International Retreats
Banff and Lake Louise
Alberta, Canada
August 7-11, 2024
September 2025 - TBA
Canadian Rockies Hiking and Yoga Adventure:
Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Sunshine Meadows…
Our home base for this unique hiking and yoga adventure will be the Town of Banff, nestled amongst the stunning peaks of the Canadian Rockies. In Banff you’ll find everything you need for a memorable stay,
including breathtaking landscapes, great restaurants, and a myriad of entertainment.
For reservations, call Susie Morwick at 317-544-8391 or
contact at susie@peacethroughyoga.org
Itinerary
Day 1
BANFF
Depart your hometown and fly to Calgary, Alberta (YYC), and then take a one and a half hour shuttle to the beautiful town of Banff. Nestled in the Town of Banff, just steps away from the Bow River, the iconic Banff Park Lodge is a full-service resort hotel. We will experience the best of both worlds: the peace and tranquility of a quiet location, yet walking distance from downtown Banff’s vast array of shops, restaurants, outdoor activities, and cultural events.
Dinner reservations, though not included in the package, will be at Anejo Restaurant ($$). This is a Banff local
hotspot and serves up delicious Mexican dishes. The interior is inviting, and you get a Mexicana cantina vibe the moment you set foot inside.
Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Sunshine Meadows…
DAY 2: Lake Louise, Lake Agnes Tea House and Lake Moraine
After breakfast, we will head out for the beautiful drive to Lake Louise. From the vivid turquoise waters to the soaring peaks encircling the lake, Lake Louise is a stunning mountain setting. We will begin our walk along the shoreline of the lake toward the Lake Agnes Tea House hike. It is a four-mile round-trip trek. You can always walk part of it and then return to enjoy the ambiance of Lake Louise.
The Lake Agnes Tea House hike is one of the most popular of the short Lake Louise hikes in Banff National Park. An easy hike up a mountain
slope on the north side of Lake Louise, hikers will be rewarded with stops at two stunning mountain lakes. Mirror Lake is the first lake you’ll visit on the Lake Agnes hike. Mirror Lake is a small, but beautifully set lake below a massive rounded massif known as the Big Beehive.
The second lake you encounter is Lake Agnes. Surrounded by magnificent jagged mountains, Lake Agnes is one of the most scenic lakes in Banff National Park. A fun tradition is to reward yourself with a treat from the iconic Lake Agnes Tea House. One could say that the Alberta Rocky Mountain tradition of having tea on a mountain top began at Lake Agnes. Since 1905, the Lake Agnes Tea House has been serving, with pride, fine loose-leaf teas to visitors from around the world. Lake Agnes was named for original First Lady of Canada - Lady Agnes MacDonald, the wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister. In 1886, Lady MacDonald visited Lake Agnes and was delighted by the beauty of this idyllic lake and the hanging valley it sits in. The Lake Agnes Tea House was originally built in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, as a refuge for hikers, and started serving tea in 1905. The log building was replaced in 1981 but still features the original windows, tables, and chairs.
Day 2
Lake Moraine: A Glacial Gem
Lake Moraine is a stunning glacial lake in Banff National Park known for its turquoise color and scenic views. Once you’ve captured the obligatory photo at the front of Moraine Lake and made it up to the rockpile, we can escape by venturing onto the Lakeshore Trail. The trail is mostly level and smooth as it wanders through the forest at the edge of the lake. Gaps in the trees reveal new perspectives on the water and surrounding peaks as you go along. At the very end of the trail, a boardwalk leads to the river that feeds the lake. You can dip your hand in the ice-cold meltwater running freshly from the glaciers. It will be an approximately two to three-mile hike.
