Western Canada at Leisure from Calgary

Prices are per person listed in Canadian dollars. Subject to applicable taxes. Prices listed do not include discounts or promotions - please inquire. Package prices and itinerary are not finalized until confirmed by a Vacations Canada travel planner.  Contact your travel professional or a Vacations Canada travel planner to customize or build your own vacation package. View Terms and Conditions.

VACATION FEATURES:

Accommodations
- 9 nights hotel accommodation

Meals
- 1 Breakfast in Kelowna
- 2 Lunches in Revelstoke and Minter Gardens

Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- Icefield Parkway & Glacier Experience from Banff to Jasper
- 2 Day Journey from Lake Louise to Vancouver

Admissions
- Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure

Transfers
- Calgary to Banff
- Jasper to Lake Louise

Documentation
- Icefield Photograph
- Brewster Sightseeing Excursion discount coupon
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fees
- Hotel luggage handling

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Calgary to Banff

Today, travel through the foothills of the Rockies to the resort town of Banff, in Canada’s first National Park (transfer included). Historic Highway # 1 is the most scenic route to Banff and was one the only route to the Rocky Mountains. Upon arrival in Banff, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

DAY 2 - Exploring Banff

Today is a free day to enjoy and explore more of what Banff has to offer. Visit the Cascade Gardens located at the end of Banff Avenue, take a stroll beside the Bow River or take an optional Brewster Sightseeing Excursion.

DAY 3 - Banff to Jasper Sightseeing

Journey northwards into Jasper National Park along the remarkable Icefields Parkway. Abundant scenic masterpieces unfold around every corner, making this highway of towering peaks, sparkling glaciers and waterfalls among the most impressive drives in the world. Enjoy a stop at the Columbia Icefields Centre (seasonal*) for an interpretive Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier. Your overnight this evening is in the charming town of Jasper.

DAY 4 - Sightseeing in Jasper

Your free day in Jasper can be filled with so many activities! Take a ride on the Jasper Tramway to the top of Whistler’s Mountain or take a float trip down the Athabasca River. There are also many local museums and shops to explore.

DAY 5 - Jasper to Lake Louise

This morning is free to relax and enjoy the scenery. This afternoon, depart Jasper and travel south along the scenic Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise (Note: this is an express service and will not stop at the Columbia Icefield or other sightseeing highlights.)

DAY 6 - Discovering Lake Louise

There is nothing more picturesque than Lake Louise. Today, you may wish to rent a canoe and see the lake from a different perspective. Or perhaps, take a horseback ride up near the Victoria Glacier. The choice is yours!

DAY 7 - Lake Louise to Kelowna

After a morning departure from Lake Louise, ascending Roger’s Pass, the summit of Glacier National Park. This route follows the Canadian Pacific rail line all along the way. One of the highlights of the trip is a stop at the Spiral Tunnels. This unique feature is an engineering marvel that loops into the heart of Mount Stephen. This was created in 1909 in order to reduce the steep grade of the rail line, a hazard of early travel that caused the concern for runaway cars due to the 4.5% grade (2.2% is the desired grade). A lunch break (included) is made in the alpine town of Revelstoke, founded in 1880 when the CP Railroad was built through the area. Today, it’s a growing favorite destination among outdoor enthusiasts for golf, hiking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, skiing and heli-skiing.

Driving further south, the Trans Canada Highway travels past Craigellachie, the site of the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. This railway system connects Canada from coast to coast. Then the road winds its way out of the Monashee Mountains and you’ll make a quick stop in Sicamous, the “Houseboat Capital of Canada”. The last a stop today is in the small town of Armstrong before continuing on your journey south into the famed wine region of the Okanagan Valley, through the town of Vernon, home of Silver Star ski area.

Kelowna is the overnight destination and is the cosmopolitan and cultural centre of the Okanagan Valley, including five pristine golf courses, white sand beaches, orchards and Big White ski area, in addition to over a dozen local wineries. An evening arrival at your selected Kelowna hotel allows time for dinner (meal not included) and exploration of the lakefront.

DAY 8 - Kelowna to Vancouver

After a hearty breakfast (included), the first stop of the day is at a local winery for an exclusive tour and educational wine tasting. Sample a variety of hand-crafted Okanagan wines in this unique and authentic setting, surrounded by the actual vineyards where the fruit is produced on site.

Depart the Okanagan Valley on the Coquihalla highway which travels through the interior to the town of Merritt. There, time is allowed at the Visitor Centre to stretch and learn about this historic territory, one of the premier ranching settlements in British Columbia from 1880. Then continue your trek on the Coquihalla Highway through the heart of ranching country and back into mountainous territory. Later in the day, a two hour stop at Minter Gardens will feed your body and soothe your senses with a delectable lunch (included) and guided walk through the exquisite gardens.

Following lunch, connect with the mighty Fraser River (named after Simon Fraser, a fur trader who explored the area in 1808), a major salmon spawning route. Up to 10 million fish a year travel up to this waterway each fall to the exact stream bed of their birth where they will complete their life cycle by spawning and dying. This act, in turn, will attract and feed many predators such as eagles and bears who depend on this yearly feast to build body fat that will sustain them during the lean winter months ahead. On the last leg of your journey, you’ll find yourself travelling through the lush Fraser delta region and then into downtown Vancouver, for a late afternoon arrival.

DAY 9 - Exploring Vancouver

Today, enjoy exploring Vancouver on your own. You may wish to take a trip to the world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge - or stroll along Robson Streets enjoying the countless shops and streetside cafes.

DAY 10 - Departing Vancouver

A morning checkout from your hotel, ends your Western Canada at Leisure getaway.