British Columbia
Holidays in British Columbia
British Columbia is a province of many contrasts. For most, Vancouver is the arrival point, and it’s fair to say the city was high on the list when Mother Nature was handing out her charms. This beautiful city sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, enveloped by snow-capped mountain peaks but in this urban environment you’ll find some of the world’s finest outdoor experiences. Explore Stanley Park, where you can walk or cycle the seawall, test your nerve on the Capilano Suspension Bridge just 15 minutes from downtown or head for natural attractions of Grouse Mountain. For foodies Vancouver is gastronomy-heaven. Head to Granville Island and explore the sensational Public Market, where you’ll find stall upon stall of the freshest local produce, artisan bakers and incredible seafood. Whilst in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, you can indulge is some of the city’s finest restaurants. This is also where you’ll discover stylish boutiques, a thriving fashion scene and unique galleries. Robson Street is Vancouver’s best-known shopping precinct and stretches from Stanley Park to the BC Place Stadium.
Beyond Vancouver, British Columbia overflows with incredible natural attractions. Whistler, perhaps best known for its ski slopes is a blissful, summer adventure playground less than two hours from the city. Hop on a seaplane to Victoria on Vancouver Island and you’ll get a birds-eye view of the surrounding wilderness and likely spot a whale or two as well. For lovers of the great outdoors Vancouver Island takes some beating; the wilderness is quite literally on your doorstep. Explore the Pacific Rim National Park, home to wild beaches, superb hiking trails and a favoured haunt of storm watchers and enjoy some of the best bear viewing to be found anywhere in North America. Take to the calm waters and kayak with Orca’s or learn more of the First Nations heritage on Quadra Island. Further north seek out the elusive Spirit Bear in the Great Bear Rainforest or head to BC’s interior and embrace your inner cowboy (or girl) with a ranch stay. For wine lovers a visit to the Okanagan is a must, here you can hike and cycle through the rolling hills, sampling wine as you go – the perfect summer road trip.
Last but by no means least B.C is the starting point (or the end) to some epic rail journeys. Take a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer through the magnificent Rockies to Jasper or Banff or join ‘the Skeena’ a breath-taking two-day adventure between Jasper and Prince Rupert.
Rockies and Vancouver Self Drive
Explore the mountains, and coast of Alberta and BC
Rockies and Vancouver Self Drive with Rocky Mountaineer
Explore the coast and mountains by car, but travel between the two in the luxury of the Rocky Mounatineer.
Ultimate journey with Calgary Stampede
Vancouver, Alaska, Rocky Mountains and the Calgary Stampede
Vancouver Stay and Cruise
Spend a few days in Vancouver before cruising to Alaska
First Passage to the West Highlights
Let the Rocky Mountaineer take care of you with a pre and post rail stay
Knight Inlet Lodge
Bears, Bears, whales and more bears while staying in this floating lodge
Rocky Mountaineer
A 2 day rail trip of the best views, scenery and luxury.
Victoria
The provincial capitol of British Columbia
Rockies and Vancouver Self Drive
Day 1 - Arrive in Calgary
Arrive in Calgary, transfer to hotel.
Day 2 - Drive to Banff
Collect your hire car and drive the Trans Canada Highway from Calgary to Banff. Enjoy the change in scenery as you leave the prairies behind and are in the heart of the Rocky Mountains when you arrive in Banff.
Day 3 - Views from Sulphur Mountain
Spend the day exploring see the views from the top of Sulphur Mountain, discover the history at the Cave and Basin. Hike one of the many trails or go rafting or canoeing on the Bow River. Overnight Banff.
Day 4 - Explore Banff
More time to explore Banff then travel to Johnston Canyon visit the falls and hike to the inkpots. Overnight Banff / Lake Louise or Field
Day 5 - Travel the Icefields Parkway
Travel the Icefields Parkway, stopping at various sightseeing opportunities on the way including the Athabasca Glacier part of the Colombia Icefield. Overnight Jasper
Day 6 - Visit Maligne Lake
Visit Maligne Lake and Canyon, take a boat ride on the lake or try your hand at canoeing round the lake. Overnight Jasper
Day 7 - Travel to Wells Gray Provincial Park
Continue to past the highest peak in the Rockies Mount Robson and travel to Wells Gray Provincial Park
Day 8 - Spend the day in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Spend the day in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Day 9 - Travel South to Kamloops
Travel South to Kamloops and the wine growing region of the Okanagan Valley.
Day 10 - Journey through small towns
The last part of the journey is through small towns on the way to Vancouver. Return you car.
Day 11 - Visit Grouse Mountain
Visit Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension bridge.
Day 12 - Fly home
Depart on an evening flight
Rockies and Vancouver including Rocky Mountaineer
Day 1 - Arrive in Calgary
Arrive in Calgary, transfer to hotel.
Day 2 - Drive to Banff
Collect your hire car and drive the Trans Canada Highway from Calgary to Banff. Enjoy the change in scenery as you leave the prairies behind and are in the heart of the Rocky Mountains when you arrive in Banff.
