Compare The Canadian Rockies by Great Value Vacations vs Family Canadian Adventure by Explore!
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 2,747 | $ 4,200 |
| Price Per Day | $ 211 | $ 300 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Travel Themes | N/A |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | NA | No |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| Description |
This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation. GOOD NEWS - The local tour operator will no longer require a COVID-19 vaccination for travelers as of March 1, 2023. For travelers departing before March 1, the tour operator requires that travelers aged 12 and older provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English, for all vacations. Proof of vaccination must be completed at least 14 days prior to the tour start date. *Exceptions apply to children who do not qualify for vaccination.
Get lost in the picture-perfect beauty of Canada's national parks and scenic drives on this once-in-a-lifetime Canadian Rockies tour. Stroll the vibrant streets of charming cities like Vancouver, Kelowna, and Victoria, enjoy cozy stays in the ski resort areas of Whistler and Sun Peaks, and gasp at the stunning scenery of Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, and Jasper National Park! Explore the vast valleys, majestic mountains, sparkling glaciers, and turquoise lakes that make the Canadian Rockies so special. On this incredible escorted vacation, enjoy bonus perks like a wine tour and tasting in Kelowna, a thrilling ride on an all-terrain Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield, fascinating city tours, and more! Take in the beauty of Lake Okanagan and Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies' highest mountain! Relax on a peaceful ferry ride across the Strait of Georgia as you sail to Victoria and Vancouver Island. This amazing adventure is packed with spirited culture and natural beauty from start to finish! |
Adventure awaits on this family tour of western Canada. From exploring the surface of the Athabasca Glacier to whale watching off the coast of Victoria Island and meeting grizzlies at a bear sanctuary, there's an awe-inspiring experience at every turn. Whether we're canoeing or tree-top walking, drum making or totem pole spotting, there'll be no time for boredom. Each night, we'll make Canada's lush nature our temporary home, camping under the stars and roasting marshmallows over an open fire. Canada's rugged icons - Traverse the Rockies and beyond, taking in Canada's must-see sites from Banff National Park to the Icefield Parkway. Non-stop adventure - From tree-top suspension bridges to nature trails and canoe excursions to glacier explorations, this tour is packed with thrilling activities. Camping under the stars - Get even closer to nature, camping amidst forests and at the edge of lakes. |
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 Trip starts in Vancouver
Our Canadian family tour begins in Vancouver. Known as the Jewel of North America, and easily one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Canada, Vancouver eases us into the country's wonderous nature, backed by Mount Seymour and set on the Pacific Coast. Due to the number of evening flights into Vancouver, our tour leader - who is also our driver for the duration of the tour - will meet you on the morning of day two. A message will be left in the hotel reception with timings and anything you might need for the following day. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive into Vancouver at any time. If you\ d like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Vancouver International Airport (YVC), which is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, our hotel is centrally located in the downtown area and is the perfect base to explore some of the city's highlights. You might like to head to the enormous rainforest in Stanley Park or to see the Granville Island public market.
Meals Provided : None
Day 2 Explore Vancouver and catch ferry to Vancouver Island
This morning, we'll explore Vancouver including visiting Granville Island and its public market, Chinatown, the Gastown area of the city and Stanley Park. We'll enjoy a picnic in one of Vancouver's parks that overlook the bay and catch the afternoon ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island where we'll camp on the outskirts of the city. Although the island stretches almost 500 kilometres from north to south, it has a population of just 500,000 and, with its numerous provincial parks, it's easy to escape into the wilderness.
Meals Provided : Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 Whale watching trip and discover Victoria and its totem poles
Vancouver Island is one of the best places in the world to spot marine wildlife, being situated on the main migration route of several species of whale including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whales, and Minke. We'll board a catamaran for a whale-watching excursion around the surrounding islands. It may also be possible to spot Osprey, Bald Eagle, and other marine birds on our tour. Upon returning to shore, we'll explore Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, including sites such as the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and the impressive Empress Hotel on the harbourfront. We'll finish our guided tour at Thunderbird Park, home to numerous totem poles that were carved by First Nation citizens, the original inhabitants of modern-day Canada. The rest of the day is free for optional visits, including to the Royal British Columbia Museum or Butchart's Gardens which is world-renowned for its beauty.
