Skip to main content
A nighttime image of Mount Engadine Lodge with mountains in the background.
Season

Sustainable Travel

Looking to reduce the impact of your travel plans, but still want to experience something new? Alberta is your destination for lower-impact travel, with easy options for busing to the mountains, bike and walking paths throughout our major cities, and off-peak travel seasons in fall and spring where you are less likely to add to traffic and congestion.

See this place through the eyes of the land’s first caretakers by booking an experience with an Indigenous guide or operator, many of which focus on sustainable practices. You will also find plenty of lower-impact experiences at locally owned and operated accommodations and restaurants.

Lower impact travel

The land’s first caretakers

Experiences in nature

Featured stories

A couple takes photos in front of the hoodoos near Drumheller.

6 min read

How to Explore Drumheller and the Hoodoos Without a Car

A new inter-city bus service and local ValleyConnect shuttle let visitors get to Drumheller from Calgary and explore the region without any need for a car.

A closeup of fireweed blossoming with burned out trees in the background.

6 min read

Wildfire Safety: How Alberta Protects People and Communities

Learn how Alberta manages wildfire activity with advanced monitoring, rapid response teams and a strong culture of preparedness. Travellers can explore confidently while staying informed across the province.

A cyclist bikes across the Blackshale Suspension Bridge with evergreen forests all around and mountains in the near distance.

8 min read

7 Scenic Bike Rides that Show off Alberta at its Best

Explore Alberta's spectacular landscapes by bike or e-bike, from iconic Rocky Mountain routes to lesser-known trails. Rides and guided experiences are great for casual cyclists and seasoned adventurers alike.

4 min read

How to Get Around Banff Without a Car

Want to know the best way to see Banff? Without a car. Easy and eco-friendly buses will take you anywhere. Or go human-powered and rent a bike or e-bike.

Four women in traditional Indigenous clothing stand in front of the visitor centre at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.

4 min read

Four Ways Indigenous Tourism Supports Sustainable Travel

There is a symbiotic connection between Indigenous culture and sustainability, making Indigenous tourism is one of the best ways to engage with sustainable travel.

4 min read

The Best Waterfront Campsites in Alberta

Despite being a landlocked province, there’s plenty of places to pitch your tent beside the water in Alberta. Sandy riverside beaches and secluded lake lots dotted with evergreens await.

3 min read

You Need to Visit Alberta's Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites

No matter where you travel in Alberta, you won’t be far from one or more of the province’s famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites – these amazing sites are well worth a visit.

How to get around Banff National Park with no car.
An aerial view of the group snowshoeing their way to the stargazing tent on the gudied walk as the sunsets in the background.
Snowshoe your way into the wilderness for nighttime stargazing.
Couple in a sitting embrace wearing snowshoes and looking out at the mountains covered with snow.

Lower impact travel

Minimal footprint, maximum fun

Minimizing the impact of your travel can be as simple and fun as you want to make it. Alberta’s cities and towns have shops offering rental bicycles, while rentable electric scooters turn short jaunts into competitive zips around town. Public transit routes in Calgary, Edmonton, Banff and Canmore can get you where you need to go efficiently (in Banff and Canmore, they’ll even get you to a trailhead!).

Bringing your own water bottles, insulated cups for hot beverages and other reusable supplies will not only make you feel a little more at home, but also help reduce your impact.

Couple walking hand in hand down the street in downtown Edmonton.

Ditch the car and get to know the city

Pack your walking shoes, because there’s no better way to get intimately familiar with a new place than to walk it. Calgary and Edmonton’s downtown, shopping and eating districts are perfect for exploring on foot, saving you the stress of parking or the learning curve of driving in a new city. Transit systems are in place in both cities to take you further afield if you desire.

Five Ways to Explore Edmonton on Foot

Experience Alberta’s wonders by bus

A couple sitting on a Roam Transit bus look outthe window at the mountain views

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake

Leave the stress of finding parking behind and book a seat on a Parks Canada Shuttle to easily make your way to either of these iconic lakes. Alternatively, you can reserve a seat on Roam Transit right from the Town of Banff.

