From the Rockies to the Pacific | Fly drive & Rocky Mountaineer

Day 1

Calgary to Banff

Fly from the UK and arrive into Calgary (we will include the flights in your holiday itinerary). Collect your car hire vehicle and drive the short 1 1/4 hours into the Rockies. See the mountains grow as you approach Banff and arrive into this beautiful town with the peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade dominating the landscape.  If you would prefer to spend a night or 2 in Calgary before collecting your car hire, we can arrange a transfer to downtown Calgary to your hotel.

3 nights Banff

Day 2-3

Banff

Spend the next 2 days exploring Banff.  You could head up Banff Gondola to take in the 360 degree vista, or the quieter Mt Norquay Chairlift (you may see some bears) to look down over Banff and the surrounding mountains. Why not head to the Hotsprings to relax, take a horse ride or wagon ride and have a BBQ in the mountains.  Take a Banff tour to explore the area and see the local wildlife, peruse the many shops, cafes, restaurants and bars and savour the atmosphere.  If you would like to visit Lake Louise, one of the best ways is via an organised 4 hour tour from Banff. This will allow you to avoid the queues and the park and ride to the lake.

Day 4-5

Banff to Emerald Lake

Time to leave Banff behind you and drive over the provincial border into British Columbia to the turquoise waters of Emerald Lake. Stay at Emerald Lake Lodge for 2 nights and have a day of hiking, canoeing or just relaxing at the lodge.

2 nights in Emerald Lake Lodge.

Day 6

Emerald Lake to Jasper

Head back into Alberta and then north up the amazing Icefields Parkway to Jasper.  You should stop at the Columbia Icefield where we will book you a tour on a SnoCoach to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier. It’s a great experience to stand on the glacier and discover its history.  The tour also includes entry to the Skywalk, a glass walkway where you can experience fossils, waterfall views and incredible glacier landscapes along a one-kilometre interpretive walkway, situated near routes frequented by mountain goats and other wildlife.  Afterwards, carry on the drive to Jasper – remember to stop and take photos where you can!

2 nights in Jasper.

Day 7

Jasper

Enjoy a day of exploration in Jasper.  Head up Whistler mountain for a hike and views over Jasper townsite.  Why not take a drive down to Maligne Lake and take a cruise on the lake, or take a gentle rafting trip on the Athabasca River?  We can book these tours for you and more. You will need to drop the rental car this evening as the transfer to the train station will be early the next morning.

Day 8

Jasper to Kamloops

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. Your journey takes you through a spectacular array of scenery as you travel between the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the interior. The highlights include Mount Robson, at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet) the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Pyramid Falls, and the  the Yellowhead Pass.

1 night in Kamloops.

Day 9

Kamloops to Vancouver

Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On today’s journey you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening.

2 nights in Vancouver

Day 10

Vancouver

Spend the day in Vancouver and explore this scenic city. Visit Gastown, take a small ferry to Granville Island, explore Stanley Park or do some shopping on Robson Street.  We can organise a tour to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain on the North shore.  Ask us for day tours.  You may wish to spend an extra night or more here, or even head 2 hours north up to the mountain resort of Whistler for a couple of days.

Day 11

Vancouver to Tofino

Pick up your next car rental first thing this morning, and take the Horseshoe Bay ferry over to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Drive across the island, heading past Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park, where you can stop for a while to gaze up at the 80 metre tall canopy of 800 year old giant Douglas Fir, Grand Firs, Western Hemlocks, and Western Red Cedar trees.  Carry on to Tofino, your base on the edge of the Pacific Coast for the next 3 nights.

3 nights Tofino.

Day 12-13

Tofino

Enjoy Tofino for the next 2 days.  Head out on a whale watching trip or/and a coastal bear watching trip.  Other wildlife are frequently spotted, such as bald eagles, dolphins, seals and sea otters.  Maybe you would like to visit the Hot Springs, or explore the area via Sea Kayak, hike the trails in the rainforest or simply relax at your accommodation or on the beach front?

Day 14-15

Tofino to Victoria

Drive back across the island today and then down to Victoria.  Go for a tour of the Parliament Buildings, have high tea at the Empress, or browse through the Royal British Columbia Museum, one of the best museums in Canada. Take a whale watching trip or experience some great seafood at one of the many restuarants on Wharf Street.

2 nights in Victoria.

Day 16

Victoria to Vancouver

Time to leave Victoria today and take the ferry from Swartz Bay back to the main land.  This ferry intertwines through the local islands and is a pretty route to experience.  Once back on the main land, drive to Vancouver airport, return the car rental and fly back to the UK.