Rockies Taste of the Wild Tour

As the first day of your adventure awaits you, you will meet at Canada Place at 7:30 am to check in with our team and complete the COVID screening protocols. Here you will get to meet your fellow adventurers. The tour begins at 8 am sharp, so please ensure that you are at Canada Place with plenty of time to spare. As you depart Vancouver, you will enter into the beautiful Fraser Valley, an area rich in farmlands and some fantastic wineries. Upon leaving the Fraser Valley, you will stop at Othello Tunnels just outside of Hope. The Othello Tunnels are an amazing example of engineering. Many films have been filmed at Othello Tunnels, including Rambo and Planet of the Apes. After leaving Othello Tunnels, you will travel into the Okanagan Valley, an area that is famous for two reasons; being Canada’s only desert region and, of course, the famous wineries of British Columbia. You will stop at a local winery for a Tasting. This evening you will stay overnight in downtown Kelowna near Kelowna’s Waterfront, filled with shops, restaurants and the beautiful boardwalk that runs alongside Lake Okanagan. Tonight you will have the option to join your guide for a night out on the town.

After checking out of your hotel, you will continue your journey through the Okanagan Valley, through the Selkirk Mountains and into the beautiful Rocky Mountains. You will stop at Roger’s Pass on this leg of the trip, the gateway into the Rocky Mountains. Roger’s Pass will offer you your first views of the mighty Rocky Mountains. As you continue onto Banff, you will be in for a treat as you will visit some of the most remarkable glacial lakes in the world. Of course, a trip into the Rocky Mountains is not complete without a stop at Lake Louise, the most famous and most photographed glacial lake globally. Moving on from Lake Louise, you will be treated to the beautiful Moraine Lake. This iconic lake will provide stunning photo opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to rent a canoe here and paddle your way across the lake. There is always the option for a polar bear swim as well. You will then travel into Banff, a perfect example of a Rockies town. A sightseeing tour around Banff will include Banff Ave, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Banff Springs Hotel. This evening will be at your leisure. There are many restaurants that you can choose from. Please ask your guide for suggestions so that you can Taste all that Banff has to offer. You will have a chance again to have a night out on the town with your guide.

Today is a busy day, but one of our favourite days on tour. After checking out of your hotel, you will have the opportunity to go up Sulphur Mountain for an additional fee. The views from the top, overlooking Banff and the mighty Rocky Mountains, will make you realize just how we fit into the grand scheme of things. We highly recommended that you take this opportunity as it will make your trip that much more complete. Upon leaving Banff, you will visit Bow Lake, a much overlooked glacial lake but one of the Rockies’ most beautiful lakes. A stop at Athabasca Falls will show you the mighty power that nature has to offer, with gorges and valleys cut through the landscape. Then it is up the Columbia Icefields. This stretch of road is littered with glaciers. You will stop at the Athabasca Glacier, where, for an additional fee, you will be able to ride the famous Snocoach on the Ice Explorer Glacier Tour. Walking on this glacial will make you realize just how fragile nature is. As you travel through the Columbia Icefields, you will arrive at Jasper, your destination for the evening. This evening you have free time again to sample the local cuisine and explore the town. A highly recommended activity in Jasper is the Jasper Dark Sky Preserve, the world’s second-largest preserve dedicated to dark skies for optimal stargazing. Power down those devices and look up!

Set those alarms for the crack of dawn because this morning, you will have an early start. The day is jam-packed with some of the best sightseeing of the adventure! After checking out of your hotel, you will travel to Maligne Lake and Canyon. Here you can choose to walk along the water’s edge or book a boat cruise to Spirit Island. Pre-booking this cruise is highly recommended. Maligne Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the Rockies due to its deep emerald green colour. The Maligne Canyon is the deepest in Jasper National Park. You will have the opportunity to walk through it with your guide. Leaving the Rockies and heading back into the Okanagan Valley, you will stop in Valemount for a bite to eat. The final stop of the day is at Spahats Falls in Wells Grey Park. You will end for the night in Kamloops, where your accommodation includes an outdoor swimming pool. Enjoy one of the many restaurants that Kamloops has to offer.

As the adventure begins to wind up, you will check out of your hotel and embark on the final leg as you head back towards Vancouver. Upon leaving Kamloops, today we have a fantastic hike planned for you. Join your guide as you wind your way to the top of Battle Bluff, where you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view. This hike is not too difficult and will be able to be made by most. The loop is 3 km. Please ask your guide if you are uncertain about the difficulty if you are concerned. As you travel through and leave the Okanagan Valley and enter back into the Fraser Valley, you will be afforded many beautiful sights along the way. The final stop of the adventure is a Tasting at one of the Fraser Valley cideries. Enjoy some tasty beverages and toast to the new friendships that you have made along the way! You will arrive back in Vancouver at approximately 7 pm.