Compare The Canadian Rockies by Great Value Vacations vs Canada (Western): See & Experience it ALL in 10 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1 Welcome to Vancouver!

Touch down in the artsy-cool city of Vancouver! Upon arrival, make your way to your first hotel and check in. Should you have any questions, your tour director will be on hand in the late afternoon.

Treat yourself to a delicious first-night meal and spend the night getting to know this beautiful city.

Day 2 Vancouver

Get ready for a fun first day in Canada! This morning, you'll enjoy an included city tour that highlights Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbor, beaches, and more. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. 

In the afternoon, consider taking a water taxi to Granville Island, a vibrant spot lined with outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafes. Or, visit historic Gastown and see its steam-powered clock!

Day 3 Vancouver - Kelowna

Say "see ya later" to Vancouver and begin your journey through British Columbia's fertile valleys and rich mountain forests to Lake Okanagan. Travel along this sparkling lake to the resort city of Kelowna, peacefully set on the lake shore, surrounded by orchards and vineyards. 

Once you settle into your hotel, sample local wines on your included winery tour!

Day 4 Kelowna - Banff National Park

Venture through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its sweet peaches and breathtaking vineyards. Then, climb up 4,379-foot-high Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park! Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime photo-op of rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. 

Enter Yoho National Park and scale Kicking Horse Pass at 5,421 feet! In the afternoon, you'll reach breathtaking Banff National Park, the gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. Enjoy an orientation tour of Banff's unspoiled beauty!

Day 5 Banff National Park

Feel your eyes widen as you wake up to Banff's stunning scenery. This National Park is chock full of activities like hiking, boating, and fishing! It is also home to over 50 species of mammals. The most commonly spotted are deer and big horn sheep. If the timing is right, you may spot black bears, grizzlies, or wolves!

Enjoy a free day to explore as you please. Remember that your tour director will be around for tips and suggestions!

Day 6 Banff National Park - Jasper National Park

Grab your camera and get ready for a day of scenic grandeur. First stop: Lake Louise! The turquoise waters of this frequently photographed lake create a natural mirror that reflects its surroundings. It looks just like a painting!

Next, you'll stop at the Columbia Icefield for an amazing experience on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice that is 750 feet thick!

Last, but certainly not least, you'll journey north into Jasper National Park, where precipitous gorges, snow-capped summits, and sparkling blue lakes come into view. Check-in to your next accommodation, then enjoy an orientation tour of Jasper townsite. Feel free to join an optional trip down the Athabasca River this afternoon!

Day 7 Jasper National Park

Rise and shine! Gawk at the soaring mountains that surround you and breathe in fresh pine air. Today is yours to spend as you please.

You might want to join an optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island! Other options include hiking, spotting wildlife, and meandering through quaint shops.

Day 8 Jasper National Park - Mount Robson - Sun Peaks

This morning, you'll leave Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, peaking at 12,972 feet! Continue following the Yellowhead Highway south along the North Thompson River, a route pioneered by fur trappers.

Enjoy a relaxing night at Sun Peaks mountain resort.

Day 9 Sun Peaks - Lillooet - Whistler

Today, you'll head south, following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail Via Lillooet, "Mile o the Gold Rush Route." Keep your eyes focused out the window, as your coach follows the shores of Seton and Duffey lakes.

In the late afternoon, you'll arrive in the ski resort town of Whistler, where you'll spend your next two nights. 

Day 10 Whistler

Spend the day in the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb Mountain. Enjoy free time to explore the town in which the 2010 Winter Olympics were held!

You may decide to join in on an optional excursion - perhaps a float-plane ride over the glaciated peaks, or a gondola ride between Whistler and the Blackcomb Mountains. Keep your eyes peeled; these are perfect bear-spotting vantage points!

Day 11 Whistler - Victoria

Feel the breeze in your hair as you set sail across the Strait of Georgia, known for its Mediterranean-like climate. Enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing in the beautiful city of Victoria, which includes a visit to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, Bastion Square, Thunderbird Park, and more. 

Day 12 Victoria

A day at leisure gives you the chance to explore this splendid city at your own pace! Consider visits to the Royal British Columbia Museum, do some souvenir shopping on Government Street, or stroll around the picturesque harbor.

You might want to join the optional wildlife and whale-watching trip, on which you'll cruise the bright blue waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles! 

Day 13 Depart Vancouver

Take a scenic ferry back to the mainland, where you will make your way back to Vancouver airport for your departing flight. Spend your journey home replaying wonderful memories and dreaming about your next adventure! 

