Western Canada is a destination that should be on your bucket list! The sheer size and scale of the place is awe-inspiring and there are so many things to fit into your trip. When you visit Western Canada, you must experience what Alberta and British Columbia, the two westernmost provinces, have to offer. The snow-capped mountains, milky blue lakes and dense taiga forest are enormous in size, but also grand in beauty, all of which can be explored by plane, train and car.
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Each film features box office views in wild corners of Canada, like Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta. Neighboring British Columbia is also blessed with scenic splendor. If you head to the forest one day you’re sure to be in for a spectacular surprise as this is excellent bear country and a number of remote lodges offer the opportunity for nose-to-snout encounters. Whistler’s mountains are perfect peaks, both for sunny summer hikes and as a prime ski destination, and Vancouver’s coast is oozing with effortless urban cool and hip culture. It’s both a city break and a base for the wilderness beyond, like Vancouver Island and tiny Tofino, which promise laid-back charm, ancient rainforest and whale watching.
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Both provinces are beautiful and offer so much to do. That’s why we’ve put together this incredible Canada adventure vacation itinerary to help you explore the best of Western Canada.
Day 1-3: Fly from London to Calgary, Canada
You can fly from London to Calgary and land in the afternoon, giving you plenty of time to reach the Rockies and the small border town of Banff by late afternoon. Whether you stay in the town of Banff itself or just beyond, a finer collection of independent restaurants, cafes, craft breweries, distilleries and shops would be hard to find. Stop by the Rocky Mountain Soap Company to stock up on locally made beauty and health products, grab a bag of freshly popped toffee popcorn from Mary’s, enjoy a stone-baked pizza from the Bear Street Tavern and treat the sweet tooth to a COW Ice Cream at way home.
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Surrounded by towering peaks and breathtaking views, take a gondola ride to experience the breathtaking panoramas and get a real sense of place in the landscape you find yourself in. A day trip to Lake Louise is also an absolute must, and the color of the lake is incredible…
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Perhaps one of the Rockies’ top attractions, but during the summer months its beauty is somewhat dampened by the thousands of tourists who flock to the lake shores for a selfie or three. So, how can you see this natural wonder for yourself? The solution is to set the alarm early, grab a cup of coffee and be the first one there. Not only do you have the view to yourself, the magnitude of the surrounding mountain vista is simply breathtaking.
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Day 4-6: Take a road trip from Banff to Jasper and see Canada’s famous Icefields Parkway
The drive between Banff and Jasper takes you north along the famous Icefields Parkway, a journey that offers plenty of scenic stops along the way. Halfway along is the Columbia Icefield, where you can see and hike the incredible Athabasca Glacier. If you’re brave enough, you can venture onto the Icefield Skywalk, a hanging platform where glass is the only thing separating you from the rugged and wild terrain.
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The sleepy and less visited town of Jasper is located just 200 miles north of Banff. Travel by car or train through a majestic country intricately shaped by its glacial past. The Columbia Icefields Parkway tops the charts year after year as one of the world’s most iconic drives, with more than a thousand visible glaciers and hundreds of milky turquoise lakes, which reveal their azure colors once the snow begins to melt each spring. The Athabasca Glacier is perhaps the most impressive and accessible of them all, and there are a number of companies offering glacier hiking and buggy experiences to visitors who want to get up close and personal.
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The town of Jasper is a hidden gem and one of the world’s largest dark sky reserves. For many, it is the departure point for one of the most epic train journeys in the world, aboard the Rocky Mountaineer or Canada’s national rail line, VIA Rail, which travels west to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, the entry point to beautiful British Columbia.
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The Canadian Pacific Railway connects Canada from sea to sea. Until the late 1960s, the railway was the primary means of long-distance transportation in Canada, especially for crossing the mountains from the prairies. Today, of course, much has changed, but the railway remains a lifeline of Canada and its history is a huge draw for visitors from all over the world. When you take the Rocky Mountaineer, you’ll wind your way through some of the most stunning mountain landscapes in the world, all while sitting in the most comfortable and lush surroundings. Enjoy a glass of something sparkling as you enjoy fine a la carte dining, taking in the epic backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains viewed through the glass-domed carriage.
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Day 7-10: Enjoy a seaplane adventure to Whistler
After a few days exploring the city’s highlights, take a seaplane flight over the coastline and mountains of the north coast to Whistler. It is the accessibility of Whistler and the surrounding area that makes it so unique. Easily combined with a road trip through the Rockies or a wilderness lodge trip, to escape the city for a few days or as a standalone mountain getaway, it ticks all the boxes. The village itself is split into an upper and lower village – each with their own selection of cafes, bars, restaurants and of course – every adventure shop under the sun.
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As big as skiing is in winter, mountain biking is the draw in summer, with cycling festivals and endless routes to enjoy. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola offers a thrilling journey to the summit of both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain, hanging above the valley floor 1,300 feet below!
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Day 11-15: Fly from Whistler to Vancouver Island and see the Great Bear Rainforest
Fly west from the mainland to Vancouver Island and spend a few days in the Great Bear Rainforest, at the fantastic Farewell Harbor Lodge. This is a chance to spot and learn about some of Canada’s iconic wildlife, including some orcas that prowl the Black Fish Sound while at the lodge.
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End your trip with a few nights in Tofino on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. The centuries-old hippie hangout of Tofino, on the central west coast of Vancouver Island, draws visitors from far and wide to enjoy the plethora of water and land activities it is so famous for.
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Since Highway 4 was built in the 1980s, connecting the city to the outside world and allowing access to the area’s breathtaking coastline, Tofino has become an eco-chic vacation destination par excellence. The Cornwall of Canada, with the addition of a national park and unique wildlife watching experiences, Tofino truly has some of the best beaches we’ve ever seen, so we spent a morning sea kayaking on the glassy water of Canada. the inlet is the perfect way to round it all off. Tofino is also the hub for some fantastic adventure companies specializing in whale watching and black bear tours.
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Overall, there are plenty of epic adventures to be had in Western Canada and this itinerary is the perfect way to explore them. One thing’s for sure: if you love adventure, we recommend adding Western Canada to your travel bucket list!
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