Itinerary
- Day 1
Vancouver
You'll land at Vancouver airport and pick up your rental car for the drive to your downtown hotel. After getting settled, spend some time walking around and getting a feel for the city's energy and layout.
- Day 2
Vancouver
This day is all about Vancouver's main attractions. Walk through Stanley Park to check out the Totem Poles, then head to Canada Place for the waterfront views. Gastown's historic streets are next, and you'll finish by wandering through the busy public market at Granville Island.
Optional Activities
- Visit Stanley Park
- View Totem Poles
- Explore Canada Place waterfront
- Walk through Gastown historic streets
- Browse Granville Island public market and arts and crafts
Landmarks/POIs Stanley Park Totem Poles Canada Place Gastown Granville Island Public Market - Day 3
Vancouver to Whistler
Head north toward Whistler with scenic stops along the way. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers thrilling walks and views, then continue on the Sea to Sky Highway. You can stop at Britannia Beach for tea, Shannon Falls, or Stawamus Chief before arriving in Whistler by evening.
Optional Activities
- Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park - suspension bridge walk
- Explore Capilano Suspension Bridge Park - Treetops Adventure
- Walk Capilano Suspension Bridge Park - Cliffwalk
- Stop at Britannia Beach for traditional English tea
- Visit Shannon Falls
- View Stawamus Chief granite monolith
Landmarks/POIs Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Sea to Sky Highway Howe Sound Shannon Falls Stawamus Chief - Day 4
Whistler
Spend your day in Whistler with outdoor options. Hike through the coastal rainforest or try bear watching, or take the gondola up for panoramic views of the landscape. The area has lots of wildlife and natural scenery to explore.
Optional Activities
- Hiking expedition in coastal rainforest
- Bear watching expedition
- Gondola ride for panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Whistler Blackcomb Gondola - Day 5
Whistler to Sun Peaks
Drive east from Whistler as you descend into ranch country around Pemberton. Continue through Lillooet, a historic Gold Rush town, then into the drier Thompson-Okanagan region before reaching Sun Peaks.
Optional Activities
- Explore Pemberton ranch country
- Visit Lillooet and Gold Rush Trail history
Landmarks/POIs Pemberton Lillooet Thompson-Okanagan region - Day 6
Sun Peaks to Blue River
Travel north through Clearwater into Wells Gray Park. You'll see Spahats Falls and Helmcken Falls, and you might spot mule deer, black bears, and different bird species throughout the day. Head to Blue River for the night.
Optional Activities
- Explore Wells Gray Park
- View Spahats Falls
- View Helmcken Falls
- Wildlife viewing - mule deer, black bears, birds
Landmarks/POIs Wells Gray Park Spahats Falls Helmcken Falls - Day 7
Blue River to Jasper
Get an early start crossing Yellowhead Pass toward the Canadian Rockies. You'll pass Mount Robson, the highest peak in the range, then arrive in Jasper. Spend time exploring Lac Beauvert, Pyramid and Patricia Lakes, the Maligne River Valley, and Maligne Lake. Stop by Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, or take the Jasper Tramway for views.
Optional Activities
- Visit Jasper National Park
- Explore Lac Beauvert
- Visit Pyramid Lake
- Visit Patricia Lake
- Explore Maligne River Valley
- Visit Maligne Lake
- Walk through Maligne Canyon
- Visit Medicine Lake
- Ride on Jasper Tramway for panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Mount Robson Jasper National Park Lac Beauvert Pyramid Lake Patricia Lake Maligne River Valley Maligne Lake Maligne Canyon Medicine Lake Jasper Tramway - Day 8
Jasper to Banff
Travel south along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic drives. You'll pass Canada's highest mountains and see glaciers. Stop to look at Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls, walk around the Athabasca Glacier, then pass the turquoise Bow and Peyto Lakes before reaching Banff.
