Active West Coast & Canadian Rockies
Experience Overview
Take advantage of an adventure that will have you out hiking in both the Canadian Rockies and the coast of British Columbia on this 16-day tour from Calgary to Vancouver. Experience the Indigenous history, unforgettable landscapes, and lively cowboy culture of western Canada. Visit canyons, hike up mountains, come across alpine lakes, wander through Pacific rainforests, find yourself amid old growth forests, admire the emerald hue of Lake Louise, and witness stunning vistas. Explore a unique country and take advantage of endless opportunities to bond with other outdoor travelmates on this jam-packed journey.
Highlights
- Visit Waterton National Park
- Explore Banff National Park
- Climb up Fairview Mountain
- Embark on a scenic rafting trip down the Bow River
- Enjoy hikes along the Juan de Fuca trail
- Paddle around Lake Cowichan
- Ride the Whistler gondola to hike the High Note trail
Trip Details
Product Code: 2501
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle, ferry, and hiking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: NCWW
Starts: Calgary, Canada
Finishes: Vancouver, Canada
Duration: 16 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Trip to Waterton National Park
- Hike along Bertha Lake trail
- Visit to Red Rock Canyon
- Hike the Crypt Lake or Carthew Summit trails
- Hike the Ptarmigan Cirque trail
- Burstall Pass trail
- Banff National Park visit
- Climb up Fairview Mountain
- Rafting trip down the Bow River
- Walk the Iceline trail in Yoho National Park
- Flight from Calgary to Vancouver
- Ferry ride from Vancouver to Sooke
- Hiking in East Sooke Provincial Park
- A trek along a portion of the Juan de Fuca trail
- Cowichan Lake visit
- Ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay
- A hike up The Stawamus Chief train
- A visit to Garibaldi Provincial Park and a hike to the Elfin Lakes
- A ride up the Whistler Gondola to hike the High Note trail
- All transportation between destinations
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 nt) and participation camping (14 nts).
- 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle, ferry, and hiking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,424 ($276 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Calgary/Waterton Lakes
Enjoy a morning welcome meeting with your CEO in Calgary before making the trip to Waterton National Park. Have a picnic lunch outside upon arrival to fuel up before setting out to hike the Bertha Lake trail. The switchbacks are tough, but the view of the valley below from the blue-green waters of Lake Bertha are well worth the climb. Visit Red Rock Canyon afterwards for a short walk into this geological phenomenon before setting up camp in the evening to chow down on dinner around the fire.
Day 2: Waterton Lakes
Wake up to the smell of pine, emerge from the tent, and have breakfast at camp. Get ready for a full day of hiking, lace up those boots, bring plenty of water and hit the trail. The group will be hiking either the Crypt Lake or Carthew summit trail, please note that there won't be enough time for both. You'll indulge in a picnic lunch halfway through and enjoy highlights like, roaring waterfalls, panoramic views, alpine bowls, and a 60ft tunnel through a mountain.
Day 3: Waterton Lakes/Kananaskis
Enjoy a breakfast at camp before hopping into our private vehicle en route to Kananaskis. Nothing breaks up a road journey like snacks so we stop in Longview for some famous jerky to stock up. Fuel up with a picnic lunch before starting off on the first and only hike of today along the Ptarmigan Cirque trail. This steep trail offers spanning views of the surrounding mountains from an alpine meadow and also happens to be the highest paved pass in Canada. After finishing the hike, we head to our campsite, set up our tents, and have dinner together by the campfire.
Day 4: Kananaskis
In the morning after breakfast at camp the group will head straight to the trailhead of Burstall Pass. Spend the entire day hiking this route with a picnic lunch about halfway through to get some more energy for the hike back down. The views along the pass are magnificent and offer plenty of opportunities for more adventurous rock scrambling and climbing. Back at camp in the evening share dinner as a group around the campfire.
