Wineries & Spectacular Rockies Lodges
SELF DRIVE TOURING
Embark on a journey through the dramatic Canadian Rockies on this exceptional self-drive. Visit Calgary, home to the world-famous 'Calgary Stampede, the scenic town of Banff and the picturesque Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake. Sample some of the Okanagan's finest wines on a wine tour in Kelowna before ending your holiday in the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver.
For more time to:…
• Explore the Rockies – just add extra nights in Banff.
• Relax& enjoy the lakes – just add extra nights at Moraine or Emerald Lake
• Savour the wine – add more nights in Kelowna
• See some wildlife – add a post-tour to one of the amazing wildlife lodge
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Your Itinerary
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Day 9-10
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Day 11-12
Day 1 : UK - Calgary
Arrival Calgary Airport and stay overnight an airport hotel.
Hotel: Calgary, Delta by Marriott Hotel
Day 2 : Calgary - Banff (72 miles)
Collect your car this morning, then leave the Stampede City of Calgary today for the short drive to Banff, arriving to the picturesque resort town in its namesake national park. Surrounded by the mighty peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff is renowned for its scenic natural beauty and stunning wildlife.
Hotel for 2 nights: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Deluxe Mountain View Room
Day 3 : Banff
Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of four excursions
Option 1. Banff Gondola
Maximize your views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion on a round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
Option 2. Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Admire views of the Canadian Rockies by boat as you cruise across the turquoise-hued Lake Minnewanka and over to Devil’s Gap.
Option 3. River Explorer Canoe Tour
Enjoy the serenity of the Bow River and marvel at the surroundings. A fun & interactive way with your guide to explore the waterways of Banff National Park. Perfect for families. No paddling wxperience necessary.
Option 4. Bow River Horseback Adventure
Saddle up for a journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback riding adventure.
Day 4 : Banff - Moraine Lake (180 miles)
Travel along the spine of the Canadian Rockies and through the amazing Icefields Parkway. Experience the ultimate glacier exploration, from walking on ancient ice with the Ice Explorer ride to standing on a glass platform almost 1,000 feet in the air at the Glacier Skywalk (included). Return down the Icefield Parkway to Moraine Lake, known as ‘The Jewel of the Rockies’ for its iridescent turquoise colour.
Hotel: Moraine Lake Lodge, Deluxe King Cabin - Breakfast included
Day 5 : Moraine Lake - Emerald Lake (23 miles)
Take a short drive today through the majestic mountain passes of the Rockies and into Yoho National Park. The word ‘Yoho’ is a Cree expression of awe and wonder, given by the Indigenous people for its 1313 sq. km of gem-coloured glacial lakes, snow-covered peaks and dense forests of western red cedar and hemlock. Witness historic railroads, spiral tunnels built into mountain sides and steep rock faces where mountain goats roam expertly along the edge. (Breakfast & Dinner Included)
Hotel: Emerald Lake Lodge, Lodge King Room - Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 6 : Emerald Lake - Vernon (220 miles)
Today’s road trip takes you on the famed Trans-Canada Highway following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid-1800s. Leaving Emerald Lake, continue through Yoho National Park where you’ll surmount the Continental Divide. Continue through Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass with spectacular mountain vistas in every direction, then through the Monashee Mountain Range and past Shuswap Lake to Sicamous, the “Houseboat Capital of Canada”. Tonight’s destination is Sparkling Hill Resort, nestled atop a granite ridge overlooking Okanagan Lake near Vernon.
Hotel for 2 nights: Vernon, Sparkling Hill Resort, Deluxe Lake View Room
Day 7 : Kelowna Wine Tour
Tour the countryside today combining the best of the lake, valley and vines. Discover the wineries we call hidden treasures and sample some of the Okanagan’s finest wines.
Day 8 : Kelowna - Vancouver (232 miles)
On your final day, join the Coquihalla Highway and climb to an elevation of 1244 meters where over 10 meters of snow can fall in an average winter. Witness incredible feats of engineering as you travel through the Great Bear snow shed and Dry Gulch Bridge – the latter of which is over 280 metres long and 175 meters high – before descending from the summit pass through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the province. This dramatic change of environment is always exhilarating, as you go from bright sunlight on the high rock faces to misty coastal cedars in the space of half an hour. Approaching the Pacific coast, the canyon opens to the broad Fraser Valley. Arrive in Vancouver to drop off your rental car at the city centre location and then check in to your hotel.
Hotel for 3 nights:Fairmont Vancouver, Deluxe City View Room
Day 9-10 : Vancouver
Two full days to explore Vancouver
Day 11-12 : Vancouver - UK
Your tour ends with the check out from your hotel.