Day 3 - Views from Sulphur Mountain
Spend the day exploring see the views from the top of Sulphur Mountain, discover the history at the Cave and Basin. Hike one of the many trails or go rafting or canoeing on the Bow River. Overnight Banff.
Day 4 - Travel to Johnston Canyon
More time to explore Banff then travel to Johnston Canyon visit the falls and hike to the inkpots. Overnight Banff / Lake Louise or Field
Day 5 - Travel the Icefields Parkway
Travel the Icefields Parkway, stopping at various sightseeing opportunities on the way including the Athabasca Glacier part of the Colombia Icefield. Overnight Jasper
Day 6 - Visit Maligne Lake
Visit Maligne Lake and Canyon, take a boat ride on the lake or try your hand at canoeing round the lake. Overnight Jasper
Day 7 - Board the Rocky Mountaineer Train
Board the Rocky Mountaineer Train for a journey through spectacular scenery much of which can’t be seen from the road. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sit back and relax. Overnight in Kamloops.
Day 8 - Travel towards Vancouver
Day 9 - Visit Grouse Mountain
Day 10 - Fly home
Depart on an evening flight
Ultimate Canada
with Calgary Stampede
Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver
Day 2 - Explore Vancouver
Spend the day exploring Vancouver, explore Stanley Park, perhaps hire a bike and watch the sunset from the top of Grouse Mountain.
Day 3 - Visit Capilano Suspension bridge
More exploring of Vancouver why not visit Capilano Suspension bridge, Gas town, visit Granville Island Market or do some shopping on Robson Street.
Day 4 - Board the Rocky Mountaineer Train
Board the Rocky Mountaineer Train for a journey through spectacular scenery much of which can’t be seen from the road. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sit back and relax. Overnight in Kamloops.
Day 5 - Travel to Banff
Board the train for a second day as you travel towards Banff
Day 6 - Views from Sulphur Mountain
Spend the day exploring see the views from the top of Sulphur Mountain, discover the history at the Cave and Basin. Hike one of the many trails or go rafting or canoeing on the Bow River.
Day 7 - Travel to Johnston Canyon
Day 8 - Travel to Calgary
Transfer by coach to Calgary.
Day 9 - Admission to the Calgary Stampede
Admission to the Calgary Stampede.
Day 10 - The second day of the Calgary Stampede
The second day of the Calgary Stampede
Day 11 - Fly home
Depart Calgary for your flight home.
Vancouver Cruise and stay
Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver
Day 2 - Explore Vancouver
Day 3 - More time to explore Vancouver
More time to explore Vancouver
Day 4 - Board the cruise ship
Board the cruise ship
Day 5 - Sea cruising
Day 6 - Sitka Alaska
Sitka Alaska
Day 7 - Hubbard Glacier
Hubbard Glacier
Day 8 - Juneau Alaska
Day 9 - Ketchikan Alaska
Ketchikan Alaska
Day 10 - Inside Passage cruising
Inside Passage cruising
Day 11 - Fly home
First Passage to the West
Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver
Day 2 - Explore Vancouver
Explore Vancouver and enjoy your choice of one of four activities: a sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore, a guided bicycle tour of Vancouver’s highlights, a small-group culinary walking tour at Granville Island market, or a Sea Safari zodiac boat tour along the Howe Sound coast.
Day 3 - Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia?s interior. On today’s journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the BC interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake into Kamloops.
Day 4 - Canadian Rockies
Your journey continues Eastward to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Today’s highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Your rail journey ends this evening in the mountain hamlet of Lake Louise.
Day 5 - Explore beautiful Lake Louise
This morning you are free to explore beautiful Lake Louise on your own. After lunch, a half-day tour takes you into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the attractions are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to Banff.
Day 6 - Panoramic Helicopter Tour
Today you will enjoy a full-day tour concluding in Calgary. Begin the morning with a sightseeing tour of Banff. Among the points of interest are Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. Banff Gondola included. Continue on to Kananaskis for the highlight of today’s adventure, a 12-minute Panoramic Helicopter Tour over the remarkable landscape of the Rockies.
Day 7 - Checkout from Calgary Hotel
Knight Inlet Lodge
Day 1 - Arrive in Campbell River
Day 2 - Depart on a sea plane
Depart on a sea plane from Campbell River to the remote Knight Inlet Lodge, stay in the floating lodge with all meals included.
Day 3-5 - Bear watching
Enjoy days out watching for the bears, depending on the time of year this may be from a boat or from the hide. wildlife tracking, whale watching, interpretative hikes.
Day 6 - Return to Campbell River
Rocky Mountaineer
Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver
Day 2 - Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia?s interior. On today’s journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the BC interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake into Kamloops.
Day 3 - See Canadian Rockies
Your journey continues Eastward to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Today’s highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Your rail journey ends this evening in the mountain town of Banff
Victoria
Day 1 - Arrive in Victoria
Day 2 - Explore harbour area
Spend the day exploring the harbour area, and the many museums.
Day 3 - Trip to the Butchart Gardens
Today take a trip to the Butchart Gardens or go in search of an Orca.
Day 4 - Depart Victoria
