Canadian Rockies ... Independent Vacation
Canada is a huge country stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic and deep into the Arctic, sharing land border with United States to the south and the US state of Alaska to the northwest.
Canada is full of unique experiences and interesting places. Its cultural mosaic, 32 million inhabitants, ethnic and linguistic makeup distinguishes it from most other countries in the world.
From cultural events and music festivals to outdoor extravaganzas, Canada has a wide range of festivals held all year round. Whether your passion is food and wine, adrenaline charged outdoor activities, encountering iconic wildlife or enjoying the attractions of the sophisticated cities, a memorable holiday awaits you in Canada.
Come, experience these incredibly beautiful Canadian Rokies with us on this vacation desiged for an indepth coverage of the region at your own leisurely pace.
Tour Highlights
Daily Breakfast
12 Minutes Summit Helicopter Ride
Discover Banff Tour with Sulphur Mountain Gondola
Lake Louise
Columbia Icefields Tour with Ice Explorer Ride
Discover Jasper Tour
Two Days Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tour
Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension Bridge Tour
Vancouver City Tour
Capilano Suspension Bridge & Cliff Walk
And much more........at an exciting price.
Important Notes
Restaurants for dinner are at walking distance in Banff, Whistler and Vancouver
Self drive travellers should ideally arrive Calgary by 12 noon so as to reach Banff comfortably while covering enroute sightseeing
For trallers opting to choose travel by chauffered vehicles, transfers from Calgary airport to Banff with be on shared basis by a coach and are time specific. Kindly look for flights arriving into Calgary 1 hour prior to the below mentioned departure timings. (1130 // 1400 // 1530 // 1830 Hrs)
Photos
Itinerary
- Day 1
Calgary / Banff
On arrival transfer from Calgary Airport to Banff by van or take your self-drive car from the pre-designated counter at the airport and begin your journey of this beautiful land
Drive from Calgary to Banff is 130 kms. / 1 hr. 30 mins.
On the way stop at Kananaskis for the most powerful experience in the Rockies, a 12 minute Summit Helicopter Tour
The area collectively known as Kananaskis Country (or K-Country to the locals) covers a vast area to the south and east of Banff National Park, comprising several side-by-side provincial parks and protected areas. While visitors and tourists make a beeline for Banff�s trails, many Albertans prefer to hike in K-Country, where the routes are quieter, the scenery is just as impressive and that all-important sense of wilderness is much easier to come by.
After the helicopter ride, continue your journey to Banff
It seems hard to believe when you first lay eyes on Banff Town, but this overgrown village of less than 10,000 souls is the largest metropolis in the entire national park. Thankfully, Banff has largely avoided North America's notorious penchant for sprawl � though its few city blocks do manage to squeeze in a surprising amount of commercial hustle and bustle.
A resort town with boutique shops, nightclubs, museums and fancy restaurants may seem incongruous in this wild setting. But Banff is no ordinary town. It developed as a service center for the park that surrounds it. Today it brings in busloads of tourists keen to commune with shops as much as nature, alongside artists and writers drawn to the Rockies' unparalleled majesty. Whether you love or loathe Banff's cosmopolitan edge, wander 15 minutes in any direction and you're back in wild country, a primeval world of bears, elk and wolves.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the Banff town
Overnight at Banff - Day 2
Banff sightseeing
After breakfast proceed on Discover Banff Tour ...
The resort town of Banff is set amongst the towering mountains of Rundle, Tunnel, Cascade and Norquay.
Learn about the natural attractions of the wind-shaped hoodoos which tower majestically over the valley.
Visit the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner along Tunnel Mountain Drive.
A gentle ride on the Banff Gondola in a four passenger car for 8-minutes takes you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for a 360 degree panorama of the Bow Valley.
Optional activity Minnewanka Boat Ride - 1 hr. 15 mins .
Overnight at Banff - Day 3
Banff / Lake Louise
After breakfast, depart for Lake Louise ... 60 kms / 40 mins. drive
Considered by many to be the crown jewel of Banff National Park, Lake Louise is nearly impossible to describe without resorting to shameless cliches. Standing next to the serene, implausibly turquoise lake, Banff's wild grandeur feels (and is) tantalizingly close, with a surrounding amphitheater of finely chiseled mountains that hoist Victoria Glacier audaciously toward the heavens.
Famous for its teahouses, grizzly bears and hiking trails, Lake Louise is also renowned for its much-commented-on 'crowds,' plus the incongruous lump of towering concrete known as Chateau Lake Louise. But, frankly, who cares? You don't come to Lake Louise to dodge other tourists. You come to share in one of the Rockies' most spectacular sights, one that has captured the imaginations of mountaineers, artists and visitors for more than a century.
