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From Calgary to Vancouver Camping Van Tour
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Itinerary
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Calgary
Highlights during this 3-week trekking holiday are the famous parks of the Canadian Rockies, the Coast Mountains and Pacific Rim National Park. You travel through some very remote regions of the north western British Columbia, experience the variety and vastness of the country from huge cattle ranches to tiny fishing outposts. You camp at the endless sandy stretch of Long Beach on the western edge of Vancouver Island and take a few steps to find yourself in a rain forest where giant fir trees reach for the sky. You take a whale watching, cruise in sleepy Tofino and visit the cities of Victoria and Vancouver. Arrive in Calgary, transfer from the airport to the hotel. Meet you guide for the "Welcome to the West" dinner.
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Calgary – Banff/Lake Louise
Banff/Lake Louise - Breakfast in the hotel (incl.), short city tour of Calgary and 170 km (105 mi) drive into the Canadian Rockies. In the forested campground of Banff National Park you pitch your tent for the next two nights. This afternoon you go for the first guided hike on one of the many trails near Banff.
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Banff/Lake Louise – Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park on the western flank of the Rockies is known for it's outstanding trails and magnificent mountain wilderness with waterfalls and picture postcard lakes. Planned for today is a 6-hour circuit up Yoho Pass, the flower-covered Highline Trail and finally Burgess Pass at 2180 m (7267 ft)
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Yoho National Park – Glacier National Park - Golden
Through Golden, the new alpine ski destination you reach Glacier National Park. With it's narrow valleys, steep mountains and record snow falls avalanches threaten to bury highways and railroads each winter. A 5 km (3 mi) hike to 2290 m (7633 ft) is rewarded with an almost 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks.
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Golden - Kamloops
Following the Trans Canada Highway you reach the warm and dry B.C. interior, favorite holiday playground for many Canadians. Vast clear lakes for fishing, swimming and water sports, mountain solitude, lots of space and fresh air. Camping by one of the many lakes, time for a swim.
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Kamloops – Williams Lake
Near 100 Mile House you reach the Cariboo Trail. During the 1870 gold rush this was the route from Vancouver to the Cariboo Mountain gold fields. Today the high plateau is ranch country, professional cowboys still patrol the scattered cattle herds. The thousands of square miles west of the town of Williams Lake are almost unpopulated. Rafting down the canyons of one of the rivers and trail riding are ideal options for a close-up wilderness experience. Of course you can always join the guide to explore on foot.
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Williams Lake – Tweedsmuir Park
Stretches of the road leading west into the remote Chilcotin Plateau are not paved. Heckman Pass at 1525 m (5000 ft) is entrance to the province's largest and probably most scenic park (9810 sq km, 3787 sq mi). It is first of all a wilderness park,access is limited. The trail into the Rainbow range leads into one of the most spectacular sights. Glacier crowned mountain tops are best reached by bush planes which are an important means of transportation for this region.
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Tweedsmuir Park – Bella Coola
The winding road down from the Coast Mountains ends at the head of a long fjord. Life is quiet in this friendly, remote fishing village, nestled between the mountains and the sea. This a wonderful chance to visit and meet local Canadians, go salmon fishing, find the historic native rock paintings or explore one more mountain trail before leaving the mainland.
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Bella Coola – Discovery Passage Ferry
For the next 24 hours you cruise past forested shores, many islands and the Hakai Marine Park. Eagles and sea birds are easy to spot, sea lions rest on the rocks, safe from the orca whales. The ferry stops at landlocked fishing outposts and sometimes picks up kayakers. It is a working ferry, not necessarily designed for tourists. In the relaxed, easygoing atmosphere on board you soon make new friends with local people and fellow adventurers. Meals on the ferry's restaurant on own.
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Day 11
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Arrival Port Hardy
Arrival early morning in Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Life on the coast revolves around the salmon. Not only for the commercial fishery and sport anglers but also for the seals and orcas. A whale watching excursion to visit family pods of "Killer Whales" is highly recommended. Telegraph Cove is the staging harbor but if you don't feel like stepping back on a ship there is enough to see and keep busy in the small fishing village. Camping near Campbell River, an anglers paradise which calls itself the world's Salmon Capital.
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Day 12
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Port Hardy - Campbell River
Arrival early morning in Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Life on the coast revolves around the salmon. Not only for the commercial fishery and sport anglers but also for the seals and orcas. A whale watching excursion to visit family pods of "Killer Whales" is highly recommended. Telegraph Cove is the staging harbor but if you don't feel like stepping back on a ship there is enough to see and keep busy in the small fishing village. Camping near Campbell River, an anglers paradise which calls itself the world's Salmon Capital.
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Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
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Campbell River – Pacific Rim National Park (Tofino)
Another dramatic change of scenery as you cut through the center of the island to the far western coast. The road is winding between swift rivers, lakes, mountains, through forests of giant cedars and finally down to the Pacific Ocean. We set up camp for the next 3 nights under ancient douglas fir and hemlock trees in PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK. It is a magical place to relax or to explore, dig clams in the tidal flats at low tide, watch tremendous waves rolling in all the way from Asia, hike mysterious trails in a fairy tale forest of ferns and mosses and thousand year old trees. There is more: many artists have made the charming villages of Ucluelet and Tofino their home, small shops offer and unique and special souvenirs. A 7-hour boat excursion features a stop at natural hot springs. An increasing numbers of gray whales feed and play near the shores during the summer months. Approaching these huge majestic whales in Zodiac rafts is quite a different experience from orca watching. Sea kayaking is another safe and fun activity and one of these two options is included with this tour.
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Day 16
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Tofino - Victoria
Along the picturesque coastal highway past the beaches of Parksville, Chemanius with it's colorful downtown murals, Duncan, the city of totems, to the capital city of British Columbia. Your campground on the southern island has it's own waterfall.
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Day 17
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Victoria
A free day for sightseeing in downtown Victoria with the picturesque Inner Harbor, old country atmosphere, museums, quaint restaurants and attractions. Lunch in Victoria on your own
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Day 18
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Victoria - Vancouver
You catch the ferry back to the mainland. Early afternoon you arrive at the Hotel in Vancouver. The afternoon is free in what many call the most beautiful city in North America. So much to see: Robson Street, Chinatown, Gastown, museums, the harbor or the totem poles in Stanley Park. Dinner on own.
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Day 19
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Vancouver
Transfer to the airport for the flight home. Or program extension
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