Day 5: Kananaskis/Lake Louise
After another morning outdoors enjoying a breakfast at camp the group will travel to Lake Louise. It's a day jam packed with activities that will get you out into the beautiful scenery of Lake Louise. In the morning you will drive from Kananaskis to Canmore. You have a raft tour (The Townie) on the Bow River in Canmore. Before the raft tour you can enjoy and visit Canmore. You can opt to have a picnic lunch in the town, and then embark on a scenic raft ride down the Bow River. Drive to camp in the evening.
Day 6: Lake Louise
In the morning the group will leave Lake Louise and travel to Yoho National Park to hike the Iceline Trail there. It's one of the best hikes in the park featuring unbeatable views of glacier peaks, rugged alpine landscapes, and cascading waterfalls. Eat a picnic lunch overlooking this beautiful landscape and then travel back to Lake Louise where you can spend some time in town before heading back to camp for dinner as a group.
Day 7: Lake Louise
In the morning set out on a hike up Mount Fairview. After, travel to Banff. Once here it's an afternoon of freedom to enjoy any activity that catches your eye. There are canoe rentals, bike rentals, scenic raft tours, the Banff gondola, and of course exploring on your own two feet with another hike. But if hiking feels too daunting, know that you can spend your time as you choose in the majesty of this national park and still feel connected to the space.
Day 8: Calgary to Vancouver
Leave Lake Louise in the morning to travel back to Calgary. Once you arrive, catch a flight from Calgary to Vancouver.
Arrive in Vancouver and enjoy free time to explore, check out Stanley Park and the Gastown neighbourhood filled with indie art galleries and souvenir shops before making your own way to your Vancouver accommodation Then, spend the night in this vibrant city.
Day 9: Vancouver/Sooke
Catch the ferry to Victoria and Sooke on Vancouver Island. Eat a picnic lunch upon arrival before setting off into East Sooke Regional Park for some hiking. There's a wide range of trails that have different levels of difficulty, but all of them will offer great views of the dramatic, rocky coastline, and lush Pacific rainforest filled with moss and green ferns. In the evening set up camp, get settled, and have dinner around a fire with the group.
Day 10: Sooke
After fuelling up with a camp breakfast the group will travel to the Juan de Fuca Strait from Sooke to embark on a hike along a section of the impressive trail. You'll traverse miles of dense coastal forest and walk over beautiful pebble beaches, past gurgling waterfalls, slippery suspension bridges (watch your step) and the occasional pit of mud, but the dramatic views along this hike are well worth the effort. Transfer back to Sooke in the evening to rest up at camp and have dinner as a group.
Day 11: Sooke
Today after breakfast at camp the day is yours to do as you wish. If you need a break from hiking consider one of the many optional activities available like, sea kayaking, whale watching, bicycle rentals, or a visit to the quaint town of Victoria for some people watching and cafe hopping.
Day 12: Sooke/Parksville
In the morning after breakfast the group will transfer to Cowichan Valley where you'll go out on canoes and kayaks in Cowichan Bay. In the afternoon the group will travel to Parksville and walk in Rathtrevor Park along the beach. Feel the sand beneath your feet, hear the waves crashing, see old growth forests along the shoreline, and look for wildlife in the tide pools. In the evening set up camp and relax in the outdoors.
Day 13: Parksville/Squamish
Leave Parksville behind and head to the ferry port in Nanaimo to hop on a ferry to Horseshoe Bay. Once across the water, the group will drive to Squamish and hike The Stawamus Chief trail. This trail is one of the region's best hikes and will take you up a steep incline to one of its three peaks. The views of the area surrounding Squamish, with the Howe Sound and the Garibaldi Park to the north are incredible. Enjoy a picnic lunch during your hike and in the evening relax at camp and have dinner as a group, refuelling after the day's adventure.
Day 14: Squamish
Another great day of hiking to discover captivating views and new heights (literally). Set out to trek the Elfin Lake trail in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Offering amazing views you'll hike 11km to get to the lakes, but it's certainly worth it. Go for a dip in the icy water, fill up your bottles in another pond reserved only for drinking water and have lunch as you admire those insane views. After hiking the 11km downhill you'll be able to have dinner wherever you choose in Squamish before heading back to camp for the night.
