Best of the West
SELF DRIVE TOURING
BANFF | JASPER | WELLS GRAY PROVINCIAL PARK | WHISTLER | PARKSVILLE | VICTORIA | VANCOUVER
Discover the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia; visit the mountain resorts of Jasper and Whistler; explore the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver and the ever-so-British Victoria.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Amazing mountain scenery in the Rockies
- Visit scenic Wells Gray Park
- Whistler, a year round resort
- Vancouver Island, home to great rainforests
- Victoria, elegant with stunning gardens
Product Ref: 513833
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Your Itinerary
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Day 13
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Day 14
Day 1 : UK - Banff (75 miles)
Arrive at Calgary Airport, collect your car and take the short drive to Banff.
Day 2 : Banff
Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is a town that makes you feel at home and exhilarated with wonder all at the same time. This is a town that truly celebrates its heritage, lives and breathes mountain culture and never takes its backyard for granted.
Day 3 : Banff - Jasper (185 miles)
Take the short drive from Banff to Lake Louise. There’s an option for you to stop at Johnston Canyon before continuing to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. From Lake Louise your scenic drive takes you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies along the Icefield Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto the glacier and visit the Glacier Skywalk. Leaving the Athabasca Glacier, your camera should be ready to capture the majesty of the Athabasca Falls prior to your arrival into Jasper.
Day 4 : Jasper
The day is free for you to explore this charming mountain village close to many terrific scenic highlights. This pleasant alpine village is nestled amidst some of Canada’s most stunning scenery.
Day 5 : Jasper - Clearwater (195 miles)
Your drive today takes you to Wells Gray Provincial Park along the scenic Yellowhead Highway with breath-taking vistas of the steep-walled gorges and crashing falls of the North Thompson River. Overnight in Clearwater.
Day 6 : Wells Gray Provincial Park
Today is yours to explore the volcano-shaped wilderness of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Explore the park’s mineral springs, serene lakes, dormant volcanoes and rushing falls. Not to be missed are the towering Helmcken Falls near the entrance to the park.
Day 7 : Wells Gray Provincial Park - Whistler (265 miles)
Begin the day travelling via 100 Mile House to the gold rush town of Cache Creek, where you stop to visit the historic Hat Creek Ranch (included), which literally takes you back to the days of gold rush. Continue south to Lillooet, known as the land of the Gold Rush and along the Duffey Lake Road to Whistler.
Day 8 : Whistler
Whistler is a world-class mountain resort and hive of activity for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year. Today is at leisure to immerse yourself in the electrifying alpine ambience of this well-known resort, a hotspot for skiers, hikers and nature-lovers, set in the lofty surrounds of the Coast Mountains. The Peak2Peak gondola ride is included to the top of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains (operates 27 May - 17 Sep; 18 Sep - 09 Oct weekends only).
Day 9 : Whistler - Parksville (70 miles + ferry)
Depart Whistler along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway. Discover scenic ocean vistas, soaring mountains and dramatic waterfalls on your way to Horseshoe Bay, before boarding the ferry to Vancouver Island.
Day 10 : Parksville - Victoria (95 miles)
Travel along the East Coast of Vancouver Island and head south to Victoria. Stop at the artist community of Chemainus before continuing to Duncan on Cowichan Bay, home to 80 totem poles dotted around the town which give it its “City of Totems” nickname. Don’t miss the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre before leaving for Victoria.
Day 11 : Victoria
Today is free to explore Victoria, with its turn of the century architecture, British traditions such as high tea and shops full of woollens and china. Admission is included to the Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s premier floral show gardens established by the Butchart family in 1904.
Day 12 : Victoria - Vancouver (45 miles + ferry)
Leaving Victoria drive north to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal for a 90 minute ferry cruise (cost included) through the Gulf Islands as you cross the Strait of Georgia to Tsawwassen, then continue to Vancouver.
Day 13 : Vancouver
Visit two of Vancouver best tourist attractions today. At the Capilano Suspension Bridge, spend time exploring temperate rainforest and learn all about salmon at the fish Hatchery. Then continue to Grouse Mountain where you’ll take the Skyride to the Peak of Vancouver with breath-taking views over the Lower Mainland and Coast Mountain Range.
Day 14 : Vancouver - UK
Your tour ends with the check out of your hotel and the return your car to the airport rental office. Or perhaps you’ll decide to stay a while longer and take a cruise to Alaska.
