Journeys: Discover the Canadian Rockies - Westbound

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take a walk back in time with an expert from the Whyte Museum, exploring the historical town of Banff. Retrace the history of the riverside site where Tom Wilson established one of the first outfitting operations in the area, then explore St Georges-in-the-Pines Anglican Church, and past the Luxton home and garden. These and many other intriguing stops reveal the fascinating history of this town and the Canadian Pacific railroad, and how it was the stepping stone of opening up western Canada.

Explore the town of Banff in your free time.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit postcard perfect Lake Louise and take time to savour the emerald blue waters and breathtaking scenery of the Victoria Glacier.

Magnificent Banff—Canada’s first and most famous National Park. Rocky Mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, scenic drives, and a quaint mountain town. First, gaze in wonder, then immerse yourself in a park that has it all! Hike alongside picture-perfect mountains, glaciers, lakes, ice fields, canyons, and even hoodoos. Keep an eye out for wolves, grizzly bears, elk, and mountain lions. Banff’s blend of towering peaks and flower-strewn meadows make it a dream location to enjoy the great outdoors and mountain scenery.

The Icefields Parkway is a breathtaking drive situated between Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada. Experience the wild beauty of the Canadian Rockies on a winding drive through jagged mountain peaks and past glaciers feeding into brilliant blue lakes. Along the way expect to see postcard mountain vistas, huge valleys, and loads of hiking trails that will get you out and about in this truly incredible area.

View one of the Rockies' largest and most accessible active glaciers. The Athabasca Glacier recedes at a rate of nearly 5m (16.4 ft) a year. See this natural beauty while you still can.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

At the Columbia Icefields, enjoy a glacier walk with an expert guide on the lower Athabasca Glacier to explore and understand the life of this active glacier. Walking on this glacially carved landscape is an experience you won’t soon forget.

An exciting day ahead! Whatever you choose, the scenery will be stunning and the excitement of these optional activities will make this day unforgettable.

Enjoy the stunning landscape of lakes and mountains as you drive to the hot springs. Soak in one of the four pools as you take in the peaceful panoramic views.

Jasper National Park might be less known, but no less mighty. As the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is wild in every sense of the word. Experience mountain landscapes complete with waterfalls, canyons, glacier lakes, and the Columbia Icefield. Get out and explore on rugged backcountry trails chock-full of wildlife and take part in outdoor activities like, mountain biking, or skiing, to experience the true essence and beauty of this impressive park.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Stop at the visitor centre and, if it’s a clear day, see the top of the Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

Enjoy Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site on a float trip down the Athabasca River. Pass through small sets of rapids on a gentle river ride with a Licensed guide discussing the natural and human history of the area. Step back in time as the Athabasca River is the same route used by “fur traders” in the 1800's. Rafts are 7mts (25 feet) long, and the guides do all the rowing; allowing us to relax and the spectacular scenery. Keep an eye out for a variety of wildlife that can include; eagle, bear, elk, deer, moose, wolves, coyotes, mountain sheep and a variety of birds.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Explore the shores of Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering mountains. The turquoise waters and breathtaking landscape surrounding the lake make for incredible views and iconic imagery of interior British Columbia.

Visit the shores of scenic Lake Kamloops, an oasis in the arid landscape of the surrounding mountains. A recent "lake monster" sighting in these waters has drawn international attention to the lake and it's potential inhabitant, could you be the first to catch definitive proof?

Enjoy a brief walk with your Expedition Leader. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Enjoy this stunning mountain town.

In the picturesque setting of Canada’s Coast Mountains, the First Nations people have come together to establish the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. This facility showcases unique customs, art, and music and provides opportunities for local youth to train in the tourism industry. As a non-profit organization, the centre relies on visitors to help fund their ongoing programs, meaning everyone who comes here helps make this important work possible.

Explore the beautiful grounds of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre during this National Geographic Exclusive experience and discover the museum with an indigenous guide who has graduated from the training program here. Take an interpretive walk through the forest to understand how the Indigenous ancestors lived, while learning about plant species used for food and medicine. After, join a tea ceremony to sample traditional teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Hop on a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a brief walk with your Expedition Leader. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Enjoy some optional activities but also take time to just wander along the waterfront.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Often voted as one of the greatest city parks in the world, this 1,000-acre peninsula filled with luscious gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails is a highlight of Vancouver's downtown.

Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood, filled with Victorian buildings and cobblestone streets, is one of the liveliest in the city. It's rich in Canuck culture, food, and fashion.

Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.