Parks Canada Shuttle
Hikers on the trail to Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

Get to Johnston Canyon and explore the waterfall, iron catwalks and towering canyon walls the easy way via Roam Public Transit Route 9. Daily service spring through fall make this the most convenient way to get to the canyon.

Roam Public Transit Route 9
Skier at a steep angle skiing in fresh powder at Mount Norquay in Banff National Park

Mt. Norquay

Want to explore the trails around Mt. Norquay resort or get to the ski hill without a car? The free Mt. Norquay shuttle is the way to go, with an easy-to-follow schedule and frequent pickup times to help ensure you can get on and off the mountain when you want to.

Mt. Norquay Shuttle

Endless bike paths to explore

Get pedaling, because Alberta’s cities, towns and parks are filled with thousands of kilometers of bike-friendly pathways, lanes, trails and roads. Pedal a rental bike around town between meals, tour the mountains or explore quiet backroads.

Explore Biking

A single rider with guide mountain biking through trails with Outbound Elements.
See cities and parks from a two-wheeled view.

Off-peak travel

Want to ensure your trip has the least impact possible? Consider booking a spring or fall experience, when there is less traffic, fewer people on the trails, and the mountain towns and attractions are blissfully quiet.

Fall experiences

Reduce disposable waste

Bringing your own reusable supplies will help reduce the impact of your vacation. Water bottles, coffee cups, utensils, soaps and bathroom supplies can all lighten the load on the local environment and landfills.

Keep nature pristine

One of the most important things you can do to protect this incredible place is work to keep the land in the most natural state possible. Take nothing and leave nothing behind when in nature, and practice responsible wildlife viewing.

Wildlife viewing

Get to know Alberta Parks

Protecting and preserving Alberta’s wild spaces

Alberta’s parks were first established in 1932. In the time since, the parks system has become a comprehensive system that strives to conserve landscapes, offer chances for people to learn about nature and provide sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities.

Alberta Parks Regulations

A couple in an embrace looking up at Northern Lights from inside a yurt.

The land’s first caretakers

Discover this place from an Indigenous perspective

Indigenous people, including First Nations and Métis, have traditionally inhabited these lands for generations, where they lived with the land. The Indigenous tourism sector provides incredible opportunities to experience these ways of life while exploring Alberta.

The Lodge at Métis Crossing is both steeped in culture and a shining example of how to move forward sustainably. This 40-room lodge located on historic Métis river lots is even moving towards a fully solar operation in the near future.

Explore Indigenous Experiences

Nurture your relationship with nature

Discover Alberta through an Indigenous lens, learning about the natural and cultural history of the land through educational adventures, medicine walks, wildlife viewing, fishing trips and more.

Indigenous Tourism Alberta

Indigenous-led tours

A view over the shoulders of a man and women listening to a guide showcasing painted rocks.

Talking Rock Tours

Edmonton’s Talking Rock Tours is the world’s first geo-educational adventure company that is 100% Indigenous-owned and operated, conducting small group tours that explore geological wonders through Indigenous eyes.

View details
Zucmin Guiding Snowshow and Hiking

Zuc’min Guiding

Zuc’min Guiding is an Indigenous tourism company out of Calgary, specializing in adventure with an Indigenous focus. Learn about Indigenous plants and ecology on a Cultural Knowledge of Plants hike.

View details
People sitting around fire at Painted Warriors

Painted Warriors Indigenous Outdoor Experience

Discover traditional and modern-day lifestyles of the Cree and Saulteaux people with this Indigenous outdoor adventure company located northwest of Calgary. Single day to multi-day experiences are available.

View details
An Indigenous Knowledge Keeper guides participants on a snowshoe walk through the forest on a sunny day.

Mahikan Trails

Join Brenda Holder for an eye-opening walk through a mountain meadow or forest. She can identify any plant, tree or bush and explain its traditional uses, passing on her knowledge of the land where she lives.

