Vancouver to the Rockies

Welcome to Vancouver! Upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport, you will pick up your rental vehicle and drive approximately 30-minutes into downtown Vancouver.

Simply a city like no other, Vancouver effortlessly combines the excitement and energy of a modern city with the invigorating appeal of the great outdoors. No day in this city is typical: start with a waterfront breakfast at Granville Island Public Market and end with a sunset cocktail on a mountain-top patio. In between, paddle out on a kayaking adventure, and shop a neighborhood or two. It’s truly a “city of nature,” with stunning views of temperate rainforest and majestic peaks reflected on glass skyscrapers; sparkling with sophistication and energy, yet relaxed and laidback. In Vancouver, you won’t have to choose between the city and nature.

Today choose from an optional day tour to either Victoria or up the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler. Victoria is poised at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island and is surrounded by water. Downtown restaurants and shops pour into the Inner Harbour, which is a hive of activity. Dockside markets and pop-up concerts are flanked by the iconic Parliament Buildings and The Fairmont Empress. You could easily spend hours here, but for those who enjoy the water, this is just the start. Aquatic adventures stretch in every direction: white-sand beaches, breaching whales, and teeming tidepools are all within easy reach. Highlights not to be missed include Butchart Gardens, Tea at the Empress, or whale watching. Whistler is a compact, chalet-style pedestrian village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. From the unmatched alpine terrain with adventure abound to the endless options of the village, it's a diverse offering of rugged West Coast beauty and an unrivaled selection of refined experiences that make every day unique. Whistler is a permanent fixture on bucket lists around the world with amenities for discerning travelers. A highlight not to be missed is the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola which travels 1430 feet above the valley floor.

Today you will drive approximately 6-hours, 30-minutes from Vancouver to Sun Peaks. En route, you will traverse British Columbia's fertile valleys and emerald mountain forests. Once in Sun Peaks, you will enjoy refreshing temperatures and breathtaking 360-degree mountain views. Choose to take a stroll through the European-style pedestrian-only village which is filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, or experience a plethora of activities that include alpine hiking, mountain biking, golfing, and more.

Today you will drive approximately 5-hours from Sun Peaks Resort to the Jasper in Jasper National Park. En route, you will traverse more of British Columbia's fertile valleys, emerald mountain forests, and for the lucky, you will catch a glimpse of Mount Robson's peak, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and only visible on average for 12 days per year.

The town of Jasper is located in the heart of Jasper National Park. Originally a railway town, its unpretentious charm has a timeless appeal. The park’s abundant wildlife, crystalline lakes, deep canyons, evergreen forests, shimmering glaciers, and thundering waterfalls — all surrounded by towering mountains — are some of the reasons the park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At 4,335 square miles, Jasper National Park is Canada's largest park in the Rocky Mountains and the second largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world. Jasper offers breathtaking sites and memorable experiences. Adventurers can enjoy incredible adrenaline-pumping mountain biking, alpine day hikes, great paddling, and much more. For those looking for a more relaxed pace, you can picnic amongst majestic peaks, enjoy a cruise on Maligne Lake, take in one of the many scenic drives or enjoy unique wildlife viewing.

Today you will drive approximately 3-hours from Jasper to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Unlike any other, the stretch of road from Jasper to Lake Louise known as the Icefields Parkway is rated as one of the top drives in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, it is dotted with more than 100 ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires, and emerald lakes set in sweeping valleys of thick pine and larch forests. The abundance of wildlife in Jasper and Banff National Parks will have you peering around every turn. So take your time, stop for a hike to a breath-taking viewpoint, capture that stunning photo to share with friends, and enjoy a roadside picnic amidst the splendor of the Canadian Rockies pristine wilderness. Highlights include Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Glacier Skywalk, the Columbia Icefield Centre, the Weeping Wall, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake.

Today you will drive approximately 1-hour from Lake Louise to the Banff in Banff National Park. If you're looking for a more scenic and leisurely route, ensure to travel along the Bow Valley Parkway instead. This route has numerous scenic pullouts, viewpoints with interpretative displays, several picnic areas, and the best opportunities to see wildlife in Banff. Highlights include the Castle Cliff viewpoint, Johnston Canyon, and the Backswamp viewpoint. Johnston Canyon is one of Banff's most popular hiking areas with trails that leads to the upper and lower falls in the canyon.

Banff National Park is famous for its surreally colored lakes, majestic mountains, and endless outdoor adventures. Canada’s first national park and the world’s third, it has a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. What makes Banff National Park so special is its easy access and close proximity to the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. The park spans 2,564 square miles of mountainous terrain, packed with spectacularly scenic valleys, peaks, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers. Adventurers can enjoy incredible alpine day hikes, great paddling, Via Ferrata, and much more. For those looking for a more relaxed pace, you can ride the Banff Gondola up Sulpher Mountain for spectacular 360-degree views, enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnewanak, enjoy a soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, visit the Cave & Basin or Banff Park Museum National Historic Sites, take in one of the many scenic drives or enjoy unique wildlife viewing.