Begin your day with a guided tour and discover what makes Vancouver one of the most liveable cities in the world. Visit forested Stanley Park and its series of totem poles, illustrating the stylistic differences between the First Nations from around the coastal region, such as the Haida, Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth.
Walk along the waterfront of English Bay and gaze towards beautiful Kitsilano or ‘Kits’ Beach and watch the ships roll in at the busy Canada Place port. Wander through historic Chinatown and wait for the magically photogenic Gastown Steam Clock to sound its whistle.
Later, join a Gastown Foodie Tour and get to know the local scene. You’ll taste innovative cuisine across the storied pubs, restaurants and cafes of the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Pair poutine – a Canadian comfort classic made of fries, rich gravy and melted cheese curds – with a frothy craft brew and sample Sicilian Tortellini with local wine. End the night feeling warmed by a wealth of good food and friendship.
Wave goodbye to vibrant Vancouver as you board your coach for the scenic drive to Whistler. Travelling along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway, you’ll pass by the misty veil of Shannon Falls and the lumber town of Squamish, welcomed by British Columbia’s rocky terrain and lush greenery.
Later, arrive at the popular ski resort of Whistler Village, situated between the towering peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Centred around a quaint pedestrian village straight out of a storybook, Whistler is among Canada’s most popular ski towns thanks to its excellent conditions and stunning scenery.
Check-in to your hotel before spending the rest of your day freely.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes (120km)
Today is yours for the taking as you spend a full day exploring the many delights of wonderful Whistler. Choose to join an optional ride on the famous Peak 2 Peak Gondola and watch the world fall away beneath you as you traverse the distance from Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge and Blackcomb’s Rendezvous Lodge. Or perhaps you’ll choose to take an even higher vantage point with an exclusive 24-minute helicopter flight over the mountains to Rainbow Mountain, where you can step out onto a 12,000-year-old glacier.
Set out for another picturesque drive as you make your way to stunning Sun Peaks. Along the way, pass through Lillooet on the wide shores of the Fraser River – once a key supply centre for the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860s – and the cowboy country of Kamloops and Cache Creek. Arrive later today at the idyllic valley of Sun Peaks, surrounded by one of Canada’s biggest ski areas.
The rest of the day is spent at leisure, whether you choose to take the chairlift to the top of Sundance or Mount Tod, or simply soak up the atmosphere in this delightful northern town. For those eager to explore on foot, choose an optional twilight hiking lift ticket, for access to the region’s enchanting trails.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours (380km)
Gather your energy over breakfast, then set off for Clearwater and the theatrical landscapes of Wells Gray Provincial Park, where sprawling old-growth forests and thundering waterfalls lead to powerful whitewater rivers. Continue to Mount Robson Provincial Park for the perfect photo stop before the blade-like ridge of the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies.
Later, follow the Yellowhead Highway to the alpine wonderland of Jasper, Alberta, where you’ll check in for a restful evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours (450km)
Greet mesmerising Jasper National Park this morning, with the promise of a full day spent seeking the area’s abundant wildlife. Follow your guide through flower-blanketed meadows, around mirror lakes and under sweeping mountain peaks as you search for graceful deer and elk, gargantuan moose, cliff-climbing mountain goats or resident black bears. Along the way, familiarise yourself with this diverse landscape of rugged mountain charms, then take an afternoon visit to the tumbling falls and hidden wonders of Maligne Canyon. Continue to majestic Maligne Lake for a narrated cruise across the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies, making sure to take the perfect photo as you glide along its shimmering waters.
Rise and shine for another day of unparalleled beauty. Leaving the meadows of Jasper behind, you’ll travel the magnificent Icefields Parkway for a scenic drive through the vast and rugged landscape leading to romantic Lake Louise.
Nestled between soaring peaks and the magnificent Victoria Glacier, the turquoise waters of this glacier-fed lake offer a painterly image of the quintessential Canadian landscape. Here, you’ll have a half-hour photo stop with commentary from your knowledgeable guide to give more context to the region’s unfathomable grandeur.
Later, continue onward to Banff, a popular mountain resort town. Established in 1885, the national park of the same name is Canada’s oldest, and home to some of the country’s most spectacular natural features, including towering Cascade Mountain and the idyllic Vermilion Lakes. Here, you’ll check in at your hotel and settle in for a cosy evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3.5 hours (290km)
This morning, set off on a half-day tour of Banff and its fantastical surrounds. Pass by the castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs, witness the tumbling rapids of Bow Falls, look out over the Bow River from Surprise Corner Viewpoint and gaze in awe at the stretching shores of Lake Minnewanka. Continue to Sulphur Mountain for an included trip up the memorable Banff Gondola, ascending to the 2,451-metre summit for unmatched 360-degree views over the valleys below.
Return to Banff ahead of a special evening of wildlife adventure, following your eagle-eyed guide as you bus about to the most exciting animal hotspots in the park. Watch closely for elegant elk, stately bighorn sheep or even the elusive grizzly bear, listening to your guide as they explain the conservation work that keeps these incredible creatures thriving.
Today is your chance to track the historic route charted by intrepid 19th-century railroad engineers and fur trappers, as you take to the majestic TransCanada Highway. Weave through vast canyons over the dramatic Kicking Horse Pass and into the Columbia River Valley, then climb through Rogers Pass in the jaw-dropping Glacier National Park.
Pass the resolute Monashee Mountain Range to arrive in Kamloops later today, ready to check in at your Kamloops accommodation and spend your evening freely admiring this riverside hub, known for outdoor adventure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours (500km)
Take your comfortable coach once more for another day of postcard-worthy scenery. Depart the ranch land of British Columbia’s interior and follow the Thompson and Fraser Rivers on your enchanting journey to Vancouver.
From the desert-like environs of the Interior, to the winding river canyons and pristine forests, and on to the Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, today’s scenery is a dramatic display of Canada’s great diversity. Watch for the steep slopes along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon.
Once you reach the coast, check-in to your Vancouver accommodation and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours (360km)
Your trip to British Columbia wouldn’t be complete without the chance to experience the magnificent Gulf Islands. Set out with your guide for a full-day excursion to Vancouver Island, taking the morning ferry through the scenic waters to the city of Victoria.
Here, you’ll spend time discovering the city’s many delights, from the century-old Fairmont Empress Hotel to idyllic Beacon Hill Park and the striking totem poles of Thunderbird Park, as well as fashionable Oak Bay and the humbling landscape of Butchart Gardens’ manicured lawns.
In the evening, return to Vancouver for your final night of exploration.
Travel time: Ferry– approx. three hours (250km)
Savour one final breakfast and bid farewell to your fellow BC adventurers as your tour comes to a close.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 12pm. Please book your flights to depart from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at any time today. Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour, however transfers between 8pm and 4am will incur an additional fee. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.