Compare Rockies Premium Tour 5 Days by Discover Canada Tours vs Rockies Trail by Omega Tours

Day 1: Vancouver to Blue River/Valemont

You will meet at Canada Place at 8:45 am for a departure time of 9:00 am. Please don’t be late as we will not be able to wait. As we leave Vancouver and travel through the Fraser Valley, you will be able to experience the beauty of this iconic valley and the coastal rainforests of the area. You will then go on the Coquihalla highway before entering Canada’s desert area, the Okanagan Valley. You will stop at Spahats Falls in Clearwater. This waterfall is an idyllic venue for a photo opportunity. The cut in the mountain that the water has created over millennia is the funnel point for this gushing waterfall as it cascades down into the bowl below. You will then be on your way to Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing Resort. There is the option to canoe around the lake in the evening or take a refreshing swim. We will end the day with a campfire where you will learn the Canadian art of making s’mores. This activity is based on weather and fire conditions in the area. In the shoulder seasons, due to Mike Weigele closing, you will be staying in the quaint town of Valemount where there are several evening dinner and drink options.

Day 2: Blue River/Valemont to Banff via Jasper National Park

Day two begins with a continental breakfast at your hotel before we head towards the Rockies. You will get the opportunity to stop at Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, topping out at an altitude of 3,954m. On a clear day, this is one of the more impressive sights of the tour. That being said, even if there is some cloud around, it makes that photograph all the more mysterious. As you cross into Alberta, you will then carry onto the town of Jasper, where you will stop for lunch. The second part of the day is possibly the highlight of the tour. You will travel down the Icefields Parkway with some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Rocky Mountains. Upon leaving the Icefields, you will stop at Bow Lake, the first of many glacial lakes in the region. You will then carry onto the stunning Town of Banff, deep in the heart of the Rockies. You will be centrally located in Banff. This evening you will enjoy a group dinner and get to know your fellow adventurers a little better.

Day 3: Banff

Today you will spend in and around the Town of Banff. While there are a few scheduled items on the itinerary, you will have most of the afternoon to do your own exploring. You will leave the hotel and head up the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, where you will take in the magnificent views of the Rockies while enjoying your breakfast. There will be time to walk between the peaks and get panoramic views of Banff and the surrounding mountains of the Rockies. This location is an experience that you will not forget. You will realize just how small we are compared to the nature around us. Upon coming down from the Gondola, we will take a scenic drive to Lake Minnewanka & Two Jack Lake Loop and enjoy a tour of Banff townsite, including Bow Falls, HooDoos, Banff Springs Hotel, a site with many tales of ghosts, including the mystery of room 873.. Following this, you will have the rest of the day and the evening to yourself. Explore the town a little more, or you can participate in an exciting outdoor activity for a discounted price such as horseback riding, whitewater rafting, canoeing (bow river float), hiking, caving, hot springs, fishing (early booking essential) and much more! You will then have the evening to explore the delights of the cuisine in Banff with many after-dinner bars to visit.

Day 4: Banff to Revelstoke

You will start your day with a continental breakfast at your hotel before checking out and boarding the bus for a day that will not be forgotten. That is because today is lake day. You will be able to explore beautiful Lake Louise & Moraine Lake, two of the most photographed lakes in Canada. You will then move onto Emerald Lake where you will have the option to rent a canoe and discover areas of the lake not accessible by foot. After you have all the beautiful greens and blues in your system, you will be transported to the beautiful Sutton Place Hotel in Revelstoke. This ski lodge provides luxurious apartment-style accommodation and is in itself a small self-contained village. You will be able to enjoy the resort amenities. There is an option to have dinner at the resort or head into town. Downtown Revelstoke is steeped in history. There are a number of fantastic restaurants, including an Indian/German/Asian fusion restaurant. It may not sound appetising, but trust us when we say this unique combination of flavours will make your taste buds explode!

Day 5: Revelstoke to Vancouver

Again, you will start your day with a continental breakfast at your hotel before checking out and boarding the bus. Today is the last leg of the trip as we head back to Vancouver. Our first stop will be at Craigellachie and the Last Spike. This is the historic landmark of the Canadian Pacific Railway, where the east and west lines joined. You will then travel back into the Okanagan Valley with a stop in downtown Kelowna for lunch. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to visit a local cidery and winery for some tastings. You will return to Vancouver at approximately 7:30 pm.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CALGARY

Arrive at Calgary International Airport. Individual transfer to your centrally located hotel. After check-in the remainder of the day is free. The tour director will contact you in the late afternoon to give details about joining the tour. Explore the Old West at the Glenbow Museum or Fort Calgary on your own, browse through the Eau Claire Market, ride up the Calgary Tower for a great view and savor the great restaurants and dynamic nightlife. Overnight in Calgary.

