Great Parks Of The West

From £2,199 pp

16 nights
Fly Drive
Economy flights
Available May - October

Western Canada is blessed with spectacular National Parks, showcasing some of the world’s most breath-taking scenery. This circular self-drive, starting and ending in the coastal city of Vancouver, takes you to the world-famous Banff and Jasper National Park but also gives you time to explore the lesser visited gems such as Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Kootenay and Yoho National Park. The natural splendour you’ll see is complimented by the wineries of the Okanagan Valley, fine dining in the mountain resort of Whistler and the gleaming skyscrapers of the coastal city of Vancouver.

What’s included?

International flights from the UK based on economy class
16 nights hotel accommodation
15 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
Parks Canada Discovery Pass

Holiday Map

Explore our interactive map to discover your holiday route and key points of interest.

Leaflet © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Start

Finish

Stops

Point of interest

Your day-to-day plan

Day 1

Harrison Hot Springs

Arrive at Vancouver International Airport, pick up your hire car and make the short drive to Harrison Hot Springs. This small village, at the bottom end of mountain framed Harrison Lake, is a beautiful introduction to Western Canada. Get into holiday mode and spend your evening relaxing in the Hot Springs, strolling the lakefront path and enjoying dinner with a view over the water.

Day 2-3

Penticton

Travel east through the Coastal Mountains and EC Manning Provincial Park towards the Okanagan Valley, a region famous for its lush orchards and vineyards. The town of Penticton lies at the lower end of Okanagan Lake and has a stunning sandy beach. In the evening you'll find a wide choice of restaurants to choose from as well as craft breweries and a distillery. The next day spend the morning exploring the soon to be South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park, an area of rolling hills and shrub at the northern tip of North America’s Great Basin Desert, and the afternoon on a wine tour sampling the local produce!

Day 4

Revelstoke

Head north up the Okanagan Valley and then join Highway 1 as it enters the Columbia Mountains and winds past spectacular waterfalls, towering peaks, and beautiful lakes enroute to Revelstoke. Open seasonally, the Meadows in the Sky Parkway is a paved road that takes you up to over 1800mt in elevation and into the heart of Mount Revelstoke National Park. Marvel as you travel through forests of cedar and hemlock, spruce, and fir to the renowned subalpine wildflower meadows where spectacular views await.

Day 5

Radium Hot Springs

Back on Highway 1, continue exploring Mount Revelstoke National Park and stop at the Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail and enjoy a stroll through towering, 500-year-old trees. Soon you will enter Glacier National Park, an area of jagged mountain peaks and roaring glacier-fed rivers. Take in the scenery at the many trails and make a stop at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, designated as a national historic site in 1971, due to its pivotal role in the construction and development of the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Trans-Canada Highway. Step out onto the Golden Skybridge before ending the day relax at Radium Hot Springs, the pools are filled with naturally heated water containing a unique blend of scentless minerals that relax the mind and rejuvenate the body!

Day 6-7

Banff

Start early and drive through the Kootenay National Park, keeping your eyes peeled for the myriad of wildlife that live here. Be sure to stop and marvel as Mother Nature puts on her best face at the Kootenay Valley Viewpoint and at the confluence of the Kootenay and Simpson Rivers. Marble Canyon is an ideal place to stretch your legs and explore the trails that criss-cross over the deep canyon. After you cross the continental divide head south on Highway 1 to the bustling mountain town of Banff, where you have a free day to explore. Start by taking the Banff Gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain to enjoy incredible views of the 6 mountain ranges that surround the town and then stroll the riverside path to the beautiful Bow Falls. Have lunch downtown, in one of the many different restaurants and bistros, before taking a cruise on nearby Lake Minnewanka.

Day 8

Lake Louise

As you journey up to Lake Louise, we recommend leaving the highway and driving on the Bow Valley Parkway, stopping at viewpoints over Morant’s Curve and Castle Mountain and taking a walk at Johnstone Canyon to see spectacular waterfalls. Drop down into Yoho National Park and have lunch by Emerald Lake and end the day at Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the world. You’ll understand why when you see the turquoise lake, with the distant mountains and Victoria Glacier providing the perfect backdrop.

