Western Canada & The Rockies

Day 1
Vancouver Arrival

Depart London Heathrow – 12:40
Arrive Vancouver – 14:00
Journey Time – 9 hours 20 minutes

On arrival at Vancouver airport we have included a meet and greet service and private transfer to your downtown hotel.

Overnight – Vancouver

Day 2
Vancouver

Vancouver is set in spectacular surroundings, with the majestic Coastal Mountains, evergreen forests and the Pacific Ocean as its background. Your 3 nights/2 full days here will be packed as you discover such delights as historic Gastown, colourful Chinatown, and the ultra-modern Financial District. Discover the beauty of 1000-acre Stanley Park and English Bay as well as the bustle of Robson Street in the heart of the shopping district and Granville Island oozing character and atmosphere both night and day.

Overnight – Vancouver

Day 3
Vancouver 

This morning, the tour takes you to Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park, the world’s greatest suspension footbridge set amongst the West Coast Rainforest which offers meandering trails by tranquil trout ponds and towering old growth evergreens. Whilst there be sure to see the colourful Totem Park which displays over 25 authentic totem poles collected since the 1930’s and life-size red cedar statues carved during the Depression. Continue on to Grouse Mountain to experience spectacular mountain top adventures at the peak of Vancouver. During summer enjoy lumberjack shows, the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge for endangered wildlife including grizzly bears and timber wolf, birds in motion demonstrations and so much more. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight – Vancouver

Day 4
Vancouver to Victoria
71 miles

Today you will be picked up from your hotel for a fully escorted tour to Vancouver Island and the capital Victoria. Included is priority ferry boarding, a 90 minute ferry ride through the Gulf Islands, admission to world-renowned Butchart Gardens and Victoria City Tour. Among the highlights are the University of Victoria, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Beacon Hill Park, Uplands and Oak Bay scenic residential areas, Scenic Beach Drive. You will have free time to explore the world famous Empress Hotel, Parliament Buildings, the Provincial Museum, the city centre and the attractions around the city Harbour (admissions not included), all this before you retire to you Victoria hotel for the night.

Overnight – Victoria

Day 5
Victoria to Vancouver
71 miles

Today we highly recommend the 3 hour whale watching boat trip (not included). There are 2 morning departures so we recommend you pre-book with us to avoid disappointment. This coastal excursion is an exhilarating round trip of 50 to 80 kilometres in search of orcas, minke and grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine wildlife. You will ride aboard the Orca Spirit, a 50 foot 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. Your tour will finish around lunchtime which gives you plenty of time in Victoria before you return to Vancouver via the scheduled coach and ferry service (included)

Overnight – Vancouver

Day 6
Vancouver to Wells Gray Provincial Park
301 miles

Early this morning after collecting your rental car depart Vancouver and travel east through the scenic and lush Fraser Valley. Pass the town of Hope and drive north along the dramatic scenery of the Coquihalla Highway via the ranching country of Merritt into historic Kamloops. Then continue along the Southern Yellowhead Highway (Highway 5) to Clearwater. The balance of the day is yours to spend exploring Wells Gray Provincial Park, home to Helmcken, Dawson and Spahats Falls.

Overnight – Clearwater

Day 7
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.

Overnight – Clearwater

Day 8
Wells Gray Provincial Park to Jasper
199 miles

Set out for Jasper along the scenic Yellowhead Highway and take in the breathtaking vistas of the steep-walled gorges and crashing falls of the North Thompson River. On your journey today, perhaps you will get a glimpse of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Leaving British Columbia you enter Alberta and Jasper National Park. Jasper was originally a tent city serving the railway, and now a quaint mountain village.

Overnight – Jasper

Day 9
Jasper

By now you will almost certainly have witnessed some of the amazing wildlife in Canada, but keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose and the hundreds of elk that roam freely around Jasper. We give you three nights in Jasper, allowing you two full days to explore. Be sure to visit Medicine Lake, Cavell Road, Pyramid Lake Road and the ‘Old Banff/Jasper Highway’. Another must is a visit to Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake where we recommend you hire a canoe. The gift shops at these two attractions are excellent and also worth a visit. We also recommend a visit to Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls, both of which can be done in the same day from Jasper.

Overnight – Jasper

Day 10
Jasper to Banff
181 miles

Your scenic drive takes you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies. View a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged peaks, over 100 glaciers and pristine emerald coloured lakes. Along the way see such sights as the Columbia Icefield and take an Ice Explorer ride out onto the glacier (included). Take in views of the Sunwapta Valley on the Glacier Skywalk, a 500 metre interpretive boardwalk and glass-floored observation platform (included). Also watch for the Sarbach Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake with Bow Glacier as the backdrop, and Crowfoot Glacier before your arrival into Lake Louise. From Lake Louise choose the Bow Valley Parkway, beside the Bow River with an option for you to stop at Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footpath to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff.