Accommodation at the Delta Hotels by Marriott, Calgary, or similar

DAY 2: CALGARY TO BANFF NATIONAL PARK

We begin the day with a city tour of Calgary. Leaving the city, we travel west on the Trans-Canada Highway into the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies soon fill the horizon as we approach Banff National Park, our first of several in the Canadian national parks system. We soon arrive in the charming resort town of Banff. Overnight in Banff. Meals: B

Accommodation at the Mount Royal Hotel or Banff Aspen Lodge, Banff, or similar

DAY 3: BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Today we will enjoy a tour of the region around Banff. The area became Canada’s first national park in 1885 to protect its natural hot springs. An optional Helicopter Sightseeing Tour will give you the chance to see the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Alternatively, you can take an optional gondola ride to spectacular Sulphur Mountain. Bring your camera! The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the surroundings of Banff, stroll along Banff Avenue, or relax and enjoy the scenery. Meals: B

Accommodation at the Mount Royal Hotel or Banff Aspen Lodge, Banff, or similar

DAY 4: BANFF NATIONAL PARK TO JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Today’s journey through Banff and Jasper national parks promises to be a highlight of our Rockies Trail program. Shortly after leaving Banff, we visit the famous scenery of Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in Canada. Afterward, we travel north on the famed Icefields Parkway through a rugged wilderness flanked by dramatic mountain ranges. At the Columbia Icefield, we board a specially constructed Ice Explorer to ride on the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Close to Jasper, you have the chance to go on an optional raft trip on the Athabasca River. Your experienced guide will point out the natural and human history as you raft through short rapids and stretches of calm waters. Overnight in Jasper. Meals: B

Accommodation at the Lobstick Lodge, Jasper, or similar

DAY 5: JASPER NATIONAL PARK TO SUN PEAKS

Before leaving Jasper National Park this morning, you can take part in an optional Spirit Island Cruise on Maligne Lake, the most picturesque and largest glacier-fed lake in the park. You may alternately take an optional motorcycle tour of Jasper, riding in the comfortable sidecar with an unmatched view of the forests and mountains. Then, we travel west along the Yellowhead Highway and into the heartland of British Columbia. Breathtaking, unspoiled vistas await visitors in every season of the year. The route takes us along the Thompson River through the picturesque Shuswap Highlands. Overnight in Sun Peaks. Meals: B

Accommodation at Sun Peaks Grand, Sun Peaks, or similar

DAY 6: SUN PEAKS TO WHISTLER

We can expect a day of dramatic scenery changes when we drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. A journey along the Duffey Lake Road exposes new vistas at every turn. An optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over Garibaldi Park gives you an inspiring view of a natural preserve of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and meadows. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Whistler. Meals: B

Accommodation at Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites, Whistler, or similar

DAY 7: WHISTLER TO VICTORIA

The Sea-to-Sky Highway leads us south through spectacular coastal scenery today. You will visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge suspended high above a magnificent canyon. From Horseshoe Bay, we cruise by ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island and continue by coach to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city. Arriving in Victoria, we embark on a city tour of this former British enclave. Overnight in Victoria. Meals: B

Accommodation at the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA, Victoria, or similar

DAY 8: VICTORIA

Proud of her maritime heritage, Victoria has retained a quaint, colonial demeanor evident in the many 19th-century landmarks throughout the city. Today we treat ourselves to a tour of the world-famous Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s great floral displays set in a reclaimed stone quarry. Time will be allocated here for browsing through the regal gardens. You can take part in an optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Olympic Mountains in the distance. You can also go on an optional Whalewatching Excursion aboard a Zodiac or a regular vessel. Watch for the magnificent orcas and the abundance of marine wildlife. The remainder of the day is at leisurely exploring the city’s delights. Overnight in Victoria. Meals: B

Accommodation at the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA, Victoria, or similar

DAY 9: VICTORIA TO VANCOUVER

We continue through the resort region of the Gulf Islands to the oceanside city of Vancouver. Upon arrival in Vancouver, we enjoy an interesting tour of the city, including Stanley Park, English Bay, Gastown, Chinatown, and much more. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration or simple relaxation. This evening features our farewell dinner. Meals: B, D

Accommodation at the Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver, or similar

DAY 10: VANCOUVER DEPARTURE

A time for last-minute shopping and sad farewells. Individual transfer to Vancouver International Airport in time to check in for your return flight. Meals: B