A Truly Epic, Once-in-a-Life Time Adventure in The Canadian Rockies.

Upon arrival in Calgary we will take our private transfer to the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott and check in. We will be staying here for one night and breakfast is included. 

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 14 nights the supplement will be £980. The supplement will be payable at the same time as the balance.    

 The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away! 

We intend to make the most of our time in Calgary (but not rushed) so once we have checked in, had time to rest and freshen up, we can head out to eat locally.  After dinner, we will join a 3-hour walking tour and enjoy an overview of this city.  This tour offers a unique exploration during which we shall see a compelling mix of contemporary innovation and historical depth and ensures a comprehensive appreciation of Calgary’s vibrant landscape.. This is a tip based tour so you get to decide exactly what this tour is worth to you.

After meeting our driver we will take a short detour to the Yamnuska Wolfdog sanctuary where we will have  the opportunity to learn all about the Sanctuary and get an introduction to what wolfdogs are all about through a 30-minute presentation. Our tour offers a “front row” viewing experience of the wolfdogs and the opportunity to photograph them without visual barriers. 

We travel onwards towards Banff with a short stop in Canmore for lunch and supplies. Our accommodation in Banff National Park is a huge 10 bedroomed house with lots of communal spaces indoors and outdoors for relaxing in the evenings.

Once we have checked into our accommodation we are heading off for an epic 8-minute gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (additional charge) where we can take in the views of the town of Banff, Bow Valley and six different mountain ranges.  

It’s not just the views to see and experience, we have access to the Banff Interpretive Centre and the Banff Theatre (“a cinematic journey that spans generations”) and there’s a chance to hike along a self-guided interpretive Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak and the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station, a National Historic Site. We could even have dinner up there!

After breakfast we shall head out for an epic day seeing nine iconic locations including Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow and Crowfoot Glacier,  Peyto Lake and Johnston Canyon.  What a day, from turquoise lakes and waterfalls to scenic mountain views, we will experience the true beauty of the Canadian Rockies – all in a single, adventure-filled day.  A truly memorable breathtaking day – in the very best way.

Today we have a free day at leisure to relax or enjoy as we choose. 

Located just 20 minutes from Banff, Canmore is an underrated gem for anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies. With stunning mountainscapes, lots of local eats and countless walks/hikes, it is well worth spending a day here.

We can even go bear spotting from a golf buggy!

It may be a day of strolling, walking or hiking – to whichever degree you feel is right for you – or perhaps a spa day is much more your style.  

We have chosen Canmore to do whichever activity you choose.  We can  catch the local Fairy Bus just a short 20 min drive and start by immersing ourselves in Canmore’s natural beauty with an easy, accessible activity.  Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk for starters. This 4km boardwalk trail follows the creek through town and offers an excellent view of the Three Sisters and Ha Ling peaks, perfect for photos and a relaxed start to our day.  Time permitting we could take a short walk to Canmore Engine Bridge or even head to Quarry Lake Park all gentle walking trails.  After lunch we could continue hiking or perhaps it’s time for some town exploration & a little culture like the art galleries and Canmore Museum and Geoscience Museum where we could learn about the town’s history including its coal mining past.  Maybe we shall stay for dinner at The Grizzly Paw Pub or Tank 310, a brewery restaurant with excellent mountain views.  

Alternatively, if you choose, you could settle yourself down for a restful, relaxing day at a local spa if this is much more your style. Choices…

After breakfast we shall depart for Jasper but we shall be making some amazing stops along the way from the ancient ice of Athabaska Glacier to the thundering waterfalls of Sunwapta Falls and Tangle Creek Falls.  We will be visiting more surreal blue lakes at breathtaking Abraham Lake and Peyto Lake as we take in Alberta’s wild beauty with every turn. 

Once we arrive in Jasper we shall check in to our accommodation where we will be staying for 2 nights. There is no solo option here and we will be sharing twin rooms; each room has 2 double beds and en-suite bathrooms. 

Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant and relive our incredible day together. 

Today we have another incredible day of sightseeing, cruising and hopefully, spotting some Canadian wildlife as we head out to explore Maligne Valley. We will have possibly the best opportunity to see some of Jasper’s wildlife on our scenic drive through its stunning National Park so keeping a look out for bears, elk, moose and many more wild animals could be a top priority.  We shall be stopping at Medicine Lake  and learn why this tranquil lake is locally known as the “disappearing lake”. We then head to Maligne Lake where we’ll take a 90-minute scenic cruise to the iconic Spirit Island – we may even spy a grizzly if we are really lucky!

We shall return to our accommodation and enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Today sees us continuing our journey by train. Our journey will take just over 7 hours and what an immense vista it will be.

Our accommodation, a motel  Situated on Dutch Lake,  After settling  in we can get a bite to  eat locally and sit around the firepit lakeside as the evening approaches. Just blissful. 

We can rise early if we wish and enjoy a walk around the lake or if you are feeling adventurous, canoes. kayaks, and paddle boards can be rented from the reception.

After checking out we will meet our driver for our private transfer to  the famous mountain resort of Whistler where we will be staying for 2 nights. 

Featuring an on-site restaurant, our  Whistler Village property is right in the heart of Whistler Village. All rooms offer a microwave and a fridge. 

A flat-screen cable TV and a fireplace are featured in each unit at Executive Inn Whistler. A bathrobe and a hairdryer are provided in the en suite bathrooms.

Authentic Tuscan cuisine is featured at the on-site Umberto’s Restaurant. We can enjoy access to a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and fitness centre at Mountain Side Hotel Whistler by Executive, located next door.

Free Day – the hardest decision to make, will be how you choose to spend your day. 

Dinner locally.

After breakfast and checking out of our hotel we will take our private transfer to the ferry terminal Tsawwassen in Vancouver and then sail across to Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Check in to our hotel The Helms Inn in Victoria city centre. All rooms offer spacious accommodations with free WiFi. Dallas Road is 15 minutes’ walk away. Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Royal British Columbia Museum are only 6 minutes’ walk away. 

 This evening we will explore the heart of Victoria on a 3 hour evening walking tour including Fan-Tan Alley and Canada’s oldest China Town

Dinner locally.

Free day.  After breakfast we have some decisions to make!  What will you choose?   Maybe the hop on/off bus will enable you to see the city landmarks and hidden gems of  Victoria or perhaps you will want to wander and visit the renowned, iconic Burtchart Gardens or maybe you will choose to take to the water and head out to sea on a whale watching tour.  If you’re feeling really energetic, you’ll manage all three options! 

This morning we depart Vancouver Island  and head across on the ferry to our final destination. Vancouver. 

Check in to our hotel where we will be staying 2 nights in the heart of Downtown 

The hotel offers free bikes, just perfect for city exploration on 2 wheels!

There’s a sky train and an aqua bus…. So many options for city sightseeing.

Today  it’s  hop-on hop-off tickets with a difference.  We shall hop aboard a San Francisco-style trolley bus.  With 19 stops across the city connecting major landmarks. Perhaps Coal Harbour will attract your attention or the tea house at Third Beach or the Brockton Point Totem Poles, or maybe you’ll want to head to the Art Gallery District or Library Square. 

For our last evening we will embark on a a 2-hour sunset cruise on a 40’ custom charter boat and enjoy the magnificent scenery in Howe Sound – the southernmost fjord in North America – from our comfortable vessel, and toast the sunset with a glass of bubbly, as the sun drops into the Salish Sea.

Sadly today is our last so we can check out, store our luggage and spend our time doing exactly as we please before we head to the airport around lunchtime to give us sufficient time to catch our flight back to the UK.