Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Canada's Western Wilderness & Wildlife Self-Drive by Audley Travel
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 12 days | 19 days |
Price From | $ 4,504 | $ 4,141 |
Price Per Day | $ 375 | $ 218 |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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Meals Included | 11 breakfasts, 1 dinner | N/A |
Description |
Discover the awe-inspiring scenery and legendary wildlife of western Canada on a voyage across the craggy Rocky Mountains. Explore historic Banff and Whistler, marvel at the astonishing natural beauty of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, take the ferry to Vancouver Island, and breathe in fresh mountain air while soaking in hot mineral springs and hiking in Jasper National Park. Along the way, gain fascinating insights from knowledgeable local experts and First Nations people. |
A vast and sparsely populated country of magnificent mountain ranges, ice-blue glacial lakes, remote coastal settlements and diverse cities, Canada offers a wealth of things to see and do. Wildlife is abundant with a healthy population of grizzlies, black and polar bears and plenty of places you can observe them in their natural habitat. Across the country you'll find diverse experiences on offer from white water rafting and heli-hiking to haunted hikes and whale watching tours, while the country’s buzzing metropolises can be explored in unusual ways from fine food tours in Quebec to food cart tours of Vancouver. |
Day 1 Vancouver
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.
Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria
Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.
Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.
Day 3 Victoria
Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.
Day 4 Victoria/Whistler
Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Day 5 Whistler
Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.
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.
Day 6 Whistler/Blue River
Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.
Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. 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.
Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park
Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.
Day 8 Jasper National Park
Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.
Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.
Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise
Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.
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.
Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff
Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.
Day 11 Banff/Calgary
Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.
Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.
Day 12 Calgary
Depart at any time.
If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.
Day 1 : Vancouver
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Vancouver. On arrival in Vancouver make your own way to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring the city.
Day 2 : Vancouver
On your first full day in Vancouver, get your bearings with a bicycle tour of the city. Your local guide will take you through Stanley Park (including a stop to see its famous totem poles), Granville Island Market, Chinatown and historic Gastown.
Day 3 : Vancouver
Spend a day at leisure exploring the many sights this vibrant city has to offer. You could board a float plane for a scenic flight over the city, sample some street food or visit the Museum of Anthropology to learn about the area's First Nations culture.
Day 4 : Victoria
Collect your hire car from downtown Vancouver. Your car hire package includes a sat-nav and all insurance. You then drive 40 minutes south to the ferry port at Tsawwassen. Board the B.C. Ferry for the hour and a half journey over to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. There's a restaurant and comfortable lounge areas on board. It's then a 45 minute drive to downtown Victoria, British Columbia's capital city. After settling into your accommodation, spend the rest of the day relaxing or head out to explore Victoria's quaint old town with its market square and boutique shops.
Day 5 : Victoria
Join an exciting three hour whale watching trip from Victoria. The area is renowned for being home to resident pods of orca whales so you should be rewarded with some great sightings. The afternoon is free to explore the city. You could visit the former home of renowned artist Emily Carr or the Gothic-style Craigdarroch Castle.
Day 6 : Tofino
Drive from Victoria to Tofino on the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island. The five hour route (not including stops) takes you through mountains covered in old growth rainforest and past clear lakes in the island's interior before descending to the charming small town of Tofino on the coast. En route you could stop at the Quw'utsun' First Nations Cultural Centre to learn more about the region's First Nations culture. Once you enter the Pacific Rim National Park you could stop at the Wickaninnish Visitor Centre and take a stroll on boardwalks through the forest, looking out for black bears.
Day 7 : Tofino
Spend a thrilling few hours exploring Clayoquot Sound's remote islands by sea kayak. As you paddle through rugged outcrops and islets your guide will explain more about the area's history, flora and fauna. You may also encounter porpoises, seals, eagles and orcas, or - if you're lucky - black bears who comb the shoreline at low tide, searching for clams. This afternoon you're free to explore Tofino's art galleries or go for a walk along the secluded driftwood-strewn beaches.
Day 8 : Campbell River
Leaving Tofino, drive for around four and a half hours (not including stops) east over the central mountains to the small town of Campbell River on the island's east coast. You pass through the Pacific Rim National Park before winding up through the interior mountains. We suggesting making a stop at Cathedral Grove en route, where you can follow a walking trail to admire the ancient cedar trees.
Day 9 : Campbell River
Take a wildlife journey through the Discovery Islands today, home to a range of wildlife such as and whales as well as eagles and other marine birdlife. Throughout the three hour trip, your guide will tell you interesting facts about each of the species you encounter. Spend the rest of the day exploring the town, perhaps enjoying fresh salmon for lunch or heading out on a coastal walk.
Day 10 : Whistler
After an hour and a half scenic drive to the ferry port at Nanaimo, take the two hour ferry crossing to Horseshoe Bay on the B.C. mainland. You then drive for around two hours along the Sea to Sky Highway, which winds between mountains and the sea, before reaching the mountain resort of Whistler. The remainder of the day is free to relax or begin exploring.
Day 11 : Whistler
Spend a full day exploring Whistler. You may wish to take a gondola to the summit of Blackcomb or Whistler Mountain, go walking in the mountains, or go kayaking, mountain biking, zip lining or white water rafting.
Day 12 : Clearwater - Wells Gray Provincial Park
Today you depart Whistler and drive for around seven hours through the arid ranch lands of British Columbia's interior. Passing the mighty Fraser River, continue to Clearwater, the nearest town to Wells Gray Provincial Park.
Day 13 : Clearwater - Wells Gray Provincial Park
Join a four hour guided hike through Wells Gray's pristine mountain scenery. Your guide will point out interesting flora and fauna and tell you about the area's flora, fauna and geology. You also come across some of the park's waterfalls and, in July and August, pretty wildflower meadows. The afternoon is free to try out other outdoor activities, such as horse riding, fishing or white water rafting.
Day 14 : Jasper
Your four and a half hour drive today takes you past mighty Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Shortly afterwards you will cross into the province of Alberta and arrive at the small town of Jasper. You may wish to stop en route at Blue River, where you can view wildlife aboard a speed boat, accessing areas unreachable by road.
Day 15 : Jasper
Jasper National Park awaits your discovery today. You may wish to visit Maligne Lake and Canyon, take a boat trip to picturesque Spirit Island or explore one of the park's many scenic walking trails.This evening you'll join a small group tour and head off into Jasper National Park in search of wildlife with your expert local guide - keep your camera closer as you may encounter elk, moose, bald eagles, black bears and grizzly bears.
Day 16 : Canmore
Drive four and a half hours (not including stops) south from Jasper, along the spectacular Icefields Parkway, to Canmore. There are many beautiful lakes and glaciers to admire en route, including Lake Louise and Castle Mountain. On the way you'll make a stop at the Athabasca Glacier, where you will don crampons and join a guided ice walk onto the glacier itself. On this three hour tour you'll escape the crowds while your guide explains the geological features of the area. From here, continue on to Canmore.
Day 17 : Canmore
Spend the day exploring Canmore and Banff National Park, which lies just a few minutes' drive away from the town. You could go white water rafting on the Kananaskis River or join a guided caving trip deep within Grotto Mountain. There are many walking trails in the area, or you can take a relaxing stroll around the town.
Day 18 : International return flight
This morning is free for last minute shopping or sightseeing before your hour and a half drive to Calgary Airport. Drop off your hire car prior to boarding your onward flight.
Day 19 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.