Lake Louise 'village,' just off Trans-Canada Hwy/Hwy 1, is little more than an outdoor shopping mall, a gas station and a handful of hotels.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore Lake Louise
Optional activity : Lake Louise Gondola
Overnight at Lake Louise - Day 4
Lake Louise / Jasper
After breakfast checkout and travel from Lake Louise shadowing the Great Divide to explore the natural viewpoints of Crowfoot Glacier and Peyto Lake.
Then continue to Columbia Ice-fields and enjoy Ice Explorer ride and Glacier Walk. At the Columbia Ice-fields, enjoy a total 90-minute Glacier Adventure including travelling in specially-designed all-terrain Ice Explorer and walk on the glacier.
Next up, experience one-of-a-kind Canadian attraction, Glacier Sky walk - a fully-interpretive cliff-edge walkway culminating with the Discovery Vista - a glass-floored observation deck suspended 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley.
Later continue alongside the Sunwapta River and take a stroll at Athabasca Falls before arrival in Jasper.
Arriving in Jasper Town, the first thing you may notice is how low-key it all feels. Yes, Jasper is the most important town for kilometers around, and sees nearly two million visitors each year. Yet it feels far removed from the traffic jams of Lake Louise and retains an agreeable humility that seems more reflective of its workaday railway town roots than of its modern status as a national park hub.
With only two main thoroughfares, Patricia St and Connaught Dr, holding the lion's share of businesses, you can easily explore Jasper on foot in half an hour. Sit on the lawn outside the early 20th-century log cabin at the heart of town, meditate on the murmur of the freight trains running by, and soak up the unhurried vibe. You really couldn't ask for a friendlier, more relaxing base for exploring the awe-inspiring wilderness that surrounds you.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore Jasper town
Overnight at Jasper - Day 5
Jasper sightseeing
After breakfast proceed on Discover Jasper Tour
Jasper's beauty and history is set amid some of the most rugged peaks in the Rockies.
Explore the natural attractions of Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
At Maligne Canyon stroll along the 50 meter walls while learning about its unique underground water system.
Afternoon at leisure or try White Water Rafting / 2 hrs. 30 mins., Maligne Lake Cruise / 1 hr. 15 mins., Athabasca River Raft Float Tour / 2 hr. 30 mins.
Overnight at Jasper - Day 6
Jasper / Kamloops
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kamloops ... 440 kms. / 5 hrs. drive ...
You will be surrounded by the dramatic scenery, highlights include Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, Yellow head Pass and the journey along the North Thompson River
If you've opted to follow Hwy 1 from Vancouver east to the Rockies and Banff, Kamloops makes a useful break in the journey. Motels abound, and there's a walkable heritage center. Historically, the Shuswap First Nation found the area's many rivers and lakes useful for transportation and salmon fishing. Traders set up camp for fur hunting in 1811.
The focus of the downtown area is tree-lined Victoria St, which is a lively place on sunny days; very busy train tracks separate the wide Thompson River from downtown. Franchises and malls line the highlands along Hwy 1.
Evening at leisure to explore Kamloops
Overnight in Kamloops. - Day 7
Kamloops sightseeing
After breakfast, day at leisure for sightseeing of Kamloops
Indulge in Kayaking or Visit Frozen Waterfall & Kamloops Wildlife Park
Frozen Waterfall
Be one of the first to experience this magical winter paradise tour in the one of a kind Wells Gray Park. This future UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to over 42 named waterfalls. The crown of the park is known as Helmcken Falls and is Canada�s 4th Tallest. Come Check out the ice cone that grows at the base and can get up to 50 meters tall.
Kamloops Wildlife Park
Spend some time learning about British Columbia�s animals at this wildlife rehabilitation center and CAZA accredited facility. Conservation and education are the main goals of the park, where you can see over 200 animals in expansive habitats. It is a perfect place for a family visit, with plenty of activities to keep all ages engaged and interested.
Overnight at Kamloops - Day 8
Kamloops / Whistler
After breakfast, check out of the hotel, drive south west along the Cariboo Highway to the popular year-round resort of Whistler ... 300 kms. / 4 hrs. drive
Named for the furry marmots that populate the area and whistle like deflating balloons, this gabled alpine village and 2010 Olympics venue is one of the world's largest, best-equipped and most popular ski resorts.
Colonizing two mountains � Whistler and Blackcomb � and lying a mere 90 minutes north of Vancouver, the Village, which dates from the late 1970s, is a poster child for attractive design with nary an ugly building or piece of litter to pierce the natural beauty. Skiing may be Whistler�s raison d��tre, but these days summer visitors with their BMXs and SUPs outnumber their ski-season equivalents.
Adding more diversity, the resort has recently developed an art scene worthy of a small European city. The caveat? Whistler is busy (2.3 million visitors a year) and expensive. For a quieter, more economical experience, be selective with your dates and don�t follow the herd.
The 2010 Winter Olympics showcased the multitude of sights and activities available in Whistler.
