Canada | Any Date
Canada’s Rocky Mountain Self-Drive
Calgary to Vancouver Island. The Icefields Parkway, the Pacific Coast, and the drive of a lifetime.
14 Nights · 2 Provinces · From £3,200pp
The drive of a lifetime. Fourteen nights, two provinces, one hire car — and a route that doesn’t let up from the moment you leave Calgary. The Canadian Rockies to the Pacific Coast is one of the world’s great road trips: a single continuous journey from the heart of the mountains to the edge of the ocean, with no doubling back and no transfers.
You head west from Calgary into Banff, then north along the Icefields Parkway — 230 kilometres of National Park road past glaciers, waterfalls and peaks that seem to grow taller the further you go. Lake Louise stops you in your tracks, the Athabasca Glacier is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Jasper at the far end is quieter and wilder than anything that came before it.
From Jasper the trip turns west, descending through British Columbia toward the coast. The landscape shifts completely — mountains giving way to wide river valleys, dense forest and eventually the salt air of the Pacific. Vancouver earns a couple of nights: mountains behind it, ocean in front, and a food scene that makes the most of its position at the meeting point of Pacific, Asian and Canadian influences.
The trip ends on Vancouver Island, reached by BC Ferries — a sailing that’s an experience in itself. Victoria is the final stop: unhurried, harbour-front and a satisfying place to finish a journey of this scale before flying home.
Self-Drive · Flights Included
From £3,200 per person
Twin share. Prices vary by date — see pricing guide below.
✓ Return flights from the UK
✓ 13 days car hire, fully insured
✓ All accommodation throughout
✓ BC Ferries crossings included
Why This Trip
North America’s Greatest Drive
The Icefields Parkway
230 kilometres of road past glaciers, waterfalls and peaks that seem to grow taller the further you go. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most scenic drives — and it’s in the middle of your trip, not a detour.
A one-way route
Calgary to Vancouver to Vancouver Island — you never drive the same road twice. No doubling back, no circular loops. Just a continuous journey from the mountains to the Pacific coast.
Everything handled
Return flights from the UK, 13 days car hire with fully inclusive insurance, all accommodation and the BC Ferries crossings are included. You just drive.
Your pace, your schedule
No group to keep up with, no fixed departure times. Stop when something catches your eye, linger longer at Maligne Lake, take the wildlife detour. It’s a self-drive trip designed around you.
Transparent Pricing
How Pricing Works
This trip can be booked for dates throughout the year. Flight and hotel costs vary by season, so your final price depends on when you travel. Here’s exactly how it works.
Guide Price
From £3,200pp
Twin share, including return flights from the UK. Peak summer (July–August) and school holiday dates carry a supplement. Shoulder season (May, June, September) is typically closest to this guide price.
Best Time to Go
May to September
Warm weather, all mountain roads open, and long daylight hours. The Icefields Parkway is accessible year-round but is at its best from late May when snow has cleared the high passes. Contact us with your preferred dates and we’ll confirm exact pricing.
Not Included
Good to Know
✗ Travel insurance (required)
✗ Meals not specified in itinerary
✗ Optional activities
✗ Fuel & National Park entry fees
The Package
What’s Included
✓ Return flights from the UK
✓ 13 days car hire with fully inclusive insurance
✓ Accommodation throughout (hotels, lodges, guesthouses)
✓ BC Ferries crossing to Vancouver Island (both directions)
✓ All airport transfers
✓ 24/7 support throughout
Day by Day
The Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Calgary
After arriving at Calgary International Airport, collect your hire car and begin the journey into the Rocky Mountains. The scenic drive westward takes about 90 minutes. Spend your first night in Banff.
Day 2
Banff National Park – Bow Falls and Lake Louise
Explore Bow Falls and drive to Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the world. Walk along the shoreline and visit the historic Fairmont Lake Louise hotel.
Day 3 ★
Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper
Drive to Moraine Lake then tackle the Icefields Parkway — 230km of world-class scenery. Stop at Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, and Athabasca Falls. Watch for elk, mountain goats and bears. Arrive in Jasper.
Day 4
Jasper National Park – Maligne Lake and Canyon
Full day in Jasper. Drive to Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon. Optional white-water rafting or wildlife walks.
Days 5–6
Cross British Columbia to Vancouver
Drive west through BC’s interior, stopping in Kamloops then through the spectacular Fraser Canyon before reaching Vancouver. The landscape shifts completely as mountains give way to forest and eventually the Pacific.
Days 7–8
Vancouver – Canada’s West Coast City
Two nights in Vancouver. Explore Stanley Park, Granville Island, the Museum of Anthropology, and the city’s celebrated food scene. Mountains behind it, ocean in front.
Day 9
BC Ferries – The Crossing to Vancouver Island
Board the BC Ferries at Horseshoe Bay for the 90-minute crossing to Nanaimo through the Strait of Georgia — a sailing that’s an experience in itself.
Days 10–11
Cathedral Grove and Victoria
Stop at Cathedral Grove’s ancient Douglas firs — over 800 years old — then explore Victoria: Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, and afternoon tea at the Empress.
Days 12–13 ★
Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park
Drive north through Pacific Rim National Park to Tofino — a bohemian village where old-growth rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean. Full day at Long Beach and the rainforest trails. Wild Pacific scenery at its finest.
Day 14
Fly Home from Vancouver
Drive back across the island, board the ferry to the mainland, return your hire car and fly home from Vancouver. A satisfying end to one of the world’s great road trips.
Ready for the Drive of a Lifetime?
Choose your dates and we’ll confirm exact pricing. From £3,200pp including flights.
Overview
A 14-night fly-drive taking in Banff, Jasper, the Icefields Parkway, Vancouver and Vancouver Island—one of the most scenically rewarding drives in North America.
Highlights
- Icefields Parkway — 232km ranked among the world’s greatest drives
- Banff and Lake Louise turquoise glacier lakes
- Jasper National Park wildlife spotting (elk, bears, goats)
- BC Ferries scenic crossing to Vancouver Island
- Tofino — Pacific Rim wild beaches and old-growth rainforest
- No fixed itinerary — completely flexible pace
