Real Canadian Rockies - 13 Days

O Canada! Home of ice hockey and maple syrup, and source of your soon-to-be fondest travel memories. It all starts in Vancouver. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early in Vancouver, why not take a walk around the Victorian buildings in the historic Gastown neighbourhood, or maybe pick up a donut and a 'double-double' (that’s coffee with two cream and two sugars) from Tim Hortons. Tonight, maybe head out with your group for an optional dinner together and explore Vancouver's nightlife. 

Say goodbye to Vancouver this morning and hit the road for Kamloops. You've got a long drive ahead today, but you’ll also get your first glimpses of Canada’s incredible scenery along the way. Stop in at the town of Hope for the chance to stretch your legs and grab some lunch, then carry on to the hills of the Kamloops region for a night of camping. Settle into your peaceful surroundings and enjoy a night of swapping stories beneath the stars.

Rise and shine for your first real taste of Canada’s great outdoors. Visit Mt Revelstoke National Park, home to the world’s only inland temperate rainforests. What does that mean? Evergreen woodland with ancient trees and moss-covered ground, just like the forests in fairy tales. The park is home to a small herd of woodland caribous plus grizzly bears and moose, along with a population of banana slugs. Get your fill of bush and beasties and then travel over Rogers Pass to Glacier National Park. Stop at the visitor centre and take in the panoramic views from lookouts along the way. Continue to Golden where you’ll spend the night.

This morning, head out to the Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch for a tour with the owner of the property. You'll get to learn about the history of the area and buffalo behaviours as you watch the incredible animals roam pastures backdropped by mountains. Then, return to Golden for a free afternoon. If you’d like to break in your boots (and don’t mind heights), there’ll be an optional walk to the Golden Skybridge, which’ll provide some incredible views of the Rockies from 426 feet in the air. Another option (not for the faint of heart) is to battle the wild waters of the aptly-named Kicking Horse River on a guided rafting tour. 

Say goodbye to Golden, then drive through the stunning mountainous landscape of Yoho National Park. There are a couple of ways to explore the terrain. If you’d like to wander, your leader can point you toward the best trails to tackle. You could also choose to battle the wild waters of the aptly named Kicking Horse River on a guided rafting tour. To take things a little easier, perhaps book a canoeing activity on the calm waters of Emerald Lake, or simply lie back on the riverbank and watch the world float by. Later, reconvene with the group and head to Takkakaw Falls for a quick stop before continuing to Banff National Park.

Today's your chance to explore Banff at your own pace! Established in 1885, Banff is the oldest national park in the country and contains over 1600 kilometres (995 miles) of hiking trails. Your leader will have some activities planned for the group, or you might like to explore on your own. Why not join the group for a hike at Tunnel Mountain  for the best views over Banff and head to Vermilion Lakes for an incredible view of the reflection of Mount Rundle, which towers over the town of Banff. There's an option to unwind in the steamy waters of Banff Hot Springs. Return to your campsite in the evening for an included barbecue dinner.

Today you’ll visit two of the national park’s most striking glacier-fed lakes. First is the lovely Lake Louise. With the snowcapped peaks providing an incredible backdrop, the lake is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. Next is Moraine Lake, where the strikingly blue water sits in-between the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The view is sure to knock you off your feet! Spend time exploring both lakes and their surrounding areas, then return to camp.

Ready for even more spectacular scenery? Today’s drive takes us along the famous Icefields Parkway past the Rocky Mountains. We’ll stop at a few lookouts, lakes and waterfalls along the way, so there will be plenty of opportunities to take the perfect photo. Stop at Athabasca Glacier where you can choose to take an optional glacier hike with a professional guide. Continue on to Jasper National Park and set up camp for the evening.

Today is as clear as the air in the Canadian Rockies. You could start the day with an early trip to see the sunrise at Pyramid Lake, taking iconic photos along the walkway to Pyramid Island. Then head to Maligne Lake, where you can hike and explore on arrival. If you like, you can pay for an optional cruise on the lake and check out the famous Spirit Island. If you’d prefer to head out on your own, you may wish to stay behind and walk one of the many trails in the area. Jasper National Park is famous for wildlife such as elk, moose, deer, bears and mountain lions, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot some of these wild animals. Just remember to admire them from afar.

After breakfast, watch Jasper National Park retreat in the rearview mirror as you drive west to Wells Gray Provincial Park. It’ll be a day on the road, but it’ll be broken up with plenty of sightseeing! Travel under the watchful eye of Mt Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Stop off at Mount Robson Provincial Park where you’ll have plenty of time to admire the towering peak and hit the trails to discover the park’s flora and fauna, including more than 182 species of birds as well as mules, whitetail deer, moose, elk and black bears. Then, continue through the beautiful Cariboo Mountains to Wells Gray Provincial Park. In the afternoon, take a short hike to the dramatic Wells Gray waterfalls.

This morning, settle in for a long day on the road as you head toward the outdoorsy hub of Whistler. The drive will be broken up with a visit to the riverside town of Lillooet. First, stop in at a suspension bridge built in 1913, which has been recently updated with bat houses to support the local bat population. Then, pay a visit to a local brewery making highly localised beers. Ingredients from local growers, farmers and foragers all get used in their brewing process, so why not taste the results for yourself? Continue on to Whistler. While there won’t be much time to explore today, you might want to gather a group and hit Whistler Village.

Today is free for you to choose your own adventure in (and around) Whistler. You could join your leader this morning on a visit to the Parkhurst Ghost Town, an abandoned logging outpost that is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding forest. Then, take a short hike to a graffiti-covered train wreck hidden in the trees. If you choose to stay in Whistler, zip-lining tours are an amazing opportunity to get an aerial view of Fitzsimmons Creek and, if you’re lucky, see some bears along the way. There are also some great cycle networks in Whistler, so you have the option of paying for bike hire and riding to one of the nearby lakes.

After a short drive this morning, arrive back in Vancouver and set out on an orientation tour with your leader. Stroll a section of the 400-hectare Stanley Park, one of the largest urban green spaces in North America, then hop over to Granville Island, overflowing with galleries, markets and lively restaurants. Here, bid farewell to your leader and your fellow travellers, as your tour has come to an end.