Great White North
 ITINERARY
1-2
Vancouver
City
Hello, Canada! On arrival in Vancouver, you'll hop on the Sky Train downtown (or a cab if you prefer) and head to The Listel, an arty little hotel in Vancouver’s West End. You’ll have time over the next couple of days to familiarise yourself with the city (making sure not to miss the delightfully historic Gastown). Vancouver is a pretty compact place, making it easy to explore on foot.

Your second day begins with a two-hour guided bicycle tour of Stanley Park. Set on the waterfront and flanked by mountains and forest, this enormous urban park has beaches, walking trails, scenic seawall, and family-friendly attractions. You’ll cycle the circumference (ideal for kicking jet-lag into check) and glean a load of interesting facts from your guide.

Your morning exertions on two wheels are rewarded with a ride on Vancouver’s latest attraction, FlyOver Canada. It’s a high-tech simulator-style experience that flies you over Canada, tempting you with the scenic treats that are in store over the next couple of weeks. From there, it’s an easy walk back to your hotel in the West End, but there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops that will tempt you to linger a little longer in this charming waterfront area.

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3-4
Victoria
City + Wildlife
This morning you’ll board a seaplane for an exhilarating 35-minute transfer to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Check into the chic Oswego Hotel, before a delicious 3-hour walking food tour of Victoria, to sample some of the best Canadian delicacies. Expect to try some traditional local staples such as candied salmon, poutine and, of course, maple syrup. You’ll meet the chefs, learn a little more about the history and culture of Victoria from your knowledgeable guide, admire the architecture in downtown, and return to your hotel in a food haze.

On day 4, it’s time to begin discovering the incredible wildlife of Canada. And what better way to start than by hopping onboard a zippy little boat and venturing out to spot Victoria’s magnificent resident and transient orca whales? You’ll be collected from the Oswego Hotel and board a boat from Victoria. These waters are home to three orca pods, but it’s not just the captivating killer whales you can expect to see. Porpoise, sea lions, seals and otters are found in abundance in this area too. You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of humpback, minke or grey whales.

THINGS TO DO
Eat like a Canadian
Eat like a Canadian
Half-day experience
Try the famous maple syrup, sample candied salmon and poutine and wash it down with a Caesar cocktail!

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Orca Spirit whale watching
Orca Spirit whale watching
Half-day experience
View orca whales in their natural habitat on this 3-hour boat cruise off the coast of Victoria.

 

5
Comox Valley
Tour
Time to hit the road. Collect your hire car and head north on the Island Highway for a few hours, passing through Duncan, the so-called City of Totems, to Courtenay on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Courtenay is the central commercial hub of the mountainous Comox Valley but has a small and welcoming feel to it. Tonight, you’ll spend the night at the cozy Old House Hotel & Spa, a comfortable riverside retreat in the midst of the Comox Valley’s striking scenery.

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6-7
Telegraph Cove
Wildlife
After a hearty breakfast at the Old House Hotel, it’s back in the car again to continue the journey north. Stop en route for a fresh salmon lunch in the charming coastal town of Campbell River. Spend some time at the waterfront spotting seals then wander to the shops and restaurants on Pier Street before continuing your car journey – you’ve got a little less than three hours on the road ahead of you.

The Telegraph Cove Resort is in the tiny village of the same name, on the east coast of Northern Vancouver Island. Once you’ve checked in for your two-night stay, it would be wise to get an early night so you’re up and ready for a full-day tour of the coastal mountains and Knight Inlet the next day – it starts at 7 am, so set an alarm.

Your mission on Day 7? Spend a day finding black and grizzly bears. You’ll head out on a small boat to the grasses in the river lowlands, where bears turn over rocks to find crabs, barnacles, and mussels. They’re hungriest in the morning, but trust us, it’s worth waking up early. These creatures in their natural habitat surrounded by Canada’s scenery is nothing short of incredible.

