14 DAYS BRITISH COLUMBIA ADVENTURE MECCA

Welcome to Calgary, Alberta’s largest city, where the wild West meets industrial skyscrapers. Upon arrival, we will transfer to downtown Calgary to rest. Depending on your arrival time, you can scale up to the Calgary Tower or explore the city’s vibrant culinary scene at your own pace.

Rise early for a brief Calgary tour of the city centre, the site of annual “Stampede” event and more. Depart on a scenic 2h drive via glacial lakes and rivers to Banff village. Visit the iconic hotel-castle Fairmont Banff Springs, Tunnel Mountain Road, Hoodoos, Bow Falls and Surprise Corner viewpoint to spot Lake Minnewanka. Ride Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain (2,281m) and marvel at the 360° view of Banff, Bow Valley and 6 mountain ranges.

Dubbed “Jewel of the Canadian Rockies” visit the UNESCO-listed Lake Louise and Lake Moraine nestled between rugged peaks. See Victoria Glacier as you wander at Lake Louis shoreline before lunch at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel (own expense). After a photo stop at Lake Moraine’s Valley of the Tean Peaks, enjoy a short walk up the Rockpile for the former Canadian $20 bill view. (Note: Lake Moraine is closed Jun-Sep and extra time will be spent at Lake Louise.) On your return, visit the golden-hued Johnston Canyon, a natural sanctuary with its emerald trees, roaring waterfalls and turquoise waters.

Behold the lofty waterfalls, rushing rivers, glacial peaks and snow-capped mountains! Board the Ice Explorer ride, specially designed to traverse Athabasca Glacier. Feel the adrenaline at Glacier Skywalk where you are separated only by glass from a 918-foot drop the glacier-formed valleys down below! Walk along the shores of the crystal clear Bow Lake. Be on the lookout for bears and stately elks before returning.

Depart early to train station for your Rocky Mountaineer ride through the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. Marvel at some impressive engineering feats such as Kicking Horse Canyon and Spiral Tunnels carved into the mountain 100+ years ago. Breakfast and lunch will be served on board the train. Arrive in Kamloops early evening.

Descend westwards with views of forested mountains, rivers, gorges, Fraser River’s fertile valleys and Thompson River’s steep slopes. See the turbulent waters of Hell's Gate in Fraser Canyon. Breakfast and lunch served on train. This evening, you will be transferred from Vancouver train station to your hotel in town.

Visit Stanley Park, Chinatown, the waterfront and Gastown–a turn-of-the-century centre of pubs, art galleries, boutiques and steam-powered clock. This afternoon, enjoy 2-hour Granville Island walk with 20 smorgasbord culinary sampling as you rub shoulders with Vancouver’s best chefs with their seasonal produces. Conclude at 137m Capilano Suspension Bridge above the Capilano River, seven bridges of Treetops Adventure and thrilling 213m Cliffwalk along the granite cliffside with panoramic rainforest and canyon view.

Rise early and transfer to seaplane terminal for your flight to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia and dubbed Canada’s Garden City. Your private Victoria tour includes boardwalk and colourful Victorian architectures along Government Street, Chinatown, Bastion Square and Canada’s narrowest commercial street, Fan Tan Alley. Marvel at masks, totems and cultural treasures on a guided tour at Royal British Columbia Museum (entrance included).

After lunch at Hotel Fairmont Empress (own expense), head off to 55-acre botanical Butchart Gardens, designated a National Historic Site of Canada with displays of Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and Mediterranean Garden. Return to Vancouver via a 1.5-hour ferry ride.

Transfer to the seaplane terminal for your short flight to Port Hardy (checked baggage: 23kg/person with max. 158cm linear dimension; hand-carry: 10kg/person with max. linear dimension of 23x40x55cm). On arrival, you will transfer to hotel to check in to rest or explore Port Hardy town independently.

Port Hardy accommodation is allocated on arrival by Great Bear Lodge (moderate standard with essential amenities).

Take a short afternoon floatplane (per person checked-in and hand-carry allowance: 14kg soft bags) to your wilderness floating lodge used by BBC’s Planet series before joining your group for your first wildlife viewing session. Different viewing sites are used depending on bear activities, with estuary sites reached by boat and river sites by wilderness tracks. The viewing blinds are constructed with photographers in mind for optimum bear viewing. Enjoy wilderness gourmet meal at your lodge with on-site biologist presentation on grizzly bear interaction.

All activities on Great Bear Rainforest are on scheduled join-in basis. Exact activities may differ between lodges.

Settle in the natural rhythm of the valley. Breakfast is followed by 3-hour grizzly trail viewing sessions. After lunch at lodge, join guided interpretive rainforest walk to examine the area’s ecology and bear signs. Venture out for mid-afternoon bear viewing before dinner at lodge. The stars are amazing on clear nights!

After your parting session with the bears, you will return to Port Hardy by floatplane in the late afternoon (per person checked in and hand carry baggage allowance: 14 Kg in soft bags) and transfer to your hotel.

Take a short morning seaplane flight to Vancouver (checked baggage: 23kg/person with max. 158cm linear dimension; hand-carry: 10kg/person with max. linear dimension of 23x40x55cm). Upon arrival at the Seaplane terminal, you will be met and transfers to the Vancouver International Airport for your flight home.