Canadian Wildlife & Vancouver Island (Reverse)

Welcome to one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the world, Vancouver. This cosmopolitan and diverse metropolis is a real contrast to the rest of British Columbia, but always proves to be a highlight. A highlight for many people is Stanley Park, a 400-hectare green wonderland where you can see authentic totem poles erected in the 1920s or sit in one of the cafes and enjoy a spot of people watching. A welcome meeting will be held at 18:00 hrs in the hotel lobby, where you'll meet your tour guide and fellow travellers. Stay: Sandman City Center Hotel (or similar).

As you board the ferry to Vancouver Island and take in the amazing views across the Salish Sea, your Canadian adventure is under way! You'll arrive in Victoria, Vancouver Island's main city and the capital of British Columbia. It's a remarkable mix of English Edwardian, First Nations and Chinese architecture, and was home to the first Chinatown in Canada. Victoria is well-known for being the ultimate place to spot Orcas, so we have included a zodiac tour to search for these magnificent mammals in their natural environment. In the late afternoon we'll also enjoy a brief tour of the city's highlights with free time for you to explore afterwards. Stay: Quality Inn Downtown (or similar).

Beaches, trails, and rainforest await in the Pacific Rim - enjoy the scenery and breathe in that fresh island air! We follow one of the most picturesque and rugged coastal routes in British Columbia and keep an eye out for wildlife whilst enjoying the bracing sea breeze. The afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish with kayaking, hiking or the option to join a whale watching boat trip. Our overnight location will be Ucluelet (pronounced 'Yew-Kloo-Let') which is our base for the next two nights. Optional activities:Zodiac whale watching adventure CAD $130 per half daySea Kayaking CAD $130 per half day Stay: Meares Vista Inn (or similar).

The west coast of Vancouver Island is well-known for its whale and bear sightings. This morning we undertake a boat trip for a unique chance to observe Black bears searching for crabs and clams on the rocky beaches near Tofino. Experienced on-board guides know the area in depth, and we may even be lucky enough to spot whales on this tour. The afternoon is free to enjoy another optional activity - try a zodiac whale watching boat trip, sea kayaking, or discover the many hiking trails in this area (see previous day for guideline prices) Stay: Meares Vista Inn (or similar).

Leaving the west coast of Vancouver Island, we drive north through some incredibly scenic areas. We'll make a stop at Cathedral Grove, where there are many trails which meander through the Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Grand Fir and Western Red Cedar trees. Our destination today is Port Hardy, Vancouver Island's most northerly town. Port Hardy was named after Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, former captain of HMS Victory, and is the gateway to the amazing stretch of water known as the Inside Passage. Stay: Kwa'lilas Hotel (or similar).

An absolute delight for wildlife lovers, the Inside Passage offers one of the most amazing ferry journeys in the whole of North America, with everything from frozen fjords to forest-covered hillsides flanking your route. The journey involves taking a 10-hour direct ferry and the scenery is simply spectacular: towering, forest-clad peaks surround the deep fjords and those with a keen eye can often spot Bald eagles and bears. The Inside Passage also supports one of the world's richest marine environments and it may be possible to see Grey whales, Orcas, Pacific White Sided and occasionally Humpback whales. The remoteness of the Inside Passage is its most stunning feature; this area is largely inaccessible by road and the tiny communities that spread along it rely on boats for transportation. Stay: Bella Coola Mountain Lodge (or similar).

Bella Coola is located at the point where the Bella Coola River joins with the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean. Here, amongst the lush valley bottoms and snow-capped peaks, some of the largest Grizzly bear in the world reside and this little community is gaining a reputation as one of the best places to spot them in British Columbia. The best time of year to view Grizzly bear is from the middle of August to the end of September as this is when they descend from the mountains to catch salmon in the rivers and eat berries. In season, it's possible to join an optional excursion in search of Grizzly bear. Outside of bear season there's a selection of excellent hikes on offer and plenty of optional activities, such as fishing and wildlife viewing. Optional activities:, Grizzly bear watching (mid Aug - end of Sept) CAD$195, Wildlife Rafting tour CAD$100 Stay: Bella Coola Mountain Lodge (or similar).

Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is completely off the radar for most tour groups, despite being named as British Columbia's most beautiful park. It was named after the 15th Governor General of Canada, Baron Tweedsmuir, who travelled extensively throughout the area by float plane and horseback. The park has varied landscapes on offer, and you can expect to come face to face with rugged mountains, deep lush valleys and spectacular ocean fjords. A healthy population of Grizzly and Black bear exists throughout the park, as well as elk, deer, moose, and coyote; it is possible to see any of these whilst visiting Tweedsmuir.

