Trendy restaurants, a lively nightlife scene and all the honky tonk fun you could ever want, fun loving Calgary is ready for you!

After settling into your hotel, meet up with your Travel Director, then head out to discover the city for yourself. Need a good coffee to wake yourself up after a long flight? Then the neighbourhoods of Inglewood and Kensington should be high on your agenda.

Ramada Plaza Calgary Downtown

Fuel up with an iconic breakfast in Heritage Park Historical Village that includes before-hours entry to Gasoline Alley Museum, the world’s largest public collection of antique vehicles and oil- and gas-related artefacts. You’ll even have a private guide for an overview of the museum’s vintage treasures and time for a look on your own.

Then hit the road bound for Lake Louise watching the craggy, snow-capped peaks of the Rockies come into view.

Red Carpet Inn

Breakfast

Rise and shine! Start the day with a selection of optional helicopter flights (weather dependent). In Banff, take a sightseeing tour along Tunnel Mountain Drive ticking off Cascade Mountain, Mt. Rundle, Bow Falls and the surreal hoodoos. Spend the rest of the day your way with a choice of optional excursions.

Choose Golf with a view at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course or join a Plant Medicine Walk with a First Nations Local Specialist. Or, in Canmore, get up on four wheels with an e-bike food tour or hit the water on a raft tour. End the evening on a high with a Gondola ride and dinner with a view.

Red Carpet Inn

The Rockies, ancient glaciers, mountain lakes and sweeping valleys… it could only be the iconic Icefields Parkway. Make your way up to the Columbia Icefield for a ride on the giant Ice Explorer across the Athabasca Glacier before trekking across the ice for your first sip of fresh glacial water. Visit Athabasca Falls and continue to Jasper, the perfect spot to get back to nature. Tonight, you could choose to see the “From Jasper With Love” energetic, live theatre performance.

Lobstick Lodge, Jasper

As the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, explore exactly as you like with a choice of excursions. Spot wildlife as you float down the Athabasca River. Have your heart set on beautiful Maligne Lake? A boat cruise around the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies could be perfect for you. If you’re looking to get active, choose to see the park on a guided nature hike. Food-lovers can join a Jasper Food Tour or three-course dinner followed by a twilight wildlife tour and interpretive “Horns and Antlers” talk at Becker’s Chalets.

Lobstick Lodge, Jasper

Ahh, Jasper. Your time here isn’t over yet! Your journey through the park takes you past towering pines, surging rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. The crowning glory will no doubt be your first glimpse of Mount Robson, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most prominent mountain in the North American Rockies, and the highest point in the Canadian range.

Sun Peaks Lodge

Your journey begins with a ferry to Vancouver Island before making the short drive into Victoria. No doubt struck by the English influence of the city, tick off the sights on an orientation tour along the waterfront district and into downtown. Pass the grand Parliament Buildings, Government Street and through Beacon Hill Park. Keen to explore even further? Victoria has more cycle routes than any other Canadian city, so the best way to get around is undoubtedly on two wheels.

The Vic, Ascend Hotel Collection

The blooms and blossoms of world-famous Butchart Gardens is a gardener’s paradise. Stroll through this 55-acre showcase of gardens to see why it has been named a national historic site of Canada. The rest of the day is yours to explore Victoria at your leisure. Discover the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, James and Sydney Islands and the Saanich Peninsula on the Victoria Panorama seaplane tour. Or, wildlife fans will want to join a Victoria whale watching cruise keeping an eye out for the “locals.”

The Vic, Ascend Hotel Collection

Framed by dramatic vistas on all sides, Vancouver is known as a nature haven and adventure hub. Vancouver residents (and visitors) can ski in the morning and go for a swim in the ocean in the afternoon.

Arriving by ferry, you’ll kick off your stay here with a tour of historic Gastown, vibrant Chinatown and the green jewel in the city’s crown, Stanley Park. Tonight, why not choose to celebrate an amazing end to your guided tour of the Canadian Rockies with a winery tour and tasting? Cheers!

Accent Inns Vancouver Airport

Late this morning depart from Vancouver International Airport (South Terminal) for 70 minute flight to Port Hardy. Upon arrival, transfer to Port Hardy, where you’ll have time for lunch and to explore the town.

Mid-afternoon you will be transferred to the float plane base for a stunningly scenic flight over the Queen Charlotte Strait to the floating lodge. After a brief introduction, you will go on your first grizzly bear excursion!

Great Bear Lodge

In the morning, you will be on the trail of the grizzly bear again after some good coffee and breakfast. A typical viewing session lasts three hours. After a morning of adventure, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. Spend the early afternoon exploring the surrounding area with a guide. A popular activity is the interpretive rainforest walk, examining bear sign and the general ecology of the area.

In mid-afternoon you will venture out to see the bears before returning to the lodge for dinner. On clear nights, the stars are amazing.

Great Bear Lodge

All meals

As your stay at the lodge continues, you begin to settle into the natural rhythm of the valley. The bears are generally most active in the early morning and late afternoon hours, which is why we focus our viewing sessions on these times. Over the course of your stay we will take you to a variety of sites, depending on the bear activity.

For the afternoon recreation today we may take a guided sea-kayaking tour of the estuary, or a boat cruise to explore the glacier-carved inlet. Or you may prefer to relax and enjoy the view from the lodge. The Great Bear Rainforest is home to many animals, including grey wolves, otters, black bears, mink and bald eagles.

Great Bear Lodge

All meals

After your parting session with the bears you will enjoy lunch at the Great Bear Lodge. You will be returned to Port Hardy in the afternoon between 16:00 and 18:00. Due to unpredictable weather conditions for flights around the lodge and Port Hardy we have included one nights’ accommodation in Port Hardy.

Your chosen Port Hardy hotel

Lunch

Make your way mid-morning to Port Hardy Airport for your return flight to Vancouver International Airport (South Terminal) to connect with your international flight home.