Whales, Bears & Mountains Self-drive

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London for Calgary where you spend the night at the Spring Creek Guesthouse, collecting your hire car on arrival at Calgary airport.

Days 2 & 3. Banff [B]

Head west into the mountains to the town of Banff (approximately 180 kilometres) and the Cascade Court where you are based for two nights.

Days 4 to 6. Jasper [B]

Continue to Jasper today (approximately 287 kilometres), passing by Lake Louise en-route. Lake Louise with its clear blue-green water set against the stark white backdrop of Victoria Glacier is probably the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies. Meanwhile Jasper, located in the heart of the Rockies, is a park characterised by limestone-lined canyons and hanging glaciers where Caribou and bears abound.

You may explore the Athabasca Valley and the Columbia Icefield looking out for Mountain Goats and Bighorn Sheep. Why not take the Jasper Tramway up Whistler's Mountain, where at 2,285 metres you will have stunning views of the mountain ranges. A hiking trail leads those so inclined to the summit of the mountain. After a 2- night stop at Becker's Chalets you head off through Mount Robson Park and the Caribou Mountains, to Kamloops and Macqueen's Manor for the night (approximately 432 kilometres).

Day 7. Nanaimo [B]

Drive over the mountains (approximately 363 kilometres) in time to board the late afternoon ferry to Vancouver Island. Spend a night at Graycliff Cottage Oceanfront in Nanaimo.

Days 8 & 9. Tofino [B]

Continue today to Tofino (approximately 208 kilometres) for a 2-night stay at Water's Edge. Here you may walk along the wild beaches and through the forests of the Pacific Rim National Park where Black Bears are common. Boat trips from here give you an excellent opportunity to see the impressive numbers of Grey Whales that spend their summer off these plankton-rich shores. A bear-watching and whale-watching trip is included during your stay here.

Days 10 to 12. Port McNeil & Telegraph Cove [B]

Drive through huge stands of Douglas Firs in Macmillan Provincial Park and along the coast road to Port McNeil for a 3-night stay at Water's Edge Guesthouse. (Approximately 490 kilometres.) The nearby Telegraph Cove is famous for its healthy population of Orca (Killer) Whales and you spend two full mornings whalewatching in the Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits where these most awesome creatures congregate in the summer months. Whale watching at Telegraph Cove begins in mid June.

Days 13 & 14. Vancouver [B]

Today you could either return to Vancouver on the afternoon ferry (approximately 410 kilometres) or you could extend your stay with a short floatplane journey to Knight Inlet Lodge to view Brown, and Black Bears. Vancouver is a sparkling city of trees and park with a backdrop of rugged pine-covered peaks. Spend your time exploring Stanley Park and perhaps the Reifell Island Bird Sanctuary. Accommodation is at Penny Farthing Inn.

Day 15. Homeward [B]

After a day at leisure drop off your car at the airport and return home on the evening flight.

Day 16. Arrive home