Itinerary

Day 1: Banff - Waterton Park

Pick up from your hotel in Banff and head south, watching for wildlife as we go. We will travel on the back road out of Canmore and continue South along the dry, east side of the Rocky Mountains to the southern end where it meets Waterton Lakes National Park. We stop along the way to watch the wildlife (mountain goat, deer, elk, bears), and end up in the Bison National Park to see the small remaining heard of Woodland Bison. Continue on through the famous Alberta beef ranch lands and rest for the night in Waterton National Park. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals included: Picnic lunch

Day 2: Waterton Park

Waterton Lakes National Park, this is a lesser visited park due to its remoteness – which is why we are here. Spend the day enjoying wildlife, spectacular vistas and take the Waterton Lake Boat Tour (weather permitting) to explore some of the less accessible walks and sites. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals included: Picnic lunch

Day 3: Waterton - Kimberley

Travel westwards, past historic Fort Steele and some natural hot springs. Overnight at the magnificently located hotel, run by the First Nations, that was formerly a residential school run by nuns. It has since been beautifully converted into an elegant casino hotel. Relax in the sumptuously converted bar and enjoy the irony. Overnight St. Eugene Mission Casino Hotel in Kimberley. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals: Picnic lunch

Day 4: Kimberley - Nelson

Winding our way through beautiful southern British Columbia we'll visit charming little towns and learn more of Canada's unique cultural history. History and culture buffs are sure to love Nelson - a town of heritage buildings and a friendly local population of musicians and artisans. Nelson was once the bustling regional centre of a gold boom and made an unsuccessful bid to become British Columbia's capital city. The town now is a mix of music, art, dining and shopping. You can enjoy live music in a variety of restaurants and bars. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: Nelson

Nelson sits in the valley among soaring mountains. Today we'll take a scenic flight tour and fly high above the jagged granite peaks, glaciers and azure alpine lakes of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Parks – This will take your breath away. Then continue exploring the mining history of the Kootenay region, with the option to head further into the interior to explore some of the older ghost towns, and then we end the day with a soak in Ainsworth Hot springs. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Nelson - Penticton

We’ll continue navigating the effervescent landscape and explore some of the historic sites of Western Canada. Gold and silver exploration and mining paved the way for development of these older towns along the rural southern border of British Columbia. At the southern end of the Okanagan Valley we will sample some of the expertly crafted wines from the First nations vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Penticton

This area is steeped in history of pioneers, Gold and Silver miners, and the battle between the USA and Canada to get the ore! We will take some time to trek into some of the old original Kettle Valley Steam Railway trestles, still standing from these disastrous financial train ventures! We also will have time to visit some of the best wineries in Canada, renowned for their wines and scenery. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals: On own

Day 8: Penticton - Vancouver

Continuing westwards back to Vancouver we will follow the Fraser river through the fertile farmlands of the Fraser River Delta. Arrive into Vancouver around 5.30 (depending on the traffic and the day! Have a great evening. Accommodation: Hotel with private or ensuite bathroom Meals: On own

Day 9: Vancouver and Beyond!

Today is the end of the tour. There are a few options from here, either continue onto the “Western Canada Sunshine Coast Tour” with Wild Goose Tours, or we can get you a transfer to the airport for your flight home, or even book you onto the Rocky Mountaineer! What will you choose?