Overnight – Banff

Day 11 & 12
Banff

You have two full days to explore Banff and Banff National Park with your rental vehicle. Take a gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (included) for spectacular views, take a cruise on Lake Minnewanka (included), visit the Hot Springs, the Cave and Basin, Banff Park Museum, Banff Indian Trading Post and the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, the Bow River Falls at the Banff Springs Hotel and why not take one of the very easy 1, 2 or 3 hour horseback rides along the river. Other activities you can easily book up for are bike rides, fishing trips and rafting on the Bow River. There are also some amazing scenic drives in the Banff area, details of which you can obtain from your hotel.

Overnight – Banff

Day 13
Banff to Emerald Lake
45 miles

A short drive today through majestic mountain passes into Yoho National Park. The word Yoho is the Cree word expressing awe. This 1313 sq. km (507 sq. miles) national park is filled with gem coloured glacial lakes and waterfalls, snow-covered peaks and dense forests of western red cedar and western hemlock. Historic railroads, spiral tunnels within mountain sides and steep rock faces where mountain goats roam are just some of the sights to be seen. Other Yoho marvels include a natural rock bridge over the Kicking Horse River, Hoodoos, some of Canada’s highest waterfalls and the Burgess Shale fossil find where over 120 marine animal species dating back as far as 530 million years were discovered.

When you get close to Emerald Lake pull into the parking lot as you can not park directly at the lodge. There is a phone in the small building that is directed to the Lodge and a shuttle will be quickly dispatched.

Overnight – Knik River Lodge

Day 14
Emerald Lake Lodge

Your last day has to be a day to relax and savour that fresh clean mountain air. Built of hand-hewn timber and featuring massive stone fireplaces, the Lodge includes a formal dining room, quiet reading and sitting rooms. From the upper or lower large verandahs, enjoy the serene views of this wilderness landscape.

Overnight – Anchorage

Day 15
Depart Calgary

From the Lodge return back to Lake Louise and follow the Trans Canada Highway out of the Rocky Mountains to the Great Central Plains that roll to the east for 2000 kilometers and extend south as far as Mexico. In the late 1700’s, over 60 million Buffalo roamed these plains, but by 1900 they were facing extinction. Only concerted efforts and the establishment of National Parks kept these massive beasts from extinction. Arrive into Calgary in the late afternoon/early evening.

Depart Calgary – 20:15
Arrive London Heathrow – 12:10 (Next Day)
Journey time – 8 hours 55 minutes

Do I need a visa to travel to the usa?

In most circumstances, no visa is required for travel to the USA for any British Citizen passport holder and many other European passport holders, whose countries qualify for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This program permits entry for up to 90 days for business or leisure purposes. Everyone must apply to use the VWP via the online Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA).  Advice states this should be done online at least 72 hours prior to departure. On payment of the $14 fee this system usually issues an electronic confirmation within minutes but this is not guaranteed and there are certain criteria travellers must consider before applying via ESTA to use the Visa Waiver Program. Once granted the VWP authorization is valid for 2 years.

It is essential that everyone who plans to travel to the United States reads the information contained on the following page – Visa Waiver Program

Please note : From 21st January 2016 The United States implemented changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as part of the Terrorist Travel Protection Act of 2015. One of the major changes implemented in January excludes any British National who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen since March 01st 2011 from using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Full details are contained on the above link but those affected will need to apply for a Visitor Visa with the U.S. Embassy before booking their travel arrangements.

You are advised to complete your ESTA prior to confirming any travel arrangements.

To use ESTA now please only use the following website – Official ESTA Website

Complete North America Limited cannot be held responsible for cancellation charges incurred by travellers who have booked travel and are subsequently unable to travel as part of the VWP or who are unable to obtain a Visitor Visa. If you have any questions after reading the information supplied above please speak to a member of our team.

Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?

British Nationals and travellers from other European countries can enjoy visa-exempt travel to and via Canada but must first use the online Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) at a cost of CA$7.00 per person. Most online applications are approved with minutes by email but the process can take longer particularly if supporting documentation is requested. An eTA is valid for 5 years and allows you to travel for up to 6 months on any one visit.

You are advised to apply for your eTA prior to confirming any travel arrangements.

For applications and full information on the scheme please only visit – Official Canadian Government eTA Website

Complete North America Limited cannot be held responsible for cancellation charges incurred by travellers who have booked travel and are subsequently unable to travel as part of the eTA scheme or who are unable to obtain a Visitor Visa. If you have any questions after reading the information supplied above please speak to a member of our team.