This package is best suited for those interested in exploring the culture of Western Canada’s First Nation’s people. Passing through historic sites and villages will bring you face to face with the people, their art, stories and history. Witness some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery in Western Canada.
Highlights
Vancouver | Victoria | Campbell River | Port Hardy to Prince Rupert Cruise | Smithers | Prince George | Jasper | Banff | Kamloops | Vancouver |
Itinerary
DAY 1
Vancouver
Upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport, pick up your rental car (not included) and head downtown and check into your overnight Vancouver accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Vancouver on your own. Canada’s third largest metropolitan centre, Vancouver is a busy port with a thriving multi-culture ambiance. The city is located in a spectacular setting with the Coast Mountains across Burrard Inlet to the north and the waters of the Strait of Georgia to the west. Restaurants, shopping, nightlife and a mild climate and a cosmopolitan atmosphere make Vancouver a favourite tourist destination.
Overnight in Vancouver.
DAY 2
Vancouver to Victoria (112 km plus ferry)
Your destination today is the city of Victoria located on Vancouver Island. Just south of Vancouver is the fishing village of Steveston and restored Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site (admission included). Built in 1894, it was abandoned and derelict when Parks Canada restored the property. It now houses interpretive displays and exhibits about the west coast fishing industry and the large role played by the Chinese and Japanese workers and fishers. Continue south to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and board a B.C. Ferry for a ninety-minute ferry ride through the scenic Gulf Islands (ferry fare included). On arrival at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal on Vancouver Island, travel south along the Saanich Peninsula to Butchart Gardens (admission included). This 20-hectare (50–acre) botanical showcase is renowned for its skilful blending of rare and exotic plants and trees mixed with native flora in a colourful and authentic series of formal gardens joined by several paths. After a visit at the gardens, continue to Victoria, travelling through the scenic Uplands and Oak Bay residential areas with spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Upon arrival in Victoria, check in to your selected hotel.
Overnight in Victoria
DAY 3
Victoria
Today is at leisure to enjoy the heart of Victoria close-up at street level by strolling Victoria’s Inner Harbour and Olde Town districts. The Inner Harbour is rich with a variety of heritage attractions, museums, galleries and shopping boutiques waiting to be explored. Located just outside the city is Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site (admission included). The western entrance to Esquimalt Harbour is guarded by this former military installation, which features displays and interpretive information about Victoria’s naval history. After strolling the beautiful treed grounds of Fort Rodd Hill, visit the Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site (admission included). The Fisgard Lighthouse was the first permanent lighthouse on the west coast, built in 1860 and is still in operation today.
Overnight in Victoria
DAY 4
Victoria to Campbell River (266 km)
Departing Victoria today, travel along Highway #1, commonly referred to as the Island Highway. Travel through such communities as Langford, Malahat, Cowichan Bay and Duncan, the “City of Totems.” Explore the area’s aboriginal past and enjoy an authentic look at the world of the Northwest Coast Indians at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre (admission included). It is a peaceful, forest-clad retreat located on the banks of the Cowichan River. The Native Heritage Village is owned and operated by the Cowichan Tribe, the largest aboriginal band in British Columbia. Watch the wood chips fly as massive totem poles take shape before your eyes. See demonstrations of weaving, beading and knitting. Savour traditional native fare in the magnificent Big House Restaurant or relax on the patio at the Riverwalk café. A short drive from Duncan is the community of Chemainus, the “City of Murals”. More than 30 murals decorate the buildings in this logging and manufacturing town. The murals, painted by a number of prominent artists from B.C. and around the world, depict area wildlife, Native peoples, logging and historical events. Continue north on Highway 19 through Vancouver Island’s second largest city, Nanaimo, known as the “Harbour City” and Parksville, the beginning of Beach Country and home to the International Sandcastle Competition. Your destination today is Campbell River, historically renowned as the “Salmon Capital of the World”. Surrounded by the backdrop of Strathcona Provincial Park to the west and the Coastal Mountain range to the east, massive cruise ships pass right by Campbell River’s doorstep.
Overnight in Campbell River
DAY 5
Campbell River to Port Hardy (238 km)
Today, continue north along Highway 19 through the Nimpkish Valley and the village of Woss. A little further north of Woss is the Telegraph Cove Road. Telegraph Cove sits on a quiet inlet with some of the best ocean views on the island and is also one of the last existing boardwalk communities on the West Coast, making it an attraction in itself. Often referred to as the village on stilts, most of its buildings are raised above the water on pilings. From July to October, Telegraph Cove is a whale-watcher’s paradise, where pods of killer whales can be seen in their natural habitat. The Johnstone Strait area is acknowledged as the “core” area for killer whales during the summer months. Within this core area lays Robson Bight, an Ecological Reserve set aside for killer whales. This afternoon, join a four to five hour nature cruise aboard an 18-metre vessel (cruise included). Possible wildlife sightings may include Dali’s porpoises, harbour seals, otters, killer whales and bald eagles. Departing Telegraph Cove, continue north through Port McNeil, known as the gateway to the North Island. The Island Highway reaches its northern terminus at the city of Port Hardy, your destination today.
