A loop in the West

The time difference made you go to bed early — and wake up early as well! Your first real holiday day begins. Why not take a boat excursion to see orcas and whales?

Then stroll through town and, above all, visit the magnificent Royal BC Museum. The Indigenous art collections are superb.

Overnight at the same hotel.

Head north to fall in love with Butchart Gardens, ranked among the 10 most beautiful gardens in the world.
Then continue to Duncan and its Indigenous museum, and Chemainus with its murals. Overnight in Parksville in a *** resort with sea views.

Cross Vancouver Island. Midway, stop to admire the giant cedars of Cathedral Grove. Then reach Pacific Rim National Park, one of the most beautiful in Canada, offering vast beaches, interpretive trails and pristine temperate rainforests. Overnight in a lovely beachfront hotel.

A full day to explore the national park, relax on the beach, go whale-watching, observe bears along the coast eating crabs (!), or enjoy sea kayaking.

Pacific Rim National Park is a magnificent example of ancient temperate rainforest. Indigenous presence and culture remain strong.

Overnight at the same location.

Drive toward Nanaimo, north of Victoria. Take the ferry, then once on the mainland follow the spectacular “Sea to Sky” scenic route to Whistler. A wide range of activities is available, with mountain biking as the resort’s star. Accommodation in Whistler Village.

To return to the mainland, it is possible to take a beautiful detour via the Sunshine Coast. This requires at least one extra night (Egmont or Halfmoon Bay). You would see Canada’s most beautiful fjords, by car and especially by ferry.
Supplement of about €170 per person sharing a double room (1 ferry + 1 extra day of car rental + 1 night in a **** seaside lodge).
With one more extra day, you can take the superb “Princess Louisa Inlet” cruise.

On the west side the road is magnificent; suddenly, on the east side, everything becomes more arid. Head toward the Cariboo mountain range and ranch country.
Overnight on a ranch in Clearwater.

Visit Wells Gray Park at your leisure; it is home to Helmcken Falls and Spahats Falls. Then drive north past Mount Robson, the highest point of the Canadian Rockies (3,426 metres). Enter Alberta and Jasper National Park. Accommodation in a small lodge in Jasper.

Full day to discover Jasper National Park: Medicine Lake, Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, Whistler Mountain summit, Mount Edith Cavell.

Overnight at the same location.

Early morning departure along the Icefields Parkway, one of North America’s most scenic roads. On the way, admire Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls.

Continue into Banff National Park. Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Continue to Banff.
Accommodation in an apartment.

Cross Yoho National Park toward British Columbia. Then drive through Glacier National Park via Rogers Pass.
Accommodation in a lodge near Revelstoke.

Drive up to the summit of Mount Revelstoke by car. The day then continues along Okanagan Lake through Canada’s “Orchard”. Continue to Manning Park, a gem of the Coast Mountains.
Accommodation in a lodge inside the park.

Manning Provincial Park is easy to explore by car or on foot — enjoy it. At the summit, birds and squirrels will welcome you! You have the whole day to enjoy the park.

Continue to Vancouver late in the day. Accommodation in downtown Vancouver.

So much to see! Chinatown, Gastown (old town), the harbour, the panoramic restaurant, Stanley Park and its magnificent aquarium (belugas, seals, …), shopping, and more. Overnight at the same location.

Day to deepen your discovery of the city and do some shopping.
Late afternoon, departure for the airport. Return of the car and boarding for your flight home.