Visit Vancouver, Victoria, Pacific Rim NP, Tofino, Whistler, Salmon Arm, Yoho NP, Icefields Parkway, Jasper NP, Banff NP & Lake Louise.
This British Columbia and Alberta road trip takes you through world-class scenery from start to finish. You’ll also witness spectacular wildlife viewing as you drive from Vancouver to Calgary. The Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia are not short of a National Park or two, and on this route, you’ll pass through six of the best. Glacial lakes, alpine mountains and expansive glaciers cover the Canadian Rockies – the world-famous National Parks of Banff and Jasper will stay with you forever. Whilst Vancouver Island‘s wild and wonderful Pacific Rim National Park, will never be forgotten either.
Key road trip highlights:
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We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.
All of our North American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 14 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
Start the British Columbia section of this road trip in the hip city of Vancouver. You’ll then enjoy an evening and two further full days at leisure, appreciating all that the West Coast’s biggest city has to offer. Spend your first evening strolling around the historic Gastown District with its famous Steam Clock and old-world charm. Grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants and then get a good night’s sleep so you’re prepared for the fantastic road trip ahead.
Stanley Park is to Vancouverites what Central Park is to New Yorkers. Walk or cycle around the famous Seawall Path; you’ll find totem poles, coastal views and even an aquarium along the way. As you complete the circular path, you’ll come across Third and Second Beach, respectively. These lovely beaches are often packed in summer. So find a nice spot and enjoy a well-earned rest and the sight of the sun setting over the ocean. For dinner, we recommend you grab a taxi or an Uber and head down to Chinatown, the largest in Canada.
Time to explore some of the lesser visited, but no less remarkable, areas of the city. Start by taking a water taxi across False Creek to Granville Island, home to a public market, along with boutique shops and galleries. Consider visiting North Vancouver, which is home to British Columbia’s most popular attraction – Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (pictured). Walk across the famous Suspension Bridge and through a rainforest canopy with Treetops Adventure, and experience an adrenaline-pumping walk above the canyon with Cliffwalk. Whatever you choose today, we highly recommend you finish your stay in Vancouver with a celebration dinner and drinks in the lively Yaletown district.
Collect your road trip wheels and take a stunning ferry ride through Gulf Islands National Park Reserve to find Vancouver Island’s capital – Victoria. Whilst aboard the ferry, keep a keen eye out for whales and other sea life, as this is one of the areas that whale-watching tours explore. Victoria is a charming city that was founded back in 1843 and named after our reigning Queen of the time. Also known as the “City of Gardens”, this small and pleasant city is the perfect place to ease yourself from the bright lights of Vancouver to all the nature you’ll experience in the following ten days. Victoria’s highlights include the Royal BC Museum, British Columbia Parliament Buildings and Beacon Hill Park.
If you didn’t manage to spot a whale or two when crossing over to Vancouver Island yesterday, then consider taking a whale-watching tour whilst in Victoria. Numerous operators leave Victoria and head towards the San Juan Islands, searching for Orca and larger migrating whales. After lunch, head up to Tofino at the northern end of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. En route, we highly recommend a stop to walk among the giant Douglas Fir trees found in Cathedral Grove within Macmillan Provincial Park.
Sitting at the centre of Clayoquot Sound, Tofino enjoys a perfect position between the crashing waves of the Pacific and the Island’s forests. The stunning beauty and ecological diversity of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve lies to the north, whilst the awe-inspiring Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is just to the south. Should you have some extra time and want to see Grizzlies in action, then please request a couple of days in and around Campbell River on the northeast side of the Island. We’ll be more than happy to bolt this onto your British Columbia and Alberta road trip.
Today, you’ll leave the wild and beautiful beaches of western Vancouver Island and sail back over the Strait of Georgia to mainland British Columbia. You’ll then drive up the renowned “Sea to Sky” Highway to find the world-famous ski resort of Whistler. Stop off at Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls, and enjoy the magical views of the Howe Sound as you travel up the BC coastline.
Whistler is world-famous as a winter sports resort, but it’s also a celebrated summer playground. The slopes of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains provide the perfect base for hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, 4WD expeditions and white-water rafting. The Peak-2-Peak gondola experience is a must for all visitors, whilst the Alpine Village offers superb dining and shopping opportunities. Whistler’s lakes provide a lovely setting for a relaxing walk too. As always, your detailed Road Trip Pack will describe the options.
Today, you’ll continue to head east towards the Canadian Rockies’ most famous national parks. The drive will take you through more beautiful mountain scenery, with en route highlights including Nairn Falls, Joffre Lakes and Marble Canyon Provincial Parks. Remember to watch out for local wildlife, fingers crossed, you might spot bears, elk or even a moose along the way. When you arrive in the small town of Salmon Arm, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of Shuswap Lake, while you sip a glass of wine from the neighbouring Okanagan Lake wine region.
Three Canadian National Parks in one day. After an early morning stroll along the shore of Shuswap Lake, you’ll leave Salmon Arm and head along the Trans-Canada Highway towards the charming town of Revelstoke. Continue past Revelstoke National Park and through Glacier National Park until you arrive in the outdoorsy town of Golden and then, finally, a big favourite of ours, Yoho National Park.
Get an early start today, so you can make the most of the incredible drive along The Icefields Parkway. There are numerous scenic vista points and short hikes to enjoy, as well as the opportunity to see wildlife and gigantic glaciers. Highlights along today’s drive include Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls. A trip on the Ice Explorer tundra buggy at the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield is an absolute must.
Spend a second day in Jasper, finishing off any remaining activities or places of interest. The adventurous might consider white-water rafting down Sunwapta River or taking a horse ride in the Rockies. Don’t fancy getting a soaking or saddle sore? Then perhaps just take the scenic SkyTram ride for more incredible mountain views. Visit nearby Maligne Lake (pictured) where you can take a cruise out to Spirit Island, whilst Maligne Canyon is also an essential place to visit. As always, your detailed Road Trip Pack will list all the available attractions.
This route has been designed to allow you two bites of the cherry that is The Icefields Parkway. Unfortunately, this epic stretch of road can be weather-affected at times due to the massive Glaciers, so driving this stunningly scenic road twice will increase your chances of a clear morning so that you can fully enjoy the views of the vast glaciers that line this stunningly scenic road. Once in Banff National Park, which is your final stop, you’ll have 48 hours to enjoy some of the best scenery on the planet.
A full day at leisure to explore Banff National Park and its magnificent surroundings. Visit the renowned Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; which of these two jaw-dropping scenic lakes will be your favourite? There are many walking trails to enjoy, or you can rent kayaks and take in the views from the water. You’ll also find Johnston Canyon nearby, which makes for a great short hike. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife! To complete the day, we highly recommend you take a gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain to take in one of the best views in the Canadian Rockies. Tomorrow, you’ll spend the first half of the day exploring more of Banff National Park before driving to Calgary to fly more. If you have more time to be away and fancy riding the Rocky Mountaineer back to Vancouver, please let us know, and we’ll add this to your trip.
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You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
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