Western Canada Adventure

Arrive in Vancouver and check-in at hotel. Quintessentially Canadian, Vancouver is a modern, cosmopolitan city set amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery on the west coast. Sandwiched between the waters of the Georgia Strait and towering snow capped peaks it is quite rightly considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is filled with a dazzling array of highlights, from its abundant museums and galleries and the bustling vibrancy of its impressive waterfront, to the engaging ‘Gastown’ area, one of Vancouver’s oldest districts, which grew up around a saloon opened by an English sailor named “Gassy” Jack in 1867. The somewhat unfortunate epithet derives from his endless chatter, rather than a persistent wind problem, and the area today is a charming mix of cobblestone streets, 19th century architecture and chic cafes and galleries. The city is also home to the expansive magnificence of Stanley Park, which has been described as one of the best urban parks anywhere on the planet. Comprising some 400 hectares of forest, marshland and beaches, it is a spectacular testament to urban planning, its wild inner regions remaining the domain of raccoons, coyotes, eagles and owls whilst the outer edge is criss-crossed with a network of walking and cycling paths.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we will take a brief tour of the city, discovering some of its treasures for ourselves, before we take an afternoon ferry to nearby Victoria, the capital of British Columbia and another worthy contender for the title of one of the most appealing cities on the planet. On arrival there will be some free time to explore at your leisure. Based on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the Hudson Bay Company originally established Victoria as a fur trading post in 1843 and today’s old-fashioned tranquility belies its lurid past. During the gold rush years of the 1850s the town was filled with thousands of prospectors, drinking at the 60 or so saloons that filled the Market Square.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning you may wish to take in the world-famous Butchart Gardens, with over 22 hectares of magnificent floral displays. Strolling through the gardens offers some spectacular views as you walk along meandering paths and expansive lawns to the exquisite Sunken Garden, once a limestone quarry but now boasting a lake overhung with willows and blossom trees. There is also the charming Rose Garden, filled with hundreds of blooms, and the formal Italian garden with a lily pond and a fountain brought in Italy by the Butcharts in 1924. Of course you may wish to simply explore this most charming of cities on foot, visiting its shops, galleries and historic sites, perhaps visiting the Royal BC Museum, regarded as one of the best in Canada and containing a magnificent series of dioramas that re-create the sights and sounds of the region’s natural history. Follwing this we head first via the totem poles carved by the First Nations of the North West Coast. In 1884 the Federal Government outlawed ‘pot latching’ and this unique art form nearly died out. Fortunately, in recent times, there has been a revived interest in this proud tradition and the totems that can be found along this stretch of coast are strong reminders of the island’s native people. From here we head into the Pacific Rim National Park, an astonishingly diverse collection of mountains, rainforest, beaches and rocky headlands that presents one of the best areas in the world for whale watching. Please note our hotel is located in Ucluelet near Tofino.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Today we are free to choose from a variety of different activities. The two most popular excursions are both out to sea. The more energetic may wish to take to kayaks and explore this wild coastline of hidden coves and rocky inlets. Please note: Participation in canoeing or kayaking, or rafting requires that you are able to swim 25 metres unaided. Alternatively, there is the chance to go whale watching from one of the coastal villages in the park. Our Tour Leader will be on hand to organise these tours and to take those not wishing to do either of the above trips on optional walks along one of the park’s many trails.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we will drive to the MacMillan Provincial Park, named after Harvey MacMillan, British Columbia’s first real timber magnate. At Cathedral Grove we see one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas firs in British Columbia, where we find an incredible setting of trees that are nearly a thousand years old, some of them reaching up to heights in excess of 70 metres. From here we continue to Nanaimo, once one of the richest cities in Canada, before the decline of its coal mining industry. From here a ferry will take us across the George Strait to Horseshoe Bay and back to the mainland, from where we follow the 'Sea to Sky' Highway to Whistler.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Whistler is an award winning resort town nestling at the base of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, Whistler is renowned throughout the world as one of the top ski destinations on the planet. It also presents us with a spectacular destination for some summer fun and on arrival we will have some free time to enjoy the town and partake in a number of optional excursions. The town is steeped in the cultural history of the First nations people, who lived a nomadic lifestyle amongst the remote landscapes that stretched from northern Vancouver to the Squamish River. It was the arrival of the early trappers and prospectors that gave the town its current name, its rather quirky modern version deriving from the frequent calls of the indigenous hoary marmots that inhabit these mountain regions, their high-pitched warning sounds earning them the name of ‘whistle pigs’. This afternoon you will have the opportunity to walk on the many trails in the Whistler area. Surrounded by towering peaks and fed by the icy waters of mountain glaciers, you can choose from a mountian or lake shore trail. This evening we will have an opportunity to experience something of Whistler’s renowned nightlife, with a range of bars, restaurants and clubs to suit all tastes.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Today we journey North East to Wells Gray, pausing en route at various places to soak up the wonderful views. We will travel through the mountains of interior British Colombia through different enviroments and climates that change the landscapes, stopping on route at several view points including Joffre Lake where we can do some short walks. This afternoon we will head the short distance to Spahats Creek Provincial Park from where we can take an easy walk to the 61m high Spahats Falls. These impressive falls cascade down through layers of pink-red volcanis rock,and from the observation point you will get some great views down Clearwater Valley.

