Best of The Rockies & West Coast Family Adventure 16 days / 15 nights
Trip Overview
For the ‘kids’ aged 6 to 60 this is the ultimate self-drive adventure, and for Mum and Dad there is plenty of time to relax in wonderful wilderness lodges and enjoy the cosmopolitan delights of Vancouver and Calgary, and the small-town resorts of Banff, Jasper, Whistler and Tofino.Trip Images
Paddle fast to keep you all onboard the boat on a fun rafting trip for the whole family.
Enjoy some quality family time on a relaxing canoe trip.
Along the Columbia Icefields be sure to stop and ride the Ice Explorer on to the glacier!
Yahoo! Let loose on this exciting ziptrek adventure through the Whistler forest!
Map
3 nights Banff
3 nights Jasper
2 nights Clearwater
2 nights Whistler
3 nights Tofino
2 nights Vancouver
Depart Vancouver
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Canada Family Adventure Begins - Calgary to Banff
Arriving in Calgary, pick up your rental car, load the family in, and drive less than two hours though the foothills of the Rockies to the small Rocky Mountain town of Banff - the perfect base for adventure vacations during the day, and good food and entertainment in the evenings. Overnight in Banff.
Day 2 - Whitewater Rafting on Vacations in Canada - Kananaskis River
There is nothing quite like paddling down a wilderness river - surrounded by peaks and forests, with the chance of wildlife at every bend. And the Kananaskis River is the perfect river for a family - stunningly beautiful, and exciting enough to make it interesting and not too scary. Overnight in Banff.
Note on activities: Unless stated, each active excursion takes roughly either a morning or an afternoon (as you choose) - and the rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax on your own. If any of the activities in this itinerary are not your cup of tea - don’t worry. Simply ask your consultant to substitute other activities when you book your Canada family vacation. Also sometimes these activities do have minimum age restrictions on them so we may suggest alternatives as well.
Day 3 - Sundance Loop Trail Ride on Vacations in Canada
Riding a horse is a great way to experience the mountains - and also get a flavor of what it was like for the early pioneers in Canada. So today you’ll mount up and head on out into the Rockies on your trusty steed (and they are very trusty). Overnight in Banff.
Day 4 - Travel the Icefields Parkway on Family Vacations in Canada
After three nights in Banff, today you drive north along the spine of the Rockies to Jasper - on what is surely one of the most scenic roads in the world. At the highest point is the confluence of glaciers known as the Columbia Icefields, where you ride on a special vehicle onto the Athabasca Glacier. Overnight in Jasper.
Day 5 - Spirit Island Cruise on Maligne Lake
Today you will drive to one of the most spectacular areas of Jasper National Park. Stop at Maligne Canyon where 10,000 years of erosion have created a 49-meter deep gorge. Take a short walk to Maligne river and marvel at the series of waterfalls that thunder into the canyon. Then board a boat cruise for an interpretative cruise bound for Spirit Island where you can get off the boat for ample photo opportunities. Overnight in Jasper
Day 6 - Miette Hot Springs & Wildlife Tour
Enjoy a guided wildlife tour in Jasper National Park. Keep your eyes open for plenty of wildlife such as moose, deer, bears and birds. Then you will be taken to the Miette Hot Springs where you can enjoy a soak in the Hot Springs pool. Overnight Jasper.
Day 7 - Jasper to Clearwater
Leaving the Rockies en route for the coast, today you and your family stop for a picnic lunch and enjoy a short hike or a swim in one of the many lakes or rivers you will pass. Overnight in Clearwater.
Day 8 - Explore Wells Gray Park on Vacations in Canada
Close to Clearwater is Wells Gray Park, and today you’ll enjoy a full-day guided adventure into the wilderness on foot and by canoe. You’ll visit spectacular Helmcken Falls, and have a barbecue lunch surrounded by the Cariboo Mountains. This is bound to be a favorite day on your Canada family vacation.
Day 9- Clearwater to Whistler - a Favorite Family Destination!
Another leisurely day of driving - this time crossing some wonderful high desert - to the mountain resort of Whistler, famous for ski vacations in winter and in summer a Mecca for mountain biking and just about every other outdoor activity you can imagine. Whistler also has excellent hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Overnight in Whistler.
