Best of West Canada: Rocky Mountains to Vancouver Island in 2 Weeks
Head west through two Canadian provinces on this two-week road trip from Alberta's Rocky Mountains through British Columbia's Vancouver Island.
Canada
14 days / 13 nights
$5,000 /person
$5,000 /person
Your trip at a glance
Top Activities
Hiking on the Athabasca Glacier with a professional mountaineering guide
Finding wild black bears on a Clayoquot Sound wildlife cruise
Gaping at Banff's crown jewels on a guided tour of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Ascending by gondola between two of Whistler's most iconic mountain slopes
Road tripping along British Columbia's spectacular Sea to Sky Highway
Welcome to Alberta!
Bold and Beautiful Banff: Into the Rockies
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Banff National Park at Leisure
Icefields Parkway: Glaciers, Mountains, and Animals Galore
Show All 14 days
Hiking the Athabasca Glacier
British Columbia Bound
Onward to Whistler and the Loveliness of Lillooet
Wonders of Whistler
Sea to Sky Highway to Vancouver Island
Searching for Bears on Clayoquot Sound
Treasures of Tofino: Vancouver Island at Leisure
Versatile, Vibrant Vancouver
Until the Next Time!
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Overview
Rise and shine from your Banff oasis! For your first full day in the Rockies, you’ll gain the full scope of the area’s breathtaking landscapes as you’ll visit two of the park’s most iconic valleys on a guided, half-day sightseeing tour. Specifically, you'll visit Lake Louise, the “Jewel of the Canadian Rockies," and the world-renowned Moraine Lake, both of which have earned UNESCO World Heritage status because of their natural beauty. To make this day trip seamless, you’ll meet up with a private guide this morning. Your expert local guide will time your tour accordingly, so you'll likely have an early morning start to ensure less traffic and calmer visits at both lakes. Throughout the day, your guide will likewise share deep knowledge of the area’s glaciation, silt, and alpine ecosystems, contextualizing your sightseeing tour with each lake’s origin story and background information. When your day on the lakes wraps up, you’ll return to your hotel. This evening is all yours to enjoy in Banff, so you can walk down the main street, grab an ice cream at Cows Creamery, and marvel at the mountaintops visible from town.
Highlights
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour
These stunning alpine lakes look almost too beautiful to be real, as you'll discover during today's four-hour tour. This morning, you'll partake in a private guided tour to the shoreline of Lake Louise, where you'll see the Victoria Glacier and the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. From here, you'll visit Moraine Lake in the beautiful Valley of the Ten Peaks. Follow your local expert guide on the short walk up the Rockpile, where you’ll glimpse the iconic panorama that once graced the backside of the Canadian $20 bill. Adding to your tour, your guide will weave in tales of the early mountaineers who have loved this very spot since the 1890s.
Banff National Park
Banff, Canada’s first national park, proves utterly enchanting, thanks to its endless views of the Canadian Rockies and extensive network of hiking trails. The park's landscapes feature celestial turquoise lakes, vibrant alpine meadows, and majestic mountain peaks that attract hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike. As you'll discover today, specific spots like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake offer some of Canada’s most celebrated vistas and render Banff among the world's most beloved locations for all things adventure.
Accommodations
Buffalo Mountain Lodge (or similar)
Situated on Tunnel Mountain in Banff, Buffalo Mountain Lodge pairs rustic lodge rooms and log cabins with cozy fireplaces for the ultimate national park experience. Guests can dine at the on-site restaurant, which specializes in local and seasonal cuisine, before relaxing in the outdoor hot tub and soaking in the views of the surrounding mountains. Among the property's best draws, the lodge's secluded location invites easy access to various hiking trails, establishing a peaceful retreat away from the bustle of Banff's main street.
Location:
700 Tunnel Mountain Rd, Banff, AB T1L 1B3
Phone:
+18006611367
How it works
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Schedule a call with your expert to confirm dates, pricing and any recommended edits to the itinerary.
Book your trip
Once your itinerary is set, it’s time to pay the deposit to secure your trip.
Take-off
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What's included
Included in the final price
- Roadbook with local tips and expert recommendations
- 24/7 on-the-ground support
- On-trip concierge service
- Personalized trip crafting
- Entry and exit information and assistance
- Accommodations for 13 nights
- Parks Canada Discovery Pass
- 14-day standard SUV (Type W) rental
- Fully guided Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour
- Half-day guided icewalk
- Whistler Gondola Summer Alpine Experience
- Bear watching tour: covered cruiser experience
- Ferry crossings to/from Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo
- All taxes and fees
- All meals mentioned in the itinerary
- All other guided experiences, tours, and activities cited as included in the itinerary
Not included in the final price
- Arrival and departure flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not mentioned or listed as optional in the itinerary
- Car rental fuel, parking, Personal Accident Insurance Plus (PAI plus), Personal Effects Protection (PEP), and other optional services including refueling charges, additional driver fees, GPS, baby seats, etc.