Day 1
Fly from Dublin - Vancouver
Transfer independently to your hotel.
Day 2
Vancouver to Whistler (76 miles)
Your self-drive holiday begins today as you pick up your rental car. This morning depart Vancouver along the scenic Sea to Ski Highway to Whistler. Highlights along the way include the cascading Shannon Falls and the Stawamus Chief Rock where climbers from all over the globe migrate to climb the granite cliffs. Arrive into Whistler by early afternoon.
Overnight Whistler
Standard: Listel Hotel (Standard Room)
Superior: Hilton Whistler Resort (Hilton Room)
Day 3
Whistler
This charming alpine resort is nestled between world-renowned Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Enjoy an extensive range of summer activities from golf on one of the 4 championship designer golf courses, water activities on any of the 5 lakes or numerous rivers, to mountain top dining or just relax and enjoy some of the many fine café’s and restaurants if this European inspired alpine village.
Overnight Whistler
Standard: Listel Hotel (Standard Room)
Superior: Hilton Whistler Resort (Hilton Room)
Day 4
Whistler to Sun Peaks (183 miles)
Begin your spectacular drive on the Duffey Lake Road where you will see breathtaking views of Joffee Glacier. Continue on through Lillooett known as the land of the Gold Rush Trail and onto Cache Creek where you stop to visit the historic Hat Creek Ranch (Included)From here travel a short distance to your overnight accommodation at the Cahilty Lodge, located in a stunning resort of Sun Peaks.
Overnight Sun Peaks
Standard: Coast Sundance Lodge (Standard Room)
Superior: Delta Sun Peaks Resorts (Delta Room)
Day 5
Sun Peaks to Jasper (277 miles)
Today, follow the Thompson River through rolling plateaus to the snowy peaks of the Monashee Mountains. View Pyramid Falls and the expansive glaciers of the Albreda Icefields. Pass by Mount Robson, at 3954 metres (12,972 feet), which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Arrive in Jasper late afternoon.
Overnight Jasper
Standard: Lobstick Lodge (Standard Room)
Superior: Sawridge Inn (Standard Room)
Day 6
Jasper
Explore this charming mountain village close to many terrific scenic highlights. Take a tram ride up Whistlers mountain, or visit Maligne Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the world, and enjoy a 90 minute cruise heading toward the south end of this postcard setting (Maligne Lake cruise not included). You will marvel at the magnificent shoreline with dense forest and glacial peaks rising abruptly from the water?s edge. Stopping at Spirit Island, you will have the opportunity to take your own version of the world famous photograph of the lake.
Overnight Jasper
Standard: Lobstick Lodge (Standard Room)
Superior: Sawridge Inn (Standard Room)
Day 7
Jasper to Banff (182 miles)
Your scenic drive today takes you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies. View a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged peaks, over 100 glaciers and pristine emerald colour lakes. Along the way see such sights as the Columbia Icefield and take an Ice Explorer ride out onto the glacier (included). Also watch for the Sarbach Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, with the Bow Glacier providing the backdrop, and Crowfoot Glacier before your arrival into Lake Louise. From Lake Louise 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 footway to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff.
Please note: Mountain lakes in this region will be frozen through to mid June
Included in your FlexiDrive package is the Parks Canada Discovery Pass allowing admission to:
Cave & Basin National Historic Site
The birthplace of Canada’s National Parks System. Visitors can walk into the Cave and learn the fascinating story of the springs’ discovery. Historical exhibits, geological displays, and videos tell the park’s history. Explore the effect of heated spring water on the surrounding marshes and the flora and the fauna. Interpretive displays, self-guided trails accessible year-round.
Banff Park Museum
One of Canada’s oldest and grandest Natural History Museums. This turn of the century museum displays an extensive collection of birds, mammals, insects, and curiosities of Banff National Park. The site is well known for its fine wood architecture. It also offers a reading room plus a hands-on discovery room.
Overnight Banff
Standard: Rundlestone Lodge (Standard Room)
Superior: Rimrock Resort (Deluxe Room)
Day 8
Banff
A full day to explore Banff and area. In town you’ll find lots of excitement - shopping, cafes, nightlife, museums. 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.
Overnight Banff
Standard: Rundlestone Lodge (Standard Room)
Superior: Rimrock Resort (Deluxe Room)
Day 9
Banff to Kelowna (301 miles)
Your journey today takes you through some of the most spectacular stretches of highway in Canada. Follow the Kicking Horse Pass, which takes you to the Rogers Pass and onto the beautiful shorelines of Shuswap Lake, home to Canada’s largest sockeye salmon spawn to the south fork of the Thompson River. The highway follows the Thompson into the dry interior grasslands and the city of Kamloops. At this point the highway begins the long descent into the hot, dry interior, initially through ’cattle country’ then down into the orchard country of the Okanagan Valley. Set on the shores of Lake Okanogan, over 90 kilometers long, Kelowna has become a large lakeside resort, with long, hot summers.
Overnight Kelowna
Standard: Prestige Inn (Standard Room)
Superior: Delta Grand Okanagan Resort (Standard Room)
Day 10
Kelowna
Spend the day exploring the Okanagan Valley, perhaps take a tour of vineyard, or spend the day on the beaches of Lake Okanagan.
Overnight Kelowna
Standard: Prestige Inn (Standard Room)
Superior: Delta Grand Okanagan Resort (Standard Room)
Day 11
Kelowna to Vancouver (232 miles)
An amazing trip awaits you today, from Kelowna to Vancouver. Travel via the Okanagan connector to the Coquihalla Highway. Along the way stop at any of the roadside stalls offering for sale during the long summer day’s cherries, apples, apricots, pears, peaches, grapes and plums. Turning onto the Coquihalla Highway climb to an elevation of 1244 metres where over 10 metres of snow can fall in an average winter. You will witness incredible feats of engineering as you travel through the Great Bear snow shed, crossing the Dry Gulch Bridge (over 280 metres long and 175 metres high). Begin descending from the summit pass through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the province. This dramatic change of environment is always exhilarating, as you go from bright sunlight on the high rock faces to misty coastal cedars and tall firs in the space of half an hour. Approaching the Pacific coast, the canyon opens into the broad fertile Fraser Valley. A stop at Minter Gardens in the Fraser Valley is a must!
Overnight Vancouver
Day 12
Drop off car at the airport before your return flight.
Day 13
Arrival back to Dublin
What's Included
- Hotel accommodation in your chosen category for 9 nights
- 2nts in Vancouver at a 4* Hotel
- Car rental (economy) for the duration of the trip
- Admission to Hat Creek Ranch.
- Admission to either Banff Upper Hot Springs or Miette Hot Springs Jasper
- Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier
- Sulphur Mountain Gondola
- Exclusive travel documentation package including personalized maps, itinerary and driving directions
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