The Ultimate Tour of Western Canada

Day 1

Fly to Calgary

Arrive in Calgary and transfer independently to your hotel, enjoying an evening exploring Cowboy town. Head to pedestrianised Stephen Avenue for a great choice of restaurants and bars. We can arrange a private transfer from Calgary airport to your hotel for a supplement.

Day 2

Calgary to Banff

Take a scheduled coach transfer from your hotel this morning and travel west across the prairies to the Rocky Mountains. Upon arrival into Banff you’ll have the rest of the day at leisure to explore this charming town.

Day 3

Banff

Choose how you want to spend your time in Canada’s first national park – we can book any of these options for you.
Explore Banff including the Banff Gondola - a journey through this beautiful national park including a trip on the gondola ascending Sulphur Mountain to admire the spectacular views of the Rockies. You can also take an unforgettable cruise on beautiful Lake Minnewanka, as part of this tour or simply on it’s own.

Helicopter Flightseeing - enjoy a birds eye view of the Rockies: Option 1 Mount Assiniboine Helicopter Tour (30 minutes) or Option 2 Three Sisters Peak Tour (20 minutes)

There are also several other options such as a guided horseback ride, evening wildlife safari, or enjoy a round of golf or spa session at the Fairmont Banff Springs.

Day 4

Banff to Lake Louise

After check-out, join the Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Tour departing Banff and ending at Lake Louise, and which takes a full day. Enjoy the wonderful sights of the Banff and Yoho National Parks, Moraine Lake, Takakaw Falls, Kicking Horse Pass, Valley of the Ten Peaks and Spiral Tunnels. On arrival at Lake Louise, you’ll check into the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Day 5

Lake Louise

Enjoy a day at leisure in Lake Louise, where you can take a stroll through the stunning landscape, perhaps hire a canoe on the lake, or simply relax and take in the views. You could also take the Lake Louise Sightseeing lift, where you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic views and  visit the Wildlife Interpretive Centre.

Day 6

Lake Louise to Jasper

Today you will travel along one of the most spectacular roads in the world, on a full day guided tour along the Icefields Parkway and into Jasper National Park. At the Columbia Icefield you will enjoy a 90-minute glacier adventure on a unique Ice Explorer vehicle, visit the Discover Centre (lunch is included) and brave the Glacier Skywalk – a glass-floored platform extending 30 meters out over the Sunwapta Canyon. Arrive in Jasper at the end of the afternoon for a two night stay in this stunning national park.

Day 7

Jasper

Today you will experience the best of Jasper National Park on a tour including lunch and a cruise on beautiful Maligne Lake, around Spirit Island. Travel the trails of the early explorers, along the Athabasca Canadian Heritage River. Stroll above Maligne Caynon with its narrow gorge and limestone walls and visit the place of First Nation legend at Medicine Lake.

Day 8

Rocky Mountaineer - Jasper to Kamloops

This morning board the famous Rocky Mountaineer train for a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Sit back and enjoy views of the dramatic landscape of the Continental Divide, as your route takes you through winding valleys, mountain ranges and the Yellowhead Pass, with entertaining commentary and lots of food and drink to keep you nourished. Overnight in Kamloops BC.

Day 9

Rocky Mountaineer - Kamloops to Vancouver

Continue west today towards Vancouver, passing the Coast and Cascade Mountains and Fraser River Valley. Enjoy the great food on board the train, and be entertained by the commentary and chat of the Rocky Mountaineer on board team. Arrive into Vancouver for a night in this vibrant waterfront city.

Day 10

Vancouver - Campbell River

This morning you will fly from Vancouver to Campbell River in the north of Vancouver Island to begin your wildlife adventure. The flight is approximately 60 minutes over beautiful British Columbia. The rest of the day is at your leisure in this charming coastal town.

Day 11

Knight Inlet Wilderness Lodge

Today another iconic experience – a flight on a floatplane! After an 08.30 transfer from your hotel to the floatplane base, you will depart at 09.30 on the short flight to Knight Inlet Lodge. Following an orientation, you will embark on a small boat excursion into the beautiful estuary. Two tours each lasting a couple of hours will follow in the afternoon; one of these tours is a bear viewing tour (by boat in the spring and on a viewing platform from late August to October), and the other will be a Knight Inlet sightseeing cruise. You will be accompanied on all excursions by a knowledgeable guide trained in the local wildlife and natural history of the area. In the evening relax in the lounge while enjoying an interpretive presentation by one of the guides.

Days 12 & 13

Knight Inlet Wilderness Lodge

Over the course of the next two days you have a choice of bear viewing and wildlife watching excursions to enjoy:

• Daily excursions to Johnstone Strait for marine wildlife viewing
• Bald Eagle and other bird watching
• Scenic boat cruise of Knight Inlet and to see the grizzly bears from platforms or boats
• Excursion to Thompson Sound and Bond Sound for bear and wildlife viewing
• Evening interpretative programme
• Wildlife tracking to make plaster casts of animal prints
• Interpretative forest hike in the Kwalate River Valley

Day 14

Knight Inlet - Campbell River - Vancouver

After breakfast you will have one final opportunity to participate in a bear viewing boat excursion before your 10:00 return transfer to Campbell River by floatplane. On arrival in Vancouver transfer independently to your chosen hotel.

Day 15

It’s the end of this suggested itinerary, but you could choose to spend more time in Vancouver to enjoy the sights of this super city, or you could choose a seven night cruise to Alaska. Alternatively for a truly Canadian experience in a thoroughly remote location, fly from Vancouver to the remote Yukon Territory to see the Northern Lights, or travel to Churchill Manitoba to view polar bears (available for holidays in September or October).