Western Discovery & Inside Passage
SELF DRIVE TOURING
VANCOUVER | KELOWNA | REVELSTOKE | BANFF | JASPER | PRINCE GEORGE | SMITHERS | PRINCE RUPERT | PORT HARDY | CAMPBELL RIVER | VICTORIA
From alpine meadows and gushing waterfalls to vast, ages-old ice fields and glaciers, verdant forests and pretty villages; this drive of discovery has it all.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Okanagan, with its vineyards and orchards
- Icefields Parkway; stunning Rockies scenery
- The Inside Passage, for a cruise like no other
- Search for whales & marine life in Victoria
- Vancouver, Canada’s most liveable city
Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14
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Day 15
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Day 16
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Day 17
Day 1 : Arrive Vancouver
Upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport take a private transfer (included) to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 2 : Vancouver
Today is free to explore Vancouver at your own pace. Be sure to visit Chinatown, Gastown, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and Stanley Park.
Day 3 : Vancouver - Kelowna (247 miles)
Collect your car this morning and begin your scenic drive to Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley, known for its lush orchards, beaches and hot, dry climate.
Day 4 : Kelowna
Located in the sunny Okanagan Valley and surrounded by provincial parks, lakes, pine forest, vineyards, orchards and mountains, Kelowna has something for everyone to enjoy. Spend your time golfing, relaxing on the beach, exploring local trails or wine tasting at award-winning vineyards. Active adventurers can cycle through tunnels and over trestles at Myra Canyon on the reclaimed Kettle Valley Railway, and history buffs are encouraged to visit the mid-19th-century Father Pandosy Mission.
Day 5 : Kelowna to Banff (301 miles)
Your journey today takes you through some of the most spectacular stretches of highway in Canada. Travel through Yoho National Park, filled with gem coloured glacial lakes and waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, and dense forests of western red cedar and western hemlock. A short drive beyond Revelstoke you will find Craigellachie, where the 'last spike' was driven in, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.
Day 6 : Banff
Entire day is free to tour Banff and the surrounding area.
Day 7 : Banff - Jasper (182 miles)
Today, travel through the spine of the Canadian Rockies along the amazing Icefields Parkway. You’re sure to be enthralled by the scenery, wildlife, incredible blue lakes and sparkling waterfalls en route. A stop at Peyto Lake along the way is a must. Don’t miss the Columbia Icefield for a ride onto the Athabasca Glacier on board an Ice Explorer (included) and a stop at the award-winning Glacier Skywalk (included), before continuing your journey to Jasper. Please note: Mountain lakes in this region will be frozen through to mid-June.
Day 8 : Jasper
A free day to explore Jasper and the surrounding area.
Day 9 : Jasper to Prince George (240 miles)
The Yellowhead Highway meanders past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies, and descends into the vast forests of northern British Columbia. Follow the northern arm of the Fraser River through the Cariboo Region.
Day 10 : Prince George - Smithers (230 miles)
Your journey continues along the rugged wilderness terrain of the interior mountain ranges.
Day 11 : Smithers - Prince Rupert (220 miles)
Follow the scenic Skeena River Valley to the active port city of Prince Rupert.
Day 12 : Prince Rupert - Port Hardy (Scheduled ferry with Day Cabin)
Enjoy a full-day ocean cruise on board B.C. Ferries along the British Columbia coastline. During your full day cruise you will be see some wonderful sights, snowcapped peaks, forested hillsides, bald eagles, deep fjords and sheltered villages. The famous Inside Passage cruise terminates in Port Hardy where you stay overnight. Ferry departs Prince Rupert at 7.30am and arrives into Port Hardy at 11.30pm. We have included a day cabin for your convenience whilst onboard.
Day 13 : Port Hardy - Campbell River (150 miles)
Travel the eastern shore of Vancouver Island to Campbell River, a focal point for sport salmon fishing.
Day 14 : Campbell River - Victoria (170 miles)
Continue along the coast, past quaint seaside towns such as Courtenay, Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Nanaimo. As you approach Victoria, British Columbia’s capital, you will travel along the scenic Malahat Drive, which affords generous vistas of the water and the Gulf Islands beyond.
Day 15 : Victoria & Whale Watching Cruise
This morning embark on a whale watch cruise (included). This coastal excursion is an exhilarating round trip of 50 to 80 km in search of orcas, minke whales, grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine wildlife. You will ride aboard the Orca Spirit is a 50 ft certified 45 passenger covered vessel or a custom-built zodiac boat that offers high speed with extraordinary stability giving you an exhilarating, safe and intimate whale watching experience. Comments by a certified marine biologist and naturalist are provided. Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the sights of Victoria.
Day 16 : Victoria - Vancouver (45 miles + ferry)
Before you leave Victoria’s charms and the beauty of the Inner Harbour, we recommend you visit Butchart Gardens, a magnificent display of flowers and shrubs set in an old stone quarry. Enjoy a mini-cruise on BC Ferries guiding you around the many Gulf Islands, through the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver for some last-minute shopping.
Day 17 : Depart Vancouver
Your tour ends with the check out from your hotel and the return of your car to Vancouver International Airport.
