Golden hour, happy hour
“…and then I wake at the break of day to see the sky turn scarlet bright, and then the sun peeks o're the hill to bring to me the rich daylight.
I find my horse, and then I ride through the hills where I can hide and feel the blessing of my price as I watch the eagles glide.
And I know the answer's here amongst the wilderness so free; a million different sights and sounds. I know this world was made for me.”
Faye Mickle, from the poem "The Wilderness Road" with the permission Don Mickle a long time Banff National Park, Park Warden.
Golden and Blue hour is a magical time of day for capturing Canadian Rockies and their Eastern Slopes under the golden glow of the rising or setting sun...and it is short-lived. The flattering effects of its warm, soft light, however, make it infinitely popular. We designed itineraries for this tour around golden and blue hour because of the light in its natural beauty.
Sunrise and sunset happen at a precise time each day, but not at the same time each day. The hours change throughout the year, and the golden hour doesn’t refer to the exact time at which the sun goes above or below the horizon.
Our golden rule is to pick you up early or late afternoon because when it comes to golden and blue hour photography, in particular, the brief window of opportunity makes it absolutely necessary to prepare ahead of time. It’s also important for you to keep in mind that you will have all these beautiful spots to oneself before the crowds arrive or leave later in the day.
[ booking details ]2026 Trip Departure Dates
May | June | July | August | September | October
Tour Locations and Pick-up/Drop-off Points
Calgary: Kananaskis Highwood Pass via Longview Canmore and Banff: Kananaskis Highwood Pass via Upper Kananaskis Lakes Lake Louise: Upper North Saskatchewan River Valley, via Bow Pass
Tour Dates: Contact us and provide the specific dates of your planning trip.
Trip Duration
1 day | 6-8 hours
Tour Operator: Elite Brands Culture Discovery Tours | Certified to Operate in Canadian Rockies National Parks
Pricing
$750 CAD | Limited to 1 couple
Included
Transportation: Calgary, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise area: Free Pickup/Dropoff from Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Vrbo
Booking: Minium 2 | Maximum 4 Participants
Couples +21 Welcome
1 Day Tour: Wander where your heart leads
Many visitors to Banff National Park do not see other parts of the region, primarily due to the area's high popularity and the fact many tourists focus on the well-known attractions within the park itself.
The high volume of visitors to popular sites like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake lead to overcrowding, prompting many people to stick to these main draws or the townsite, even though other Provincial parks are located in the Canadian Rockies and the nearby Banff.
While many people will not consider visiting other beautiful and less-crowded parks in the region, Kananaskis or Upper North Saskatchewan River Valley, are excellent alternatives.
This tour serves as an additional and less-crowded of the beaten path alternative.
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Parts of the land that is now Kananaskis Country or Ktunaxa Valley were once within the boundaries of what is now Banff National Park before the development of the coal industry on the Rockies Eastern Slopes.
Both regions can be an alternative to Banff area, offering a less crowded with similarly breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery. While Banff is a national park with extensive facilities and a large tourist presence, Kananaskis is a provincial park and Ktunaxa Valley is the ecological reserve with a more natural, less developed feel, featuring hiking, lakes, and scenic drives but fewer major towns and amenities.
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Calgary - Longview - Kananaskis Highwood Pass - Calgary via Longview
Banff - Canmore - Kananaskis Upper Lakes - Highwood Pass -Banff via Canmore
Lake Louise - Bow Pass - Northern Saskatchewan River Crossings - Kootenay Plains - Abraham Lake -Lake Louise via Bow Pass
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As per booking arrangement
Jerzy Maslanka
Alberta, Canada
Responsible Tourism is the mindset that guides me to offer these tours and workshops, and I believe in promoting sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact for the benefits of tourism with the imperative to protect the park's natural resources and character. I prioritize conservation over commercial interests.
All tours are designed in ways which reflect the natural, cultural and the geological character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and people who live there. I am hoping that while I can offer these exclusive private tours, true passions and purpose will be presented to those who decided to support mine and these hospitality providers that are collaborating with 55plusTravel and Elite Brands Culture Discovery Tours.
As a small tour operator, I face genuine challenges due to Parks Canada's restrictions (access to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise), which favor larger-capacity commercial vehicles. This situation can disadvantage smaller businesses and affect the visitor experience, even if the regulations are intended to manage overcrowding and protect the environment.
Travelers often feel gratitude and satisfaction after a Canadian Rockies tour with a knowledgeable and thoughtful guide and for many, booking a tour creates a mix of excitement, anticipation, and occasional anxiety. Reading the reviews below, it may help you when thinking of booking, going for a tour and support me.
Jerzy Founder 55plusTravel