Overnight in Port Hardy
DAY 6
Port Hardy to Prince Rupert (10 km plus ferry)
This morning, transfer and embark on a full day of cruising the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage. During the length of this 16 hour journey, a wonderful array of snow-capped mountains combined with rich forests to provide a background for a series of dramatic fjords. Killer whales, sea lions and playful porpoise often appear in these waters, so keep your camera close at hand. Arrive at the seaport of Prince Rupert and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Prince Rupert.
DAY 7
Prince Rupert to Smithers (353 km)
Prince Rupert is the transportation hub of B.C.’s north coast. The Yellowhead Highway winds through this region and three major ferries sail regularly from the city’s port. Departing Prince Rupert today, travel along the Yellowhead Highway through the rugged hinterlands of British Columbia, travelling alongside the Skeena River. Continue east along the Yellowhead Highway towards Hazelton. Centuries before pioneers arrived to settle in this region, Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en Native villages prospered around the confluence of the Skeena and the Bulkley Rivers. The Skeena River was an important First Nations trade route; 60-foot long cedar canoes navigated the river carrying supplies to and from coastal villages. By the 1860’s, settlers had arrived to establish their own communities and today the Hazelton area represents a unique blend of aboriginal and North American cultures. Adjacent to Old Hazelton is the replica Gitksan Indian Village of ‘Ksan (admission not included). For thousands of years the Gitksan have lived along the banks of the Skeena River. The rich natural environment allowed them to live comfortably and develop permanent settlements, like the one at ‘Ksan today. Continue along Highway 16 to the town of Smithers renowned for its lively alpine theme, red brick sidewalks and colourful flags. This charming town is nestled in the head of the Bulkley Valley and is surrounded by the rugged mountain ranges of the Hudson Bay, the Telkwas, Bulkley and Babine.
Overnight in Smithers
DAY 8
Smithers to Prince George (371 km)
Today, continue travelling along Highway 16, the Yellowhead Highway. You are now travelling through the Lakes District, legendary for its superb fishing. A short detour off Highway 16 will take you to the community of Fort St. James (the second oldest community in B.C.) and the Fort St. James National Historic Site (admission included). This is an authentic 1896 Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post. The Fort played a significant role in North America’s fur trading industry because of its strategic location. Throughout the 1800s the post served as headquarters for the Hudson Bay Company’s large New Caledonia fur trade district. The site features reconstructed and restored buildings that house historic artefacts and replicas, including furs, trade goods and furnishings of the late 1800s. Your destination today is the city of Prince George, B.C.’s largest northern city.
Overnight in Prince George
DAY 9
Prince George to Jasper (376 km)
Once again, travel along Highway 16. Remote alpine meadows, emerald valleys and spectacular mountains scenery are just a few of the impressive sights to be savoured while driving through this region. The picturesque village of McBride in the lush Robson Valley has prime views of the Rocky Mountains to the north and the Caribou Mountains to the south. This afternoon, enter Mount Robson Park, home of Mount Robson, and the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. As you travel through Mount Robson Park, you will leave the province of British Columbia and enter the province of Alberta and Jasper National Park. This park is the largest of Canada’s Rocky Mountain national parks, it spans 11,000 square kilometres (4,200 square miles) of broad valleys and rugged mountains along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. A local trading post became known as Jasper’s House after the North West Company clerk Jasper Hawse. With the coming of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line through the Yellowhead Pass in 1907, the federal government decided to preserve the area as a national park.
Overnight in Jasper.
DAY 10
Jasper
Jasper, fascinating in beauty and history, is set amid some of the most rugged peaks in the Rockies. Many of the park’s striking features are accessible by road - Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls, Miette Hot-Springs (among the Rockies’ warmest natural hot springs), and glacier-clad Mount Edith Cavell. You may wish to take a tram ride up Whistler’s Mountain, named for the Whistling Marmots that live on the mountain. The Jasper Tramway is the only reversible-type aerial tramway in the Canadian Mountain National Parks and is the longest cable car in Canada. The 360-degree view (weather permitting), some 100 kilometres to the west to Mount Robson, and about 75 kilometres to the south to the Columbia Icefield, is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visit Maligne Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the world, and enjoy a one and a half-hour cruise heading toward the south end of this postcard setting (Maligne Lake cruise included). You will marvel at the magnificent shoreline with dense forest and glacial peaks rising abruptly from the water’s edge. Stopping at Spirit Island, you will have the opportunity to take your own version of the world-famous photograph of the lake.
