Real Canada

Day 1 Vancouver      
O Canada! Home of ice hockey and Drake, and source of your soon-to-be fondest travel memories. It all begins in Vancouver. Make sure you’re at the hotel for 6pm so that you can attend the welcome meeting.      

Day 2 Vancouver to Kelowna    
You've got a long drive ahead today (approximately 7 hours) but you’ll also get your first glimpses of Canada’s incredible scenery along the way. Head past some incredible forests, parks and vineyard-covered hills in the Okanagan Valley. Arrive in Kelowna in time for dinner and settle into camp.      

Day 3 Kelowna to Golden    
Rise and shine for your first real taste of Canada’s great outdoors. Visit Mt Revelstoke National Park, home of the world’s only inland temperate rainforests. What’s that mean? Evergreen woodland with ancient trees and moss-covered ground, just like the forests in fairy tales. Continue to Golden, where you’ll spend the night.      

Day 4 Golden to Banff    
Drive through the stunning mountainous landscape of Yoho National Park. There are a couple of ways to explore the terrain. If you’d like to break in your boots your leader can point you in the direction of the best trails to tackle. Another option (not for the faint of heart) is to battle the wild waters of the aptly-named Kicking Horse River on a guided rafting tour. Later, reconvene with the group and head to Takkakaw Falls, stop for a photo op and then continue to Banff National Park.      

Day 5 Banff
Today's your chance to explore Banff at your own pace, as there are no formal activities planned. Established in 1885, Banff is the oldest national park in the country, and contains over 1600 kilometres (995 miles) of hiking trails. Chat to your leader about the optional activities on offer today.

Day 6 Banff
Today you’ll visit two of the west coast’s most picturesque glacier-fed lakes. First is lovely Lake Louise. Nestled between two blue mountains, the lake is beautiful no matter the season. Next up is Moraine Lake where depending on the time of year the water ranges from clear to aquamarine. Spend time exploring both lakes and their surrounding areas, then return to camp.  

Day 7 Banff to Jasper
Ready for even more spectacular scenery? Today’s drive takes us along the famous Icefields Parkway past the Rocky Mountains. We’ll stop at a few lookouts, lakes and waterfalls along the way, so there will be plenty of opportunities to take the perfect photo. Stop at Athabasca Glacier for a chilly stroll before continuing to Jasper National Park.  

Day 8 Jasper
Today is as clear as the air in the Canadian Rockies. Choose how you’d like to pass the time in one of the most photographed places in Canada. Your leader will be taking whoever is willing to Lake Maligne (optional but free), where you can hike and explore on arrival. If you like, you can pay extra for an optional cruise on the lake and check out the famous Spirit Island.      

Day 9 Jasper to Wells Gray Provincial Park
Another long day of travel ahead, though broken up with some stops to sightsee. Travel under the watchful eye of Mt Robson (3954 m/12,970 ft), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. In the afternoon, there’s time for a hike or optional canoe ride in the park.  

Day 10 Wells Gray Provincial Park to Whistler
Whistler awaits as the perfect place to stretch your legs after a day on the road (about 9 hours). While there won’t be much time to explore today, you might want to gather a group and hit Whistler Village. You can find awesome restaurants and bars in the pedestrian-only village.

Day 11 Whistler
Enjoy a free day checking out the best Whistler has to offer. There are plenty of optional activities available, so chat to your leader to decide what you’d prefer. During the warmer months, hiking is a great (and inexpensive) way to get the lay of the land, just keep in mind that the rugged terrain can make for challenging trails. Zip-lining tours are an amazing opportunity to get an aerial view of Fitzsimmons Creek and, if you’re lucky, see some bears along the way. There are also some great cycle networks in Whistler, so you have the option of paying for bike hire and riding to one of the nearby lakes.      

Day 12 Vancouver
After a short drive (around 2 hours), arrive back in the city and set out on a quick orientation tour with your leader. After the walk, bid farewell to your leader and your fellow travellers, as your tour has come to an end.