Day 1
Fly to Vancouver
Fly to Vancouver and check in to your hotel for three nights.
Hotel: Georgian Court; or upgrade to either the Fairmont Vancouver or Fairmont Waterfront
Days 2 & 3
Vancouver
You have two full days to explore this beautiful waterfront city. There are some great walks through Vancouver and our favourite is from Canada Place to Stanley Park along the seawall. As you walk you’ll see all the activity of the wide open harbour with its beautiful mountain back drop, such as floatplanes taking off and landing and vessels of all shapes and sizes from small sail boats to giant cruise ships, as well as the marina filled with swanky cruisers. When you reach the park, you can choose to visit the aquarium or enjoy a guided trolley ride through the park.There are also lots of great museums and galleries to visit in Vancouver, and a fun attraction to visit when you're ready for a sit-down is "Flyover Canada" - a gently thrilling ride where you will soar from coast to coast across Niagara Falls and the priaries.
There's a fascinating walking tour we could book you onto - The Lost Souls of Gastown - where you will be immersed into Vancouvers past as a frontier town of hustlers, theives and vagaonds. As you walk, listen to tales from the miner Gassy Jack - who built the city's earliest saloon, to Klondike Kate Rockwell - who broke hearts between Oregon and Alaska as she danced her way up and down the Pacific coast.
There are some great foodie tours that we can recommend and Granville Island really is a must-visit. Explore the various shops and stalls offering fresh, local, seasonal produce. Either visit independently or book a tour to help you savour a real taste of British Columbia.
Day 4
Vancouver – Whistler (75 miles)
This morning pick up your hire car and head out of the city. Before you leave the city limits you might want to visit the Capilano River Regional Park for a stroll along the pretty trails to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. 230 feet above the river. You could try out the Treetops Adventure, consisting of seven suspension bridges taking you into the heart of the forest. Continue along the Sea to Sky Highway with beautiful vistas of the coast and mountains. Another great stop about an hour out Vancouver is the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. Take the 10 minute gondola ride up to 885 metres to enjoy the sweeping views of the Howe Sound and surrounding mountains. Once at the top you can either just enjoy the views from the viewing platforms, or take one of the easy trails through the coastal forest. Then continue into the mountains to the lovely year-round resort of Whistler.
Hotel: Aava Whistler Hotel, or upgrade to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Days 5 & 6
Whistler
Whistler is a lovely base for some fabulous hikes, with superb alpine hikes with stunning views on both mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – accessible from the Peak to Peak Gondola. Or enjoy walks through the valley, with wonderful trails through the forests and alongside the lakes, taking in such sights as Brandywine Falls and Garibaldi Lake. All the trails are well marked and guides are easy to download. As well as the great outdoors, you can also enjoy a wonderful culinary experience in this congenial mountain resort. There are a couple of foodie tours we can book for you, such as the Whistler Hidden Gems walking tour - which takes you through four courses in four different restaurants.
Whistler is also famous for its black bears - there are around 50 black bears who make their home in the surrounding forests and mountains. There are various tours to go bear-spotting through the summer months
Day 7
Whistler – Kamloops (186 miles)
This morning you could visit the the Sqaumish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre, with interactive exhibits, contemporary galleries and a spectacular 15 minute film showcasing Whistler's two First Nation Cultures. After a leisurely morning get on the road for a super scenic drive through the lakes and mountains of British Columbia. You’ll pass Mount Currie and Mount Matier, Lake Lillooet and Lake Seton, the Provincial Parks of Duffey Lake and Marble Canyon, and then drive along the Thompson River until you reach Kamloops Lake and your overnight stopover in Kamloops.
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kamloops or similar
Day 8
Kamloops – Kelowna, Okanagan Valley (103 miles)
It’s back down to the valley today, and in particular the Okanagan Valley, widely regarded as one of the best wine making regions in Canada due largely to the sunny climate. Stretch your legs with a walk through Myra Canyon Park or Waterfront Park along the banks of impressive Lake Okanagan. There’s a massive range of restaurants to choose from for your dinner tonight, from cosy bistros to smart wine bars and including cuisines such as Farm to Fork, Asian, European and traditional Canadian.
Hotel: Sandman Hotel & Suites Kelowna, or upgrade to the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort
Days 9 & 10
Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
No stay in this region would be complete without a trip to a winery. There’s a particular tour we recommend taking in an eclectic mix of wineries and most importantly including transportation! Just let us know and we can book the "East Kelowna Bench Tour" for you. The Okanagan Valley is very much the playground for Canadians, who come here to enjoy the sunshine, the food and activities on the lakes. We can also book you onto a dinner cruise on the lake, which would be a lovely way to spend a couple of hours in the evening.
Day 11
Kelowna – Vancouver (243 miles)
Today it’s time to head back to Vancouver. You can either drive straight to the airport and fly home, or perhaps take a ferry over to Vancouver Island for a few days in another beautiful part of British Columbia.
