Western Journey Tour

Your Canadian adventure begins in Calgary as you land at Calgary International Airport and head to your cosy hotel. Check in and get started on your explorations. The locals are warm and friendly, so a quick cup of coffee at a local cafe is a great place to start. Ask the locals for recommendations on where to visit within this multicultural city before you meet with your tour director just before sunset. Turn in early and get some rest before the real fun begins the following day.

Savour a tasty breakfast alongside your fellow travellers before embarking upon a more in-depth look at both Calgary’s sought after sites and its unique hidden gems. You will make your way to the 190 metre tall free-standing Calgary Tower, which was built in 1967 as a celebration of Canada's centennial. You will also have the opportunity to explore Fort Calgary. This wooden fort, originally erected to help control the illegal American whisky trade, has been perfectly preserved despite having been built in the 1800s.

From Calgary, you will travel towards the infamous Rocky Mountains, which have been dancing along the skyline and calling your name since your arrival yesterday. Admire the breath-taking vistas and sheer magnitude of the snow-capped peaks as you enter Banff National Park. This park is home to emerald green lakes and icy glaciers that glitter in the sunlight. After exploring the area to your heart’s content, you’ll settle down for the night at your hotel in Canmore.

After a filling continental breakfast, it is the perfect time to find out what the popular resort town of Banff has to offer you. This, of course, includes a special stop on Banff Avenue. The mountainous landscape gazes down upon you as you hop from boutique to boutique, or nestle inside a restaurant for a bite to eat. Explore the area at your leisure, or opt to up the adventure by going on a full day tour of the Columbia Icefield.

If you do opt for the tour then you can enjoy a myriad of stunning sights, including sparkling turquoise waters and the Victoria Glacier, which towers formidably over Lake Louise, often referred to as ‘The Jewel of the Rockies’. You’ll venture up the Icefields Parkway before climbing aboard an Ice Explorer that will haul you towards an up-close and personal experience with the ancient Athabasca Glacier, one of the six principal 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield.

As your day nears its end, travel back to Banff and spend another night in your hotel in Canmore.

Today, you embark on your journey to Kamloops via the Trans Canada Highway, which is one of the longest of its kind in the world. You’ll venture over the ragged Kicking Horse Pass as you make your way into Yoho National Park. The park is home to infinite icefields, cavernous canyons and flourishing forests that guide the way and will take you to the just as impressive Glacier National Park. This national park offers even more mind-blowing vistas and natural beauty. Soak up as much of it as you can before your tour concludes in the city of Kamloops.

Enjoy the ranch lands while you can, because they are soon to be replaced with more majestic mountains as you journey towards Whistler – home to Whistler Blackcomb Mountain.

You will have the option of taking a tranquil floatplane sightseeing tour shortly after your arrival. If you choose to do this tour then you will be rewarded with skyward views of the famed Garibaldi Park, promising stunning sights of volcanic peaks, lush meadows and peaceful lakes.

Spend the rest of your day relaxing, before settling in at your Whistler hotel for the evening.

Gaze in awe at the gripping landscape of craggy fjords and frozen mountain peaks as you travel along the Sea to Sky Highway. It’s time to trade country for cosmopolitan as we head for the vibrant city of Vancouver. Upon your arrival, you’ll dive right in to some of the most anticipated sights of your trip, including Stanley Park, which is surrounded by the iridescent waters of English Bay. You’ll also stop by the historic Gastown, best known for its intricate Victorian architecture, whistling Steam Clock and numerous well-stocked souvenir shops.

The afternoon is your own to relax or sample some local foodie delights. While delicacies infused with maple syrup sound like a treat, you simply have to order a bit of sushi too. Vancouver is hailed as being the seafood and sushi capital of North America.

Indulge in a traditional Canadian breakfast before further exploring the best of what Canada’s most ethnically diverse city has to offer. Shop downtown on Robson Street with the Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains as your backdrop, or make your way through the energetic and eccentric markets of Granville Island.

Close your trip on a high note with an optional full day tour to Victoria. It will take you to the provincial capital’s numerous 19th century landmarks, as well as to Butchart Gardens, home to one of the world’s finest floral displays and set in a reclaimed stone quarry.

Say farewell to Canada with a last-minute shopping trip or a leisurely walk through the busy city streets. From there, make your way to Vancouver International Airport in time for your return flight.