Best of Western Canada

Day 1 - UK to Vancouver

Arrive in Vancouver and transfer to your downtown hotel. 

(pre-night before escorted tour)

Day 2 - Vancouver to Victoria

This morning check out of your Vancouver hotel, and make your way to Canada Place the pickup point for your escorted tour.

Today is the beginning of the escorted tour. After arriving onto the coach, you will begin your journey to Victoria taking the scenic ferry through the Gulf Islands. Once arrived in Victoria your first stop will be to Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens. After the gardens you will have the opportunity to taste some local cider.

Checking into your Victoria hotel in the evening, with free time to explore the city.

Day 3 - Victoria

Begin your day with a guided tour of Victoria, highlights on the tour includes Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, Fan Tan Alley, Fisherman’s Warf and Government Street. After your guided tour you will have your own free time to explore Victoria at leisure, enjoy a stroll along Government Street or visit the Royal BC Museum or enjoy afternoon tea at Fairmont Empress Royal.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Victoria to Tofino

An early start this morning checking out of your Victoria hotel for your drive along the Malahat Highway where you can enjoy the beautiful views over the Southern Gulf Islands. Along the way making a stop at Malahat SkyWalk a 600 metre-long elevated walkway through the expansive Arbutus and Douglas Fir Forest. The walk leads you to a spiralling tower which rises 250 metres above sea level providing 360 views of the islands, inlet, fjords, forest and mountains in two countries.

A second stop along the way will be at Duncan for a short tour of the City of Totems and some time to get yourself some lunch. Arriving at Tofino in the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Tofino & Pacific Rim National Park

In the morning you will have the option to join your guide for a hike for a hike on Tofino’s magnificent beaches including Long Beach or enjoy some free time.

Today take a Water Taxi trip over to Meares Island to visit the Big Tree Trail- the home to some of the largest old growth trees in British Columbia. Meares Island holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Tla-o-qui-aht people, who have inhabited the region for thousands of years. The island is known as "Waa'kas" in the Nuu-chah-nulth language, which means "mountain in the sea," and it is considered a sacred place.

Evening at leisure. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Tofino & Pacific Rim National Park

Today you have a few different options of which activity you would like to join in this morning. You can enjoy a boat cruise to Hot Springs Cove, kayaking, surfing, hiking through one of the many rainforest trails or simply relax on the beach.

Spending the rest of the evening at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Northern Vancouver Island

In the morning you have some freedom of choice of activities you can choose from including kayaking, fishing and whale watching. There is an option to do a full Grizzly Bear Expedition in the Toba Valley. (Available from September 1st to October 15th)

In the afternoon you can visit Elk Falls Provincial Park and explore the extensive network of walking and hiking trails including Elk Falls Suspension Bridge and enjoy a walk on the elevated cantilevered viewing platform that offers an amazing view of Elk Falls.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Northern Vancouver Island

In the morning you have some freedom of choice of activities you can choose from including kayaking, fishing and whale watching. There is an option to do a full Grizzly Bear Expedition in the Toba Valley. (Available from September 1st to October 15th)

In the afternoon you can visit Elk Falls Provincial Park and explore the extensive network of walking and hiking trails including Elk Falls Suspension Bridge and enjoy a walk on the elevated cantilevered viewing platform that offers an amazing view of Elk Falls.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Campbell River - Nanaimo - Vancouver

In the morning departing Campbell River making your way back to Vancouver. On route you will make a stop at Morningstar Farm in Parksville a great stop to enjoy some seasonal lunch. Also have the opportunity to stop at Nanaimo for a walk along the Harbourfront before retuning to cross the ferry at 3:55pm, arriving back into Vancouver at approximately 6:30pm.

(end of the escorted tour)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Vancouver to Jasper onboard the VIA Rail

In the morning spend some free time exploring Vancouver at your own pace. Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city with plenty to explore enjoy a stroll along Stanley Park or enjoy shopping on Robson Street.

In the afternoon transfer to Vancouver train station to board The Canadian to Jasper. As you begin to leave the city of Vancouver behind you will journey through the Rocky Mountains. With scenic views you will be in awe of the picturesque scenery you will see from your window, keep a close lookout as you may be able to spot some wildlife.

In the evening enjoy dinner onboard the train.

Day 11 - Arrive in Jasper

Wake up this morning onboard the Canadian as you begin to travel further into the Rockies, enjoy a full Canadian breakfast in the dinning lounge. As the train begins to get closer to Jasper you will have the chance to spot Mount Robson the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies located in Jasper National Park.

After arriving in Jasper making your way to your hotel spending the rest of the afternoon in leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast onboard train. 

Day 12 - Discover Jasper & It's Wildlife

Today enjoy a wildlife tour of Jasper! As you travel through Jasper and the surrounding area in one of the comfortable sightseeing vehicles, not only will you be amazed at some of the beautiful scenery on this journey, you will also learn about the ways the wildlife in the area contribute to the rich diversity of the National Park. The knowledgeable guides are trained to seek out all the park's most iconic creatures. Big or small, Jasper National Park provides a great opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat. Have your camera ready to capture some amazing photos of the highlights of this informative and entertaining "Discovery Tour".

Wildlife you may be able to spot includes Elk, Moose, Big Horn Sheep and Black Bears!

Day 13 - Icefields Parkway

Journey along The Icefields Parkway, Canada’s most scenic mountain roadway. This is the route to over one hundred visible glaciers, turquoise lakes, and rushing waterfalls. The highlight of this tour is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure on an Ice Explorer, for a “Once in a lifetime trip” on to the 1000-foot deep Athabasca Glacier. Following lunch (included). Experience Jasper National Park’s newest attraction, the Glacier Skywalk. Step out onto a glass-floored observation platform extending 30 metres out over the Sunwapta Valley for an unobstructed view of the surrounding glaciers. Take a stroll around Athabasca Falls before your late afternoon arrival into Jasper.

Highlights: Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls, Glacier Adventure and Skywalk admission and picnic lunch.

Glacier Skywalk admission weather dependent.

Arriving into Banff in the evening, spending the evening at leisure.

Day 14 - Explore Banff

Spend today exploring Banff at your own pace. We have included admission to the Banff Gondola, providing amazing views across Banff. From the top you will be able to see six mountain ranges, Bow Valley and the town of Banff. Only an 8 minute ride to the top of 7,500 feet mountain!

Day 15 - Banff to UK

Today check out of your Banff hotel and join your transfer to Calgary Airport for your onward flight to the UK.