ALBERTA E SASKATCHEWAN - dalle Roccio e alle grandi pianure con Waterton Lakes NP

Calgary is a dynamic city in Alberta, built at the foot of the Canadian Rockies, famous for its western spirit and the legendary Calgary Stampede, one of the world's largest rodeos and cowboy-culture festivals. Grown as a centre of the oil industry, it boasts a modern skyline of skyscrapers and a lively city life, with districts such as Inglewood and Stephen Avenue, rich in restaurants, bars and shops. The Calgary Tower offers a panoramic view over the prairie and the mountains on the horizon. The city is above all the ideal gateway to the Rockies, less than an hour's drive from Banff and the national parks. Its green spaces along the Bow River invite walks and outdoor activities. Welcoming and growing, Calgary combines urban energy, cowboy tradition and grandiose nature, a perfect base for exploring western Canada.

Waterton Lakes National Park is a natural jewel of southern Alberta, where the prairies abruptly meet the imposing peaks of the Rocky Mountains, creating a unique and spectacular landscape. Together with the adjoining American Glacier park, it forms the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biosphere reserve. The park is characterised by deep lakes set among the mountains, in particular the Upper Waterton Lake, which can be crossed by boat, dominated by the historic Prince of Wales Hotel perched on a promontory. Scenic trails, waterfalls, wildflower blooms and rich wildlife, from bears to elk, delight hikers. More intimate and quieter than other Rockies parks, Waterton offers grandiose landscapes in an intimate setting. Between prairies, lakes and mountains, it is a nature destination of rare beauty.

Medicine Hat rises on the prairie of south-eastern Alberta, along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, a city with an evocative name tied to First Nations legends. Known for its sunny skies among the brightest in Canada and for its natural-gas fields, it keeps a charming historic downtown and riverside parks. The area, among coulees and badlands, offers surprising prairie landscapes. Medicine Hat is a sunny city in the heart of the Great Plains.

Moose Jaw rises on the Saskatchewan prairie, a town with a curious name famed for its historic atmosphere and the mysterious tunnels dug beneath its streets. The Tunnels of Moose Jaw tell tales of bootlegging and immigration through theatrical tours, while the murals adorning its buildings and the hot springs complete the picture. The town keeps the retro charm of the Canadian prairies. Moose Jaw is an original, surprising stop in the heart of Saskatchewan.

Regina, capital of Saskatchewan, rises in the heart of the Canadian prairies, a garden city sprung from nothing amid the boundless plain and today a lively administrative and cultural centre. Its jewel is Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America, set around an artificial lake and home to the imposing provincial Legislative Building. The city is the historic home and training centre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the famous red-coated Mounties, whose story is told in a dedicated heritage centre. The immense skies and spectacular sunsets are the unmistakable mark of the prairie. Between parks, Mountie history and infinite horizons, Regina offers the authentic charm of the heart of Canada.

Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan, stretched along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, which crosses it and creates a picturesque riverbank of parks and bridges that earn it the nickname city of bridges. A lively university and cultural centre set in the heart of the prairies, it boasts a charming riverfront, the Meewasin Valley walk, and a thriving heritage tied to the First Nations and settlers, told at the historic site of Wanuskewin, an ancient Indigenous gathering place nominated for World Heritage status. The immense skies and spectacular sunsets are the unmistakable signature of the plains. Between river, bridges and culture, Saskatoon combines urban energy and the authentic charm of the heart of the Canadian prairies.

Drumheller is an Alberta town set in the heart of the spectacular Badlands, a lunar landscape of canyons, gullies and rock formations eroded by time along the Red Deer River valley. Nicknamed the dinosaur capital of the world, it stands in a land extremely rich in fossils and hosts the famous Royal Tyrrell Museum, one of the world's most important palaeontology museums, a treasure trove of extraordinary dinosaur skeletons. The town is dotted with dinosaur statues, including a giant climbable Tyrannosaurus. The trails among the hoodoos, the characteristic rocky pinnacles, offer walks through surreal scenery. Between fossils, canyons and prehistoric landscapes, Drumheller offers a fascinating journey into the age of dinosaurs.

Edmonton, capital of Alberta, is a lively city in northern Canada crossed by the North Saskatchewan River, whose green banks form one of North America's largest urban park systems. Dynamic and cultural, it is famous for the West Edmonton Mall, one of the world's largest shopping centres, with water parks and attractions inside. The city boasts a rich festival scene, from the Fringe theatre festival to numerous music events, earning it the nickname "festival city". The historic Old Strathcona district, with its period buildings, cafés and bars, is the city's creative heart. Edmonton is also the gateway to northern Alberta and Elk Island National Park. Welcoming and full of life, the city combines culture, green spaces and enterprising spirit, a northern base for exploring the Canadian prairies.

The journey from Edmonton to Jasper offers an extraordinary experience through the natural beauty of northern Alberta. You travel along the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), crossing the broad plains and prairies that characterise this region, and you begin to see the majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies emerge on the horizon, until you reach Jasper, nestled in the heart of the National Park. Jasper is a mountain town set in its namesake national park, the largest in the Canadian Rockies and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wilder and quieter than nearby Banff, it is surrounded by grandiose nature of imposing peaks, glaciers, emerald lakes and endless forests, where wildlife is easily encountered along the roads. From Jasper, excursions set off to natural wonders such as Maligne Lake, with the famous Spirit Island, the Maligne Canyon and the Miette hot springs. The legendary Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most beautiful scenic roads, links Jasper to Banff along the Columbia Icefield. Recognised as a dark-sky preserve, the park offers extraordinary night skies. Between glaciers, lakes and silence, Jasper is a paradise for lovers of pristine nature.

The journey from Jasper to Lake Louise/Banff is one of the highlights and most spectacular parts of the trip; you travel along Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic roads in North America, amidst majestic mountains, vast forests, and enormous glaciers, in a wild region. Banff is Canada's most famous mountain resort, set in the heart of its namesake national park, the country's oldest and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains, the picturesque town is the ideal starting point for exploring landscapes of extraordinary beauty, among turquoise lakes, glaciers and forests. Nearby are natural jewels such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, with crystalline waters framed by mountains. The Banff Upper Hot Springs invite relaxation, while Banff Avenue offers shops, restaurants and the iconic view of Mount Cascade. Wildlife, from elk to bears, populates the region. In every season, between skiing, hiking and canoeing, Banff offers an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Rockies, one of the world's most spectacular nature destinations.

Cross the land of the cowboys, passing through the Rocky Mountains and leaving Banff National Park, towards the plains surrounding the vibrant city of Calgary.