Vancouver

You will have two days in Vancouver when you will have time to visit the highlights such as Stanley Park, Gastown, Granville Island, Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge.

2 nights in Vancouver.

Vancouver to Victoria

Collect your hire car and take ferry to Victoria (cost of ferry not included).  Victoria is a delightful city, and capital of British Columbia.  Don't miss the Royal British Columbia Museum, the Butchart Gardens or the chance to see killer whales.

2 nights in Victoria.

Victoria to Tofino

Drive through Duncan and the enormous forest of ancient Douglas Firs known as Cathedral Grove to Tofino on the Pacific Coast.  Tofino is a delightful village in the Pacific Rim National Park from where you can take bear/whale watching trips, surf, walk the 5-mile beach and enjoy the rain forest.

3 nights in Tofino.

Tofino to Port Hardy

Back across the mountains up north to Port Hardy maybe stopping for some whalewatching at Sayward. Although a long way, it is a pretty drive with little traffic.

1 night in Port Hardy.

Port Hardy to Prince Rupert

Today will be one of the many highlights of this holiday as you travel the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, one of the world's most beautiful waterways.  The ferry journey takes 15 hours plus allow 1 hour driving and ferry loading time. (N.B. ferry operates 3 times a week).

2 nights in Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert to Smithers

Follow the Skeena River to Smithers, which is a 220 mile journey.  Be sure to stop at Hazleton; the area has nurtured northwest coast native cultures at 'Ksan for over 7,000 years, with the Gitksan and Wetsuwet'en peoples always living here, where the Skeena River meets the Bulkley River. The Skeena River served as an ancient trade route, navigated by 60-foot cedar canoes travelling from the coast upriver to totem-filled villages with magical names like Temlaham, Gitanmax and Kispiox.

You could also add a day here and visit, as Billy Connolly did, the totally unpronouceable Anhluut'ukwsim Laxmihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisga'a Provincial Park (and you thought Welsh names were long!)

The dramatic landscape blends with the rich native culture making this park a special experience. The park offers visitors a chance to explore many unique and interesting features of a volcanic landscape and to learn about the culture and legends of the Nisga'a people.

Just outside the park there are five communities, four of which are Nisga'a villages. Their names are Gitlakdamix (New Aiyansh), Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City), Lakalzap (Greenville), Kincolith and Nass Camp.

The Nisga'a alkali basalt flow is one of the youngest and most accessible volcanic features in British Columbia. The guided volcanic tours offer the park visitor a chance to hike 3 km through a scenic old growth forest and past a variety of volcanic features to a viewpoint overlooking the crater. To protect the special features of the area, unguided access to the volcanic cone is prohibited. The hike is rated as moderate with some hills and steep stairs.

1 night in Smithers.

Smithers to Prince George

Continue following the Skeena River through spectacular scenery to Prince George. 

1 night in Prince George.

Prince George to Jasper

Today, you will arrive in the Rockies and the famous resort town of Jasper.

2 nights in Jasper.

Jasper to Banff

Today travel from Jasper to Banff via the Icefield Parkway.  Stop en route at the Athabasca Glacier and take a ride on the Snowcoach. At the summit of Bow Pass is the path to the beautiful Peyto Lake overlook.

3 nights in Banff.

Banff to Calgary

Drive from Banff to Calgary.  Drop off your car and take an overnight flight to the UK.