Your Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