Overnight in Jasper
DAY 11
Jasper to Banff (265 km)
Today travel the scenic Icefields Parkway. The Icefields Parkway is Canada’s second highest paved highway and is among the country’s most scenic drives. A kaleidoscope of new experiences is yours to discover amidst the waterfalls, mountain lakes and awesome glaciers, which dominate the landscape. Be sure to visit the Columbia Icefield, featuring a Parks Canada Interpretive Centre and Brewster’s famous Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure on the Athabasca Glacier (Ice Explorer included). The Athabasca is part of the Columbia Icefield, the greatest mass of ice outside the Arctic Circle. The ice is 365 metres (1,200 feet) thick - about the height of the Empire State Building. Leaving the Athabasca Glacier travel to the “Jewel of the Rockies,” Lake Louise. Lake Louise is the most famous glacial lake in the Canadian Rockies, and one of the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere. Depart Lake Louise and travel along the lovely Bow Valley Parkway for a casual drive that winds along the Bow Valley. The Bow Valley Parkway between Lake Louise and Banff is a low-speed, two-lane undivided roadway with numerous scenic outlooks and pull-outs. Be sure to stop for a quick nature walk at Johnston Canyon where you can stand in the spray of a roaring mountain waterfall. The area encompassed by Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks is not only vast, but very special too - this combined protected area is a World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in Banff, check-in to your selected hotel.
Overnight in Banff.
DAY 12
Banff
Hot sulphur water bubbling from the side of Sulphur Mountain was well known by the local aboriginal peoples of the 1800’s. The hot spring was “discovered” by a pair of American hunters in 1875 and Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors who happened upon the location in 1883. The Canadian government declared the hot spring to be a “federal preserve” in 1885 and two years later, Rocky Mountain National Park, Canada’s first national park, was officially established. Be sure to visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the birthplace of Banff National Park and of Canada’s National Parks system (admission included) for interactive displays, exhibits, films interpretive talks and presentations, interpretive trails, bird watching, hiking and cycling. Take a ride on the Banff Gondola, which rises 700 metres (2,310 feet) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (2,286 metres/7,544 feet) for panoramic views of the Bow Valley, Banff town site and surrounding mountain peaks (Gondola ride included). Take a dip in the famous hot mineral waters at the Upper Hot Springs pool (pool admission included). The facility also includes a spa, massage and aromatherapy services.
Overnight in Banff.
DAY 13
Banff to Kamloops (500 km)
Departing Banff today, travel along the “Trans Canada” Highway 1 and into Yoho National Park. Yoho is a park of waterfalls and glacial lakes, of snow-topped mountain peaks, roaring rivers and deep silent forests. It is a park whose history is bound up with a railroad, spiral tunnels inside mountains and stories of runaway trains. No wonder Yoho National Park got its name from a Cree Indian word expressing awe. The park spans 1,313 square kilometres (507 square miles) on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and borders on Banff and Kootenay National Parks. The mountains that were the curse of railway workers are responsible for the park’s many waterfalls including Laughing Falls, Wapta Falls, Twin Falls and one of Canada’s highest (254 metres / 833 feet), Takakkaw Falls. The water from the melting glaciers up in the mountains is also responsible for the colour of Emerald Lake and famed Lake O’Hara. A short drive beyond Revelstoke you will find Craigellachie, where the “last spike” was driven completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. You are now entering the Shuswap area of British Columbia. With one thousand kilometres (600 miles) of shoreline possessing 25 marine parks, sandy beaches, private coves and narrow channels, this area deserves its distinction of being “The House Boating Capital of Canada.” Your destination today is Kamloops, the largest city in south central British Columbia.
Overnight in Kamloops
DAY 14
Kamloops to Vancouver (350 km)
Continue your journey westward today through near-desert regions and steep canyons of brilliantly coloured rock, then turn southward to follow the mighty Fraser River through a spectacular narrow canyon. Be sure to stop at Hell’s Gate in the scenic Fraser Canyon for a tram ride over the foaming river (tram ride included). Descend smoothly from the highway level in one of two comfortable 25-passenger gondolas and experience a breath taking flight directly above the unique Hell’s Gate fishways where two million sockeye salmon challenge the river each year on their epic journey to their inland spawning grounds. At the lower terminal, after a 152-metre descent across the canyon, there are observation points to view the mighty Fraser River where, at peak level, 200 million gallons of water per minute leap and surge through the 34-metre wide gorge. At the town of Hope the route leaves the Coast Mountains and travels across the rich farmland of the Fraser Valley to the coastal city of Vancouver. As you travel through the Fraser Valley this afternoon stop at Minter Gardens and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the world-class gardens before your departure for Vancouver (admission included). Upon arrival in Vancouver, check-in to your selected hotel.
Overnight in Vancouver.
DAY 15
Vancouver
Your package ends today with a morning checkout from your accommodation.
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