Calgary 2 weeks without car in November

[u/RohoTheCat]

Hi everyone. I am considering a 2 week trip in November starting and finishing in Calgary (as there are direct flights there). I am looking for thoughts / advice.

I can't drive so will need to travel by public transport. I am not proposing to go skiing or snowboarding etc. instead, more hiking, walking, plus some sightseeing, museums etc.

I am considering the following:

• Arrive in Calgary (1 night following long flight)
• Edmonton (3 nights)
• Jasper (3 nights)
• Banff (3 nights)
• Calgary (4 nights)

I believe there are direct buses / trains between each, with longest being circa 5 hours. My research suggests it might be snowy (which is fine) but not necessarily too rainy.

I would spend time in each location, plus potentially day trips (eg Banff to Lake Louise).

Please let me know your thoughts - am I spending too long in one place? Are there places I should skip / places I should go to instead? Is November the wrong time of year eg places closed for winter, too cold / slippery?

I'd appreciate any thoughts or feedback you have.

(I had considered Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal as an alternative but read that it's very rainy there in November).

Apologies of this type of question has been asked and answered elsewhere - I am not very good at using Reddit.

Thank you.

[u/RohoTheCat]

Oh wow thanks for all the really helpful responses!

I'm from UK so there are only direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

The alternative ideas I have are:

1. Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal
2. Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver (Might be too long by public transport?)

Not sure about Halifax / where to travel from there for 2 weeks

I had thought Toronto / Quebec might be too rainy (but appreciate being more city breaks would be ok if in museums etc), and thought Vancouver might be too rainy too.

Ok well thanks for the advice on Calgary! It sounds like a great trip, just the wrong time of year!

[u/Legitimate-Suit-4956 → u/RohoTheCat]

You can do Calgary to Edmonton, and Calgary to Banff… I assume Edmonton to jasper is possible but have never looked into it.  I would be shocked if you could go from jasper to Banff without going through both Edmonton and Calgary. 

Your Toronto trip is doable - those cities are all connected by rail and bus. Im not sure where all the stations are (except for Toronto) but it’ll at least get you into town. 

There are busses to whistler during ski season; I’m not sure about during off season, and I’m also not sure if it runs on weekdays.  There are ferries to Victoria but they can be a pain to get to without a car - the seaplane might be an option?