Photo Safari Grand Tour among Alberta and British Columbia

First Day: Arrival in Vancouver
Upon your arrival at Vancouver International Airport, you will be welcomed by a member of our team, who will transfer you to your hotel. At this time, you will be able to take a small introductory tour of the city along the route to your hotel, the Coast Plaza.

Second Day: visit to Vancouver
After a good sleep and hearty breakfast, take a tour of the city using your ROAD BOOK. Start in the green heart of the city, Stanley Park, which boasts a beautiful seawall and aquarium. You will then move north across the Lions Gate Bridge to visit the giant trees of Lighthouse Park along with Dundarave Park, where you will have a picnic by the sea. You can also enjoy a guided tour to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Salmon Hatchery, and then in the afternoon transfer to Horseshoe Bay and boarding the ferry for Vancouver Island. When you’ve reached Vancouver Island, follow the map northward to toward Port Alberni until you come across Cathedral Grove, one of the most beautiful Sequoia and Red Cedar parks in the region, filled with beautiful centenary trees. In the late afternoon, you will reach the beautiful village of Tofino and check in to Ocean Village Resort, located in front of the spectacular Pacific Rim. You have the option to travel to Long Beach, the longest beach on the island filled with surfers year-round, and/or a sunset walk along the West Coast Trail in Ucluelet, Dinner in Tofino’s town centre.
Nanaimo – Tofino: 130 miles

Third Day: Whale-watching in the Pacific Rim
Today we will know Tofino and the Pacific Rim. We will do Whale watching of the marine fauna of the largest National Marine Park of Canada. We will observe gray and humpback whales and probably the Orcas, as well as a large colony of Sea lions. All in a highly spectacular setting,  unique for a European. After lunch, you can go to Shooner Cove, discovering the most beautiful beachcombing in the world. We return children among the ponds of this bay, to look for marvelous shells, colored anemones and starfish. Dinner, included, at Tofino Village.

Fourth Day : Tofino, 
After breakfast in the morning, we will take a trip to Meares Island, where you can admire the beautiful rainforest over 1,000 years old. At the end of this excursion we will head towards Campbell River where we will arrive in the afternoon. You will check in to the beautiful Coast Discovery Inn, located by the sea in front of the Campbell River bay. Enjoy dinner, included, on the terrace.
Tofino – Campbell River: 170 miles.

Fifth Day: the Orcas at Telegraph Cove
Early in the morning after you have finished your breakfast, you will start off to Telegraph Cove. At 1pm, you will be treated to another beautiful whale-watching tour, and be able to spot the orcas of the Broughton Archipelago that are known as the most beautiful in the world. During your three hours of sailing in the Johnston Strait, you will be amazed at how much grace the most feared predators of these seas can possess! After the excursion, you will return to your cabin in Port McNeil, the Black Bear Lodge
Campbell River –  Telegraph Cove: 106 miles

Sixth Day: The Clou excursion of the trip – The grizzlies of the Knight Inlet
Today we will depart Telegraph Cove at 7:30am for the 9-hour exciting excursion to the Knight Inlet, with breakfast and lunch included. We’ll see all the animals of the Great Bear Rainforest with this one excursion, considered the most comprehensive of its kind in North America. Grizzlies, black bears, deer, whales, dolphins, sea lions are harbour seals are just some of the many incredible creatures that reside here. During this excursion, we will cross the longest Northwest Canadian Fjord for over 100 km (50 km there and back) into one of the most beautiful and pure ecosystems of all of North America. At the end of the excursion, head to Port Hardy and overnight in a lodge there
Telegraph Cove – Port Hardy – 45 miles

Seventh Day: The Inside Passage
At 7.30am, depart for the Inside Passage – the magnificent maritime passage along the stunning West Pacific Coast, between long fjords and high canyons. During this trip, you will be constantly surrounded by wonderful views and encounters with killer whales, humpback whales and sea lions. You’ll arrive in Prince Rupert at 11.30pm. Check in for your overnight stay at the Crest or Coast Hotel in Prince Rupert, with breakfast included.

Eighth Day: Native peoples and the Skeena Valley
After breakfast, depart toward Prince George with the guidance of your Road Book. This is a long historical and cultural journey through the Skeena Valley, the territory with the highest concentration of Native Salish Populations in Western Canada. Go to Terrace and visit two Native centres in New Hazelton within the villages of the Tshimian Nation. Then, continue eastward with a stop in Morice Town, where you’ll observe traditional Native fishing practices using nets. Finally, you will arrive at Burns Lake where you will stay at the Sunshine Inn, with breakfast.
Prince Rupert – Burns Lake: 220 miles

Ninth Day: Towards to the Rockies
After breakfast, continue your journey to the Northern British Columbia Forestry Plateau where you’ll enjoy the magnificent trees. Then, check in to the Ramada hotel in Prince George (breakfast included).
Burns Lake – Prince George 235 miles

