Holiday Overview
This superb road trip takes in some of the most spectacular lakes and lodges in Canada.
Enjoy a 3 night stay in the cosmopolitan coastal city of Vancouver before picking up your hire car for a 10 night self drive adventure.
First stop is Tyax Lodge in Gold Bridge, before heading to the secluded resort Alpine Meadows. Following this head to the stunningly located Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, situated on Lake Beauvert, it's easy to see why British Royalty stays here when in the area! Continue your stay at lakeside lodges with stops at Moraine Lake Lodge and Emerald Lake Lodge, before ending your trip in Banff, the heart of the Rockies.
Lakes & Lodges Self Drive includes:
- Return flights from the UK
- Intermediate Car Hire (We recommend adding Sat Nav)
- 13 nights accommodation
- Vancouver Hop on Hop off Sightseeing Tour
- Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier
- Historic Hat Creek (admission)
- Glacier Skywalk at Columbia Icefields
- Banff choose 1 of 4 excursions : 1) Banff Gondola 2) Lake Minnewanka Cruise 3) River Explorer Canoe Tour 4) Bow River Horseback Adventure
- 1 Breakfast at Moraine Lake Lodge
- 2 Dinners & 2 Breakfast at Emerald Lake Lodge
- Jasper choose 1 of 3 excursions : 1) Maligne Lake Cruise 2) Jasper River Float 3) Jasper Nature Walk
Day 1 - Fly UK to Vancouver
Arrive in to Vancouver Airport and make your own way to your downtown hotel.
Featured accommodation
Sheraton Wall Centre
Enhance your experience
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Day 2 - Vancouver Sightseeing
Spend today at your leisure sightseeing in Vancouver with your Hop on Hop off Sightseeing pass. We highly recommend taking a stroll down to Coal Harbour, around Stanley Park with views of Lions Gate before stopping off at English Bay. Perhaps even take the aquabus from downtown Vancouver to Granville Island, time it for lunch or an afternoon Galeto and/or cake.
Featured accommodation
Sheraton Wall Centre
Enhance your experience
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Unmissable Experiences
Vancouver Hop on Hop off Bus Tour
Day 3 - Vancouver at leisure
Spend today at your leisure in Vancouver. Why not ask one of our Canada Experts for recommendations of pre-bookable excursions such as the Victoria & Butchart Gardens day trip or Whistler and the Sea 2 Sky Gondola day trip or Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge tour.
Featured accommodation
Sheraton Wall Centre
Enhance your experience
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Unmissable Experiences
Vancouver Experiences
Day 4 - Vancouver to Gold Bridge
Pick up your hire car from downtown Vancouver this morning and transfer to Gold Bridge for 2 nights at the Tyax Lodge.
Featured accommodation
Tyax Lodge
Day 5 - Gold Bridge
A full day to explore Gold Bridge and the surrounding area. Tyax offers a wide array of activities for all ages, including western horseback riding, guided fly fishing tours, fly casting and gold panning lessons, mountain biking on either gentle rolling or challenging single tracks, floatplane adventures over the Chilcotin Wilderness, as well as ATV safaris along old mining trails leading to the wildflower-carpeted alpine meadows.
Featured accommodation
Tyax Lodge
Day 6 - Gold Bridge to Clearwater (378 km/235) mi
Return through Lillooet, known as the land of the Gold Rush Trail and ‘Mile Zero’ of the Old Caribou Wagon Road during the Gold Rush Years. Now the area is home to the largest Canadian producers of the medicinal plant, Ginseng. Visit the Gold Rush Town of Cache Creek where you can visit the Historic Hat Creek, which literally takes you back to the days of the Gold Rush.
Featured accommodation
Alpine Meadows Resort
Day 7 - Clearwater to Jasper (338 km/210 mi)
Set out for Jasper along the scenic Yellowhead Highway and take in the breathtaking vistas of the steep-walled gorges and crashing falls of the North Thompson River. On your journey today, perhaps you will get a glimpse of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Leaving British Columbia, you enter Alberta and Jasper National Park. Jasper was originally a tent city serving the railway, and is now a quaint mountain village (breakfast included).
Featured accommodation
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Day 8 - Jasper Exploring
Today, explore this charming mountain village close to many terrific scenic highlights. Take a tram ride up Whistlers Mountain or a boat cruise on Maligne Lake (not included), in the evening soak in the pools at Miette Hot Springs, and watch the sunset over Pyramid and Patricia Lakes (included).
