Vancouver Island & Northern Rockies
11 days, Vancouver to Calgary
When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.
Itinerary
Day 1Vancouver
Arrive at any time.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Century Plaza Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Day 2Vancouver/Campbell River
Catch a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and drive along the Oceanside Route to Campbell River. Visit the museum in the town which respectfully acknowledges the First Nations of North Vancouver Island by preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of these Nations on the lands now known as Campbell River. After seeing the exhibits at the museum attend an optional dinner with the group.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ferry
Hop on a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo.
Private Vehicle
Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Nanaimo and Campbell River.
Campbell River Museum Visit
Visit the museum in Campbell River which houses collections of historic, archaeological and archival material specifically relating to the First Nations present in the northern Vancouver Island area. Spend an hour seeing the exhibits and learning more about the Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ First Nation. See how their lives intertwined with the lands Campbell River Museum now help to preserve, interpret, and share.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Painter's Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Campbell River/Port Hardy
Take in the scenery while travelling to Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Enjoy impressive views of coastline and lush forests. Then take the short ferry ride to Alert Bay and pay a visit to the World's Tallest Totem before visiting the U'mista Cultural Centre, whose mandate is to ensure the survival and preservation of the cultural heritage of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw. Walk on some of the trails dotting this tiny island before transferring back to Port McNeill for more free time and an optional happy hour at a local spot. Continue on to Port Hardy in the early evening and check into your hotel.
Please note for any dates on tour when the U'mista Cultural Centre happens to be closed, another activity will take its place within the itinerary.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Visit to U'mista Cultural Centre
Enjoy a visit to the U'mista Cultural Centre where the mandate for the cultural society is to ensure the survival of the cultural heritage of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw. In November of 1980 the centre opened and featured the permanent collection of "Potlatch". Other exhibits on display include origin stories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw villages as well as historical and contemporary objects that were of importance to their day to day lives.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Free Time
Spend free time in Port McNeill exploring on your own. Before driving back to Port Hardy the group will meet up at a local restaurant where you can opt to buy dinner.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Kwa'lilas Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Port Hardy/Prince Rupert
Embark at dawn for a day-long ferry ride through the famous Inside Passage. The glacial fjords provide spectacular scenery along the route and a safe haven for all types of wildlife, including orcas and porpoises.
The ride is long, but spectacular. With a full day to relax, enjoy the scenery, read a book, or dine at the onboard restaurants. Reach Prince Rupert late in the evening.
Due to ferry schedules, there may be layovers at certain stops along the route.
Inside Passage Cruise
Relax aboard the ferry through the stunning Inside Passage. Spot wildlife and soak in the views on one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the world.
Accommodation
Prestige Oceanview Hotel Prince Rupert (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Prince Rupert/Smithers
Drive one of the most scenic roads in the world from Prince Rupert to Smithers and discover the First Nations cultures of Northern BC on a day tour around Smithers. Visit the Gitanyow Totems, Battle Hill, and 'Ksan Museum & Historical Village.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
First Nations Day Tour
Get immersed in the First Nations culture of Northern BC. Start by visiting the Gitwangak National Historic Site and learn about the fort and battles fought by the warrior Nekt on Battle Hill. After, stop at the Hazeltons, an area with one of the highest concentrations of totem poles in the world, with over 50 standing poles. Wrap up the day with a tour of the Ksan museum and historical village.
Accommodation
Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Smithers
Enjoy a free day to explore the wilderness around Smithers. Opt to visit Moricetown Canyon or hike one of many trails in the area.
Free Time
Take advantage of free time in the Canadian wilderness. Opt to visit a Provincial Park or go for a hike.
Accommodation
Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Smithers/Prince George
Enjoy a visit to Twin Falls after breakfast and then spend free time in Smithers before travelling to Prince George, the largest city in Northern British Columbia.
Free Time
Take advantage of a final morning for outdoor activities around Smithers.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Coast Prince George Hotel by APA (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Prince George/Jasper
Travel to Jasper National Park. En route, stop at the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson. Visit the Interpretation Centre, and go for a short hike to take in the views.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Mount Robson Visit
Stop at the visitor centre and, if it’s a clear day, see the top of the Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Accommodation
Jasper Inn (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Jasper
Enjoy a free day to explore Jasper National Park. Opt to hike at Maligne Canyon, cross the lake on a boat cruise, or join a scenic river rafting tour. In the evening, visit the Miette Hot Springs.
Free Time
Prepare for an exciting day! With lots of optional activities and incredible scenery, you're guaranteed to have an unforgettable day in Jasper.
Your Wellness Moment: Miette Hot Springs Visit
Enjoy the stunning landscape of lakes and mountains as you drive to the hot springs. Soak in one of the four pools as you take in the peaceful panoramic views.
Jasper National Park Visit
Jasper National Park might be less known, but no less mighty. As the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is wild in every sense of the word. Experience mountain landscapes complete with waterfalls, canyons, glacier lakes, and the Columbia Icefield. Get out and explore on rugged backcountry trails chock-full of wildlife and take part in outdoor activities like, mountain biking or kayaking to experience the true essence and beauty of this impressive park.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Maligne Lake Cruise
65CAD per personGlide across the beautiful blue waters of Maligne Lake, the Canadian Rockies' largest glacial fed lake, on your way to the famous Spirit Island.
Bald Hills Hike
FreeThe Bald Hills hike has a fairly steep incline. The 10km (6.2 mi) round trip will showcase the best panoramas of Maligne Lake and numerous mountains surrounding the lake.
Canoe Ride
84-215.25CAD per personRent a canoe from the longstanding Boathouse on Maligne Lake.
Maligne Canyon Hike
FreeMalinge Canyon follows an interpretive trail with several bridges. Hover over the Malinge River that, over thousands of years, has eroded the canyon to over 60m (197 ft) in some spots.
Whitewater Rafting on Athabasca River
65-110CAD per personPass through many small sets of rapids and calm stretches, which allow your National Park Licensed guide to point out the natural and human history of Jasper. The Athabasca River is the same route that was used by the fur traders many years ago.
Accommodation
Jasper Inn (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Jasper/Canmore
Travel to Canmore via one of the most scenic drives in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield en route.
Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. We stop a number of times along the way to take in the scenery and search for wildlife.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Columbia Icefields Center Visit
View one of the Rockies' largest and most accessible active glaciers. The Athabasca Glacier recedes at a rate of nearly 5m (16.4 ft) a year. See this natural beauty while you still can.
Icefields Parkway Drive
The Icefields Parkway is a breathtaking drive situated between Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada. Experience the wild beauty of the Canadian Rockies on a winding drive through jagged mountain peaks and past glaciers feeding into brilliant blue lakes. Along the way expect to see postcard mountain vistas, huge valleys, and loads of hiking trails that will get you out and about in this truly incredible area.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
Athabasca Glacier Ice Walk
112CAD per personAt the Columbia Icefields, enjoy a glacier walk with an expert guide on the lower Athabasca Glacier to explore and understand the life of this active glacier. Walking on this glacially carved landscape is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Glacier Adventure
99CAD per personTravel onto the glacier in an oversized ice rover. Get out and experience the stunning alpine glacial vistas at the mid-point of your journey. Afterwards, bask in the view of a lifetime on the epic Glacier Skywalk, a glass bottom viewing platform stretching out into the Rockies.
Accommodation
Quality Chateau Canmore (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Canmore/Calgary
Travel to Calgary, a modern city that honours its cowboy roots. Tour ends on arrival to Calgary.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.