Meals Provided : Breakfast
Day 4 Return to the mainland, treetop adventure at Capilano Suspension Bridge and drive to Squamish
We'll take the morning ferry back to the mainland and stop off at Capilano Suspension Bridge for a treetop adventure 70 metres above the Capilano River. Manoeuvre from one Douglas Fir tree to another on a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 30 metres above the forest floor. Afterwards, we'll continue to Squamish, situated at the end of the Howe Sound and surrounded by mountains, arriving in time to enjoy an evening meal cooked by our tour leader.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 Visit a First Nations cultural centre and make a traditional drum, continue to Hat Creek campground
This morning, we'll visit the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre and learn about the indigenous people of the region who'll show us how to make a traditional mini drum. In the afternoon, we'll drive northeast to the Hat Creek campground, in the grounds of a historic ranch built in the Gold Rush era.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 Drive to Clearwater via Spahats Creek Falls viewpoint, canoe in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Today, we'll explore more of the historic Hat Creek site and indigenous village. Continuing towards Wells Gray Park, we'll make a stop at Spahats Creek Falls viewpoint and take in the scenery while we tuck into a picnic lunch in the park. Upon arrival at Wells Gray, our local guide will give us a detailed introduction to paddling techniques and environmental ethics before we take to canoes for a three-hour journey to our wild camping spot. Please note, for the next two nights, we'll go back to basics as we wild camp. There'll be no showers or running water.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 Full day in Wells Gray Provincial Park, canoe on Clearwater Lake and wild camp
After a hearty breakfast, we'll head back out onto Clearwater Lake to further explore the waters. After an hour of canoeing, we'll reach Eagle's View, where we can take in the vistas over the lake. There's a beach where we'll stop with time to enjoy a dip in the lake. Back at our camp, this afternoon we'll learn some bushcraft skills as we prepare a campfire and assist our guide in making our evening meal. We'll spend the evening roasting marshmallows on the campfire and stargazing.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 Walk along the Fraser Canyon and stay in Jasper
This morning, we'll paddle back to the launch and swap our canoes for our bus. If time permits, we'll make another stop along the road to complete our Wells Gray Park exploration, visiting either Helmcken Falls or Bailey's Chute. Heading northeast towards Mount Robson Provincial Park, we'll see Mount Robson itself which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3954 meters. It's so tall that it has its own weather patterns and if we're lucky we'll be able to view it from top to bottom. From here, we'll enjoy a walk along Fraser Canyon to Overlander Falls (a one-kilometre round trip/45-minute walk) and then drive on to Jasper, our destination for today. Look out for black bears, elks, and eagles en route, many of which can usually be spotted from the road. We'll set up camp for the next two nights in the National Park.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9 Visit Maligne Canyon and walk the Bald Hill Trail
We'll dedicate today to Maligne Canyon. The canyon has a reputation for being one of the most spectacular gorges in the Canadian Rockies, with sheer, limestone walls that plunge 50 metres into the waters of the Maligne River. We'll take a short walk along the canyon passing by springs, waterfalls, bridges, and forests before visiting Maligne Lake, the largest lake in the Rockies. After enjoying a picnic lunch near the lake, the afternoon sees us hiking along the Bald Hills Trail (around 13 kilometres/four-to-five hours of walking). There are several routes that we might take, and our leader will choose which one is best based on the makeup of the group. There are also opportunities to explore the lake by canoe or cruise boat (optional), before we drive back to Jasper through the Maligne Valley.
Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10 Drive Icefield Parkway, snow glacier tour and arrive in Golden
Today's drive takes us along the Icefield Parkway to Golden. The road negotiates its way through a landscape of coniferous forests, towering mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, and impressive glaciers. Possible scenic stops en route include Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and Athabasca Falls. Along the way, we'll hop on board the Ice Explorer, a vehicle designed especially for glacial travel, for an excursion across the surface of the Falls Glacier. In the afternoon, we'll continue our drive to Golden with wildlife spotting as we go, so be on the lookout for black bears, elks and eagles. Tonight, we'll stay in Golden, a small town in the heart of the Columbia Valley.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11 Visit grizzly bear refuge and walk in Yoho National Park
This morning, we'll head to the remarkable Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge, the world's largest enclosed grizzly bear habitat. It offers us a unique opportunity to watch a grizzly behaving exactly as it would in the wild. After a short hike to the reserve, you'll have a chance to meet Boo, the refuge's very own orphan grizzly, and learn more about the life of these magnificent bears from one of the centre's resident naturalists. Next, we head for Yoho National Park, to take a short walk up to Takkakaw Falls which is the second-highest waterfall in Canada. You can either relax at our campsite or stretch your legs on one of the nearby trails.
Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12 Walk by Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and drive to Banff
This morning, we'll drive for around three hours to Banff National Park - a landscape of mountains, meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. On our way, we'll stop for a walk around the postcard-perfect Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - the walk will be based on the groups\ abilities with a choice of routes ranging from six kilometres (around two-and-a-half hours) to 14 kilometres (around five hours). You'll also have the option of renting a canoe and heading out on Lake Louise. If time permits, we might have the chance to visit Banff on the way to our evening's campground for a bit of exploration.
Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch
Day 13 Explore Banff before hiking in Banff National Park and drive to Calgary
This morning, we'll take a hike in Banff National Park, which is rich in wildlife with over 60 species of mammals and 280 species of birds being recorded here, including golden eagles, cougars, and black bears. We'll then drive to Calgary and spend the afternoon exploring on foot. There's the option to climb Calgary Tower for a 360-degree panoramic view over the city, set against a backdrop of the Rockies.
Meals Provided : Breakfast
Day 14 Trip ends in Calgary
There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like an airport transfer, you need to depart from Calgary International Airport (YYC), around a 20-minute drive from the hotel.
Meals Provided : None
