Holidays to Canada - Beautiful Canadian Rockies Fly-Drive Ref: C18

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Day 1
U.K. – Calgary

Your Canada holidays starts with flight from London Heathrow to Calgary with Air Canada. O­n arrival there will be private transfer to your downtown hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure. Overnights(2): Calgary

Day 2
Calgary
Enjoy a leisurely morning to explore this city of contrasts or some shopping. Widely regarded as the “gateway to the Rockies”, and home to the famous Stampede, Calgary is a stylish and friendly city. Enjoy the included sightseeing tour visiting several historic and modern highlights including Calgary’s birthplace, Fort Calgary and Olympic Park with a trip to the top of the ski-jump tower. (Tour operates for departures between 19 May – 28 Sep).

Day 3
Calgary – Banff (77 miles)
The mountains beckon. Collect your hire car from downtown before heading west into the Rockies and Banff.
Overnights(2): Banff

Day 4
Banff
Sometimes regarded as o­ne of the most attractive small towns in North America, Banff is compact enough to comfortably explore o­n foot. Situated o­n the doorstep of spectacular scenery, Banff nestles amidst the glory of the Canadian Rockies. With a wealth of attractions, ranging from the Hot Springs to the gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, Banff boasts an attractive main street with numerous cafes and craft shops. Renowned for its winter activities, Banff is also the summer “gateway” to National Parks.

Day 5
Banff – Lake Louise (33 miles)
Enjoy a leisurely drive through glorious scenery to the turquoise blue waters of Lake Louise.
Overnights(2): Lake Louise

Day 6
Lake Louise
A day to savour the beautiful surroundings of Lake Louise, which with its blue-green water set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, is probably the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies. The village of Lake Louise holds an array of fine dining and shopping. Scenic drives will take you to the awe-inspiring Moraine Lake, the beautiful Icefields Parkway and the Athabasca Glacier or enjoy a boat trip o­n nearby Lake Minnewanka to Devil’s Gap.

Day 7
Lake Louise – Lac Le Jeune (291 miles)
Drive over Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park, and then through Rogers Pass and the Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks to the alpine community of Revelstoke. Here over 60 circa 1800s buildings have been conserved and the town is home to a small, but fascinating, railroad museum. For those seeking more scenic splendour, a visit to Crazy Creek Falls, just west of Revelstoke, is recommended. Continue o­n to Salmon Arm. With its famous sockeye salmon runs o­n Adam River, bear, deer, beaver, river otter and mink all inhabit this area. Continue along the southern shore of Shuswap Lake and Little Shuswap Lake to reach Kamloops and pretty Lac Le Jeune.
Overnights(2): Lac Le Jeune

Day 8
Kamloops
Kamloops lies in the heart of British Columbia's Southern Interior, a landscape characterized by rivers, mountains, lakes and grasslands. The town’s name comes from the Shuswap language meaning ‘where the waters meet’ as it is situated o­n the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park is devoted to the history, culture and language of the Shuswap people who pre-date European settlement. For those interested in geology, or whether you are a rock hound or palaeontologist, the mountains around Kamloops are renowned for crystals, minerals and fossils.

Day 9
Lac Le Jeune – Kelowna (124 miles)
Travel southwest to Vernon with its history of cattle ranching. Allow time to visit the historic O’Keefe Ranch. This was o­ne of the largest cattle ranches in British Columbia, with over 20,000 acres at the turn of the 19th/20th Centuries, but today it is a centre for the protection of rare and endangered species of livestock. Continue south through lake country to reach Kelowna.
Overnights(2): Kelowna

Day 10
Kelowna
Situated o­n the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake, Kelowna has a range of golf courses and is the centre of a wine producing area, there being several wineries, which welcome visitors o­n tours of their vineyards as well as being very happy for you to sample their products. A short drive to the south is the Kettle Valley Railroad which offers steam hauled train rides behind o­ne of the largest remaining wood burning Shay locomotives.

Day 11
Kelowna – Vancouver (252 miles)
Head west and then turn south over the Coquihalla Pass following the mighty Fraser River down to Vancouver and the Pacific coast. This spectacular route into the interior was first explored by the Hudson Bay Company for trappers, hunters and fur traders in the late 18th Century as well as being used by gold prospectors in the 1850s. o­nce in Vancouver, return your hire car downtown after checking in to your hotel.
Overnights(3): Vancouver

Days 12-13
Vancouver
Renowned as o­ne of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver is home to spectacular natural scenery with breathtaking views in each and every direction, has a bustling metropolitan core and boasts o­ne of the mildest climates in Canada. There are numerous attractions, all within easy reach of downtown; o­n your included sightseeing tour visit Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown and Granville Island with its craft workshops and superb restaurants. For a stunning vista of Vancouver and its harbour, take the gondola up Grouse Mountain. A day excursion to Victoria is also recommended. Victoria is situated o­n the southern tip of Vancouver Island and is world-renowned for its charming ambience. Sometimes referred to as the “garden city” Victoria has a bustling harbour, heritage buildings and offers numerous whale-watching cruises. Visit the beautiful Butchart Gardens and explore the harbour area by horse drawn carriage or stroll amongst the narrow streets and markets.

Day 14
Vancouver to UK
Time for last minute shopping and a final look at the stunning backdrop to Vancouver before being transferred to the airport and your overnight flight home.

Day 15
Arrive UK

For a full description and pictures of the hotels used o­n this tour, please scroll down the page and double click o­n the name of the hotel in the listing.