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Self Drives > Western Canada

Canada's Cities & Glaciers

Self Drive Tour: Inclusive Car, Standard Accommodation
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Start/Finish: Calgary / Vancouver

01 Apr 2024 - 31 Oct 2024


  • Celebrate the Olympic legacy with a visit to Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park.
  • Discover the colorful stories of Calgary’s past at Fort Calgary.
  • Discover Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park.
  • Experience the alpine wonders and dramatic color of Lake Louise.
  • Touch ancient ice on the Icefields Parkway.
  • Travel the Yellowhead Highway, once a secret trail.
  • Pass Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
  • Follow the mighty Fraser and Thompson Rivers into the interior of British Columbia.
  • Experience breathtaking scenery in and around Vancouver.
  • Submerge yourself in floral splendor at Victoria’s Butchart Gardens.

Admission fees not included



CALGARY - ARRIVAL 

Day 1: Arrive in Calgary, pick up your car, and proceed to your hotel. Tonight, you may want to head to the cosmopolitan Stephen Avenue Walk, listed as a National Historic District. Enjoy dinner at an outdoor café and watch all the activity in this bustling part of town. 


CALGARY 

Day 2: There are so many wonderful possibilities in Calgary: many wonderful museums, great shopping, Stampede Park, and Fort Calgary, where you can learn about the history of the Mounties and Calgary. Don’t miss Canada Olympic Park, where the bobsled and luge events of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games were held. 


CALGARY - BANFF NATIONAL PARK - CANMORE  

Day 3: Travel north into the Canadian Rockies and into Banff National Park. Nestled in the heart of the Rockies is the charming hamlet of Banff. Many consider it the Switzerland of the Americas for its unique architecture. Overnight in Canmore. 

Driving Distance: 81 MI / 130 KM 


CANMORE - LAKE LOUISE - CANMORE 

Day 4: Spend the day exploring Banff National Park, maybe taking tea at the Fairmont Hot Springs, or go on a day excursion along the Bow River Parkway to explore some of the glacier lakes, such as Moraine and Peyto Lakes. The most famous of these is Lake Louise, known for its sparkling turquoise waters and beautiful Chateau. 

Driving Distance: Varies 


CANMORE - JASPER NATIONAL PARK 

Day 5: Traveling north along the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies is a spectacular experience. The day is yours to stop and picnic, visit the lakes, take a gondola ride, or explore the glaciers. Take a moment to stop at the inspiring Columbia Icefield, where you may even be moved to embark on an unforgettable ride by “snow coach” over the glacier’s surface. 

Driving Distance: 188 MI / 302 KM 


JASPER NATIONAL PARK - CLEARWATER 

Day 6: You may want to leave Jasper a little later today and explore some more of the area, trying your hand at whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canoeing, or exploring Maligne Canyon. Afterward, follow the scenic Yellowhead Highway, where you will be able to enjoy panoramic views of Mount Terry Fox as well as Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, often shrouded by mist. You won’t want to miss a visit to Clearwater’s Yellowhead Museum for a taste of frontier life.

Driving Distance: 206 MI / 331 KM 


CLEARWATER - VANCOUVER 

Day 7: Traveling to Vancouver, you can choose the more direct route or travel along the picturesque Thompson and Fraser Rivers to visit Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Here you can take an aerial tram ride, see the salmon fisheries, or pan for gold. Enjoy an evening in Vancouver, tasting some of the culinary delights of this cosmopolitan city. 

Driving Distance: 296 MI / 477 KM 


VANCOUVER 

Day 8: A full day to enjoy the beauty and diversity of Vancouver. You may want to consider a hop-on, hop-off guided city tour to see all the sights, including Stanley Park, Chinatown, the Gaslamp Historical District, and the Waterfront. You may want to consider a visit to the Museum of Anthropology, which has an incredible collection of totem poles and Native American artifacts. 


VANCOUVER - VICTORIA 

Day 9: Travel by ferry to Vancouver Island for an overnight stay. Your stay is in Victoria, which has a very British feel to it. Ivy-covered hotels and inns accentuate the downtown area in the shadows of the majestic old-world Parliament buildings. You may want to consider a visit to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, regarded by many as the most spectacular gardens in all of North America.

Driving Distance: 68 MI / 109 KM 


VICTORIA - VANCOUVER 

Day 10: Travel to Swartz Bay for the return ferry trip (not included) to Tsawwassen, and your return to the city of Vancouver. As the icing on the cake of your fantastic journey, try dining with a view at one of Vancouver’s spectacular restaurants. 

Driving Distance: 68 MI / 109 KM 


VANCOUVER - DEPARTURE 

Day 11: Return your rental car to the airport in time for your flight. 



Inclusions


  • Accommodation as specified.
  • Compact rental car for 11 days* inclusive of unlimited mileage, LDW loss damage waiver, theft protection, waiver (zero excess), 1 million USD liability cover (EP/SLI), local sales tax, airport surcharges/fees, homeland security fee, customer facility charge, mechanical assistance
  • Includes one-way rental fee*
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Admission to attractions, where applicable.
Exclusions


  • International or Domestic flights
  • Meals, admissions, and/or optional tours unless specifically mentioned as being included in the itinerary.
  • Items of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, laundry, liquor, etc.
  • Use of hotel rooms before or after normal check-in and check-out times and resort fees, if applicable
  • Tolls, ferries, and parking fees

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