Panoramic Canadian Rockies

Welcome to outdoorsy, nature loving Vancouver! Regarded as one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities, Vancouver is framed by dramatic vistas on all sides and is the kind of place where, given its close proximity to nature, you can ski in the morning and swim in the ocean by early afternoon. After settling in to your hotel you’ll meet your Travel Director this afternoon, then you’re free to head out and uncover the city’s many delights. Take a stroll through Stanley Park, or alternatively explore Vancouver’s diverse culinary scene which boasts some of the best Asian cuisine in all of North America.

This morning’s sightseeing tour of lovely Vancouver will visit the city's oldest neighborhood, Gastown, which was designated a National Historic Site in 2009. You'll also visit buzzy Chinatown, and admire the famous collection of totem poles at Stanley Park, before jumping on the ferry bound for Vancouver Island, and drive 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 Optional 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 Center 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, one of British Columbia’s best loved ski resorts. Winter time here sees ski and snowboard enthusiasts from across the globe flocking to this pretty little town to enjoy just some of the 135 ski runs that pepper the horizon. In the warmer months, the ski lifts stay open to provide access to more than two dozen hiking and mountain bike trails, making Sun Peaks yet another outdoorsy gem.

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. Stop in unpretentious, heart-warming Jasper, which sits in the heart of Jasper National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, before ending the day in Hinton.

Stepping outside and smelling the fresh mountain air, let the prospect of a day exploration bring a smile to your face. After a guided walk in Maligne Canyon, 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. If you’re looking to get active, choose to experience the majestic scenery of Jasper National Park on foot during a guided nature hike or take to the water on a Jasper Raft Tour.

First, you will be heading on to explore the magnificent Columbia Icefield. The Icefields Parkway features an abundance of jaw-dropping vistas at every turn. Here, you’ll ride the giant Ice Explorer across the Athabasca Glacier for a closer look at this ancient marvel of nature. Back on the Icefields Parkway, exit Jasper National Park and enter Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prepare to be dazzled as we saved the best for last – Lake Louise, one of the most beautiful lakes and settings in North America before heading to Canmore for the night.

Make sure your camera’s in-hand today for optional helicopter flights (weather dependent) that will have you soaring over iconic sites including the Three Sisters Peak, the Sundance Ranges and the Gloria and Assiniboine Glaciers (weather dependent). Next up in Banff - famed for its world-class national parks, lakes and vistas - get a taste on a sightseeing tour along Tunnel Mountain Drive. Take in sights such as Cascade Mountain, Mt. Rundle, Bow Falls, and the surreal, hoodoos rock formations, which have gained their twisted shapes over years of erosion from water and wind. Venture into the stunning wilderness of Banff National Park to take advantage of a range of optionals to capture the best of the region. Enjoy golf with a view at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course or join a Plant Medicine Walk with a First Nations Local Specialist. Or, join an optional experience in Canmore, including an E-bike food tour or raft tour. As an evening option, book a Banff Gondola ride including dinner with a view.

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, the unofficial capital of the Okanagan.

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. Drop off at 3:30 PM at Vancouver International Airport. Please be aware when booking flights.