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8
Port Hardy
General Tour
You’ll leave picturesque Telegraph Cove today and drive to Port Hardy where you’ll drop off your hire car. It’s less than an hour away, so you can spend some time exploring rugged Port Hardy when you arrive. Your hotel, Quarterdeck Inn and Marina Resort overlook the scenery and you’ll be checked into a comfortable and spacious guest room on a B&B basis for a restful night’s sleep, in anticipation of the nautical adventure to follow next day.

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9-11
Prince Rupert
City
You’ll spend the next two days exploring Prince Rupert. You’ve got some decisions to make – visit British Columbia’s oldest surviving salmon cannery? Head to Dodge Cove on a water taxi? Or just enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of this harbor-front town. There are two notable museums highlighting a culture that draws much from its aboriginal heritage.

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12
Prince George
Tour
All aboard the Skeena Train! Today you’ll start an epic two-day train journey through some of British Columbia’s most beautiful scenery, heading inland from Canada’s west coast. Gaze out of your window and watch miles and miles of spectacular forest and mountain scenery rushing by. It’s sure to enchant you, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Come evening, you’ll disembark for an overnight stay at the Sandman Signature Suites in Prince George.

13-15
Jasper
Activity & Adventure
After breakfast on day 13, your train journey continues, crossing from the province of British Columbia into Alberta, enjoying lunch on-board before pulling into Jasper in the late afternoon. You’ll make your own way to the beautifully refined Park Place Inn where you’ll stay for three nights.

Brace yourself - you’re in for an exciting morning. You’re off to see Jasper’s most incredible scenery in the side car of a Harley Davidson! It doesn’t get much cooler than that, right? Driven by a professional rider, you’ll zoom around the Canadian Rockies in truly inimitable style. On a two-hour tour, your guide gives you a choice of places to visit, either the Athabasca Falls, Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake or Mount Edith Cavell. Whichever you choose, you’re in for an exhilarating ride.

Come afternoon, the time is yours to explore Jasper.

THINGS TO DO
Athabasca Glacier Walk
Athabasca Glacier Walk
Full-day experience
Cross the Athabasca Glacier and enjoy stunning views across the Canadian Rockies on this guided ice trek.

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Maligne Valley Boat Cruise
Maligne Valley Boat Cruise
Half-day experience
Cruise past Maligne Lake's stunning scenery to Spirit Island; one of the Rockies' most picturesque spots.

 

16-18
Moraine Lake
Wildlife
Set off early to beat the crowds down the Icefields Parkway to the Athabasca Glacier, about 90 minutes away from Jasper. Your private guide will meet you for a hike on the magnificent glaciers. It’s a steep (but mercifully short) climb to the edge of the glacier, and your expert guide will point out moraines, mill wells, and small crevasses. All the while you’re surrounded by some of the Rockies’ most dramatic peaks. It’s utterly enchanting.

After your icy encounter, it’s back in the car to continue into Banff National Park where you will be based for the next three nights in a luxury cabin at the rustic and cozy Moraine Lake Lodge. Be prepared for some serious downtime – blissfully there are no TVs or phones in the cabins. Instead, curl up in luxury bedding and immerse yourself in the soaking tub. Or better still, sit on your balcony and marvel at the truly awesome scenery.

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19-20
Banff
Tour
On day 19, take a 15-minute drive to Lake Louise where you’ll hike for an hour or two to Lake Agnes tea house where you’ll be charmed by the vivid views of Lake Agnes, Mirror Lake and Lake Louise itself.

Then it’s onwards to Banff, a 40-minute drive from Lake Louise, to check into the Banff Aspen Lodge for two nights. Spend the evening out and about in the town, perusing the little shops and playing a game of “no, you decide” over which restaurant to go for.  

On day 20, expect non-stop adventure. The impressive Banff Gondola will whisk you over the treetops and up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in less than ten minutes. Here you can follow the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk that gives you access to the most mesmerizing views. Spend a little time exploring the interactive exhibits and the 360-degree observation deck in the summit center before gliding back down the mountain.

THINGS TO DO
Banff Gondola
Banff Gondola
Half-day experience
Take a trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy the spectacular views below.

