Vancouver to the Rockies

Highlights

• Vancouver harbour, Gastown, and Stanley Park before heading inland
• The Coquihalla Highway through the Coast Mountains to the interior
• Kamloops and the dry interior grasslands — a striking contrast to the coast
• Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake to finish — our own home turf

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Vancouver

Touch down in Vancouver and ease into one of the world's most scenic cities, framed by the Coast Mountains and the sparkling waters of Burrard Inlet. Settle in before an evening stroll through Gastown's cobblestone lanes, past the iconic steam clock and heritage brick facades, or wander the seawall at Stanley Park as the sun sets over English Bay. Consider it your gentle introduction to the epic Rocky Mountain journey that lies ahead.

No meals included

Vancouver, BC

Kamloops, BC

Golden, BC

Day 2

Vancouver → Kamloops

Leave the coast behind and climb the Coquihalla Highway, one of Canada's great mountain drives, as the Coast Mountains rise in dramatic granite walls on either side. Pass alpine lakes, dense evergreen forest, and summit viewpoints before the terrain opens into the rolling, sun-baked hills of the BC interior. By afternoon you'll arrive in Kamloops, a high-desert city cradled by grasslands where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet, a striking contrast to the coastal rainforest you started in.

Breakfast included

Kamloops, BC

Banff, AB

Lake Louise, AB

Day 3

Kamloops → Golden

Continue your eastward journey along the Trans-Canada Highway, following the Thompson and then the mighty Columbia River systems as the landscape grows ever more rugged. The road climbs into Glacier National Park and crosses historic Rogers Pass, once the final, hardest-won link in Canada's transcontinental railway, flanked by snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers. You'll roll into the mountain town of Golden by evening, gateway to Yoho and the Columbia Valley, ready for the Rockies proper.

Breakfast included

Golden, BC

Calgary, AB

Vancouver, BC

Day 4

Golden → Banff

This morning's drive threads through Yoho National Park, home to turquoise Emerald Lake, thundering Takakkaw Falls, and some of the richest fossil beds on Earth at the Burgess Shale. Crossing the Continental Divide into Alberta, you enter Banff National Park, Canada's oldest and most celebrated protected wilderness, where the Bow Valley unfolds beneath jagged limestone summits. Arrive in the town of Banff, tucked beside the Bow River, with time to explore its mountain-resort streets before evening.

Breakfast included

Banff, AB

Kamloops, BC

Golden, BC

Day 5

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake

Dedicate a full day to the two most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise dazzles with glacier-fed turquoise water mirrored by the Victoria Glacier and the historic Fairmont Chateau on its shore, while Moraine Lake, cupped in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, delivers an even more intense blue framed by jagged granite spires. Walk the lakeshore trails, snap the classic postcard views, and take in mountain scenery that has drawn visitors here for well over a century.

Breakfast included

Lake Louise, AB

Banff, AB

Calgary, AB

Days 6–7

Banff free time → Calgary departure

Enjoy extra time (on 7-day departures) to explore Banff at your own pace: ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for sweeping views across six mountain ranges, browse the townsite's shops and cafes, or soak in a hot spring. When it's time to go, transfer east through the foothills to Calgary, Alberta's cosmopolitan gateway city and former Winter Olympics host, for your onward flight home, closing out a journey spanning some of the finest scenery in the Canadian Rockies.

Breakfast included

Calgary, AB

Vancouver, BC

Kamloops, BC

Route & Distances

1. Vancouver→Kamloops≈ 355 km
2. Kamloops→Golden≈ 275 km
3. Golden→Banff≈ 130 km
4. Banff→Lake Louise≈ 57 km
5. Lake Louise→Calgary≈ 190 km7-day departures only

Distances are approximate driving distances, for reference only — actual route and mileage on the day may vary.

Check Availability

What's Included

Meeting & Transfer Info

Flying in to join us in Vancouver? Please share your flight details at least 5 days before departure so we can confirm your pickup time. If you're arriving the same day the tour starts, let us know your arrival time as early as possible.

Own Expenses

Optional activities you can add on-site — not included in the tour price.

• Banff Gondola ride≈ $65 CAD / person
• Parks Canada day pass≈ $11 CAD / person / day

Cancellation Policy

Good to Know

• Valid government-issued photo ID is required for every traveler on all departures.
• Pickup and drop-off times are approximate and may shift by 15–30 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions.
• Itinerary order and stops may change due to weather, road closures, or park conditions — safety comes first.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; stops involve short, easy walks rather than technical hiking.
• Let us know about mobility needs, dietary restrictions, or large group sizes at the time of booking so we can plan accordingly.
• Multi-day tours are priced based on double-occupancy hotel rooms; single-traveler and triple-occupancy rates are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

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