THE SIGNATURE CIRCLE ROUTE (7-10 Days)
Starting in Vancouver, this route takes you from the Pacific Ocean to the Canadian Rockies and back again. It takes in the mountain town of Whistler, jade-hued Lillooet Lake, canyons and rivers.
The leg between Kamloops and Valemount promises outdoorsy thrills like trail hiking, water-based activities, mineral springs, lava beds, waterfall-watching and the chance to see bears and kokanee salmon thriving at Blue River in the North Thompson Valley.
Then there is Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Finish the trip via Golden and the Hot Springs Circle Route, Kimberley and Cranbrook before following Highway 1 back to Vancouver.
ALONG THE TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY (7-10 Days)
Patrice Halley/Tourism British ColombiaSet off from Metro Vancouver via the Trans-Canada Highway 1. Travel east alongside the mighty Fraser River and trade the roads for river adventures such as fishing or white-water rafting before arriving in Hope, a canyon town nestled at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. At Hell’s Gate witness what happens when 750 million litres of water tries to make its way through a 110-foot narrowing. Follow the Trans-Canada Highway through Goldpan Provincial Park, towards Cache Creek, home to gold rush history and on to Kamloops before arriving at Revelstoke THE place for skiers, bikers, boarders and hikers. Finish at Yoho National Park a UNESCO-designated Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.
COAST MOUNTAIN CIRCLE ROUTE (4-6 Days)
From Vancouver, head north along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Stop at the historic Britannia Mine Museum on the way to Squamish. Travel to Whistler and try outdoor adventures such as biking, hiking, bear watching and ride the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Be sure to visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre for insight into the Indigenous peoples.
Continue driving north of Whistler to pretty Pemberton, then on to Lillooet and Lytton. Stop at Fraser Canyon and Harrison Hot Springs before finishing back at Vancouver.
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER RAIL TOUR (3 Days)
Choose from three rail routes onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, a BC-based luxury train operator.
The First Passage to the West from Vancouver to Banff is the most popular route through the Canadian Rockies, famous for uniting Canada’s East and West.
The Journey Through The Clouds from Vancouver to Jasper showcases the beauty of the highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies and the vistas of Canada’s West, while the Rainforest to Gold Rush route travels from Vancouver ending in Jasper, carving through BC’s coastline, rainforest, Fraser Canyon and the Cariboo gold rush region.
THE COLUMBIA VALLEY (4-6 Days)
Trans-Canada Highway 1, stopping in the Fraser Valley and Hope. Journey southeast on Crowsnest Highway 3, looking out for grizzly bears and moose in the Cascade Mountains. As you arrive in lakeside Osoyoos, Canada’s semi-arid desert ecosystem unfolds. Transition east into the Kootenays for hiking and biking. Next, explore the mountain peaks of The Columbia Valley. Head north on Highway 95 to the town of Golden, where mountain culture reigns. Savour a final nature fix in UNESCO Yoho National Park before heading back to Vancouver.
LAND OF HIDDEN WATERS (4-6 Days)
From Vancouver head to the fertile farmlands of Pemberton. This area is still an active fishing ground for the St’át’imc Nation, and Xwisten.
As you travel along Highway 97 stop in at Chasm Lookout Point, with panoramic views of small lakes and sweeping pasturelands.
Highway 24 between Lone Butte and Little Fort is known as “the Land of Hidden Waters” on “the Fishing Highway”. This 97-km stretch across the Thompson River Plateau is dotted with the lakes of Kokanee, Burbot, Rainbow, Brook, and Lake trout. From Little Fort, head north on Highway 5, also known as the scenic Southern Yellowhead Highway.
End the journey in Mount Robson by hiking the renowned Berg Lake Trail.
VALLEY AND VINEYARDS (4-6 Days)
Sample fresh seafood scooped from the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver before stopping at the Fraser River near Hope which has one of the world’s largest salmon runs. Follow The Crowsnest Highway 3 to the former mining town of Princeton, beyond which the mountains part to reveal a green floor of farmland: Keremeos in the Similkameen Valley is known as the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada, with bountiful orchards and vineyards. Stop at Okanagan, BC’s grape-growing hub with the town of Oliver named Canada’s Wine Capital.
NORTH TO MOUNT ROBSON (7-10 Days)
Start in Vancouver, travelling on the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler.
Continue on to Lillooet, a historic community home to the St’át’imc peoples and further to Kamloops, the second-largest city in BC’s interior and with some great spots to enjoy a craft beer on a sunny patio.
As you leave Kamloops, consider a detour to the all-season Sun Peaks Resort for lift-accessed mountain biking and alpine hiking in summer, and tackling the country’s second-largest ski area in the winter.
Farther north, Clearwater is known as the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park, one of BC’s finest. Point your car in the direction of Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and enjoy a scenic drive.
TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY 1 TO MILE 0 VANCOUVER ISLAND (4-6 Days)
Head west on Trans-Canada Highway 1 to BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay terminal, where sailings depart regularly to Nanaimo.
Take a tiny passenger ferry to Saysutshun, rent kayaks, swim, and learn more about why the island is so special to the local Snuneymuxw People.
The postcard-worthy views of the Strait of Georgia make the journey between Cowichan Bay and Victoria particularly noteworthy. A drive or cycle around Victoria takes in beachfront neighbourhoods, while whale-watching trips from photogenic Inner Harbour may bring you closer to orca, humpback, grey, and minke whales.
