Vancouver Island & Northern Rockies

Day 1 - Vancouver

Arrive at Vancouver International Airport. Individual transfer to your centrallylocated hotel. After a check-in with your tour director, the remainder of the day is free.

Overnight in Vancouver. Hotel: Sheraton Wall Centre or similar

Day 2 - Vancouver

We get better acquainted with our travelling companions at breakfast before setting out on our morning sightseeing tour of Vancouver. Highlights include Stanley Park, English Bay, Gastown, Chinatown, Capilano Suspension Bridge and much more. The afternoon is free for independent exploration or relaxation.

Overnight in Vancouver. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Sheraton Wall Centre or similar

Day 3 - Vancouver to Victoria

Today we depart Vancouver and cross the Strait of Georgia by ferry to Victoria and begin the day with a visit to Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s great floral displays. Ample time is allocated for browsing through these regal gardens. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the city.

Overnight in Victoria. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza or similar

Day 4 - Victoria

The day is at leisure to further explore the delights of this seaside city or perhaps take part in an optional floatplane sightseeing tour over downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Enjoy nature in the city with a long walk through the trails and over the stone bridges of Beacon Hill Park. Explore the waterfront or perhaps arrange for high tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Overnight in Victoria. Breakfast Included.

Hotel: Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza or similar

Day 5 - Victoria to Campbell River

Today is a sampling of modern and ancient British Columbia culture as we travel up the coast of Vancouver Island. We step back into the province’s distant past with visits to Chemanius and its spectacular native murals and to the town of Duncan. We arrive in the small coastal town of Campbell River in the afternoon.

Overnight in Campbell River. Breakfast included

Hotel: Coast Discovery Inn or similar

Day 6 - Campbell River to Port Hardy

Today we continue farther north up the road as it turns inland for a time before arriving in Port Hardy. We will aslo embark on a fascinating whale watching and marine wildlife tour in Telegraph Cove. Afterward, relax at the hotel or independently explore this pleasant seaside town.

Overnight in Port Hardy. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Kwa'Lilas Hotel or similar

Day 7 - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert

Cameras at the ready! This morning we board a spectacular BC Ferries ship to set sail on an incredible full-day cruise along the coast of British Columbia to the inlet community of Prince Rupert. The famous Inside Passage is one of the most spectacular waterways in Canada, showcasing the rugged shorelines of the Pacific Northwest. Breakfast at leisure on BC Ferries (not included).

Overnight in Prince Rupert.

Hotel: Pacific Inn or similar

Day 8 - Prince Rupert to Smithers

Today we begin our journey into the British Columbia interior eastward along the scenic Yellowhead Highway as it follows the Skeena River Valley. Along the way, we’ll stop for a tour of ‘Ksan Indian Village – a recreation of an ancient traditional community of the Gitxsan First Nation peoples. Arriving at our destination, the remainder of the day is at our leisure.

Overnight in Smithers. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge or similar

Day 9 - Smithers to Prince George

Continuing east, we travel the Yellowhead Highway and are treated to some of Canada’s most forested and rugged terrains. We enjoy a visit to Fort St. James National Historic Park to relive the days of the fur trade. In the afternoon, we settle into Prince George, located at the tip of British Columbia’s Cariboo Region.

Overnight in Prince George. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Sandman Inn & Suites or similar

Day 10 - Prince George to Jasper

Today we ascend to the highest passes of the Rockies as we travel towards the Alberta provincial border and stop at the Mount Robson Viewpoint. We may even see the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies before entering the national parks that have made the province famous. In Jasper, be dazzled by the stars at the Jasper Planetarium.

Overnight in Jasper. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Marmot Lodge or similar

Day 11 - Jasper

Today is a day of adventure! Close to Jasper, you have the chance to go on optional raft trip on the Athabasca River with an experienced guide conducting the group through short rapids and stretches of calm waters. For a quieter experience, enjoy the local restaurants on an optional food tour.

Overnight in Jasper. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Marmot Lodge or similar

Day 12 - Jasper to Banff

Today’s journey through Jasper and Banff National Parks promises to be a highlight of your programme. We travel south on the famed Icefields Parkway through a rugged wilderness flanked by dramatic mountain ranges. At the Columbia Icefield we board a specially constructed Ice Explorer to ride on the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Afterwards, we visit the dramatic scenery of Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in Canada before arriving Banff.

Overnight in Banff. Canadian breakfast included.

Hotel: Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa or similar

Day 13 - Banff

Today we will enjoy a tour of the region around Banff. The area became Canada’s first national park in 1885 to protect its natural hot springs. An optional Helicopter Sightseeing Tour will give you the chance to see the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. You may also take part in an optional gondola ride up spectacular Sulphur Mountain. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the surroundings of Banff, stroll along Banff Avenue, or relax and enjoy the scenery.

Overnight in Banff. Breakfast included.

Hotel: Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa or similar

Day 14 - Banff to Calgary (end of tour)

A time for last-minute shopping and sad farewells. Transfer to Calgary downtown (Fairmont Palliser) or International Airport in time to check in for your return flight.

Canadian breakfast included.