On arrival into Vancouver, pick up your hire car. Vancouver is one of the world's most beautiful cities, rich with culture, nature and world-class shopping, dining and hotels. It is also home to the Coast Salish Peoples including the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam and Squamish Nations. Explore Aboriginal culture at the Klahowya Village in Stanley Park and discover First Nations treasures at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. Other activities include a canoe adventure with Takaya Tours, a round of golf at the Takaya Golf Centre, or a visit to the Khot-la-Cha Gallery and Gift Shop. If you have time, head over to Stanley Park, Chinatown, Granville Island, the MacMillan Planetarium, Capilano Suspension Bridge or Grouse Mountain. Stay two nights in Vancouver. 

Begin your scenic drive to Penticton in the Okanagan Valley. Best known for its lush orchard, hot climate and beautiful beaches, it’s easy to see why this city’s name means ‘a place to stay forever’. Take in sweeping valley views, pass through active vineyards and learn all about the Kettle Valley Trail along the way. With only one brewery open 20 years ago, Penticton has since grown to seven local breweries all equipped with great craft beer and an eagerness to welcome all. Stay one night in Penticton. 

Spend your morning in the Okanagan Valley before driving onto Revelstoke. The great outdoors is a huge part of being in this small city, but once you’re done exploring, take in Revelstoke’s culture, visit museums, view art attractions, take a tour of the breweries, grab a cocktail at the local bowling alley, test your mind at an escape room or even try your hand at axe throwing! Stay one night in Revelstoke. 

Drive through Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass before heading into Banff. Be sure to visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the birthplace of Banff National Park for interactive displays and exhibits, interpretive trails, bird watching, hiking and cycling. Take a ride on the Banff Gondola, which rises 700 metres (2,310 feet) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (2,286 metres/7,544 feet) for panoramic views of the Bow Valley, Banff town and surrounding mountain peaks. Visit Banff National History Museum or take a boat tour on Lake Minnewanka. Take a dip in the famous hot mineral waters at the Upper Hot Springs pool. The facility also includes spa, massage and aromatherapy services. Stay two nights in Banff.  

Day 7 – Drive from Banff to Jasper (approx. 180 miles) 

On your drive to Banff via the incredible Icefields Parkway, stop off at Peyto Lake. Enjoy the opportunity to take plenty of photos of snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows and stunning waterfalls on one of the most scenic drives in the world. Jasper National Park is the largest of Canada’s Rocky Mountain national parks, (4,200 square miles). Many of the park’s striking features are accessible by road – Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls, Miette Hot-Springs and glacier-clad Mount Edith Cavell. The Jasper Tramway is the longest cable car in Canada, and the 360-degree view (weather permitting) – some 60 miles to the west to Mount Robson, and about 45 miles to the south to the Columbia Icefield – is well worth the trip. Visit Maligne Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the world, and enjoy a one and a half-hour cruise. Stay one night in Jasper. 

Drive on the Yellowhead Highway and past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Follow the northern arm of the Fraser River through the Cariboo Region. Widely known as the capital of northern British Columbia, Prince George is the perfect mix of outdoor activities and city life. Outdoor lovers will find everything they desire in the wilderness of Prince George including fresh water fishing, hunting, waterfall lined highways, luscious parks, and plenty of winter sports. Skiiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling are just a few sports to be enjoyed. City life is also never dull! Great restaurants and shops, art galleries and museums are open all year round. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll be right at home in amongst all of the hockey, drag racing, baseball, lacrosse, basketball and soccer. Stay one night in Prince George. 

Smithers is a mountain town, set against the backdrop of the Hudson Bay Mountain and with vistas of the Babine and Telkwa Mountain Ranges and is approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers offers a range of indoor and outdoor activities suitable for everyone throughout the year. It has a lively music and art scene as well as an energetic sporting community. 

Stay one night in Smithers. 

Follow the scenic Skeena River Valley to the active port city of Prince Rupert. This port city on British Columbia’s northwest coast is a gateway to wilderness areas such as the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary bear habitat. Cow Bay is a great waterfront area for quaint shops and cafes, perfect for coffee with a view. Always be looking towards the sea and don’t forget your binoculars, you might be lucky enough to see a humpback whale breach the water! 

Stay one night in Prince Rupert. 

Enjoy a full-day ocean cruise on board BC Ferries along the British Columbia coastline. The famous Inside Passage cruise terminates in Port Hardy. Located at the Northern tip of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy is the gateway to authentic, unspoiled, nature-driven adventure. Hike rugged trails, walk along sandy beaches and paddle along rocky shores. No matter what you do, Port Hardy is sure to connect you with nature unlike anything before. Stay one night in Port Hardy. N.B. for select departure times, you will overnight on board the ship. The cruise will arrive at Port Hardy the following day. 

Travel to the eastern shore of Vancouver Island to Campbell River. This city is a focal point for sport salmon fishing and also known as the Salmon Capital of the World. Home to 5 provincial parks, several marine parks, golf courses, wildlife viewing opportunities and a plethora or fishing hotspots. Explore Strathcone Provincial Park, paddle through the estuary, enjoy a whale watching experience, hike up Ripple Rock, survey the Seymour Narrows. If a slow stroll is more your pace, wander through Rotary Seawalk, this 10km multi-use path that borders the coastline of the city is a perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors at a slower pace. 

Stay one night in Campbell River. 

Continue along the coast via the scenic Malahat Drive. The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria boasts many historic buildings and some of the best museums in Western Canada. The area is also home to some of the country's most exhilarating scenery: there's an ocean or mountain (or both!) vista around every corner, and the city's flower gardens are famous the world over. Established in 1843 as a fort for the Hudson's Bay Company, Victoria's British ancestry is apparent in the double-decker buses, horse-drawn carriages, formal gardens and tearooms. The city is now a cosmopolitan centre with a lively entertainment scene and a wonderful array of attractions. 

Stay one night in Victoria. 

Before you leave Victoria and the charm and beauty of the Inner Harbour, visit Butchart Gardens. This magnificent display of flowers and greenery set in an old stone quarry is sure to have you somewhere in between awe and calm. Set sail on a mini-cruise on BC Ferries guiding you around the Gulf Islands and through the Strait of Georgia to lead you back to the mainland of British Columbia for some last minute shopping and sightseeing. 

Stay one night in Vancouver.