Example of a tour (14 days) through Southern Alberta and Central Alberta.

Tours are customized to suit your preferences.

This tour was developed for the alumni of a Swiss Agricultural College.

Day 1

Switzerland - Calgary - Canmore

The guest arrive at the Calgary International after a flight from Zurich (via Frankfurt). They 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 a comfortable lodge (2 nights) in the Banff-Canmore area.

Day 2

Canmore - Mount Engadine Lodge - Kananaskis Valley - 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 the Mount Engadine Lodge and after some more sightseeing from the comfort of our coach we return to "headquarters".

Day 3

Canmore - Banff - Nationalpark - Rodeo - Red Deer

We start the day with a visit of Banff in Banff National Park. After stowing all our newly acquired souvenirs in the coach, we head North through the Banff National Park.

In Rocky Mountain House it's rodeo time - time for cowboy action.

After the rodeo we head for Red Deer, where we stay for the night (3 nights).

Day 4

Dairy Farms - Bison Ranch & Ranch Safari - Salvisberg Ranch

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.

Reunion time: We visit the farm of an alumni of our Agricultural College, who emigrated to Canada.

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

Day 5

Cattle auction - Jersey farm - Wheat farm

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.

Lunch is at a Jersey farm and following lunch we will visit a wheat farm. 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.

Day 6

Petroleum Production - Devonian Gardens - West Edmonton Mall

Today, we head for Edmonton, the capital of Alberta.

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

On our journey 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.

In Edmonton our accommodation is at the Hotel Crowne Plaza (2 nights) 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 internet connection recommended).

Day 7

Alberta Legislature - Fort Edmonton

First we visit the Alberta Legislature. Later we will experience the Edmonton of 100 years ago in the Fort Edmonton Park.

Day 8

Edmonton - Power plant - Coal mine - Brooks

Today we head South. The road to Brooks 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.

We stay overnight in Brooks (2 nights).

Day 9

Brooks - Irrigation - Western Saloon - Brooks

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

Located in the midst of the never-ending prairie are the Dinosaur Provincial Park and the badlands. 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 10

Brooks - Agriculture - Buffalo Jump - Pincher Creek

The trips takes us past irrigated potato fields and sugar beet fields. There are also immense wheat fields.

On the way we pass through the area that is home to the largest feedlot operations in Canada.

At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump we will learn how Aboriginal people hunted the buffalo.

Our accommodation is in Pincher Creek (2 nights), in Southern Alberta.

Day 11

Pincher Creek - Waterton National Park - Pincher Creek

Unforgettable boat ride on beautiful Waterton Lake in Waterton National Park near the US border.

We stay again in Pincher Creek for the night.

Day 12

Pincher Creek - Spruce Meadows - Calgary

Our trip North takes us along the Rocky Mountain Foothills. This is a wild romantic stretch of road - the scene of many Western movies.

We continue towards Calgary, where we will visit the world renowned Equestrian Centre at Spruce Meadows.

We stay overnight in Calgary.

Day 13

Calgary - Calgary Tower - Return flight

A sightseeing tour in the City of Calgary allows us to conveniently see many of the landmarks.

We conclude our trip from the Calgary Tower from where we can bid farewell to the Rocky Mountains and the prairie.

Departure in the late afternoon from the Calgary International Airport.

Day 14

Arrival in Switzerland (am)