Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
The Ultimate Family Holiday in British Columbia City Sights, Mountain Heights & Wildlife Delights
Canada – Vancouver – Ashcroft – Whistler – Desolation Sound
The fun kicks off in Vancouver, where you’ll hop on a bicycle for a spin around the city’s streets and parks. Then, cruise over to Granville Island, where artisan shops and market stalls spell trouble for anyone lacking souvenir-buying restraint...
Are your little ones animal-mad? They’ll be in their element in your next stop, Ashcroft. Set slap-bang in cowboy country, you’ll become honorary ranchers for a few days, meeting the farm animals, saddling up for guided horse rides and embarking on nature hikes.
After one last pat, cuddle and reluctant goodbye to the horses, stock up on snacks and crank up the tunes, because a road trip through the mountains to Whistler is next. Here, spend some time discovering the charms of this adventure-loving resort village before whizzing skywards aboard the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Cue plenty of excited pointing as the little ones try to spot all the places you’ve already explored from 1,400ft in the air.
And for the grand finale, make tracks for Lund, where you’ll drift across Desolation Sound with an Indigenous guide in search of wild bears (bucket-list moment, incoming...).
Then, round things off on a high note with a traditional Klahoose bathing ceremony and some final paddle-powered fun. And by that, we mean a few high-pitched squeals as you and the family tentatively dip into those chilly waters...
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
The countdown is over and the bags are packed: today you and the family are off to Canada.
Head to the airport, whizz through security and bundle the little ones onto the plane for your direct flight to Vancouver. You’ll spend around nine and a half hours in the air, so whip out the travel games, reel off your best facts about Canada and deploy the snacks – hopefully that’ll keep the inevitable ‘are we there yet?’ chorus at bay...
When you touch down in Vancouver, you’ll be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city – your home away from home for the next three nights.
Energy levels permitting, take some time to explore your new surroundings, or simply enjoy some downtime at the hotel. Then, bypass any dinner deliberations with a restaurant recommendation from our local Concierge and head straight there, chatting excitedly about all the adventures ahead...
Fuel up with a quintessentially Canadian breakfast this morning; we’re talking toasted waffles drenched in maple syrup – bound to be a big hit with the youngsters.
Sugar rush in full swing? Put it to good use with a bicycle ride around Vancouver. With helmets securely fastened and grown-ups on navigation duty, hop on two wheels for a spin around Stanley Park, a 110-acre green space on the city’s edge.
Pedal past pockets of woodland and blooming flowerbeds, pausing your family convoy at the Roseraie, Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Gardens. Then, saunter around Shakespeare Garden, home to trees mentioned in the Bard’s works and plaques inscribed with lines from his plays and poems. Consider it a literary interlude between pedal pushes.
Hit the brakes at the Brockton Point Totem Poles, adorned with beasts from the legends of Indigenous communities. Challenge the youngsters to see how many ravens, bears and whales they can spot – and just like that, the first family game of the trip is underway...
Hoping to curate the ultimate family holiday photo album? Today’s trip to Granville Island should provide plenty of material...
Amble down to the waterfront and board the very speedy five-minute water taxi to the island, a lively little enclave tucked beneath Granville Street Bridge.
After docking, spend some time exploring this former industrial hub, where old factories and warehouses have been given a new creative lease of life as galleries and theatres championing local talent. There’s also an abundance of artisan shops and studios brimming with shiny trinkets to admire (tempting souvenir alert).
Lunchtime cravings being duly announced by the youngsters? Make a beeline for the Public Market, where stalls are laden with regional cheeses, fresh seafood and just-baked pastries. Even the fussiest little eaters are likely to find something that earns their stamp of approval...
Shotgun privileges are up for grabs this morning as the first leg of your Canadian road trip begins. Pick up your hire car for the four-hour drive north to Ashcroft, weaving past alpine forests and tuning into our destination-specific playlist. Let the family singalong commence...
When you arrive, check in to your cosy farmhouse stay – home for the next three nights. Then, join your rancher for a grand tour of the grounds, where befriending the farm animals is bound to be high on the youngsters’ agenda.
Cowboy hats donned (at a rodeo-worthy angle), saddle up for a ride through the countryside, clip-clopping past wildflower-speckled meadows and winding waterways, with your guide leading the way. And after cantering back to the stables, reward your noble companion with a good pat and well-earned crunchy apple.
Later, settle in for a home-cooked dinner at the ranch house – just brace yourselves for a few rounds of ‘Please can we have a pony?’...
Over the next couple days, it’s muddy boots and rosy cheeks all round as you and the family settle into ranch life. Start each morning with a hearty Canadian breakfast (your maple syrup streak continues), then take your pick of outdoor fun.
Perhaps reunite with your trusty steed for another ride or embark on a hike, keeping your eyes peeled (and cameras poised) for birds flitting through the woodland. And while the region’s wolves and lynx might prove camera-shy, their paw prints and tufts of fur snagged on branches are an exciting reminder that you’re not the only ones roaming these parts...
And when you’ve clocked up enough countryside miles, enjoy some R&R by the pool and challenge the youngsters to see just how big a dent they can make in their holiday reads before lunch.
Come evening, gather around the campfire beneath a star-emblazoned sky for a feast fit for...well, a cowboy.