Day 15: Squamish/Whistler
In the morning the group will travel from Squamish to Whistler to take the Whistler Gondola up to the peak and hike the High Note trail. This trail offers hikers with the most scenic views of Cheakamus Lake with its vibrant aquamarine waters. The hike begins at the top of Whistler Mountain and takes you around the backside with views of the surrounding mountains and a descent through an alpine area. After the hike you'll have free time to enjoy Whistler. Consider checking out the Squamish-Lil'wat Cultural Centre, the Cloudraker Skybridge, or find a cozy coffee shop in town. In the evening at camp you'll have your final dinner as a group around the campfire.
Day 16: Whistler/Vancouver
Travel from Whistler to Vancouver. Tours ends on arrival in Vancouver.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Renja B. - Traveled, September 2023
everythen really well organized, easy informations so everyone could understand it and we had the best guides (raphaelle at the trip through the Rockies and Mathieu in Vancouver and surroundings).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Richard P. - Traveled, August 2023
Well organised holidays get a lot out of it. Nice CEOs.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Sarah L. - Traveled, August 2023
Had a such a great time, so organised, knew exactly what to expect based on the itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Emma F. - Traveled, August 2023
I don't know if this survey is for the trip with Rapha‘lle or Matt. If it was just based on Matt if Would be a 10
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Sarah B. - Traveled, August 2023
Excellent tour! Few of the camp sites were a bit below par and the mattresses we slept on weren't really good enough.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/03/2023
Amanda W. - Traveled, July 2023
I think G are very good it's the 5th time I have travelled with you - but there are some elements of the trip I just took that may put me off recommending G for similar types of trips i.e. Active Camping.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/14/2023
Rachael T. - Traveled, July 2023
Everything went pretty well and as expected. I would only caution the person against the campsites and pace/vibe of the tour, since I had no expectations and found that it really varied depending on the site and your CEO.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/04/2023
Maren K. - Traveled, July 2023
It was a camping trip. I've got really wet in my tent. That should not happened. Also not when it's raining a lot.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/25/2023
George B. - Traveled, June 2023
Great way to travel alone and meet people with ease
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2023
Verena W. - Traveled, June 2023
The tour is super organized from start to finish. Besides the daily tours, you are provided with quality food that gives energy for the day. That means you only have to book the tour, follow the packing list and from then on you can look forward to the trip and just enjoy the whole tour. Super awesome
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2023
Kate F. - Traveled, June 2023
I really enjoyed the hiking and camping on the trip so would recommend for anyone wanting a similar trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2023
Melissa R. - Traveled, June 2023
Small groups of like-minded people from around the world allows for creating new friendships on top of the travel experience. Thoughtfulness of itinerary. Hard work of CEOs.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
Teodor R. - Traveled, August 2023
everything pretty much as described in blurbs
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/12/2023
Annie C. - Traveled, August 2023
Fun - but 2 weeks of camping is tiring and not for everyone
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/02/2023
Nicole Z. - Traveled, August 2023
This was my 4th trip with G Adventures and I will book again any time - though second part of this trip was not so well organized than the first week).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2023
Antje G. - Traveled, August 2023
The first part (Canadian Rockies) was fine, the second part (West Coast) was not worth it. Therefore I would only recommend the first part.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2023
Anna d. - Traveled, August 2023
Although it was a positive experience overall, the second half of my trip (through Vancouver Island/Squamish) was poorly planned by G Adventures and not well executed by the CEO. This was in stark contrast with the first half of the trip (through the Rocky Mountains), which was excellent in all aspects. I'm not sure which of the two is representative for G Adventures, and therefore find it hard to recommend it to my friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2023
Maria G., - Traveled, August 2023
it really depends on the guide and the group. the first part was 9/10 (guide and group) and in the second part was the guide bad.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2023
Jeroen H. - Traveled, July 2023
This was my eighth time with G and I am still a happy customer. I like the laid back mentality, the freedom and flexibility during the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/13/2023
Prabhashi N. - Traveled, July 2023
I love adventures and thrills, which the tour provided. It was a totall and overall adventure as I was hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, swimming, and cliff jumping throughout.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/13/2023
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