~ Itinerary:
Day 01 Arrive Vancouver
On arrival at Vancouver airport we have included a meet and greet service and private transfer to your downtown hotel.
Day 02 Vancouver
Vancouver is set in spectacular surroundings, with the majestic Coastal Mountains, evergreen forests and the Pacific Ocean as its background. Your 3 nights/2 full days here will be packed as you discover such delights as historic Gastown, colourful Chinatown, and the ultra-modern Financial District. Discover the beauty of 1000-acre Stanley Park and English Bay as well as the bustle of Robson Street in the heart of the shopping district and Granville Island oozing character and atmosphere both night and day.
Day 03 Vancouver Sightseeing
This morning, the tour takes you to Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park, the world’s greatest suspension footbridge set amongst the West Coast Rainforest which offers meandering trails by tranquil trout ponds and towering old growth evergreens. Whilst there be sure to see the colourful Totem Park which displays over 25 authentic totem poles collected since the 1930’s and life-size red cedar statues carved during the Depression. Continue on to Grouse Mountain to experience spectacular mountain top adventures at the peak of Vancouver. During summer enjoy lumberjack shows, the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge for endangered wildlife including grizzly bears and timber wolf, birds in motion demonstrations and so much more. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 04 Victoria
Today you will be picked up from your hotel for a fully escorted tour to Vancouver Island and the capital Victoria. Included is priority ferry boarding, a 90 minute ferry ride through the Gulf Islands, admission to world-renowned Butchart Gardens and Victoria City Tour. Among the highlights are the University of Victoria, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Beacon Hill Park, Uplands and Oak Bay scenic residential areas, Scenic Beach Drive. You will have free time to explore the world famous Empress Hotel, Parliament Buildings, the Provincial Museum, the city centre and the attractions around the city Harbour (admissions not included), all this before you retire to you Victoria hotel for the night.
Day 05 Victoria to Vancouver
Today we highly recommend the 3 hour whale watching boat trip (not included). There are 2 morning departures so we recommend you pre-book with us to avoid disappointment. This coastal excursion is an exhilarating round trip of 50 to 80 kilometres in search of orcas, minke and grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine wildlife. You will ride aboard the Orca Spirit, a 50 foot certified 45 passenger covered vessel or a custom built Zodiac boat that offers high speed with extraordinary stability giving you an exhilarating, safe and intimate whale watching experience. Comments by a certified marine biologist and naturalist are provided. Your tour will finish around lunchtime which gives you plenty of time in Victoria before you return to Vancouver via the scheduled coach and ferry service (included). Complete North America
Day 06 Vancouver to Wells Gray Provincial Park (301 mi)
Early this morning after collecting your rental car and GyPSy guide system depart Vancouver and travel east through the scenic and lush Fraser Valley. Pass the town of Hope and drive north along the dramatic scenery of the Coquihalla Highway via the ranching country of Merritt into historic Kamloops. Then continue along the Southern Yellowhead Highway (Highway 5) to Clearwater. The balance of the day is yours to spend exploring Wells Gray Provincial Park, home to Helmcken, Dawson and Spahats Falls.
Day 07 Wells Gray Provincial Park Exploring
Today is yours to explore the volcano-shaped wilderness of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Explore the park’s mineral springs, serene lakes, dormant volcanoes and rushing falls. Not to be missed are the towering Helmcken Falls near the entrance to the park.
Day 08 Wells Gray Provincial Park to Jasper (199 mi)
Set out for Jasper along the scenic Yellowhead Highway and take in the breathtaking vistas of the steep-walled gorges and crashing falls of the North Thompson River. On your journey today, perhaps you will get a glimpse of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Leaving British Columbia you enter Alberta and Jasper National Park. Jasper was originally a tent city serving the railway, and now a quaint mountain village.
Day 09 Jasper Exploring
By now you will almost certainly have witnessed some of the amazing wildlife in Canada, but keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose and the hundreds of elk that roam freely around Jasper. We give you three nights in Jasper, allowing you two full days to explore. Be sure to visit Medicine Lake, Cavell Road, Pyramid Lake Road and the ‘Old Banff/Jasper Highway’. Another must is a visit to Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake where we recommend you hire a canoe. The gift shops at these two attractions are excellent and also worth a visit. We also recommend a visit to Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls, both of which can be done in the same day from Jasper.
Day 10 Jasper to Banff (180 mi)
Your scenic drive takes you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies. View a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged peaks, over 100 glaciers and pristine emerald coloured lakes. Along the way see such sights as the Columbia Icefield and take an Ice Explorer ride out onto the glacier (included). Also watch for the Sarbach Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake with Bow Glacier as the backdrop, and Crowfoot Glacier before your arrival into Lake Louise. From Lake Louise choose the Bow Valley Parkway, beside the Bow River with an option for you to stop at Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footpath to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff.
Day 11 Banff Exploring
You have two full days to explore Banff and Banff National Park with your rental vehicle. Take a gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (included) for spectacular views, visit the Hot Springs, the Cave and Basin, Banff Park Museum, Banff Indian Trading Post and the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, the Bow River Falls at the Banff Springs Hotel. Why not take one of the very easy 1, 2 or 3 hour horseback rides along the river, this is great fun and you do not need to have any riding experience. Other activities you can easily book up for are bike rides, fishing trips and rafting on the Bow River. There are also some amazing scenic drives in the Banff area, obtain the details from your hotel.
Day 12 Banff Exploring
Today you have one more day to spend exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains on your own.
Day 13 Banff to Moraine Lake (45 mi)
Enjoy the leisurely drive from Banff. Choose the Bow Valley Parkway, where you have an option to stop at Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footway to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Moraine Lake Lodge. Moraine Lake Lodge is situated on the shore of Moraine Lake known for its iridescent turquoise colour.
Day 14 Moraine Lake
Your last day has to be a day to relax and savour that fresh clean mountain air. Enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake, relax by the fireplace in the library, take a walk along the lake shore or maybe take one of the canoes out onto the lake. This is a day to savour the essence of tranquility. In the afternoon you may like to take the 15 minute drive to Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies. Here you can also walk around the lake and hire a canoe, but when the day draws to a close, we guarantee you will be so happy to be returning to Moraine Lake Lodge.
Day 15 Moraine Lake Lodge to Calgary Airport – 121 miles
This drive will take you a little over 2 hours and as we have you returning on a late evening flight from Calgary, so that you have plenty of time to make your way to the airport and return your rental car. We believe that your time should be spent in the heart of the Rockies, so we do not include a stay in the city of Calgary; however, if you are keen to visit we would be delighted to provide a modified version of this itinerary, please just ask.
~ ‘Western Canada ~ The Canadian Rockies’ Includes:
Return flights to/from Vancouver
UK & Canada Airport taxes
10 days Intermediate size car rental based on Avis Canada ‘ Fully Inclusive’ Rate – Unlimited Mileage, LDW, $1 Million (CAD) Third Party Liability Insurance Coverage, 1 Additional Driver, PST/GST, Airport Contract Fees. LDW may exclude a non-waivable amount of damage.
Accommodation including provincial taxes for 14 nights.
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