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Peyto Lake between forested valley slopes and snow-streaked peaks in Banff National Park

Sample journey · 14–17 days

Canada — the Rockies to the Pacific

Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, Vancouver & Tofino

Photo: Gary Corken / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

This journey follows the water: from turquoise lakes fed by glaciers, along rivers that drop west out of the Rockies, to the Pacific surf rolling onto the beaches of Vancouver Island. Each part has its own pace: early mornings by the lakes, a long day on a mountain road, an unhurried rail journey and coastal days when the mist sometimes lifts only after lunch.

The route is shaped so there's no retracing of steps and every stop has at least a couple of nights. It suits couples and families with older children alike: trails range from gentle strolls to full-day hikes, and the wildlife moments, whether elk, bears or whales, arrive in their own time.

The route

The journey

  1. Calgary
  2. Banff
  3. Lake Louise
  4. Icefields Parkway
  5. Jasper
  6. Vancouver
  7. Tofino
  8. Vancouver
  1. Evening at the Vermilion Lakes near Banff, with the peak of Mount Rundle beyond

    01Days 1–4 · Banff

    First mornings in the mountains

    From Calgary airport to Banff is roughly an hour and a half by road, as the prairie slowly gives way to mountains. The first days are worth taking slowly: an early walk by the Vermilion Lakes while the water is still, a climb up Tunnel Mountain or the trail past the waterfalls of Johnston Canyon. Evenings might bring the hot springs and dinner in a town whose streets end right at the foot of the slopes.

  2. A red canoe on the calm turquoise water of Lake Louise, with light mist in the valley

    02Days 5–6 · Lake Louise

    A canoe on turquoise water

    Lake Louise is at its best early in the morning, before the crowds: a canoe out on the lake, then the trail up to a mountain teahouse above it. The next day could take in Moraine Lake; private cars can no longer drive up, so you travel by shuttle, which is worth reserving ahead. Those who want more could choose a longer hike over the pass between the two lakes.

  3. The Athabasca Glacier flowing down from the Columbia Icefield beside the Icefields Parkway

    03Day 7 · Icefields Parkway

    A day among the glaciers

    The roughly 230 km between Lake Louise and Jasper could be driven in a few hours without stopping, but this road deserves a whole day. Bow and Peyto lakes, canyons where the river drills into the rock, and the Athabasca Glacier reaching down from the Columbia Icefield almost to the roadside. Fuel and phone signal are scarce along the way, so the day is planned ahead, with snacks and time to spare.

  4. A paddler seen from behind in a canoe on calm Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

    04Days 8–10 · Jasper

    The quieter side of the Rockies

    Jasper is quieter and wilder than Banff. Elk are often seen here, and sometimes black bears or moose, best with a guide who knows where and when to look. On Maligne Lake a boat or canoe can head towards Spirit Island when access allows that season, and at night this dark-sky preserve shows more stars than most of us are used to.

  5. A passenger train curving beneath a rocky slope beside the water in the Rockies near Jasper

    05Days 11–13 · West to Vancouver

    By train through the ranges to the sea

    From Jasper to Vancouver you could travel by train, either on a daylight route over two days with a night on the way or on the overnight transcontinental service. Those who'd rather drive can split the road in two with a night in the valleys of interior British Columbia. Then two easy days in Vancouver: cycling around Stanley Park, the market on Granville Island and a dinner built around Pacific fish.

  6. Looking through coastal forest to Chesterman Beach and its wooded islets near Tofino, Vancouver Island

    06Days 14–17 · Tofino, Vancouver Island

    Mist, cedars and surf

    To Tofino by ferry and a drive over the island's mountains, or by a short flight. Here temperate rainforest runs right down to long beaches. In season, whales are often seen from the boat, and at low tide bears sometimes forage along the shore. Surf lessons suit complete beginners, and on stormier days simply watching the ocean from a window is enough. On the last day, back to Vancouver for the flight home.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    The Icefields Parkway

    One of the world's great mountain roads, with glaciers, lakes and time to stop wherever you like.

  2. 02

    An early morning at Lake Louise

    A canoe on glassy water while the mountain shadows still lie across the lake.

  3. 03

    The train west

    A slow crossing of mountain passes and river valleys, with the landscape shifting outside the window.

  4. 04

    The Tofino coast

    Rainforest, long beaches and, in season, whale watching by boat.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • With children

    Shorter trails, more time by lakes and beaches, and the road instead of the train, with a night on the way.

  • More active

    Full-day hikes over mountain passes, a multi-day kayak route among Vancouver Island's inlets, or a night in a backcountry hut.

  • More wildlife

    In place of Tofino, a few days at a lodge on the British Columbia coast where bears fish for salmon in autumn. Sightings are never guaranteed.

  • In another season

    September brings quieter trails and golden aspens; in winter the route becomes a different journey altogether, with skis and snow.

Practical considerations

  • Mountain lakes usually thaw in June, and the summer season is short and busy, so stays in the parks are worth planning well ahead.
  • Mountain weather changes quickly; even in summer a warm layer and a rain jacket are worth packing.
  • The national parks require a park pass, and some places, such as Moraine Lake, a pre-booked shuttle.
  • Whale and bear seasons shift a little each year; sightings are never guaranteed, but a local guide improves the chances.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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