Totem Discovery

Depart Vancouver and make your way to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal for your scenic 90 minute journey across the beautiful Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island. On arrival continue to the charming harbour city of Victoria.

Enjoy your choice of included experience from the following options:

Butchart Gardens Admission – this National Historic Site of Canada is renowned for its stunning floral displays set over 55 acres of gardens.
Whale Watch Cruise – search for orcas on the Salish Sea on a 3.5 hour guided whale watching cruise, complete with hydrophones to bring the underwater world to life.

High Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel – Indulge in a lavish array of tea, finger sandwiches, pastries and scones, served in the elegant setting of this historic landmark. The rest of the day is free to explore Victoria at your leisure, with its turn of the century architecture and strong British traditions.

Heading north on the Island Highway, pass through Duncan, the ‘City of Totems’. If time allows, visit the Quw’utsun’ Heritage Village which offers an insight into the lives of the North West Coast People (admission not included). Travelling further north, stop at the artist community of Chemainus and admire the giant murals adorning the walls throughout the town.

Spend your day enjoying your choice of one included experience from the following options:

Salish Sea Whale Watching Cruise – Enjoy an unforgettable cruise with an experienced marine wildlife guide to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. Watch for humpbacks, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and a variety of sea birds.

Please note The Great Bears of Bute requires an additional upgrade cost and is only available from  15 Aug – 25 Sep

Continue your journey to the fishing community of Port Hardy, the furthest north you can drive on Vancouver Island. On the way you may wish to take an optional whale watching cruise in Johnstone Strait near Port McNeil.

Embark on a full day of cruising the sheltered waters of Canada’s Inside Passage with BC Ferries. During the crossing (approximately 15 hours, depending on sea conditions), a wonderful array of snow capped mountains combined with rich forests provides a background for a series of dramatic fjords. Look out for killer whales, grey whales, sea lions and playful porpoise which often appear in these waters. Arrive in the seaport of Prince Rupert late evening.

Follow the winding and narrow Yellowhead highway, hugging the Skeena River for most of the way. Pass through the mining town of Terrace and into Smithers. Located in the centre of the Bulkley Valley at the foot of the Hudson Bay Mountain, Smithers offers excellent opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Depart Smithers, continuing along the Yellowhead highway. Passing through Houston, known as the Steelhead Capital and home to the world’s biggest fly rod; over 18 metres (59 ft) in length! Next you will travel through Burns Lake – fishing village, Vanderhoof – nature lover’s paradise, and into Prince George. Prince George is the largest service centre for the northern part of British Columbia, perfectly situated at the crossroads of two major highways and two railways.

Enjoy another unforgettable day of scenic driving as you follow mountain passes and raging rivers winding your way to Jasper for a two-night stay.

Enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:

Jasper Nature Walk – this guided walk offers spectacular views of jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams, and stunning glacial lakes.

Set off on an incredibly scenic drive taking you through the spine of the Canadian Rockies. View a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged peaks, over 100 glaciers and pristine emerald colour lakes. Along the way see such sights as the Columbia Icefield and take an Ice Explorer ride out onto the glacier. Stop at the award-winning Glacier Skywalk to experience a glass-floored observation platform 280m over spectacular glacier-formed valleys and rushing waterfalls. Also watch for the Sarbach Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, with the Bow Glacier providing the backdrop, and Crowfoot Glacier before your arrival into Lake Louise. From Lake Louise choose the Bow Valley Parkway, beside the Bow River with an option for you to take a stop at Johnston Canyon and walk along the paved footway to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff. Please note: Mountain lakes in this region will be frozen through to mid June.

Today you can enjoy your choice of one included experience from the following options:

Leaving Banff National Park, travel to Yoho National Park where you cross the continental divide. Then travel on through Glacier National Park and ‘Rogers Pass’ with spectacular mountain vistas in every direction. Continue through the Monashee Mountain Range and past the breathtaking views of Shuswap Lake. Drive through Kamloops and start to travel north up to the ski resort town of Sun Peaks where you will spend the night.

Begin the day traveling along Logan Lake route to the gold rush town of Cache Creek. Continue the journey south to Lillooet, known as the land of the Gold Rush Trail and was ‘Mile Zero’ of the Old Caribou Wagon Road during the Gold Rush Years. Leaving Lillooet travel the Duffey Lake Road to Whistler. Be sure to stop at Joffre Lake for breath taking views of Joffre Glacier.

Today you can enjoy your choice of included excursion from the following options:

Whistler Guided Lunch Tour – explore the town’s eclectic culinary scene with a delicious multi-course lunch taken at various food spots.
River of Golden Dreams Canoe Tour – take an enchanting paddle from Alta Lake to Green Lake, past wildflower-lined river banks and old-growth forests.
Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola – travel to the top of Whistler Mountain for spectacular views of glaciers, extinct volcanoes and snow-capped peaks.

Bear Safari in Whistler Olympic Park (upgrade at additional cost) – watch wild black bears forage from your vehicle amidst pristine landscapes. Drive up iconic Ski Jumps for breath-taking, panoramic mountain views.

Depart Whistler at your own leisure along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway to Vancouver. A recommended stop along the way at the Sea to Sky Gondola for incredible bird’s-eye views of Howe Sound plus interpretive walking trails, viewing platforms and an on-site restaurant and tea house at the top. Other highlights along the way include the cascading Shannon Falls and the Stawamus Chief Rock where climbers from all over the globe migrate to climb the granite cliffs. Continue to Vancouver where your self-drive journey ends.