Rockies Road Trip 

Head westbound through the Canadian Rockies

Drive them. Hike them. Sit back and see them. You decide how you want your Rocky Mountains adventure to go.

This is a sensational Canadian road trip, just as scenic and exciting as you imagine. Soaring mountains and bright blue lakes hold challenges for adventurers, and there are sweeping vistas from high-up vantage points for those who want to sit back and enjoy the view. On this self-guided road trip, you’ll hop westwards from Calgary until you reach gorgeous Vancouver on the Pacific coast.

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Self-drive tour
9 nights
Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Sun Peaks & Kamloops, Vancouver
Adventure, Multi Centre, Self-Drive

Recommended itinerary

Gateway to the Rockies

Calgary

Your journey begins in Calgary. The skyscraper-spiked downtown area is an excellent place to plant roots for a day or two – you’ll find most of Calgary’s top attractions here. When night falls, the city sparkles, so whisk yourself to the top of the soaring Calgary Tower for a birds-eye view and dinner at its revolving restaurant.

Choose your hotel

Where to stay in Calgary

Decide whether you’d prefer the grand surroundings of the Fairmont Palliser or the contemporary Le Germain Hotel Calgary. Then again, the Applause Hotel by Clique is a solid airport hotel that might be all you need if you plan to set off on your road trip after an overnight stop in Calgary.

Banff

Nature’s playground

Few places on the planet boast the astonishingly beautiful scenery you’ll lay eyes on in Banff National Park. This land has endless mountains, glaciers, valleys, lakes, and forests. But views are only the beginning of the appeal. Millions of people descend each year for skiing, hiking, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking and other outdoor pursuits. Banff is truly nature’s playground.

What to do in Banff

How you’ll spend your days

Take a trip to the Columbia Icefield, catch sight of the startlingly blue water of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, or take a full-day wildlife tour to Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, and the lakes to learn more about the animals around Banff. You’ll want to allow at least a few days to explore Banff properly.

Where to stay in Banff

The hotels to know about

The iconic Fairmont Banff Springs and The Rimrock Resort Hotel are extra-special places to stay, but you’ll also find lodge-style accommodations in quiet pockets and vibrant hotels in Banff town, which might suit you better.

Jasper

A wonderful wilderness

Mother Nature’s masterpiece, Jasper National Park, spans 11,000 square kilometres. It’s a raw, rugged oasis with valleys, lakes, rivers, and mountains prowled by grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and elk. You’ll happen upon miles and miles of hiking trails, snow-dusted mountains, and gleaming alpine lakes.

What to do in Jasper

Go big on adventure

Take a wildlife tour or hitch a lift on Canada’s longest and highest guided aerial tramway for an epic panorama. Stand above the massive walls of Maligne Canyon for incredible views of rushing waterfalls, discover the mystery of the disappearing water at Medicine Lake, and stroll the shores of Maligne Lake. And after nightfall, gaze skywards – Jasper is a designated Dark Sky Preserve.

Where to stay in Jasper

Chalet, motel, or resort?

Decide whether you want all the bells and whistles of the magnificent Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or the simpler style of Marmot Lodge or Chateau Jasper.

Sun Peaks & Kamloops

The perfect overnight stopover

Sun Peaks, a little outside Kamloops, is all about winter sports and is renowned for its light and dry powder. The ski-through village has everything you’d expect from a prime ski resort, including being poised and ready for a lively après scene. Despite its snowy wonderfulness, Sun Peaks is equally appealing in summer, when active types come to hike and bike the trails once the ice has melted.

Where to stay in Sun Peaks & Kamloops

Ski lodge or city crash pad?

You’ll probably only spend a night or two in Sun Peaks or Kamloops on your journey between Jasper and Vancouver. Choose something in the mountains, such as Sundance Lodge, or base yourself in the city to easily reach the shops and restaurants.

Vancouver

A cultural treasure trove

This cosmopolitan city on the water is known for its enviable lifestyle and a solid reputation for delicious food and blossoming arts, theatre, and music scenes. The rosy-cheeked locals (fresh from escapades on the surrounding mountains and sea) speak highly of their beautiful city.

Where to stay in Vancouver

Fancy or frills-free?

As you’d expect from a city the size of Vancouver, there are plenty of places to stay. From the upmarket Rosewood Hotel Georgia and the Wedgewood Hotel to the DOUGLAS in the city’s newest district and architecturally iconic Pan Pacific Vancouver, there’s a hotel for every taste and budget.

What to do in Vancouver

Explore the city and beyond

Don’t leave Vancouver until you explore Granville Island, a creative hub of Vancouver and home to a beloved market. Take a floatplane flight to Vancouver Island or appreciate Vancouver’s coastal rainforest as you tiptoe across the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Allow three days to explore the city or more if you also plan to visit Vancouver Island.

Add a cruise

Set sail after your Canadian adventure

The majority of Alaska cruises set off from Vancouver so this itinerary can easily be added to a voyage northward. We work with a selection of handpicked cruise lines that operate round-trip and one-way trips along the majestic coastlines of British Columbia and the USA’s ‘last frontier’, including Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. For more information, contact one of our Personal Travel Experts.

Hubbard Glacier