Park) and arrive in British Columbia. Via Radium Hot Springs, we head south to Fernie. Fernie is one of the fastest growing ski resorts in Canada.

Black bear, mule deer, moose, elk and bighorn sheep when traveling in the Rocky Mountain National Parks.

Dinner and accommodation are in Fernie.

Day 5

Fernie (BC) - Buffalo Jump - Fort MacLeod - Lethbridge

On the way back to Alberta we will see the world's largest truck near Sparwood, B.C.

At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump we will learn how Aboriginal people hunted the buffalo. In Fort MacLeod we experience another aspect of the past: the pioneer days and the North-West Mounted Police.

Accommodation is in the City of Lethbridge, in Southern Alberta, close to beautiful Waterton National Park.

Day 6

Lethbridge - Feedlots - Brooks

We leave Lethbridge in the morning and head for Brooks in Southern Alberta. On the way we pass through the area that is home to the largest feedlot operations in Canada.

Brooks has a near-desert climate with a shortgrass prairie environment. This led to the construction of an aqueduct system and wide-spread irrigation.

Accommodation (2 nights) is in Brooks.

Day 7

Brooks - Dinosaur Park - Western Saloon - Brooks

In the morning (Sunday) the choir presents a public concert in Brooks, where an appreciative audience admires the traditional Swiss uniforms and vast repertoire of Swiss songs and yodels. The performance is advertised in the Brooks area and is covered by the press.

After lunch we board our coach for a well deserved sightseeing journey. Throughout the day we will see implementations of the various irrigation techniques.

Our main destination for today is the Dinosaur Provincial Park and the badlands, located in the midst of the never-ending prairie. In the late Devonian (375 million years ago) Alberta straddled the equator. A wide variety of fauna and flora has lived in this area throughout the eons.

After a long day in in the hot wind we will enjoy a cool drink in a Western Saloon. We will barbeque our steaks, according to our individual taste, in a steak pit.

After dinner we return to our "headquarters" in Brooks.

Day 8

Brooks - Red Deer

The road from Brooks to Red Deer passes through the seemingly never-ending prairie. Pronghorn Antelope can often be spotted in their prairie habitat.

We will visit an open pit coal mine and see how coal is being produced, processed and combusted in a coal fired power plant to produce electricity.

Accommodation (2 nights) in Red Deer.

Day 9

Red Deer - Dairy Farms - Bison Ranch & Ranch Safari - Salvisberg Ranch - Red Deer

A popular event for visitors with farming and ranching interests is the visit of farms that illustrate different aspects of farming and ranching in Alberta.

In the morning: visit of a dairy farm (Swiss) and of a dairy farm with carousel.

Lunch at a bison ranch followed by a ranch safari.

Visit of the Salvisberg Ranch. Dinner (BBQ) at the Salvisberg Ranch and return to "headquarters" in Red Deer.

Day 10

Red Deer - Cattle Auction - Grain Farm - Edmonton

Today is another day filled with popular events for visitors with farming and ranching interests - and ending in the big city.

At a cattle auction we will experience how cattle are sold in Alberta. Then we travel to a nearby grain farm where we will stop for a coffee and refreshment break. We can also visit the grain fields, if so desired.

Around noon we have another singing and yodeling opportunity; this time at a Senior's Lodge. Lunch is provided by the Lodge and gives us the opportunity to chat with the audience.

We continue our journey to Edmonton. Accommodation (3 nights) is at the Hotel Crowne Plaza from where we have an excellent view of the beautiful North Saskatchewan River Valley and of Edmonton and its surroundings.

Close-by spots of interest are the City Hall with its unique architecture, the Shaw Conference Center, the Muttart Conservatory, Canada Center and many more. For a virtual tour of Edmonton, follow this link (high speed connection recommended).

Day 11

Edmonton - Petroleum Production - Devonian Gardens - WEM - Edmonton

Alberta is a major petroleum producer. After breakfast we will learn about the technologies of petroleum exploration and production at the Interpretive Centre in Devon, south of Edmonton.

On our journey back to Edmonton we will stop at the beautiful Devonian Gardens for a leisurely walk. The next visit is at West Edmonton Mall, the world's largest shopping and entertainment center.

Day 12

Edmonton - Elk Island National Park - Ukrainian Culture Village - Edmonton

After breakfast we travel by coach to the nearby Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. The journey takes us through Elk Island National Park, where we can sometimes spot bison.

At the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village we will learn how immigrants lived in Alberta 100 years ago.

No organized program is planned for the afternoon, no that our guest have time to explore Edmonton on their own. And to buy last-minute souvenirs. We will gladly assist with suggestions.

Day 13

Edmonton - Calgary - Return Flight

Transfer by coach to the airport. Boarding of return flight.

Day 14

Arrival in Switzerland