Discover the Canadian Rockies - Westbound
12 days
from Calgary to Vancouver
From
$ 3999
Duration12 days
Awe-inspiring scenery and fascinating wildlife are simply everywhere in western Canada. This 12-day adventure hits crisp Jasper and serene Lake Louise, a scenic ferry crossing to Vancouver Island, a river safari through Grizzly Bear Valley, and a drive along the jaw-dropping Icefields Parkway. Whether you’re walking atop a glacier or meandering the gorgeous streets of Whistler Village, you’re sure to feel that Rocky Mountain high.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 12 daysService level: Upgraded
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Starts in: CalgaryPhysical Grading: Light
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Ends in: VancouverAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Calgary
Start place: Calgary
Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.
Arrive at any time.
Please make your own way to the joining hotel. If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
End place: Calgary
Day 2: Calgary/Banff
Start place: Calgary
Drive to Banff where we take a walk back in time with an expert from the Whyte Museum, exploring the historical town.
End place: Banff
Meals: B
Day 3: Banff/Lake Louise
Start place: Banff
Continue to Lake Louise. View the emerald blue waters of this alpine lake and opt to hike to the Tea House.
End place: Lake Louise
Meals: B
Day 4: Lake Louise/Jasper National Park
Start place: Lake Louise
Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.
Considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, travel the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake with a stop at the Columbia Icefield. Walk with an expert guide on the lower Athabasca Glacier to explore and understand the life of this active glacier. Continue on to Jasper National Park.
End place: Jasper National Park of Canada
Meals: B
Day 5: Jasper National Park
Start place: Jasper National Park of Canada
Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.
Spend the day at leisure with the option to hike at Maligne Canyon, enjoy a boat cruise, or check out some whitewater rafting. In the evening, we have an included visit to Miette Hot Springs.
End place: Jasper National Park of Canada
Meals: B
Day 6: Jasper National Park/Blue River
Start place: Jasper National Park of Canada
View the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains, Mt Robson, with a stop at the visitor centre before crossing the Rockies to reach Blue River. Enjoy a river safari tour through Grizzly Bear Valley and the world’s only inland temperate rainforest. Look out for wildlife, which can include grizzly bears, moose, and eagles.
Enjoy a barbecue this evening.
End place: Blue River
Meals: B, D
Day 7: Blue River/Whistler
Start place: Blue River
Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region into the Coastal Mountain Range. We drive through the region where aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.
Pass through the Caribou Mountains into the Coastal Mountains, and enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake and the emerald coloured Seton Lake before arriving to the village of Whistler, host to some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
End place: Whistler
Meals: B
Day 8: Whistler
Start place: Whistler
Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.
Today is at your leisure. Take a walk through the village with options to ride the gondola up the mountain, hike, or go ziplining.
End place: Whistler
Meals: B
Day 9: Whistler/Victoria
Start place: Whistler
Visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre on a G Adventures for Good experience. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony with bannock and explore the grounds and museum with an Indigenous guide who has come through the centre’s training program. After, drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway and catch the ferry to Vancouver Island to reach Victoria, where we take an orientation walk with our CEO.
End place: Victoria
Meals: B
Day 10: Victoria
Start place: Victoria
Today is free for optional activities such as zodiac whale watching cruise, museums and Butchart Gardens visits, or enjoying high tea at an historic hotel.
End place: Victoria
Meals: B
Day 11: Victoria/Vancouver
Start place: Victoria
Board the scenic ferry to Vancouver, and discover highlights like Stanley Park and Gastown.
End place: Vancouver
Meals: B
Day 12: Vancouver
Start place: Vancouver
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Depart at any time.
End place: Vancouver
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Banff Historical Walking Tour, Banff Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Indigenous Cultural Experience, Whistler Your G for Good Moment: Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre Visit, Whistler Your Wellness Moment: Miette Hot Springs Visit, Jasper National Park
- All park fees in Jasper and Banff National Parks
- Scenic ferry to Vancouver Island
- Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria, Whistler, and Banff orientation walks
- River safari through Grizzly Bear Valley
- Stops at Kamloops Lake and Seton Lake
- Mount Robson Visitor Centre stop
- Excursion to the Columbia Icefields and ice walk on the Athabasca Glacier
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Private vehicle, Hiking, Walking, Ferry, Boat -
Accommodation
Hotels/lodges (11 nts)