View details
A group snowshoeing on a snowy trail.

Experiences in nature

Lower-impact ways to experience Alberta

Being eco-friendly doesn’t mean limiting your travel, but broadening your horizons as you seek out environmentally conscious accommodations, experiences and dining.

Alberta is flush with businesses that make it easy to book a trip you can feel good about.

Aerial Panorama shot Aurum lodge With Abraham Lake

Escape the crowds in Nordegg

Experience Alberta’s Rocky Mountains from Aurum Lodge, a hidden gem on the shore of Abraham Lake near Nordegg. With excellent dining, it's the perfect basecamp for experiences in nature and recharging at night.

Aurum Lodge
Friends take photos in front of a frozen waterfall while ice walking the catwalks at Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park.

Guided hike

Book a guided hike or ice walk and you'll be in the capable hands of a local expert. Your guide can share stories of ecology, wildlife and local history as well as best practices for keeping our wild places protected.

Hiking
Large group clinking glasses at an outdoor dinner table on a farm.

Farm-to-table dining

Taste Alberta’s farming heritage with farm-to-table operations like Old Red Barn, a historic farm connecting people to their food on a working farm in Leduc.

Restaurants
Explore our natural attractions
Hiker standing on the tip of a rock at the top of their hike overlooking a lake and mountain view.

Did you know?

There are around 1,600 km (994 mi) of trails to hike in Banff National Park, so you can explore stunning landscapes without extended travel.

Explore hiking

Frequently asked questions

While out exploring, keeping the seven Leave No Trace principles in mind are a great way to reduce your impacts.

A great way to lower your impact is being thoughtful about how you move around once you get here. Shuttles from YYC Calgary International Airport to Banff and other destinations provide a simple, stress-free way to get to your destination, and walking or biking are great ways to get to know your destination that much better.

Alberta is an epic hiking destination, which is a low-impact way to see the sights. Biking around your destination city, canoe or kayak touring, or sightseeing via bus are also all great ways to reduce your reliance on a single car while here.

Many of our more famous lakes, mountains and towns will have shuttle or transit options to get you where you need to go.

If you’re visiting Banff or Canmore, you can plan to take Roam public transit around the towns. Many Banff hotels offer free bus day passes to guests.

  • Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: Situated in Banff National Park, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a luxury hotel that actively promotes environmental sustainability. They have implemented several initiatives, such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and water-saving measures. They are also engaged in local community initiatives and support environmental organizations.
  • Canmore Cave Tours: Canmore Cave Tours provides guided cave exploration experiences in the Canadian Rockies. They are dedicated to minimizing their environmental impact and promoting conservation. They use sustainable practices in their operations, including responsible waste management and educating visitors about the importance of protecting caves and their fragile ecosystems.
  • Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary: The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization located near Cochrane, Alberta. They rescue and provide lifelong care for displaced wolfdogs while educating visitors about the importance of preserving wolves and their habitat. The sanctuary promotes sustainable practices and environmental awareness through its educational programs and animal welfare initiatives.
  • Discover Banff Tours: They have created a sustainability plan.
  • Forest Fix: Located in Canmore, they are pretty much all about sustainability and renewal both physically and mentally.
  • Warrior Women: Offer Indigenous performances, workshops, tour shows, guided experiences, training and much more in Jasper, and are fully committed to sustainability.

In general, it’s good practice to camp and hike on durable surfaces. If at a campground, that means placing your tent or trailer on hard ground, not grass or other soft surfaces.

Fire bans regularly come into effect in summer, meaning it’s a good idea to check with the park you are staying in for the latest regulations, and remember not to collect deadfall for your campfires.

That’s an easy one! You’ve already completed the first step, checking out this page! By supporting locally owned and operated sustainability-focused businesses, you will support our local communities and their commitments to the environment and sustainable travel.

Know before you go

Where to Stay
Getting Here
Climate & Weather
Maps & Transportation
Health & Safety
Frequently Asked Questions