 

21-22
Montréal
City
Switching gears today, from the natural glory of Banff National Park to the razzle-dazzle of urban Montreal. You’ll hop back in the car and drive 90 minutes to Calgary airport to drop off your hire car and check in to the four-hour flight that will whizz you over to richly cultural Montreal.

On arrival in this life-loving city, you’ll need to make your own way to Hotel Nelligan, a smart and urban hotel that will seem a world away from the rugged world of this morning.

THINGS TO DO
Bateau-Mouche Dinner Cruise
Bateau-Mouche Dinner Cruise
Evening experience
Enjoy a four-course dinner on the Bateau-Mouche as you soak up the spectacular Montreal skyline.

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Canadian Grand Prix
Canadian Grand Prix
Weekend experience
Uncover the captivating Montréal Formula 1 circuit by day and soak in the live entertainment by night.

23-24
Ottawa
City
Travel day klaxon! You’re Ottawa-bound today. Make your way to Montreal’s train station in plenty of time for the two-and-a-half-hour train journey to the capital, upon arrival make your way to the super-slick Hotel Metcalfe in downtown Ottawa.

You’ll arrive in time to get out and explore the city in the afternoon – but you’ve got a full day tomorrow to explore the city at your leisure. We love getting our bearings of a city by going up – in Ottawa’s case, that’s taking the angled lift up to the top of the iconic Peace Tower for city views. Don’t miss the ByWard Market, an enormous farmers’ market. For the politically-minded, there are federal buildings to explore. And cultural nomads will appreciate the choice of excellent history and art museums.

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25-27
Kingston
Activity & Adventure
A whirlwind two days in Ottawa comes to a close, and it’s back on the train. This time to Kingston, just two hours away. It’s a small city, and (how’s this for a fun fact?) Kingston was fleetingly the capital of Canada before Queen Victoria stripped it of its title declaring it was too close to the American border and could not be effectively defended.

From the train station, you’ll make your way to Confederation Harbour and check into the Delta Kingston Waterfront Hotel for three nights. Your contemporary room will have a marvelous view over the water, that’s wonderful to wake up to in the mornings. You’ve got the afternoon to relax or have a stroll around the city.

The next day, there’s a full itinerary lined up. You’ll be heading out of the city to kayak through the Thousand Islands, an archipelago of over 1800 little islands. You’ll have a private guide to talk you through this dramatic national park, and there’ll be opportunities to stop off along the way for a leisurely hike or even a swim. After lunch, your guide will take you to some of their favorite islands.

On your third and final day, you’ve got a whole day to yourself in and around Kingston. You might want to visit the Fort Henry National Historic Site, or one of the city’s fine museums. The choice is yours.

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28-30
Toronto
City
It’s another couple of hours relaxing on the train today, heading to your final stop on this incredible itinerary – glittering, multicultural Toronto. You’ll spend two nights at the SoHo Metropolitan, a great hotel in the heart of the city. On your first night, you'll head to the top of the iconic CN Tower to bag a premier view of this sprawling and vibrant city. If you’re daring, you could even try the EdgeWalk, a 20-minute outdoor walk around the unbounded perimeter of the main pod. Certainly not one for the fainthearted, but the bragging rights are surely tempting...

On day 29, you'll be collected after breakfast and taken for a short drive to Niagara Falls. You’ll board the iconic Hornblower Niagara Cruises boat tour, providing you with an up-close view of the magnificent Great Gorge, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the mighty Canadian Horseshoe Falls. You’ll marvel at the thundering power of the water and the dramatically eerie mist. After a three-course lunch, you’ve got some time to do some shopping (AKA panic buying last-minute souvenirs), experience Journey Behind the Falls or walk along with Clifton Hill. Afterward, enjoy some time in Niagara-on-the-Lake (surely one of Canada's prettiest towns) before returning back to Toronto for your last night. 

You should have some time on the morning of day 30 to get out and about in Toronto one last time before making the journey to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK. You can choose to take a cab (it takes around 30 minutes) or take the Union Pearson Express to the airport. Just don’t be surprised if you get home and realize that you’ve left your heart in Canada.