Wildlife aside, the colours of the mountains combined with the flora and the wilderness feel will ensure that Tweedsmuir is a park that you'll remember. Our overnight location for the next two nights is on picturesque Nimpo Lake, a popular lake for fly fishing that supports an eclectic mix of wildlife. This area has very basic facilities but is extremely beautiful and off the tourist trail. Please note: due to the remote nature of this property, some cabins will be more basic than others, often with shared bathroom facilities with a capacity of two to four people maximum. Due to the nature of this accommodation with several of the rooms offering multi-share only, single supplements do not cover these two nights of the tour and you may need to share a room. Stay: Chilcotin's Waterfront Resort & Motel (or similar) - multi share.

We have a full day free to explore Tweedsmuir Provincial Park today. There are different hikes that can be done in the area, at Mt. Kappan, near Anahim Lake or at Rando Burnt Ridge, or you can simply enjoy the resort at Nimpo Lake. Stay: Chilcotin's Waterfront Resort & Motel (or similar) - multi share.

Our travels continue to Clearwater, the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park where we can discover the parks forest trails and bewitching waterfalls. Stay: Helmcken Falls Lodge (or similar).

As the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson is a stunning sight. Pause to take in over 3,000m (10,000 ft.) of snow-capped loveliness. We have the option to hike at Kinney Lake, located in the Mount Robson Provincial Park. A visit to Miette Hot Springs is included, to relax your muscles at the end of the day. Our overnight location will be around forty minutes out of town, in Jasper National Park. Stay: Pocahontas Cabins (or similar).

Jasper is much quieter and less developed than Banff, which means it is much easier to escape the crowds and spend the day getting to know the national park and its surroundings. There are several options for today. We recommend taking the SkyTram and walking to the summit, which provides fantastic views over the Canadian Rockies. Alternatively, there are various hikes at Mount Edith Cavell including a short hike in the alpine meadows with chances to see caribou, and from where you'll enjoy spectacular views of Angel Glacier, a beautiful hanging glacier in the shape of angel wings. Optional activities:SkyTram cable car CA$50Float trip on the Athabasca River CA$70 Stay: Pocahontas Cabins (or similar).

Brace yourself, as this morning we travel on one of the most famous and beautiful drives in the world, the Icefields Parkway. This spectacular road traverses the Rockies, running parallel to the Continental Divide. Mountain passes, glaciers and high peaks are some of the many scenic highlights and there are opportunities to see elk, caribou, bears, Bighorn sheep, and goats, which often graze on the vegetation found at the roadside. We stop at all the 'must see' sights, including Bow Summit and Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. There is the option to enjoy a guided glacier walk along the way. Optional activities:Guided glacier walk CA$100 (CA$60 for under 17s) Stay: Charltons Banff (or similar).

Banff National Park is one of the highlights of any visit to Western Canada, with its magnificent mountains, lakes, and forests. Banff was Canada's first national park and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff town can easily be explored on foot and with plenty of optional activities there's more than enough to fill your time. Check out the iconic Banff Springs Hotel where tourism in the Canadian Rockies first began, visit some of the many souvenir shops in town or take a short trail to the tumbling Bow Falls. You could also walk along Tunnel Mountain trail for a view of Banff and the Bow Valley. Take the gondola up to Sulphur Mountain for rewarding panoramic views of the Rockies, or simply relax in the heated, natural pools of the Banff Hot Springs. Optional activities:Aerial gondola/tramway CAD$49-64Hot Springs CA$9Stay: Charltons Banff (or similar).

Today will be the end of your tour of the Canadian Rockies as you head to the city of Calgary, a cosmopolitan Alberta city with skyscrapers and a booming oil business industry. Calgary has historically been famous for its Wild West roots but in recent years it has become a dynamic and vibrant city. It's oozing with the Western culture that earned it the nickname ‘Cowtown', evident in the Calgary Stampede. If you'd like to extend your stay to take in the sights of Calgary after the tour ends, please make your accommodation reservation at the time of booking. For everyone else, it's time to say goodbye but rest assured you'll be leaving with plenty of wilderness memories, wildlife photographs and maybe even a few sticky maple syrup sweets for your journey home. This tour ends at our gateway hotel in Calgary at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book your post-tour accommodation if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.