Explore Whistler's pedestrian village on own. Follow the smells of fresh waffle cones to discover Whistler's best ice cream parlours or take pleasure in the abundance of outdoor bistros, coffee shops and over 200 stores.
Check in at hotel upon arrival
Day at leisure to explore Whistler
Overnight at Whistler - Day 9
Whistler sightseeing
After breakfast, day at leisure explore places of sightseeing at Whistler
Take the breath-taking Peak-2-Peak Gondola (operational from 4th week of May) with longest unsupported span in the world : 3 kms, connecting Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains
Discover the most interesting and beautifully scenic areas in and around the world class resort town of Whistler BC. Stopping at multiple photo worthy locations, you will see turquoise lakes, glacial rivers, olympic venues, a hidden local artisan zone, historic town sites and even some local wildlife on occasion including canadian geese, bald eagles and black bears! This tour has something for everyone!
Evening at leisure
Overnight at Whistler - Day 10
Whistler / Vancouver
After breakfast, your journey continues west towards the coastal city of Vancouver [125 kms. / 1 hr. 30 mins. drive] via the Sea-to-Sky highway which boasts breathtaking views including the wonderful 335-meter high Shannon Falls.
Vancouver is all about explorable neighborhoods, drink-and-dine delights and memorable cultural and outdoor activities framed by striking natural vistas � there's a superfluity of reasons to fall for this ocean-fringed metropolis.
Taste-Tripping
Don't tell the rest of the country but Vancouver is Canada�s dine-out capital. Abandon your diet and dive right into North America's best Asian cuisine, from chatty Chinese restaurants to Vietnamese banh mi sandwich joints, or unleash your appetite on a rich smorgasbord of fresh-caught local seafood, including seasonal spot prawns and succulent wild salmon.
Neighbourhood Villages
Downtown is just the start of Vancouver. Walk or hop public transit and within minutes you'll be hanging with the locals in one of the city's diverse and distinctive mini-districts. Whether discovering the independent boutiques of Main St or the coffee shops of Commercial Dr, the redbrick bars of Gastown or the heritage-house beachfronts of Kitsilano, you'll find this city ideal for easy-access urban exploration. Just be sure to chat to the locals wherever you go: they might seem shy or aloof at first, but Vancouverites love talking up their town and regaling you with their personal recommendations.
Culture Hub
There's a multi-textured canvas of creativity to pore over in this city. Dig deeply and you'll find an eclectically diverse grassroots scene that operates like a locavore movement for culture fans. Mingle with the regulars at indie festivals, sparkling theatrical events, toe-tapping live music, waterfront
On arrival in Vancouver, check in at hotel
Day at leisure to explore streets of Vancouver
Overnight at Vancouver - Day 11
Vancouver
After breakfast, day at leisure for Vancouver sightseeing
Visit the Fly Over Canada - Fly Over Canada incorporates state-of-the-art technology to bring you some of Canada's most thrilling sights like you have never seen them before.
See Canada Place, Robson Street, Sports Venues, library, theatres, Chinatown and historic Gastown
Cross the 450-ft-long Capilano Suspension Bridge over a spectacular canyon to the Treetops Adventure. The new Cliffhanger attraction is worth the trip alone.
Evening is at leisure to shop at famous Robson Street.
Overnight at Vancouver - Day 12
Departure from Vancouver
After breakfast, morning at leisure
Later transfer Vancouver Cruise Terminal / Vancouver Airport for onward journey
Notes
Best time to visit is between May to Sep. ... Extention recommended to Alaska & Destinations across USA
Hotels
Tour Inclusions [Canada Independent Vacation]
Canada Independent Vacation Tour Inclusions :
- 11 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast at restaurant in the hotel
- Inter-city travel by Van or Self-drivee car vehicle
- Two days travel on Rocky Mountaineer Jasper / Kamloops / Vancouver Red Leaf service
- Train station transfers on private basis
- Sightseeing tours on SIC basis with local English speaking driver / guide
- Entrance fees to visit attractions as per itinerary
- Departure transfer on private basis
- Hotel taxes
Notes on itinerary
All our itineraries are "Just for Ideas" ... We will get to know you and customise an itinerary just for you that matches your requirements ... dates of travel, category of hotels, preferred airline, flexibility in choosing sightseeing, mode of travel between cities, etc.
Many of our clients have us design more relaxing, slower paced holidays with more in-depth experiences whereas some simply want to visit various destinations and cover only the highlights.
Together, we will determine the ideal route, pace of travel, accommodations, levels of pampering, style of touring, sightseeing to be included, dining preferences, adventure levels, options to meet locals, dates of travel & much more ! and based on this arrive at a price.
Do feel free to get in touch with us by a quick call on +91 79 29602961 or a short mail on mail@destinations4india.com ... Looking forward