Day 1: Welcome to the Rocky Mountains

Through the city of Edmonton, we reach our first destination. This is none other than the resort town of Jasper. It is home to the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper National Park attracts those seeking vast wilderness, majestic peaks and lots of wildlife.

Note that if you cannot arrive at the Edmonton Airport by 2:00pm, you will need a ‘pre-tour’ day. You would sleep in Downtown Edmonton for that evening and would start our tour the following day. We would make all arrangements for you in the event you need to sleep in Edmonton.

Day 2: A Fantasy Boat Ride & Abundant Wildlife

As a daytrip from Jasper, we visit Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake as well as do a boat cruise from Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. Maligne Canyon contains waterfalls, underground stream outlets, birds and plant life. Wildlife is surprisingly abundant along Medicine Lake. Grizzly bear, black bear, mule deer, wolves, moose, mountain sheep and bald eagles are some of the animals which frequent the lake area during the summer season. The lake cruise is scenic and is arguably the highlight of the day.

Day 3: A Monster Bus on a Glacier & One of the Most Scenic Drives on Earth

Although we are relocating from Jasper to the resort town of Banff, a lot of important stops are made along the way: Athabasca Falls, Columbia Icefield (ride on the actual glacier with a specially designed, stretched out monster bus!), Weeping Wall Waterfalls, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and Peyto Lake. Today is best described as one of the most scenic drives on Earth! Note that lunch is included on today’s tour.

Day 4: A Pilot’s View of Paradise & a Canyon Deservedly Displayed on Postcards

As a daytrip from Banff, our morning starts with a visit to the town of Canmore. It is from there we take a helicopter ride. The mountainous scenery is like no other. In the latter part of the day, after returning to Banff, we visit the nearby Johnston Canyon. Limestone rock eroding over thousands of years led to a picture-perfect creation combining sheer canyon walls, waterfalls, tunnels and natural pools.

Day 5: Instagram-Famous Photo Stops, a Lake Cruise & Thundering Waterfalls

As another daytrip from Banff, today we visit Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, Hoodoos Viewpoint, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. We also go on an enjoyable boat cruise at Lake Minnewanka. The evening ends with a ride on Banff Gondola. We ascend Sulphur Mountain (2,281 meters or 7,484 feet) and then follow the well-designed skywalk.

Day 6: The Ultimate Seaplane Tour & an Ice Bar

After relocating by both land and air from Banff to the resort town of Whistler, we go on a seaplane ride: rugged peaks, majestic glaciers, lush alpine meadows and turquoise glacial waters. After this flightseeing tour, we return to town. Over two million people visit Whistler annually. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards. Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major magazines since the mid-1990s.

We encourage you to end the day with a visit to the town’s most famous ice bar. It is fascinating even to those who do not drink.

Day 7: The Outdoor Adventurist’s Favorite Day of All

As excursions from Whistler, we go off-roading, whitewater rafting and ziplining. These are three of the very most popular activities in Whistler…and we are doing them all in one day! Even if we ignore the thrill aspect, the nature we see today gives enough reason why not to miss out.

Day 8: Walking a Suspension Bridge, Touching Peak to Peak by Cable Car & Nightlife

Before relocating by land to the city of Vancouver, we go on the so-called ‘Peak 2 Peak’ Gondola. Until 2017, it held the world record for the longest free span between ropeway towers. Adding to the overall experience is the ski lift ride and a 425-foot suspension bridge called Cloudraker Skybridge.

Once in Vancouver, we head to another suspension bridge. It is called Capilano. It is 140 meters (460 feet) long and 70 meters (230 feet) above the river. Capilano draws over 1.2 million visitors per year. We recommend you end your evening in Downtown Vancouver, specifically in an area called Gastown. There you will find lots of restaurants, galleries, shops and places to party.

Day 9: Whales, Islands, Beaches & a Food Market

Before making a daytrip by seaplane to the village of Tofino, we visit Vancouver’s most famous public market. It is located on Granville Island. Established in 1979, Granville Island Public Market is located in an enclosed facility where customers can purchase fresh produce, meat, seafood, cheeses and other products, many of which are locally sourced. There are approximately 50 vendors in the market, some of which are food vendors. They sell a range of items from Mexican, Asian, Greek and deli food to candy and snacks. The market attracts both local residents and tourists.

The seaplane ride between Vancouver and Tofino is quite scenic. On a clear day, we can see whales as well as Clayoquot Sound. This is a body of water with many inlets and islands. While in Tofino, we have time to walk around town. A visit to Chesterman Beach is recommended for those who wish to swim.

Day 10: Our Tour Ends This Morning

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport or port in Vancouver.