Canada Road Trip: Rocky Mountain Adventure

Your holiday begins in Vancouver. Upon arrival, make your own way from Vancouver airport to your hotel.

Explore Vancouver on your own

You could start your day with a leisurely walk in Stanley Park. At the densely forested public space, enjoy scenic views of the water and mountains. Check out the Vancouver Seawall, the world’s longest uninterrupted seafront path, and the aquarium located within Stanley park.

Afterward, explore the surrounding neighbourhoods that are home to charming boutiques and restaurants. Those seeking a little more adventure could visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and take the Grouse Mountain skyride. Once you reach the top you can choose from various trails depending on your fitness level.

If you wish to learn more about the city, head to the area of Gastown, with its Victorian architecture and art galleries. Culture buffs could check out the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology. There is also the iconic Orpheum Theatre, where you can watch a performance before calling it a day.

Make your own way to the Vancouver center and pick up your rental car. Drive yourself from Vancouver to Kelowna. The duration of the trip is about five hours.

Nestled amid lush mountains, rolling vineyards and shimmering water bodies, Kelowna makes for a picture perfect resort town. Known as the winemaking cradle of British Columbia, Kelowna is also famous for its craft breweries, organic cideries and locally owned distilleries. The town’s location on the banks of the Okanagan Lake offers visitors the opportunity to go sailing and swimming on its calm waters. The Downtown Cultural District is dotted with museums, art galleries and performing spaces for live shows.

Explore Naramata Bench on your own

Explore the charming vineyards, orchards and the shimmering Okanagan Lake of Naramata Bench! Take your rental car and drive down a winding road dotted with lakefront cottages, farms and wineries. Marvel at the enchanting views as you leisurely make your way along Naramata Bench.

Arrive at a village and settle down at one of the cosy restaurants with patios that line the village square and overlook the lake. Tuck into a delicious lunch and a cup of coffee while you chat with the friendly locals. If you're a hiking enthusiast, the South Okanagan Valley boasts some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the region, from mountains to waterfalls to lakes to tunnels.

If you want a more leisurely activity, visit a local artist’s studio and stroll along one of the many beaches. Fishing and bird watching are other popular things to do. End the day by watching a glorious sunset from the shores of the Okanagan Lake.

Drive yourself from Kelowna to Field in your rental car. The duration of the trip is about 5.5 hours.

Field is a little mountain village that sits at the heart of Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Nestled within Kicking Horse River Valley, this charming hamlet boasts of a historic railroad past. It’s easy to soak in the tranquillity as you stroll down the neat little streets listening to the sounds of the flowing river. Hikers seeking to explore the many attractions of the national park see Field the perfect base camp for a mountain adventure.

Discover Field and Yoho National Park on your own

Yoho National Park, established in 1885, was named after a Cree expression of awe and wonder. The aptness of the name becomes evident as you walk around the tiny community of Field, located at the centre of the park. An artist community of approximately 200 people, the residents of Field use sound, clay, food, film and a host of other media to showcase their craft.

Surrounded by the national park, Field is the perfect spot to explore local attractions like Lake Louise, the fossil beds of Burgess Shale and the Spiral Tunnels of the Canadian Pacific Railway, visible from the town itself. There’s plenty to do in the town as well, from shopping and dining to visiting the local artisanal studios and galleries to explore pottery, carving and other art forms!

Drive yourself from Field to Banff in your rental car. The duration of the trip is about 1.5 hours.

A resort town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and part of Canada's oldest national park, Banff is an outdoor enthusiast's haven. Take a gondola up Sulphur Mountain to enjoy stunning views of the region. Explore Banff National Park, with its craggy peaks, ice-blue lakes and coniferous forests. If you want to unwind, you can visit the famous Banff Hot Springs, which is open throughout the year.

Group Backcountry Hike in the Canadian Rockies

Experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies while hiking through its backcountry. Early in the morning, with your guide leading the way, set off on one of the many popular trails in the area. There is the Lake Agnes Trail, a moderately challenging route that winds its way up along Lake Louise, past Mirror Lake, to tranquil Lake Agnes.

Meanwhile, the Larch Valley Trail takes you from Moraine Lake up to the lower slopes of Mount Temple. This trail is named for the verdant patches of larch trees in Larch Valley, and allows you to take in the fall colours. If you hike the Stanley Glacier trail, you can enjoy picturesque views of the Kootenay Valley, a waterfall, and Stanley Glacier. Walking on the Plain of Six Glaciers trail will bring you up close with some of the Lake Louise glaciers.

Irrespective of the trail you choose, keep an eye out for endemic species of flora and fauna around you. Along the way, take a break from hiking to tuck into a picnic lunch amid scenic surroundings. Afterward, hike some more before it is time to head back to your shared vehicle for the return trip.

This is a seasonal trek from June 1 - October 14. Please inform us of any food allergies in advance. Depending on the weather conditions, the timing and date of this activity may change at a very short notice.