Featured accommodation
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Jasper Experiences
Day 9 - Jasper to Moraine Lake
This morning depart on the scenic Icefields Parkway that takes you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies. You view a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged peaks, over 100 glaciers and pristine emerald coloured lakes. Along the way see such sights as the Columbia Icefield and take an Ice Explorer ride out onto the glacier (included).The lodge is situated on the shore of Moraine Lake, known for its iridescent turquoise colour, Moraine Lake has become known as The Jewel of the Rockies. (Please note: Mountain lakes in this region will be frozen through to mid-June).
Featured accommodation
Moraine Lake Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Moraine Lake
Day 10 - Moraine Lake to Emerald Lake
A short drive today through majestic mountain passes into Yoho National Park. This national park is filled with gem-coloured glacial lakes and waterfalls and dense forests of western red cedar and western hemlock. Historic railroads, spiral tunnels within mountain sides and steep rock faces where mountain goats roam are just some of the sights to be seen. Other Yoho marvels include a natural rock bridge over the Kicking Horse River, Hoodoos, some of Canada’s highest waterfalls and the Burgess Shale fossil find where over 120 marine animal species dating back as far as 530 million years were discovered. (Breakfast & Dinner Included)
Featured accommodation
Emerald Lake Lodge
Day 11 - Emerald Lake Lodge
Built of hand-hewn timber and featuring massive stone fireplaces, the Lodge includes a formal dining room, quiet reading and sitting rooms. From the upper or lower large verandahs, enjoy the serene views of this wilderness landscape. (Breakfast & Dinner Included)
Featured accommodation
Emerald Lake Lodge
Day 12 - Emerald Lake to Banff
Enjoy the leisurely drive to Banff. Choose the Bow Valley Parkway, beside the Bow River, with an option for you to take a stop at Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footpath to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff. This afternoon, explore Banff and the surrounding area. In town you’ll find lots of excitement - shopping, cafés, nightlife and museums. (breakfast included)
Featured accommodation
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Day 13 - Banff Exploring
A full day to explore Banff. Check out the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff Gondola (included) where you will see a panoramic view of the Bow Valley, and then take a dip in the hot mineral pools at the Upper Hot Springs.
Featured accommodation
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Banff Experiences
Day 14 - Banff to Calgary
Drive to Calgary today, along the 1A Highway. En route, you may wish to stop at the historic Cochrane Ranch (not included) before dropping off your rental car at the Calgary International Airport or downtown location.
Sheraton Wall Centre
Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Sheraton Wall Centre is a short walk from business and entertainment neighbourhoods, Robson Street shops and Yaletown restaurants.
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel, Vancouver
Located in the heart of Vancouver, this family-friendly hotel is a favourite for sports fans & theatre goers. The hotel is just two blocks from BC Place Stadium, home of the BC Lions, and just three blocks from Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. The hotel is also close to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver Playhouse, and Orpheum Theatre.
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver
The Fairmont Waterfront luxury hotel showcases the best of Vancouver. Conveniently located, the hotel connects by covered walkway to the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place, and the Sky train. Situated on scenic Burrard Inlet, it has a central to sightseeing and shopping in Vancouver.
Tyax Lodge, Gold Bridge
Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing provides you with a cozy atmosphere to rest after a long exciting day!
Alpine Meadows Resort
Imagine a vacation retreat where your days are filled with endless recreational possibilities and your evenings are spent in a state of peaceful bliss under the stars, while basking in the evening glow of Hallamore Lake. Escape your everyday hustle and relax while you soak up the peaceful ambiance of Alpine Meadows Resort.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Located on the shores of Beauvert Lake in the magnificent Canadian Rockies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort invites you to experience the unique accommodations and Luxury Signature Cabins, sure to evoke memories of this Jasper Lodge that will last a lifetime.
Moraine Lake Lodge, Lake Louise
Nestled in a spectacular valley in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Moraine Lake Lodge provides the ultimate romantic getaway for those seeking a luxurious escape for a honeymoon, anniversary, hiking experience, or a relaxing holiday.
Emerald Lake Lodge, Field
Emerald Lake is situated in Yoho National Park and boasts an unmatched diversity of both activities and landscapes suited to the enthusiastic traveller. It was discovered in 1882, when famed mountain guide Tom Wilson was led lakeside while rounding up a group of horses that had gone astray, and was immediately taken by the vivid Emerald-coloured waters
Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Banff
Distinct from the majority of Banff hotels, Buffalo Mountain Lodge is situated on Tunnel Mountain – formerly called “Sleeping Buffalo” by native peoples living in the region.
The Rocky Mountains have long been an area of great significance to indigenous peoples. The valleys were places of ceremony and celebration. The lakes and mineral springs offered rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit.
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Alternative My Canada Trips Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2022, 2023 My Canada Trips holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 021 7732 and let one of our Canada Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
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