This exciting small group hiking holiday showcases the natural wonders of western Canada’s spectacular national and provincial parks. Over two weeks, explore a vast wilderness of alpine lakes and pristine forests set against the dramatic backdrop of soaring peaks and cascading glaciers.
Starting in Vancouver, travel through the rainforest-clad mountains of the west coast. Walk the wildflower-filled meadows in Manning Provincial Park and traverse the rugged, windswept plateaus of inland British Columbia. Cross into Alberta and marvel at the towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies, ending your journey in Calgary. Along the way, look out for wildlife including elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and black and grizzly bears.
With accommodations in mountain lodges and hotels, this holiday lets you travel light during the day while returning each evening to a comfortable bed, ensuring you wake refreshed and ready for the next day’s adventure.
Your guide will lead carefully selected hikes, from gentle lakeside strolls to more challenging mountain routes, immersing you fully in the breathtaking landscapes that define this extraordinary region.
Itinerary
Arrive in Vancouver and make your own way to the hotel. In the evening, you’ll meet your guide for a short group briefing, where you’ll be introduced to your fellow travellers and the itinerary will be outlined.
One of the most amazing things about Vancouver is how quickly you can leave the city behind and step into breathtaking wilderness. Just beyond the city limits are ancient forests of towering Douglas Firs, huge ferns, and hanging mosses. Explore a part of this natural beauty on a hike up Hollyburn Mountain, rewarded at the top with sweeping views of the city, the Strait of Georgia, and Vancouver Island.
Hike: 9 km, 3-4 hours
Vancouver is a beautiful city in a spectacular setting between the Coast Mountains, the Fraser River, and the Pacific Ocean. This morning, you’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour that takes in highlights such as Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, and the iconic Lions Gate Bridge. Leaving the city behind, you’ll journey through the Fraser Valley and into the Cascade Mountains, crossing the scenic Allison Pass.
Hike: 2-3 km, 1-2 hours
The Skyline loop trail begins at Lightning Lake with a gradual ascent to the ridge. Enjoy spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains whose alpine meadows are blanketed with an amazing display of wildflowers. From Despair Pass, hike down to Strawberry Flats to the trailhead and return to your hotel.
Hike: 19 km, 6-8 hours
Leave the Cascade Mountains and enter the northern edge of the American Great Basin Desert, which stretches all the way south to Mexico. It’s hot, dry climate makes the region ideal for growing apples, apricots, peaches, grapes, and cherries. Your route crosses over the Coquihalla Summit, one of the highest points in the Cascades, where you’ll stop for a hike to the summit of Zoa Peak. This area is known for its rugged granite peaks and wide-open ridgelines. After your hike, continue to your accommodation for the night.
Hike: 11 km, 5-7 hours
Continue travelling British Columbia’s ever-changing landscapes, arriving in the afternoon at the charming mountain town of Revelstoke on the banks of the famous Columbia River. To fully appreciate the dramatic shift in scenery, you’ll stop halfway and hike upwards along the Enderby Cliffs trail, where expansive views stretch south across the Okanagan and north to the Monashee Mountains.
Hike: 7 km, 3-4 hours
Mt Revelstoke National Park is best known for its ‘Meadows in the Sky Parkway’ and the alpine trails that begin where the road ends. Climbing 1,000 metres from the town of Revelstoke, the parkway winds through diverse forest zones before reaching the treeline. From here, you’ll set out on a mountain-top hike through flower-filled meadows, leading to Eva Lake, Miller Lake, and Jade Lake Pass.
Hike: 16 km, 4-6 hours
Continuing east into the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, you’ll journey through some of Canada’s most jagged and imposing peaks. The route leads to Rogers Pass, renowned for the immense challenges faced during the construction of Canada’s first transcontinental railway. Along the way, stop briefly at the Trail of the Giant Cedars to experience a rare inland temperate rainforest, home to truly massive trees! From there, venture into Glacier National Park for a hike to Balu Pass. The trail quickly emerges from the forest, opening to sweeping views of Mount Sir Donald, the park’s iconic peak rising on the opposite side of the valley.
Hike: 13 km, 5-7 hours
After yesterday’s big climb, take it a bit easier today with a spectacular gondola ride to the top of the mountain at Kicking Horse Resort. From the summit station, you can choose to walk along the ridgelines or to hike to the peak of Terminator Mountain. To the east, you’ll have fantastic views of the Rocky Mountains stretching as far as the eye can see.
Hike: 4-7 km, 4-5 hours
Follow the Kicking Horse River into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Today’s adventure takes you into the Yoho Valley, beginning at Takakkaw Falls, which towers 380 metres high. Hike to the top of the Iceline Trail for breathtaking close-up views of the Emerald Glacier and sweeping vistas across the Yoho Valley to the Wapta Icefield.
Hike: 21 km, 6-8 hours
Enjoy a relaxed day exploring some of the shorter, easier walks along the Icefields Parkway. The highlight is a walk to Parker Ridge, offering expansive views of the Saskatchewan Glacier. The parkway is also one of the best spots on the trip for observing wildlife, including bears, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.
Hike: 5 km, 2 hours
Today, cross back into British Columbia for one last visit to this beautiful province. Just west of Banff National Park lies Kootenay National Park, where today’s walk takes you along the Stanley Glacier Trail. Walk through a hanging valley, passing he remnants of two forest fires, one in 1968 and another more recently in 2003. Aptly known as the ‘Fire and Ice’ trail, it dramatically transitions from burnt forest to the towering Stanley Glacier. The trail continues for some time and ends at an alpine plateau just a few hundred metres below the hanging ice.
Hike: 12 km, 4-6 hours
On your final day of hiking in the Rockies, enjoy a trail that offers sweeping views of the prairies and the city of Calgary, 60 km to the east. Your guide will select either the Heart Mountain Loop, a steep but rewarding round-trip hike, or the ascent to Yamnuska Ridge. After the hike, gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate the journey.
Hike: 10-15 km, 6-8 hours
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport.
Prices
What's Included
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13 nights accommodation in hotels and lodges
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13 breakfasts, 12 picnic lunches, 1 dinner
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Private transport in minivan
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Professional hiking/interpretive guide
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Golden Eagle Express gondola at Kicking Horse Resort
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National park entry fees and sightseeing as indicated
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £4111 Excluding Flights
13 Nights
Jul-Aug
Group Size
There is a minimum of 4 and a maximum group size of 11 passengers.
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Our holiday prices exclude flights. Why? Because we want to offer you the best value, tailored to your needs. Flight prices and offers change daily, so when you’re ready to book, we’ll provide a bespoke quote based on the best options from your local airport. This way, you’ll always get the best prices and the flexibility to choose what works best for you.
Make this trip yours
Every destination and itinerary you see here can be adapted to suit you – so reach for that bucket list and start imagining your next adventure here.
Doug
4
Countries seen northern lights in
7
Continents set foot in
Departure & price guide
From prices are per person in a room with private facilities.
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Samantha
Travel Specialist
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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