Drive yourself from Banff to Jasper in your rental car on the legendary Icefields Parkway. Out of all the amazing drives in Canada this is perhaps the most scenic! This route leads you past more than a hundred visible glaciers, turquoise lakes and rushing waterfalls. The duration of the trip is about four hours.

A quaint little railway town by the Athabasca River in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Jasper is steeped in history and beauty. Explore the panoramic landscapes of the Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dotted with fascinating waterfalls, canyons, lakes, and lush green forests and the world’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve.

Group River Athabasca Float Trip in Jasper

Take a relaxed rafting tour on the Athabasca River, which originates at the Columbia Glacier in Jasper National Park and journeys almost 1,000 miles across Alberta, draining into Lake Athabasca. As you travel along this 10-mile route, experience the spectacular scenic beauty of Jasper National Park. This is the same route that was used by the fur traders of the 18th century.

Your licensed guide will tell you more about this natural wonderland and its history of human contact. Life jackets and the specially designed 7-metre long oar-powered rafts ensure a safe, comfortable ride along rapids and calm stretches alike. Your guide will paddle the raft through some sections with Class 2 rapids so there is a chance you will get slightly wet, but ponchos are provided. Keep a sharp eye out and you could sight some local wildlife such as elk, moose, coyote, wolf, mountain sheep, maybe even a bear!

Drive yourself from Jasper to Clearwater in your rental car. It should take you about 3.5 hours to reach your destination.

Clearwater lies in the North Thompson River Valley, at the confluence of the Clearwater River and the North Thompson River. For most travellers, it serves as a gateway to the Wells Gray Park. The region’s surrounding wilderness attracts tourists all year round. Enjoy a host of festivals in summer and visits to the local farmers’ market as well.

Explore Wells Gray Country and Clearwater on your own

Enjoy the endless possibilities for outdoor adventures in Clearwater at your own pace. The town offers so much to do all year round, with its lakes, ski slopes, camping sites, picnic grounds and fishing opportunities come winter or summer. Go swimming or canoeing on Hallamore Lake. Try fly fishing, followed by a fresh trout for lunch!

You could also go mountain biking, climbing, river rafting, or horseback riding. Explore the volcanic landscape around town or enjoy an easy hike to the waterfalls at Wells Gray Park. Or you could also just spend the day spotting birds and local wildlife in the park.

The BC 99 Road Trip Experience

Connecting the interior plateau with the fjord-like coastline through the beautiful and breathtaking wilderness of the Coast Mountains where it is known as the Duffy Lake Road, British Columbia´s highway 99 offers countless stopover opportunities. The village of Lillooet marks a confluence of various climatic, natural and historic arteries of British Columbia.

Located where the interior plateau meets the foothills of the Coast Mountains across the Fraser River, Lillooet is regarded as one of the driest, sunniest and hottest places in Canada and the climate allows for wine cultivation. It's also home and cultural center of the Lillooet First Nation and was believed to be the largest population centre north of San Francisco during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush era.

Several historic sites keep the stories and lessons of the past alive. The Lillooet Museum Visitor Center for example, exhibits First Nation artefacts, some of which date back thousands of years, along with remnants of the Gold Rush. After Lillooet, enjoy the spectacular scenery along the Duffy Lake Road as you drive into the mountains. Once you have passed Pemberton, look out for the Nairn Falls, a spiritual site of the Lil'wat First Nation, offering great views and a chance to stretch your legs on a less-than-a-mile long hike required to reach them.

Drive yourself from Clearwater to Whistler in your rental car. As you leave the interior plateau and cross the Fraser River at Lillooet, get ready for a stretch of Highway 99 known as Duffy Lake Road. This is a breathtaking drive through the true wilderness of the interior Coast Mountains. The duration of the drive is about six hours without stops.

Whistler is a popular resort town nestled in the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, just a couple of hours north of Vancouver. One of the world's most popular ski destinations, this quaint little alpine town has the largest skiing area on the continent with the two main mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb. Just outside of Whistler village, you can spot the famous bald eagles of the region in the fall months.

Group Bear Viewing Tour in Whistler Blackcomb Mountains

Try to spot wild black bears as you range through Whistler and Blackcomb slopes on this thrilling tour. Set off in your comfortable 4x4 vehicle across a varied landscape from valley floors to serene skiing routes and mountain peaks. Learn from your naturalist expert about bear feeding and mating patterns, that change not just with seasons but with elevation as well.

Accompany your guide to sites where the bears feed and lounge in day beds. Visit dens where they spend nights and explore old-growth forests where they hibernate to tide over long harsh winters. By the end of the tour you will not only have learnt more about these majestic Alpine animals but felt a greater appreciation for the precious flora and fauna of the Whistler Mountains.

On the day of your departure, make your way to the airport to board your flight back home