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Welcome to Hooked on Walking holidays and our fabulous fly drive hike in the Rockies, Alberta and British Columbia. Come with Hooked on Walking to travel in the most beautiful hiking regions in west Canada. This Hiking vacation is a memorable escape to emerald-green lakes and snowy mountain tops, this walking tour introduces travelers to some of the most impressive conservation areas of the Canadian Rockies, namely the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, and Waterton Lakes, Kootenay, Jasper and Banff National Parks. Discover some of the most awesome trails left behind by early hunters that snake through dramatic valleys, overcome glaciers and penetrate deep in wild and untamed parts of this majestic region. From Calgary to Vancouver, we set off on a journey following the settlers’ footsteps in the land of bears, mountain goat and elk and will be overcome by the contagious spirit of adventure that roams free in this western land.
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Daily departures from June 1st to September 30th
18 days / 17 Nights
Fly-Drive-Hike - level 2 - 3 self guided tour
Calgary to Vancouver
Hiking Highlights:
- Beautiful mountain hikes
- Canoeing on Clearwater Lake
- Rain forest of the Pacific Rim Park
- Rich Fauna
- Swim in a natural hot spring
- Visit of Banff / Jasper / Vancouver
Breath taking sceneries
Day 1 Meet and greet in Calgary.
Arrival and pick up your rental car at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at restaurant.
Day 2 Calgary / Kananaskis / Canmore.
Home of the 1988 Winter Olympics and of its World famous Stampede, Calgary is nestled between the prairies and the Rockies Mountain range and offers all the authentic traits of a western town. After a short visit, transfer for the mountains towards the Kananaskis valley, which literally means, “where water assembles”. There, you climb Indefatigable Mountain during a 4-hour hike that is rewarded by multiple points of observation of the valley and its numerous rivers. Transfer back to Canmore at the end of the day.
Accomodation in a B&B.
Car travel: 62 miles 100 km
Half-day hike 7.6 km; 500 m vertical rise
Days 3 & 4 Canmore / Banff.
Today we head out to Banff, tourism capital of the Rockies, located in the oldest Canadian national park. Banff is always home to a good time and there is something for everyone either in its museums, shops and bars or along its hiking trails and all over its mountains. One of those is Sulphur Mountain, which you will quickly ascend by aerial tram. At its summit you find an unobstructed view of the whole range and the village below. This is definitely postcard material. Back down to the village you can indulge in its shops and cafes before dropping in on its nightlife. You head for Mounts Cory and Edith the following morning, this time on foot, along a fabulous mountain pass that peaks at 2300 m.
Accommodation in Canmore in a local B&B.
Day 3 Mount Edith: 13 km trail, 915 m vertical rise Car travel: 64 miles 104 km
Day 4 Half-day hike Short car ride or a Full day hike of 13 km
Day 5 Banff / Icafield parkway / Jasper.
Off again, on the renowned Iceland Parkway. Our destination is the quaint village of Jasper but along the 280 km ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, green lakes including mesmerizing Lake Louise, high-falling cascades and humbling glaciers. Stay alert, since many animals can also be seen from the road: elk, black bears and mountain goats. Stop on the way to see the behind-the-scenes beauty of this unspoiled domain, such as Athabasca falls and Columbia glacier.
B&B in Jasper for the night.
7 km hiking; Car travel: 175 miles 280 km
Day 6-7 Jasper 
Jasper is well known for its enchanting decor, its mountains and its lakes. The hike you undertake in the park will reveal the true extent of the region’s magnetic beauty. Along Opal Hills trail, one of the park’s most enjoyable footpaths, reach a vast flowery plain set in a cradle of snow-capped mountains, which makes for a perfect spot to break for lunch.
The next day transfer to the Miette hot springs, bubbling with 42°C, muscle-soothing water, in the middle of a dream-like setting ( hot springs not included). Hiking on Sulphur Skyline trail from the hot springs and climb it all the way to the mountain’s crest. You will find a succession of breathtaking panoramas along this hike.
B&B in Jasper
Day 6 Hike 8.2 km, 460 m vertical rise
Day 7 Car travel: 87 miles 140 km; hike 9km – 700 m elevation gain.
Day 8 Jasper / Mount Robson / Wells Gray park.
Now you leave Alberta and make your way to British Columbia, headed for Mount Robson, the Rockies’ highest peaks. From Robson’s south face, you follow a 10 km trail of historic nature. In fact early settlers, gold diggers and fur traders, often used these trails, and those of neighboring Yellowhead Mountain and Yellowhead Pass. Today, outdoor enthusiasts follow these trails for the glitter of the untamed beauty they lead to. You push ahead to Wells Gray Provincial Park where you settle in a local guest ranch, dwarfed by the Columbia and Caribou mountain ranges.
Car travel: 225 miles 360 km; Half-day hike of all grades 
Day 9 Wells Gray park / canoeing.