Fire up the hire car this morning for the three-and-a-half-hour drive west to Whistler, making pit stops along the way to admire the views and snap some photos (these alpine views warrant plenty).
When you arrive in this storybook-worthy town, check in to your lodge – your family’s peaceful hideaway for the next two nights.
Raising a few little daredevils? They’ll be in their element here, with an abundance of hiking trails, mountain bike routes and water sports adventures to choose from. Or, if you’re travelling in winter, bundle up in thermals and hit the ski slopes (at their snowiest from January to March). These prestigious pistes even welcomed the pros during the 2010 Winter Olympics – so best bring your A-game...
Nights in Whistler can be pretty chilly, so after a hearty dinner, retreat to your lodge and cosy up by the crackling fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and see whose marshmallows toast to golden perfection first.
Ready to take your family adventure to new heights? Wolf down breakfast this morning and make your way to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, which links the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Clamber aboard this record-breaking ride, which boasts the world’s longest unsupported lift span and, at its highest point, whisks you a whopping 1,400ft above the valley floor – sparking a running commentary of oohs and aahs as you travel up and up. And with ancient forests, valleys, lakes and glaciers stretching out below, the competition is officially on to see who can spot Whistler Village first.
Chances are, the youngsters will be lobbying hard to have another go in one of the special glass-bottom gondolas, where they can gleefully peer down while grown-ups suddenly find the horizon even more interesting...
Come back down to Earth (by which we mean Whistler) and wrap up the day on another high with a delicious dinner somewhere local.
Excitement levels are bound to be sky-high, as today you're jetting off to explore even more of British Columbia. Buckle in for the two-hour drive to Vancouver Airport, where you’ll drop off your trusty hire car before boarding your flight to Powell River. You’ll spend around 45 minutes in the air – just enough time to establish a fair rota for that highly coveted window seat.
When you touch down, you’ll be privately transferred to your alpine cabin – your base for the next four nights. Let the youngsters burn off some steam exploring your new digs, set amid ancient red cedar forest imbued with Klahoose First Nations myths and folklore. One detail worth casually dropping into conversation? Bears are known to roam these forests, so expect every rustling branch to prompt a fervent scan of the wilderness (from the safety of your lodge, of course)...
And when hunger strikes this evening, head to an Indigenous-inspired restaurant to see what this corner of Canada has on the menu.
Hushed whispers and binocular-wielding skills are the name of the game today as you join an Indigenous local to explore Desolation Sound, a wildlife-rich marine park.
Clamber aboard your boat and drift past forested islets, cruising in for a closer look at cascading waterfalls (so keep those waterproofs at the ready).
Your guide is well-versed in bear behaviour, so will tell you all about their hunting habits and hangouts as you inch closer to the shore. Then, keep your eyes peeled (and fingers crossed) for a grizzly or black bear lumbering through the ancient woodland. If luck’s really on your side, you may even spot cubs padding dutifully after their mother or trying their paws at tree-climbing – hearts are sure to melt.
If you visit between April to October, you’re in for an even bigger spectacle, as orcas and humpback whales parade through these waters on their annual migration.
Over dinner somewhere local tonight, expect plenty of excited chatter on all things bear in between bites...
Immerse yourselves in Klahoose Indigenous culture today (quite literally) with a traditional bathing ceremony in the heart of the wilderness.
Journey down to a peaceful creek with your local Klahoose guide, who’ll give you the lowdown on this age-old soaking ritual. Believed to cleanse the body and spirit, the practice is all about reconnecting with Mother Nature and is said to bestow good fortune and positive energy. So, who’ll be the first to brave the rather nippy waters?
Back in Lund this afternoon, treat the family to some fresh, locally sourced salmon before retreating to your lodge for a cosy night in. Fire up the woodstove, hang the swimming gear to dry and thaw yourselves out beside the crackling flames.
After a few jam-packed days, today’s plans are entirely up to you.
Still receiving rave reviews after your last adventure on the water? Take to the nearby river or lake once more, opting for a kayak or paddleboard this time. Grab your paddles, see who can find their rhythm first and let the inevitable family race commence. These waters are also home to adorable otters and sea lions – two more potential ticks on your Canadian wildlife bingo card.
All splashed out (with ruddy cheeks and delightfully ruffled hair) retreat to your lodge for a soul-warming stint in the sauna...
And for your last evening, enjoy a celebratory meal somewhere special before heading outside and turning all eyes to the skies. Here, minimal light pollution reveals a sparkling canopy of stars – celestial markers long used by Indigenous Peoples to traverse the wilderness. Spot a shooting star and need to make a wish? Another family adventure has a rather nice ring to it...
Time flies when you’re having fun, and, sadly, your family adventure in Canada has come to an end. Dig into one last delicious breakfast before grabbing a bag of freshly baked pastries to keep everyone smiling on the journey home.
You’ll be driven 30 minutes back to Powell River Airport, where you’ll board your 45-minute flight to Vancouver. Here, perhaps indulge in a final duty-free splurge, before connecting onto your overnight flight back home.
You’ll spend around nine-and-a-half-hours in the air – plenty of time to scroll through your camera roll, relive the highlights and instigate that all-important conversation with your young explorers – where in the world should we go next?
Why visit Canada with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Canada
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