Overnight Standard Ranch

With a free day to enjoy the area, you can choose to do as much or as little as you wish today. Options include canoeing along the North Thompson Valley, or perhaps taking a horse ride along scenic trails set before a backdrop of majestic mountain vistas. You may choose to head to Wells Gray Provincial Park, home to the magnificent Helmkin Falls, the fourth highest falls in Canada, which at 141m are some three times higher than Niagara. The park itself, one of the largest in British Columbia, covers some 5,000sq km of breathtaking wilderness, offering a rich landscape of volcanic plateaus, craggy mountain peaks and shimmering ice fields. Famed for its mountain scenery, during the summer months the park is awash with a vivid blanket of wildflowers that are amongst the best displays on offer anywhere in the country. Wildlife too is abundant, with bears, caribou, moose, timber wolves and even wolverines finding a rich haven amongst the spectacular diversity of its landscapes. the slower pace of life in these parts is infectious so you may choose to retrun to the ranch and relax.

Overnight Standard Ranch

This morning we head along highway 16, through Mount Robson Provincial Park, passing Mount Robson itself en route. The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies (12,972 feet), it is tall enough to create its own weather patterns and, if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to view this photogenic monolith from top to bottom. Jasper National Park is the largest of Canada’s Rocky Mountain Parks, spanning nearly 11,000 square kilometers. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. this is glacier country, and the friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful low-key atmosphere and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable. Our base for the next two nights is in Jasper National Park just outside Jasper town. This is elk and bear country and often elk are seen wandering down the mainstreet, so if you do see one, keep a healthy distance. To the east of the town lies the Maligne Lake Valley, whilst the western fringes of the township lie in the shadow of the Monashee Mountains. Please note our accomodation is just outside of Jasper.

Overnight Standard Hotel

We can start today by visiting Mount Edith Cavell for a spectacular view. We have the full day ahead of us to explore the various highlights of the area around the town of Jasper. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife that roam freely here, wapiti, elk, moose and bears! You may want to take the Jasper Tramway to the high alpine terrain of Whistlers Mountain – named for the whistling sounds of the marmots that live there. Hike the Maligne Canyon, try one of the many great mountain biking trails in the area, or go horse riding (optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel

Off again, this time on the celebrated Icefields Parkway, a breathtaking spectacle of lush coniferous forests, immense mountains (from the road you can see 12 or the 25 highest peaks in The Rockies), turquoise lakes, highfalling cascades and humbling glaciers. Stay alert since many animals and birds can also be seen from the road: elks, black bear, eagles and mountain goats to name but a few. We will make a number of stops along the way, taking in the rich majesty of the Athabasca falls and Columbia Glacier, the most accessible glacier in North America. There may also be the chance to do an optional trip onto the glacier or on the snowcoach tour. We’ll also pass by Bow and Peyto Lakes, enjoying a short hike to explore the beauty of the unspoiled, silent, backwoods, before continuing on to our base for the next three nights, the small town of Canmore situated in the picturesque Bow Valley. Described as the ‘gateway’ to the Rockies, it is the perfect place from which to make our forays in to the nearby Kananaskis country and Banff National Park.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and the site of the country’s oldest National Park, Banff is an expansive wilderness of some 6,641 sq km, encompassing a stunning landscape of spectacular mountain vistas, alpine meadows and crystal clear lakes. We will enjoy some hiking in the park today as well as a visit to the world famous Lake Louise, Canada’s most photographed area. The blue-green lake and dominating glacier make this view an unforgettable experience. Tom Wilson, the first white Canadian to see Lake Louise, when he was led there by a local native in 1882, wrote ‘I never, in all my explorations of these five chains of mountains throughout western Canada, saw such a matchless scene…I felt puny in body, but glorified in spirit and soul’. Despite the increasing number of visitors to the lake it is still possible to experience the same feelings of awe that Tom Wilson had the first time he saw it. We’ll also visit the turquoise waters of the glacial fed Lake Moraine, set amidst the stunning grandeur of a valley hemmed in by 10 towering mountains. These are landscapes that truly encapsulate the very best that Mother Nature has to offer and after our visits we return to Canmore for the evening.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Today has been left free to enjoy the splendours of this magnificent setting at your own leisure. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, Banff is one of the country’s most spectacular wilderness areas. Aside from its majestic landscapes it is home to nearly 60 different species of mammals, including grizzly and black bears, cougar, wolverine, wolves, marmots and moose. It can also boast some 280 species of birds and bald and golden eagles, ospreys, three-toed woodpeckers and white-tailed ptarmigan have all been recorded here. There is an optional today to ascend to the summit of Sulphur Mountain by aerial tram, from where the unrestricted views across the whole range surrounding Banff are visible. This is picture postcard material and there may even be an option to hike back down to the village of Banff below. There are also a number of guided walks available through the area, so the choice is very much yours as to how much, or how little, you want to do today.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Lying to the southwest of Banff National Park is an area of unspoilt mountain scenery, rich in flora and fauna. This is Kananaskis Country, over 4,000sq km of spectacular wilderness that boasts several provincial parks and one ecological reserve. We will visit the area today, taking in the sumptuous grandeur of its mountains and valleys, perhaps taking a final opportunity to look out for some fo the abundant wildlife that resides amongst these breathtaking landscapes. This afternoon we then head for our journey’s end and the glittering city of Calgary, nestling in the foothills of the towering Rocky Mountains. Home to the world renowned Calgary Stampede, this most dynamic of cities is a rich fusion of modern architecture and traditional heritage, where the pioneering history of the canadian west is woven into everyday life. We have some free time this afternoon to explore the city and soak up the friendly ambience of this spectacularly located community. Filled with museums, shops and cafes, the centre of the city is a great place to just wander and take in its majestic setting against the backdrop of those ever present mountains. This evening we will have an opportunity to enjoy the city at night, as we reflect on our journey through some of the most magnificent landscapes on earth.

Overnight Standard Hotel

The tour ends in Calgary this morning.