Panoramic Canadian Rockies

Welcome to outdoorsy, nature-loving Vancouver! Also known as one of the world’s most culturally rich cities, Vancouver is the kind of place where you can ski in the morning, swim in the ocean by early afternoon and indulge in the city’s diverse culinary scene in the evening. After settling in to your hotel, you’ll meet your Travel Director this afternoon.

This morning’s sightseeing tour of lovely Vancouver will visit the city's oldest neighbourhood, Gastown, which was designated a National Historic Site in 2009. You'll also admire the famous collection of totem poles at Stanley Park, before jumping on the ferry bound for Vancouver Island and driving into the capital of British Columbia, Victoria. After docking at Swartz Bay and making the short drive into the city, you’ll no doubt be struck by the distinctly English influence of Victoria. An orientation tour of the city will take you along the waterfront district and into the bustling downtown area, passing the Parliament Buildings, Government Street and through Beacon Hill Park so you can really get your bearings. This evening is yours to explore or dine out with new-found friends.

Spend the morning amid the blossoms of world famous Butchart Gardens. This expansive estate is over a century old and offers sunken, rose, Japanese, Italian and Mediterranean gardens. Stroll through and find plenty of photo opportunities amidst moments of beauty. The rest of the day is yours to explore Victoria as you like. Learn about the surrounding waters on a whale watching cruise and keep a lookout for orcas, bald eagles, porpoises and seals.

First up on today’s agenda is Chemainus, a seaside community and former industrial town that is best known for its series of giant outdoor murals depicting local history. Hopping on board a ferry across the Georgia Strait and arriving into Horseshoe Bay, you’ll then travel along the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway, one of the world’s most scenic drives. We challenge you not to keep your eyes to the horizon as you pass cascading waterfalls, jagged mountain peaks and the dreamy ocean vistas of Howe Sound, before stopping off at Shannon Falls Provincial Park, which boasts the third highest waterfall in all of British Columbia. Still in awe of the scenery offered by today’s drive, you’ll finish today in the alpine village of Whistler, which sits nestled in the shadows of the Blackcomb Mountains.

Enjoy your day in Whistler as you explore this stunning adventure playground. Go hiking or biking on one of the many trails or the labyrinth of lanes that make up Whistler Village. Or make the day your own with action-packed Choice Experiences, each one more exhilarating than the next! You could go bear viewing with a local wildlife photographer, whitewater rafting, zip lining at 100 km per hour amidst the stunning mountain wilderness, and many more options. When we said exhilarating, we weren't joking!

Fuel for another big day with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® iconic breakfast at Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre where you’ll get to know more about First Nations culture through food and music, treated to authentic tastes including blueberry and cheese and onion bannock (a kind of quick skillet bread) and a performance by cultural ambassadors dressed in traditional regalia singing, dancing, and sharing stories from Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. You will then leave Whistler behind as you venture along scenic Duffey Lake Road, spotting the freshwater fjord of Seton Lake, and the ominous sounding Mt. Rohr along the way. Following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail, which formed part of the Gold Rush Route, your final port of call for today is Sun Peaks.

Fall in love with the gorgeous prairie provinces of Canada as you drive through the white fenced ranch lands that surround the Yellowhead Highway. Keeping an eye on the snow-capped peaks of the Columbia Mountains in the distance, catch a first glimpse of Mount Robson, the most prominent mountain in the North American Rockies and the highest point in the Canadian range. Continue to unpretentious, heart-warming Jasper, which sits in the heart of Jasper National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stepping outside and smelling the fresh mountain air, let the prospect of a day exploration bring a smile to your face. Your activity options are abundant in the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Perhaps choose to explore the beautiful Maligne Lake. A boat cruise (seasonal) around the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies is right for you. Next up in Jasper, foodies will want to join a Local Expert on a Jasper Food Tour downtown or take a guided E-bike tour. If you’re looking to get active, choose to experience the majestic scenery of Jasper National Park on foot during a guided nature walk or take to the water on a Jasper Raft Tour.

Cue the ‘wow’ – today’s ride down the Icefields Parkway serves up big Canadian energy. First up, the 10,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier, explored in style aboard the Ice Explorer—one seriously cool all-terrain ride. After lunch, say hello to Banff National Park as the journey continues south into the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Snap the ultimate shot at dreamy Lake Louise, then wind down with free time in Banff Village. Nature walks, souvenir hunts or a cheeky maple latte? You choose. The Rockies don’t disappoint.

Today’s all about freedom. Chill out in Banff or dial up the adventure with a line-up of epic Choice Experiences. Start early with a Moraine Lake sunrise – a Local Guide leads you to the best glacier-framed views as the first light hits the turquoise water. Feel like going deeper? Join the Mahikan Medicine Walk, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where a Local Guide shares traditional medicines and survival techniques passed down through Indigenous ancestors. In the afternoon, opt for a thrilling helicopter tour – either soaring over Mt. Assiniboine or the striking Three Sisters. Or, choose a ride up the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain, topped off with dinner and incredible summit views. Your day, your way.

It will be another incredible drive today as you climb higher and higher to cross the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, stopping at the Spiral Tunnels on the way to marvel at one of the steepest railroad stretches in the world. You’ll then travel through not one, not two, but three beautiful national parks, slowly descending from the mountains as the landscape changes from snowcapped peaks to sprawling wineries and fruit orchards, indicating that you’ve arrived in Canada’s ‘fruit basket’, the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by so many grapes the temptation for a tasting will be hard to resist, so you’ll stop off at Larch Hills Winery for a tour and tasting before heading on to Vernon.

On your final drive of the trip you'll pass through the Cascade Mountains, named for the staggering number of waterfalls tumbling off the peaks, before venturing into the Fraser River Valley and finally coming to a stop back in Vancouver, the place where it all began. This afternoon, you'll be dropped off at the airport at approximately 15:30. Please be aware when booking flights.