Tenth Day: Here are the Rockies!- Jasper
Early in the morning following breakfast, you will continue on toward the rocky mountains. In about two hours, you will notice the first sight of Mount Robson, and one hour after that you will reach Jasper. Finally, you will arrive at the beautiful Maligne Lake. One of the most fascinating excursions of your itinerary is the mini cruise around Maligne Lake, which includes a trip to Maligne Canyon to view its network of underground channels, one of the natural wonders of this area. Spend the night at the lovely Sawridge Lodge Hotel in Jasper (breakfast included).
Prince George – Jasper: 234 miles

Eleventh Day: Jasper National Park and the Columbia Glacier
Today you’ll discover Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Rocky Mountains with 4,250 square miles of wild mountain territory. Your route will go along one of the world’s most spectacular highways, the Icefield Parkway, which serves as the backbone of the Rockies connecting all the major sights. This area is known for a large number of wild animals, including wolves, grizzlies, deer, moose and elk. The road will lead you to the Columbia Glacier, the largest glacier under the Arctic Circle. Here you will begin your PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI of the many animals present in this stretch of panoramic road. You will stay overnight in the park, further south, in a beautiful and spacious suite at the Crossing Resort, ready for next morning’s excursion to the glacier.
Jasper – Columbia Glacier: 72 miles

Twelfth Day: Descent along the Icefield Parkway – Lake Louise
Today you will take advantage of the rich wildlife and partake in a memorable photo safari. Dawn is the best time to catch a glimpse of the grazing animals and snap a photo. Using our Road Book, we will follow the back roads in order to approach as many animals as possible. We will leave in the morning for an excursion on the Ice Coach up to the Columbia Glacier, which includes a beautiful walk. The Columbia Glacier is the source of three of the largest water systems in North America, and feeds three major rivers (the MacKenzie, Atabaska and Columbia) as well as the three oceans bordering North America (the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic). The park is four times the size of Yellowstone, with dozens as many animals. You will continue this beautiful road trip up to the Athabasca falls, another wonder of the Rockies. You will also view three beautiful lakes, starting at the top of Bow Pass with a spectacular view of the turquoise waters of Peyto Lake. In the evening, we will continue down to another masterpiece of the area, Lake Louise. Here, check in for an overnight at the Lake Louise Inn and enjoy dinner at your leisure..
Columbia Glacier – Lake Louise: 85 miles

Thirteen Day: Lake Louise, the Continental Divide and Moraine Lake
Among the many attractions in this area, we will start at the magnificent Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a true architectural masterpiece of the last century. It sits looming over the enchanting turquoise lake, facing the impressive mountains of the Victoria Glacier. This historic 20’s Hotel, along with the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, has played a large role in the history of the Canadian Rockies. Then, head out on a magnificent excursion with a light hike along a path that leads from the base of the lake to the viewpoint of The Plain of Six Glaciers. You also have the option to go horseback riding, or go on a relaxed walk along the lovely Agnes Lake towards Switzerland Hut, for a refreshing tea and snack. In the afternoon, you can visit Moraine Lake, a twin of Lake Louise just a few miles away. It is famous for its charming surroundings and spectacular scenic trails. In the evening you will reach the delightful alpine village of Banff, your final destination along the Rockies route. Here you’ll enjoy an excellent buffalo steak dinner by candlelight at a restaurant marked in our Road Book, and spend the night at the Fox Hotel, which is complete with its own natural hot springs.
Lake Louise – Banff: 28 miles

Fourteenth and Fifteenth Days: Banff National Park and Yoho National Park
Following a delicious breakfast, you’ll delve into the history of the village by visiting the oldest and most famous museum dedicated to the Rocky Mountains. It will be an interesting introduction to the wildlife and geology of the region. Then, we will go up the mountain by cable car for a scenic trip to Sulphur Mountain, almost 1,860 miles high. On top of this spectacular natural terrace we can take advantage of the view and enjoy a snack or lunch at the delicious restaurant, also known to be the tallest in the Rockies. During these two days, we will visit Banff National Park and Yoho National Park, with their canyons, waterfalls, lakes, high peaks and forest. In the evening, you will return to your lodge in Banff to rest and freshen up before dinner, which will be provided by Le Reve House at a featured restaurant

Sixteenth Day: from Banff to Drumheller
After breakfast, set out on the road southwards. You will be able to view the Hoodoos, which are impressive limestone formations, and then venture further south to Vermillion Lake, Mount Rundle and Minnewanka Lake in the Valley of Paradise. All details, including maps, you will find in your Road Book. Then, head for Calgary, half an hour from Banff, and then east toward Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where today and tomorrow you will visit the Royal Tyrrel Museum. Arrive at your hotel in Drumheller for an overnight stay (breakfast included).
Banff – Drumheller: 156 miles

Seventeenth Day: Brooks, the Dinosaur Park
After visiting the Dinosaur Park, head toward the direction of Brooks to complete the visit of this prehistoric area. After a few miles, you will be in the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, and from here you will embark on a guided bus tour to learn more about the dinosaurs who lived here up to 60 million years ago. At the end of this excursion, we will cross the badlands of the Hoodoo Trail and return back to Calgary for an overnight at the Ramada or Best Western downtown.
Brooks – Calgary: 100 miles

Eighteenth Day: Return Flight
Early in the morning, after you have finished breakfast, you will transfer to the airport, return your rental car and board your return flight home
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