Ice_Explorer_Tour_at_Icefields_Parkway_Photocredit_Rocky_Mountaineer.jpg

Day 9

Icefields Parkway

Travel from Lake Louise to Jasper on one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Enjoy the ride and stop at the many viewpoints along the way before arriving at the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle and one of the most accessible icefields in North America. Here you can ride on an Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier before stepping out on to the Glacier Skywalk for unobstructed views of the Sunwapta Valley. Afterwards, continue north towards Jasper, making a stop at Athabasca Falls.

Day 10

Jasper

Today you have a free day in Jasper to explore the surrounding national park and its majestic scenery. We recommend you book an excursion to nearby Maligne Lake and cruise to Spirit Island, an iconic vista of the Canadian Rockies with distant jagged mountains providing the perfect backdrop. On the outskirts of Jasper and easily reached by local transport are lakes such as Pyramid Lake, where you can hire a canoe, and Lake Annette, with its enticing beach. Look out for wildlife, Jasper is known for the herd of Elk that graze on the outskirts of town.

Day 11-12

Clearwater

Follow the Yellowhead Highway as it takes you through the mountains, past Mt. Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies and make a stop in Blue River to join a River Safari in search of resident black bear. You will stay the next 2 nights in Alpine Meadows Resort, in an authentic log cabin set amongst splendid forest around a lake. Spend next the day exploring the stunning Wells Gray Provincial Park, famous for wildlife, waterfalls, and wilderness. There are many lakes and waterfalls to see but don’t miss Helmcken Falls, which plunges 141m down into a mist-filled gorge.

Day 13-14

Whistler

As you pass Lillooet, you leave the semi-arid rolling hills of the BC interior behind and enter the Coast Mountain range. Be amazed by the spectacular scenery as you travel alongside fast-flowing rivers and past vibrant blue lakes and gushing waterfalls on the way to Whistler. The next day is free to allow you to explore this vibrant year-round resort. Stroll the pedestrianised downtown, which is home to fabulous restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, take the gondola up Whistler Mountain and enjoy breath-taking views, take a canoe out on Alta Lake or join a bear-watching tour to go in search of local black bears.

Day 15

Sea-to-Sky Highway

Today you will drive the famous Sea-to-Sky Highway, a stunning drive with the soaring Coastal Mountains on one side and blue waters of Howe Sound on the other. Although it’s only 2 hours from Whistler to Vancouver, be prepared for this drive to take all day as there are plenty of attractions off the highway such as Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and the Britannia Mine Museum.

Day 16

Vancouver

Spend the day exploring this enchanting coastal city. Take a stroll round Stanley Park, head over to Granville Island to discover a world of food, art and culture or take a shuttle bus over to the North Shore and join a whale watching tour and go in search of BC's resident orcas.

Special Offers

Take advantage of the following offers on this holiday

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Save up to £500 per booking

Book by 30th June and take advantage of our exclusive savings

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Save up to 30% across our extensive hotel range in the province of Alberta. Call us today for more information.

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Accommodation in British Columbia Offer

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Save up to 50% across our extensive hotel range in the province of British Columbia. Call us today for more information.

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See more holidays

This holiday requires an ETA for entry to Canada, for full details and to apply please see below:

ETA information

Please note Parks Canada charge fees at most national parks and historic sites across the country. Parks Canada passes can be purchased as part of your holiday, speak to your sales advisor for more details. Early booking is recommended.

For further information about national parks and historic sites in Canada or to reserve campsites and activities, please visit:

Parks Canada

Great Parks Of The West

What’s included?

Holiday Map

Your day-to-day plan

Harrison Hot Springs

Special Offers

Save up to £500 per booking

Book by 30th June and take advantage of our exclusive savings

Alpine Meadows Resort

Related Itineraries

Sunshine To Alpine Western Road Trip

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