The Best of the Canadian West: From the Rockies to Vancouver

It’s time to get out of the city and into the mountains. After breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and travel an hour west to Canmore, a charming town surrounded by iconic craggy peaks, such as the Three Sisters and Ha Ling Peak. Your home for the next two nights is a rustic, yet elegant, lodge surrounded by nature. After settling in and freshening up, spend the rest of today relaxing in your new environment. You could head out for a gentle walk in the area before heading back to the hotel for a tasty aperitif.

Having left its coal-mining way of life firmly in the past, Canmore is now a delightful mountain resort town located just a stone's throw from Banff National Park. Local leisure options mostly centre around outdoorsy adventures, such as mountain sports and hiking in the grandiose territories of Western Canada. Today is yours to spend exploring these magnificent landscapes at your own pace. There are an endless amount of hiking trails on offer that vary in length and difficulty. Some of the most popular (and fairly gentle) hikes include Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk, the Three Sisters Pathway and the Grassi Lakes Trail. If you fancy something a bit more challenging, then we can arrange for you to spend today hiking through the spectacular Kananaskis Valley with an experienced private guide.

Your adventure through the Canadian Rockies continues today a little off the beaten track. Your next destination is Field, a tiny village located an hour’s drive from Canmore. The journey is very scenic, passing along the Trans-Canada Highway before entering the Yoho National Park, a lesser-known park renowned for its striking turquoise lakes and wooded trails. Your home for the night is a classic lodge nestled on the banks of the Kicking Horse River, surrounded by pristine alpine nature. Spend the rest of today soaking in the peace and quiet of your riverside chalet, ready for an adventurous day tomorrow.

Rise and shine, you have an action-packed day ahead full of exploring and travelling. After breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and hit the road north to Jasper, a beautiful resort town located a three-and-a-half hour drive away. Along the way we recommend taking the time to explore the splendid Yoho National Park. In the local Native American language, the word ‘yoho’ translates to ‘admiration’, which is very fitting given its dazzling landscapes. Despite being the smallest park in the Canadian Rockies, Yoho packs a hefty punch when it comes to mountainous scenery. We’re talking imposing rock walls, dizzying waterfalls and nearly thirty peaks exceeding 9,000ft in altitude. Some of our favourite spots inside the park include Takakkaw Falls, a 1,100ft waterfall fed by the Daly Glacier; Wapta Falls, an excellent spot for bird watching; and Emerald Lake, a breathtaking (you guessed it) emerald-coloured lake surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of Wapta and Carnaron. This afternoon, continue along scenic Route 93 to Jasper, admiring the sublime panorama of mountains, glaciers, sparkling peaks, forests, lakes and waterfalls along the way. On arrival, check in to your luxurious hotel-lodge on the shores of Lake Beauvert, where you’ll be staying for the next three nights, and spend the rest of today relaxing and enjoying the facilities on offer.

Encompassing a huge area of over 6,200 square miles, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jasper National Park is the largest (and certainly one of the most beautiful) parks in all of Canada. You have the next two days here to savour the breathtaking mountainous landscapes of this section of the Rockies. At some point during your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to head out across Pyramid Lake aboard a traditional handmade canoe. Your experienced guide will help you to spot the wonderful local fauna, which includes bald eagles, elk and bighorn sheep. The rest of your time in Jasper is yours to spend as you wish. Bathe in the thermal pools of Miette Hot Springs; ride the Jasper Sky Tram, a dizzying cable car which offers an exceptional view of the valley; explore Maligne Canyon, where you can visit the petite and picturesque Spirit Island; try your hand at water sports on Lake Edith or Lake Anette; and enjoy a picnic on the shores of Lake Patricia.

Today you’ll be switching gears a tad, swapping the peaceful panoramas of Jasper for the bright lights of Vancouver. After breakfast this morning, jump back into your hire car and hit the road four hours east to Edmonton. Here you’ll return your rental car at the airport and hop onto a direct flight to Vancouver, which takes around an hour and forty minutes. On arrival, collect a new rental vehicle and drive to your next hotel: a beautiful guesthouse in North Vancouver offering excellent views of the city’s skyline.

You’ll be back in Vancouver for some sightseeing in a few days, but first it’s time to head for the tranquil shores of Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast for some well-earned relaxation. The journey takes around three hours, including a 45-minute drive to Horseshoe Bay, a forty-minute ferry ride to Langdale and a further 45-minute drive along the coast to Halfmoon Bay. Along the way there are several attractions worth stopping at, including the Capilano Suspension Bridge, an impressive foot bridge hovering 230ft over the scenic Capilano River; Grouse Mountain, which can be reached on foot or by cable car; the Eye of the Wind, a wind turbine with a viewing platform; and Deep Cove, a charming village nestled between the mountains and sea, popular for hiking and water sports. On arrival in Halfmoon Bay, check into your home for the next three nights, a luxury glamping site on the edge of the Strait of Georgia and spend the rest of the day enjoying your idyllic natural surroundings.

Welcome to the Sunshine Coast, a serene natural paradise just a stone's throw from Vancouver. You have the next two days here to explore its many majestic landscapes at your own pace and there’s plenty to keep you busy. You can spend a day on Thormanby islands, between a beautiful sandy beach and the Buccaneer Bay marine park. At low tide, it’s possible to walk between the two islands and observe marine life in the natural pools that form when the water recedes. Then there’s Smugglers Cove Provincial Park, a beautiful protected area that’s home to a network of wetland trails, perfect for admiring the wide variety of marsh plants, animals and birds that live here. You can also enjoy a gentle walk through the forest to the impressive Skookumchuck Narrows rapids, a popular spot for daredevil kayakers. We can also arrange a relaxing massage facing the ocean or a boat trip to spot sea lions.

Today you’ll return to Vancouver, your final destination on this epic western Canadian road trip. After breakfast this morning, head back to Longdale, hop on the return ferry to Horseshoe Bay and continue the final stretch to Vancouver. Your home for the next two nights is a charming contemporary hotel nestled in the heart of the central district of Coal Harbour. After settling in and freshening up, head out to one of the lovely restaurants or bars recommended by our local Concierge and enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city after nearly two weeks living in the lap of nature.

Cosmopolitan and cultural, Vancouver has much more to offer than its glitzy skyscrapers would suggest. The city has become a model for how to seamlessly integrate urban living and natural treasures. The most popular example of this is Stanley Park, a green lung of the city, full of acres upon acres of cedars and fir trees. To get a unique glimpse of Vancouver, climb up to the Lions Gate Bridge or to the top of Grouse Mountain, from which you can enjoy a panorama of overlapping woodland and ultra-modern buildings. At ground level, Vancouver offers a tapestry of markets, museums and eclectic architecture, perfect for one final day of sightseeing. If you fancy going out with a bang and experiencing something extra special, our experts can arrange a scenic flight over Vancouver in a seaplane.