Drumheller private tour from Calgary: Royal Tyrrell Museum

Hoodoos last only a few hundred years before wind and frost wear them down to nothing.

A private sightseeing tour from Calgary to Drumheller and Badlands Provincial Park, with hotel pickup and a licensed guide, covering the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, and the hoodoo formations. The tour runs 8 to 10 hours at your own pace, with transport and all taxes included. Museum and site entry tickets are booked separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site30m
2. Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology2h

Explore Drumheller and Surroundings

• Visit Horseshoe Canyon
• Arrive in Drumheller
• See the Hoodoos rock formations
• Tour Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
• Visit the World's Largest Dinosaur
• Stop at the tiny historic church
• Enjoy natural scenic views
• Explore Royal Tyrrell Museum

The experience

The drive from Calgary takes you into Drumheller's canyon country, where two coulees carved by Kneehill Creek define the landscape. Your guide handles the route and timing, so you move through the day without arranging transport or navigation. The Royal Tyrrell Museum, ranked among the world's top paleontology institutions, sits at the heart of the itinerary. It welcomed over 450,000 visitors in 2018 alone. The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, operational from 1936 to 1979, stands as Canada's most complete historic coal mine and holds the country's last wooden coal tipple, the largest still standing in North America.

Hoodoos define the visual signature of the Badlands: tall sandstone spires topped with harder rock that acts like a hat, protecting the softer stone underneath from erosion. Freezing, thaw and wind shape them over centuries, but once they reach their distinctive fairytale form, they erode fast: losing 2 to 4 feet every hundred years. The tour also passes the World's Largest Dinosaur roadside attraction and a tiny historic church built in 1968 that still serves as a place of worship. Your driver is a licensed, insured guide who navigates the day. This is sightseeing, not a lecture, so the focus stays on what you see rather than deep historical detail.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you select that option, and all transport, taxes and fuel surcharges are covered. The tour duration is approximate and depends on traffic, so confirm timing when you book. Museum entry, coal mine admission and the dinosaur viewpoint are separate tickets you arrange at each stop.

What’s included

• Transport by licensed and insured commercial vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off when selected.
• private sightseeing tour at your own pace.
• all taxes, fees and fuel surcharges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by ABestX | Canada

Is this one for you?The tour moves at your own pace, so you control how long to spend at each stop (the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the hoodoos and the coal mine) without a fixed schedule rushing you through. If you'd rather not drive the canyon roads yourself or coordinate the stops, the private vehicle and guide handle both.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

27 verified traveler reviews

5 ★23

4 ★2

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is a hoodoo and why do they look that way?

Hoodoos are tall, thin rock spires made of soft sandstone with a harder, denser rock cap on top that protects the softer layer underneath. Freezing, thaw and wind erode the sandstone over hundreds of years into chimney-like formations, but once they reach that distinctive shape, they don't last long. They lose 2 to 4 feet every hundred years.

Is the Royal Tyrrell Museum included in the tour price?

The Royal Tyrrell Museum entry ticket is not included. You book and pay for admission separately when you arrive. The tour provides transport to the museum and time to visit, but the ticket is your own expense.

What is the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site?

The Atlas Coal Mine is an inactive coal mine that operated from 1936 to 1979 and is considered Canada's most complete historic coal mine. It's home to the country's last standing wooden coal tipple, the largest still standing in North America, and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. You'll want to bring refreshments or plan to purchase them along the route.

How long is the drive from Calgary to Drumheller?

The full tour runs 8 to 10 hours, which includes the drive from Calgary, time at each stop and the return journey. Exact duration depends on traffic conditions and how long you spend at each attraction.