Guided Group Tour: British Columbia and Rocky Mountains

First Day  Arrival in Vancouver
Reception at Vancouver International Airport and transfer with a mini-tour of the city. Check-in, assisted by your guide, at Sutton Plaza or Sheraton or Century Plaza in beautiful double rooms with breakfast included

Second Day  Vancouver City Tour
City Tour including Stanley Park and the Aquarium; Lions Bridge, Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge and Capilano Hatchery (salmon hatchery); Light House and the parks of West Vancouver and Dundrave; on good weather conditions, a visit M.O.A. (Museum of Anthroplogy) at the U.B.C. (University of British Columbia). Free time for dinner, according to the road book (R.B.) Overnight stay at your Hotel

Third Day Departure to Vancouver Island
Embarkation for Vancouver Island with a stopover in the capital of Victoria and a visit to magnificent Butchart Gardens, the old town and Inner Harbour. Then you will get on Mahallat Road, a scenic road overlooking Oak Bay and travel northward, towards Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Stop at magnificent Cathedral Grove, the Park of Red Cedars and Douglas Firs of the West. Upon arrival in Tofino you will find yourself in one of the cabins of Ocean Village Resort, in front of Pacific Rim. A walk with dinner included in Tofino Harbour village

Fourth Day  Tofino and Pacific Rim
Today you will start to explore Pacific Rim through a lovely trip to Meares Island, to observe true primeval forest of Pacific Rim. The island is still inhabited and an exclusive property of an ancient tribe of the natives. Then you will have a trip to Shooner Cove with a picnic, discovering the most beautiful beach combing in the world. Children will especially love the pools of this magnificent Bay, looking for beautiful shells, colorful anemones and starfish. In the afternoon departure towards the East, to Campbell River. Night stay at magnificent Painter’s Lodge with sunset dinner on Discovery Bay.

Fifth Day Telegraph Cove’s Orcas
Early in the morning we will start off to Telegraph Cove where, at 13:00, you’ll take a trip to observe the most beautiful orcas in the world – the orcas of Broughton Archipelago. You will have one of the most thrilling and exciting experiences ever possible, with so many beautiful creatures, including killer whales: they are numerous in this area as in no other in the world.
Coming back way will be familiar, via the delightful village of Telegraph Cove where you will stay for the night in an enchanting restored cabin right on timber port.

Sixth Day the Grizzlies of Knight Inlet
Today (if you choose) photo safari excursion is awaiting you, perhaps the most spectacular one of the entire trip. This photo safari will take you to the powerful and magnificent grizzly bear sanctuary of Knight Inlet, in the heart of Great Bear Rainforest, the park jewel of Canada, indicated by UNESCO and WWF as the most beautiful and preserved rainforest in the world. This 9-hour trip by boat will review the magnificent fjords between Vancouver Island and BC coast. Transfer to Port Hardy in the afternoon Upon arrival, accommodation in a hotel and overnight stay.

Seventh Day  Inside Passage
Departure at 7.30 for the spectacular Inside Passage (check in at 5.30!). During this journey, you will never be tired or bored thanks to 1000 opportunities of observations from the deck of a ship. Your guide will give you a lecture on the history and ecosystem of Inside Passage, the most famous sea passage in the world. Fjords and giant canyons, killer whales and dolphins will accompany you in this first great day of sailing. Arrival in Prince Rupert at 10.30 pm. Overnight stay at Crest or Coast Hotel with breakfast included.

Eighth Day  The native villages of Skeena Valley
From Prince Rupert, early in the morning, you will be transferred to Terrace. First, you will visit the oldest native vestiges of Kitselas Canyon. Then continue to the most important site of the native nation of the West. Your previous visit to the M.O.A. of Vancouver now will be useful. This is Canyon City, a collection of villages 80 miles far Terrace, and a place of primary importance for the native culture. We will go on eastwards, passing Moricetown, where we will see beautiful waterfalls on Bulkley River where local Indians fish with unquestionable courage, using an ancient system of fishing. At this point, we will start getting closer to to the Rockies to arrive in Prince George. Night stay at Sandman Inn, with breakfast included.

Ninth Day Mount Robson and Jasper
Starting from Prince George, in less than 2 hours, you will discover Mount Robson, the highest peak of Rockies. Therefore, we are coming closer to our next target destination: the Canadian Rockies. Just before arriving in Jasper, we will continue southwards to visit beautiful Lake Maligne, where we will have an excursion with a small cruise ship around the Lake and, if we are lucky, we will see the beautiful resident deer with a lesson on ethology by our guide. In the area of Maligne Lake you will have an excursion to Maligne Canyon with its network of underground channels which lead to another lake: one of the natural wonders of this area. Nightstay in a lodge in Jasper area, with breakfast included

Tenth Day Jasper Park and Photo Safari on Icefield Parkway
Today, starting with Jasper, you will drive through the magnificent Icefield Parkway, considered the most scenic road in the world for the presence of a large number of wild animals: elks, deer, bears, wolves and other species. In the afternoon you’ll have a walking excursion on Athabasca Glacier, part of Columbia. Keep going southwards to reach the most beautiful lakes in North America. Then we’ll proceed further on to reach the area of Banff where you’ll stay at your lodge for the night.  Dinnertime

Eleventh Day Lake Louise and the Continental Divide of Moraine Lake
Today we will start off from Banff to get to Lake Louise, which is only 40 km away, and visit the surrounding area. Among the many attractions, we’ll see Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel, a historic hotel located in front of the beautiful turquoise lake, with the impressive Massif of Victoria glacier in the background, which makes the view even more spectacular! From here, those who wish, can go to the discover the lake and its views by light trekking along a path which leads from the base of the lake to the Viewpoint of the plain of 6 Glaciers etc.. Alternatively you can also rent a canoe to circumnavigate the lake. Another option is to walk to the lovely Agnes Lake, towards Switzerland Hut, for a refreshing cup of tea or a snack. In the afternoon we’ll visit  Moraine Lake, another wonder of this region. We will return to Banff for dinner (free time) and overnight stay

Twelfth Day Banff
Today we will get introduced to Banff. Visit the historical site of the village, the oldest and most famous museum dedicated to the Rocky Mountains: this will be an interesting introduction to wildlife and geology of this area. Then we will go up the mountain by cable car and have a scenic trip to Sulphur Mountain almost 3000 meters high. In the afternoon, we’ll go South to visit an important scenic area rich in other lakes, some interesting geological structures, the Hoodoos, impressive limestone formations of the Rocks, which lie towards the road to visit, then further South, Vermillion Lake with mount Rundle and Minnewanka Lake in the Valley of Paradise. Everything is described perfectly in detail, with maps and routes, in your Road book. In the evening you will return to your lodge in Banff to change and go for dinner (free time).

Thirteenth Day From Banff to Calgary and return flight
This morning you’ll move to Calgary which is one and a half hours from Banff. Aa walk in the Olympic district and a guided shopping tour, will be followed by airport transfer and boarding for the return flight.