Day 10 - Ziptrekking on Canada Family Vacations
Imagine flying through the tree-tops and across rushing rivers and you will have a pretty good idea of what ‘Ziptrekking’ is all about. It’s totally safe - but when you are standing on the edge of a platform 100ft high your mind doesn’t know that! Overnight Whistler.
Day 11 - Whistler to Tofino
Continue your family adventure down to the sea, then onto a ferry for a cruise across the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island, and a drive across Vancouver Island to the village of Tofino - quite simply one of our favorite places on the planet. Overnight in Tofino.
Day 12 - Whale Watching on Fun Family Vacations
The west coast of Canada is a very special place - rugged, wild and breathtakingly beautiful. Pacific rollers make it a favorite with surfers (lessons available!), and salt spray hangs over pristine beaches bordered by old-growth rainforest. It is also a rich marine environment and today you go in search of Gray Whales migrating from Mexico to Alaska. Overnight Tofino.
Day 13 - Sea Kayaking and Rainforest hike in Clayoquot Sound
Today you learn about sea-kayaking - one of the best ways to explore the coast - with a guided adventure across a sheltered inlet to walk in awe among trees more than a 1,000 years old. You will also learn about the sophisticated culture of the First Nations peoples of the area. Experience awesome wilderness on Family vacations in Canada!
Day 14 - Tofino to Vancouver
Drive back across Vancouver Island and take a ferry to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. Along the way, stop for a picnic in Cathedral Grove, a stand of particularly massive trees, or have lunch in the small town of Port Alberni. Overnight in Vancouver.
Day 15 - Explore Vancouver
Vancouver is a wonderful place to end your family vacation. Surrounded by mountains and ocean, it justly has a reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Included today is a hop-on hop-off bus tour which allows your family the freedom to spend as little or as much as you wish at different attractions in Vancouver. Overnight in Vancouver.
Day 16 - Depart Vancouver
Much too soon you leave the beautiful colors and crisp air of Canada behind as your family vacation comes to an end.
Can't decide which trip is best for you?
Call a friendly local expert today.
| US & Canada | UK 0-800-917-5924 | AUS 1-800-992-872 |
Accommodations
Rustic mountain lodges and family friendly hotelsOptions & Upgrades
Options & UpgradesThis trip can be customized for your perfect vacation - call us for friendly local advice
• Travel overnight from Jasper to Vancouver by rail
• Go bear watching at the world famous Knight Inlet Lodge
Dates & Prices
2010 Package Start DatesAvailable daily
May 17 - September 27
| USD $ | ||
| Adult | Child | |
| May 17 - Jun 10 2010 | 4,436 | 709 |
| Jun 11 - Aug 29 2010 | 5,104 | 729 |
| Aug 30 - Sep 27 2010 | 4,675 | 729 |
• Prices are per person
• Prices are based on 2 adults and 2 children ages 12 and under occupying one room - all other configurations possible
• Special rates available for Children under 6 years or teenagers between 12 years and 17 years
Includes
• 16 nights accommodation in rustic lodges and family friendly hotels
• 16 days Minivan rental
• Unlimited KM’s
• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) on car rental
• Airport surcharges and fees where applicable on car rental
• Vehicle licensing fee
• Kanaskis White water rafting (departures to September 15th)
• Banff horseback trail ride
• Spirit Island Cruise on Maligne Lake
• Miette Hot Springs & Wildlife Tour in Jasper
• Canoe & Hike tour in Wells Grey Park, includes BBQ lunch
•Tofino whale watching trip
• Sea Kayaking & hiking tour in Tofino
• Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing tour in Vancouver
• documentation package
Not Included
• Fuel and refueling fees
• Additional drivers fees
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC)
• One-way drop fee on car rental
• Meals and attractions unless otherwise specified
• Park entrance fees
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Canadian sales taxes (pre-rebated by 50% for visitors to Canada)
HAVE A CHAT
From UK toll-free: 0-800-917-5924
From Australia toll-free: 1-800-992-872
Other countries: (int.l prefix +) 1-604-737-8743
Your vacation is important and to make the most of it, we strongly advise talking to a local expert first.