Optional Activities
- View Athabasca Falls
- View Sunwapta Falls
- Explore Athabasca Glacier
- Visit Bow Lake
- Visit Peyto Lake
Landmarks/POIs Icefields Parkway Athabasca Falls Sunwapta Falls Athabasca Glacier Bow Lake Peyto Lake - Day 9
Banff
Dedicate the day to Banff National Park. Walk around the townsite, see Bow River Falls, and drive Tunnel Mountain for views of wind-eroded hoodoos and Surprise Corner. Take the Sulphur Mountain Gondola for panoramic views, and walk through Johnston Canyon via the Bow Valley Parkway. If you have time, consider Moraine Lake and Valley of Ten Peaks.
Optional Activities
- Explore Banff townsite
- Visit Bow River Falls
- Drive Tunnel Mountain
- View hoodoos
- Visit Surprise Corner
- Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride for panoramic views
- Explore Johnston Canyon via Bow Valley Parkway
- Visit Moraine Lake
- Visit Valley of Ten Peaks
Landmarks/POIs Banff National Park Bow River Falls Tunnel Mountain Surprise Corner Sulphur Mountain Gondola Johnston Canyon Bow Valley Parkway Moraine Lake Valley of Ten Peaks - Day 10
Banff to Revelstoke
Leave Banff for Revelstoke with route options. Route 1 takes you through Glacier and Yoho National Parks to see Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, and Spiral Train Tunnels, then through Rogers Pass and Mount Revelstoke. Route 2 goes through Kootenay to see Paint Pots, Marble Canyon, and Radium Hot Springs. Both can include Golden with hiking or the grizzly bear refuge.
Optional Activities
- Visit Glacier National Park
- Explore Yoho National Park
- Visit Natural Bridge
- Visit Emerald Lake
- View Spiral Train Tunnels
- Pass through Rogers Pass
- Explore Mount Revelstoke National Park
- Visit Kootenay National Park
- Explore Paint Pots
- View Marble Canyon with turquoise waters
- Soak in Radium Hot Springs mineral pools
- Visit Golden
- Ascend Kicking Horse Resort for hiking trails
- Visit grizzly bear refuge
Landmarks/POIs Glacier National Park Yoho National Park Natural Bridge Emerald Lake Spiral Train Tunnels Rogers Pass Mount Revelstoke National Park Kootenay National Park Paint Pots Marble Canyon Radium Hot Springs Golden Kicking Horse Resort - Day 11
Revelstoke to Kelowna
Explore Mount Revelstoke National Park's rainforest and wildflower meadows. Then head west to 3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town, a restored pioneer settlement, and check out Crazy Creek Waterfalls and Suspension Bridge. Visit Craigellachie where the last railroad spike was driven, then journey through Sicamous to Salmon Arm on Shuswap Lake before heading south to Kelowna.
Optional Activities
- Explore Mount Revelstoke National Park
- Walk Giant Cedars Nature Trail through interior rainforest
- View wildflower meadows at Mount Revelstoke summit
- Visit 3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town
- View Crazy Creek Waterfalls and Suspension Bridge
- Visit Craigellachie
- Explore Sicamous
- Visit Salmon Arm on Shuswap Lake
Landmarks/POIs Mount Revelstoke National Park Giant Cedars Nature Trail 3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town Crazy Creek Waterfalls and Suspension Bridge Craigellachie Sicamous Salmon Arm Shuswap Lake - Day 12
Kelowna
Spend the day in the Okanagan Valley, a major fruit and wine region in British Columbia. Stop at fruit stands for local produce, and consider visiting a winery to taste the region's wines. The valley has a relaxed feel and nice scenery worth taking time to enjoy.
Optional Activities
- Explore Okanagan Valley fruit stands
- Visit local winery for wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Okanagan Valley - Day 13
Kelowna to Richmond
Head back to the Vancouver area with two route options. Route 1 is the direct route from Kelowna to Vancouver. Route 2 takes a scenic detour past Penticton through Manning Provincial Park and the Fraser Valley farmlands, ending in Richmond for your final night.
Optional Activities
- Direct route Kelowna to Vancouver
- Scenic route through Penticton
- Explore Manning Provincial Park
- Pass through Fraser Valley farmlands
Landmarks/POIs Penticton Manning Provincial Park Fraser Valley - Day 14
Richmond to Vancouver
Drive from Richmond to Vancouver Airport to return your rental car and fly home. You'll leave with memories from two weeks exploring Western Canada's mountains, parks, and valleys.
