Day 1: Air Transat flight from London Gatwick to Vancouver (10 hours.) On arrival in Vancouver we took the very scenic 2 hour drive to the year round resort of Whistler, renowned for its 2010 winter Olympic venue.

Whistler is one of the best mountain resorts in North America, boasting fantastic winter sport facilities and a popular summer resort with a wealth of outdoor activities in and around Whistler. Mountain biking on the ski runs, bungee jumping, ziplining and canoeing to bear watching tours in the forests. We actually took the early morning 4 x4 Jeep Tour on the Blackcomb Mountains, with spectacular views over the Whistler Valley and yes we saw the bears!

Day 2: Float Plane from Vancouver to Victoria, the capital of Vancouver Island.

Here we took the whale watching cruise aboard Orca Spirit and managed to see an abundance of sea life including the infamous humpback whale.

Day 3: The morning began with taking the BC Ferry back to Vancouver where we spent another day exploring the vibrant city. We enjoyed breakfast at the Fairmont Waterfront which overlooks the impressive cruise terminal.

Aerial shot of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. Photo credits: @jennchanphotography! @portvancouver

We then headed onto Stanley Park followed by a must see whilst in Vancouver – the Ganville Island Market Foodie Tour. A day was clearly not enough to truly immerse yourself in the city but certainly wet the appetite.

Later in the afternoon we arrived at the Pacific Central station to board the Via Rail, for our overnight journey through the Rockies to Jasper.

Day 4: Disembarking the Train in Jasper brought another day of adventure. Heading out of Jasper through the Canadian Rockies we explored the Athabasca Falls, travelled along the spectacular Icefield Parkway, one of Canada’s most scenic drives before reaching the Glacier View Lodge, our not so shabby room with a view, overlooking the Columbia Icefield!

Photo Credits @juliaeskins

Day 5 took us to the Skywalk on the Icefield which I must say is not for the faint hearted. Step out on a cliff-edge walkway where giant glaciers perch above you and the spectacular Sunwapta Valley spreads out below. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk experience features waterfalls, wildlife, fossils and more on an exciting 1-kilometre walkway that leads to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot (280 m) drop.

The rest of the day was spent on the sightseeing tour to Banff with many stop off points at the most beautiful lakes including the Iconic Lake Louise.

In our final days of the trip we enjoyed time in Banff and the Bow Valley. The Banff gondola was another hair-raiser if your not good with heights but well worth the effort with stunning views over 6 mountain ranges. The views from the Sulphur Mountain are nothing short of breath-taking.

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, their hospitality went above and beyond.

It is  renowned for its panoramic beauty and Championship Golf Course, a challenging course set in the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. If there is one hotel in the world I’d like to return to it would be this one, there is always a room with a view.

As we made our way back to Calgary airport for the return flight home it was time to reflect on the week. A week full of exploration, dramatic scenery, friendly locals and unforgettable memories.

Would you like to explore Canada? Get in touch and our travel experts will tailor-make an itinerary to suite your preferences, creating your ideal Canada holiday and making it a trip to remember.

Il Mondo Travel

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