From land to water, since today you paddle your way around Clearwater Lake and its pristine water. Watch for an abundant fauna along the shores and experience the silencing effect of mountain scenery. Back to the ranch in the evening.
Day 10 Wells Gray / Kamloops / Whistler
Early on, you go for a hike in Spahats creek and discover Spahats falls and its canyon. As you make your way towards Kamloops, the province’s interior capital, note the changing landscape from mountain side to dry and barren valleys. By following Clearwater River, which takes its water from the lake of the same name, you arrive in Kamloops and then carry onto Whistler… arriving late in the day.
B&B for the night. Car travel: 281 miles 450 km
Day 11 Whistler.
Free day to visit this charming ski village. Amongst the highlights, Whistler will be the home of the 2010 winter Olympics. Today you might want to book a mountain bike tour, fly fishing course, helicopter hike drop off, rafting trip or any other exciting adventure sport Whistler offers. All kind of hikes are also accessible.
B&B for the night.
Day 12 Whistler hiking
Whistler being surrounded by provincial parks, namely Brandywine Falls, Nairn Falls and Garibaldi Parks, you can take advantage of some fantastic hikes that will leave everlasting memories of mountain top beauty, alpine fields and spectacular falls. You return at our B&B after a full day’s hike
Garibaldi Lake trail in Garibaldi park 16 km; Short car ride to trail
Day 13 Whistler / Vancouver / Nanaimo.
You reach Vancouver early in the day on an hour and a half’s drive and discover one of Canada’s greatest cities. Take to the town and visit its sites like Stanley Park and the plethora of exotic plants, birds and ponds it is home to, beaches in English Bay, Gastown, or Old Vancouver, and Chinatown. After lunch, you sail across Georgia Strait to its isles and ultimately towards Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where you sleep for the night.
Car travel: 87 miles 140 km; 2-hour ferry ride 
Day 14 Nanaimo / Pacific rim National park.
Early rise to discover Pacific Rim National Park, this paradise-like part of the island that is a window to the immense Pacific Ocean. Of course, the park is home to many beaches but most impressive is its exotic rainforest vegetation that you discover walking its numerous paths.
B&B for the night.
Car travel: 112 miles 180 km
Half-day hike in the Rain forest. From 5 to 10 km with no elevation gain.
Day 15 Tofino - Pacific Rim National park.
No sleeping in this morning! We’re off right after breakfast to Tofino where you hop on board zodiac boats that take you in the most remote and impressive parts of the region. For 6 hours you ride up the Pacific Ocean to a magnificent island 30 km out of Clayoquot Sound. Welcome to your own “Fantasy Island”, where you can swim in a natural hot water basin and be amazed by the rich and exotic vegetation growing along the 2 km long walkway. This site is ideal for observing a multitude of sea mammals including the gray whale and the killer whale, among others. All in all, it is an unforgettable experience for everyone. Return to your B&B in late afternoon.
Car travel: 40 miles 60 km;
Boat ride: 6 hours
Day 16 Tofino / Victoria
Today you leave the Pacific coastline and head eastward to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital. During your trip you’ll stop in Stamp Falls Provincial Park to take in some fresh air and grab a bite to eat. If your timing is right, you might see salmon swimming up the current to spawn. You will reach the B&B in early afternoon and head towards the city for a first look at the Capital and some browsing in local shops and attractions.
B&B for the night. 
Car travel: 175 miles 280 km
Day 17 Victoria / Vancouver
Get back to the mainland by ferry. Explore some parts of Vancouver that we missed the first time like the Latin Quarters, Grouse Mountain and the near by Capilano suspension bridge and canyon, and the streets of North Vancouver.
Accommodation for the night in Vancouver.
Day 18 End of trip.
Drive to the airport Car travel: 17 miles 30 km
Additional nights in Vancouver or Calgary are possible.
Accommodations:
Day 01: Hotel in Calgary
Day 2 to 4: B&B in Canmore
Day 5 to 7: B&B in Jasper
Day 8-9: B&B or cabin in Wells Gray
Day 10-12: Hotel in Whistler
Day 13: Motel in Nanaimo
Day 14-15: B&B in Tofino
Day 16: Hotel in Victoria
Day 17: Hotel in Vancouver
Difficulty: Level 1 Walks of between 2-4 hours. 2 persons minimum
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What is Included
- 18 nights
- Breakfasts in B&B’s
- Daily trip schedule
- Detailed driving schedule each day with road maps
- Zodiac tour in Tofino
- Canoeing in Wells Gray Park
- Detailed trail maps
- Taxes
- Emergency Toll Free local number
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Extras
- Getting to the tour start and from the tour finish
- Rental car
- Flights
- Park Passes
- Airport transfers
- Optional extra excursions
- Travel Insurance
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2010 Prices
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Tour Code HOWRAPC1
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Price per persons based on 2 persons sharing twin or double room
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£1467
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Single persons price
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£2199
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How to get there
There direct flight from the UK to Calgary and Vancouver. These are operated by Air Canada , BMI , British Airways and FlyZoom
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