We will return late afternoon for an evening on your own. Or another fun restaurant will be recommended for a group dinner at Nourish
Bistro. If you’re after some delicious vegetarian food, you can’t do better than Nourish Bistro. Most of the restaurants in town have at least a couple vegetarian options; Nourish Bistro is dedicated to vegetarian food, so you’ll be spoilt for options. It’s amazing vegetarian food that is more the line of a gourmet restaurant with a wide range of creative dishes. $$ (Breakfast and Picnic Lunch)
Day 3
Sunshine Meadows Hike
Named the #1 Day Hike in Canada by Lonely Planet! Sunshine Meadows are known by many as the most stunning alpine setting in the Canadian Rockies. Situated at an average elevation of 2220m (7,300'), the meadows straddle the Continental Divide and the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia. Surrounded by some of the Rockie's highest peaks, the unobstructed views are beyond compare. Wildlife abound in the meadows, and the brilliance of the summer flowers and autumn larches guarantees spectacular scenery on every visit. It is a five to six-mile hike at your own pace, or choose to do only part of the trek. Picnic lunch and gondola ride are included.
Enjoy a gentle yoga class once we return to the Banff Park Lodge after a wonderful day of hiking. Dinner will be on your own based on what you desire tonight. 30 DELICIOUS Banff Restaurants to Try in 2024! (Recommended by Locals) (thebanffblog.com) (Breakfast and Picnic Lunch)
Day 4
Banff e-Bike and Hike Half Day Sundance Canyon Adventure
After breakfast we will take take a short walk into the town of Banff to get geared up for a lovely ride by an e-bike and a hike in Sundance
Canyon. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Banff National Park, accessible only via hiking or biking. This leisurely e-bike ride begins in central Banff along the Bow River pathway system before traveling along a wooded pathway to reach Cave & Basin National Historic Site, birthplace of Canada's National Park system. Follow the Bow River along a gentle paved bike path to reach the Sundance Canyon Trailhead. From here we lead you on a 2-mile moderately challenging hiking route through lush alpine forest, crossing several small wooden bridges and rocky steps while taking in the rushing waters of Sundance Canyon. Take in commanding views of the Bow Valley, Mt. Norquay, Mt. Edith, and Mt. Cory, before continuing the forest hike back to your e-bike for the return ride to Banff.
Return to the hotel to enjoy the afternoon for lunch and last-minute shopping. There will be a show a gentle yoga class later in the
afternoon. Our farewell dinner will be at Jupiter Bistro, an award-winning restaurant with spectacular views. (B/D)
Day 5
Yoga and Return Trip
After another hearty breakfast at Banff Park Lodge, you can enjoy a final slow flow yoga class before traveling home. We hope you enjoyed this beautiful Canadian Rockies adventures. It is hard to surpass this beautiful area anywhere else in the world. Until next time, thanks for traveling with Peace through Yoga Foundation.
Package includes:
- Four (4) night accommodations at Banff Park Lodge
- Four (4) hearty Buffet Breakfasts
- Two (2) picnic lunches
- Farewell Dinner
- Full-day Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Hike
- Full-day Sunshine Meadows Hike
- Half-day Banff e-Bike and Hike
- Three (3) yoga classes
- Gondola Ride
Package does not include:
- Airfare from your home town
- Round-trip airport
transfers - www.busbud.com
- 3 Dinners and 1 lunch
- T
- Tipping to local guides
Price per Person: $1999 based on double occupancy
Trip is limited to 12 people!
($850 single supplement)
$500 Deposit; Balance due 90 days prior to departure.
Checks made payable to PTYF. 3.5% added for credit card fees.
Cancellation Policy: $500 after booking; 100% after final payment received. Trip Protection recommended.
For reservations, call Susie Morwick at 317-544-8391 or
contact at susie@peacethroughyoga.org
Sally Bassett
Sally Bassett, Ph.D., E-RYT, Founder/President of Peace through Yoga Foundation. Sally’s passion toward life, creative nature, and spiritual approach have been keys to her success. She has led groups to over 130 countries as a result of her 40+ year career in the travel where she went from flight attendant to CEO.
Peace through Yoga Foundation developed and supports two Girls for Success programs, one in the rainforest of Costa Rica and one in the rural area on the island of Dominica. PTYF also supports a preschool in Dominica and a women's shelter in Morocco.. Sally teaches at Blooming Life Yoga in the village of Zionsville, IN and leads adventure trips around the world.
Her favorite quote is by Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
This trip is in partnership with Peace through Yoga Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, and Blooming Life Yoga.
To register for this trip, please call or email our Reservations Manager, Susie Morwick,
at (317) 544-8391
