COASTAL BC INSIDE PASSAGE & ROCKIES
Overview
This small intimate tour provides a journey of a lifetime through one of the wildest and most diverse parts of the world. Starting and finishing in Vancouver, explore some of the most scenic places in British Columbia & Alberta. Traverse the rugged terrain of Vancouver Island, where lush rainforests meet the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Then, trace the coastline north on the spectacular Inside Passage cruise – an amazing opportunity to view marine wildlife. Returning to the mainland, venture into the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and soak in the landscapes that are embedded in Canadian history. Visit the Okanagan and Fraser Valleys to indulge in wine tastings. Along the way, you will experience distinctly Canadian activities that will deepen your understanding of Canadian culture, nature, and landscape. Be sure to pack your binoculars for this tour!
CUSTOM TOUR: This tour is available to book exclusively as a private tour. Speak to an agent to book this tour for your group.
Itinerary
Please note that this is a sample itinerary and is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather or road closures. We can also accommodate custom modifications to this itinerary for your group.
Vancouver to Victoria
- Depart Vancouver from Canada Place. Please arrive at least 15 mins before your scheduled departure
- Take a scenic ferry through the Salish Sea and the Gulf Islands
- Arrive in Vancouver Island and visit the famous Butchart Gardens
- Upon arrival in Victoria, enjoy a guided city tour of BC’s capital, including Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown, the Fisherman’s Wharf, Beacon Hill Park, and Mile Zero
- Evening at leisure to explore downtown Victoria
Victoria to Campbell River
- Have breakfast at your hotel
- The morning is free to further explore downtown or book an optional activity, including the Royal BC Museum, High Tea at the Empress Hotel, or a cycling tour around Victoria Harbour
- Today we are traveling north towards Campbell River with sightseeing stops along the Malahat Highway
- Arrive in Campbell River in the late afternoon, where you will check in to your waterfront hotel for 2 nights
Campbell River
- After breakfast, join your tour guide for an early morning walk through Millennium Trail or have a sleep in today
- Today you have the option to go on a whale watching tour (additional cost). With an abundance of wildlife in this area, we are likely to encounter Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Bears, Steller Sea Lions, and so much more. On select dates, there is also the option to book a Grizzly Bear watching tour.
- Evening at leisure
*Photos courtesy of © Campbell River Whale Watching Adventure Tours and ©Destination Campbell River – Bluetree Photography
Campbell River to Port Hardy
- After breakfast, depart Campbell River
- Stop for lunch in Telegraph Cove, a quaint town that was once a fishing and cannery village
- Continue on to Port McNeill and take a short ferry to Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. Alert Bay is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture, and one of its unique attractions ois the world’s tallest totem pole. This remarkable landmark is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous communities in the area
- Visit the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay which houses a museum showcasing returned artefacts from the Indigenous communities that provide a deep insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Kwakwakaʼwakw people
- Arrive in Port Hardy and check in to your hotel
Port Hardy to Prince Rupert via the Inside Passage
- Today is an early start to the day as we check in to the Inside Passage Ferry Cruise at approximately 5:30am
- Enjoy the 16-hour journey from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert with plenty of opportunities to see marine wildlie in their natural habitat. Travel along several points of interest on the way, including Princess Royal Channel and Chatham Sound
- Late night arrival in Prince Rupert and check in to your hotel
*Photo courtesy of ©BC Ferries
Prince Rupert
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel
- After traveling for a few days, today is time for relaxation
- Option to visit the Museum of Northern BC or participate in an optional activity for an additional cost. Grizzly bear tours into the Khutzeymateen Valley and whale watching tours will be available depending on the time of year
*Photos courtesy of ©Northern BC Tourism – Shayd Johnson and ©Destination BC – Mike Seehagel
Prince Rupert to Prince George
- After breakfast, today we will follow the Skeena River East, towards the Rocky Mountains
- Stop in the town of Smithers for lunch. You can browse and shop along the 6 block-long alpine themed main street, where most of the shops and restaurants are operated by the people who own them
- Arrive in Prince George in the evening
*Photos courtesy of ©Northern BC Tourism – Jeff Easingwood and ©Destination BC
Prince George to Jasper
- Have breakfast at your hotel
- Traveling towards the famous Jasper National Park, stop at Ancient Forest / Chun T’Oh Whudujut Provincial Park and walk the boardwalk to see majestic thousand year old western red cedars and a beautiful cascading waterfall
- Stop at Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, topping out at an altitude of 3,954 m
- Arrive in Jasper in the early evening where the remainder of the day is at your leisure
*Photos courtesy of ©Northern BC Tourism – Jongsun Park and ©Tourism Jasper
Jasper - Banff
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
- Travel along the Maligne Lake Road to the famous Maligne Lake, where you can stroll the lake edge, enjoy the beautiful views, or take a boat tour to one of the most photographed spots in Canada, Spirit Island (additional cost)
- Then depart for an amazing day exploring the Icefields Parkway as we make our way to Banff
- Stop at the Columbia Icefield to ride the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier
- Stop at Bow Lake and Athabasca Falls
- Check in to your hotel in downtown Banff for 2 nights this evening
- Leisure time to explore the town
*Photos courtesy of ©Travel Alberta – Jeff Bartlett and ©Pursuit – Mike Seehagel
Banff
- Have breakfast at your hotel
- Enjoy a tour of the townsite of Banff with stops at Bow Falls, the HooDoos, and the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
- Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for amazing views of the Rockies
- The remainder of the day is at your leisure to stroll along Banff Avenue or participate in an optional activity such as e-biking, canoeing, horseback riding, and more
*Photos courtesy of ©Pursuit – Chris Amat
Banff to Kelowna
- Depart Banff after breakfast
- Stop at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake to marvel at the glacier fed lakes, which are considered two of the most beautiful lakes in the area
- On the way to the Okanagan Valley, stop at Craigellachie, where the Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was set
- Travel through Roger’s Pass and arrive in Kelowna in the evening. Here you’ll be able to walk the beautiful boardwalk along Lake Okanagan or through the cute shops that line the streets of this desert town
*Photo courtesy of ©Tourism Kelowna – Danika Lee
Kelowna to Vancouver
- Have breakfast at your hotel
- Explore the Okanagan Valley with a stop at a farmer’s market
- Enjoy wine tasting at a local winery
- Gaze at the incredible sights traveling through the Fraser Valley on your return to Vancouver
- Arrive back in downtown Vancouver at approximately 7:30pm
Contact an agent to book and customize this private tour for your group.
Duration
Size
Quad
Triple
Double
Single
Highlights
- Canada’s Desert – the Okanagan Valley
- The majestic Rocky Mountains
- Northern British Columbia and Indigenous experiences
- The famous Inside Passage, experiences onboard BC Ferries
- Travel Vancouver Island from North to South
- Indigenous Museum visit on a small Island near Vancouver Island