Your holiday starts at the group hotel in Vancouver. A free airport shuttle is provided.

This morning we set off to explore the beautiful city of Vancouver. Surrounded by mountains and sea this ethnically diverse city feels modern, fresh and clean. Amidst the modern buildings, there is a fun vibe for music, dance, tradition and good local produce. This is perfectly showcased in the Granville Island area of the city, where there is a large market, cafes and eatery's. We visit Granville Island this morning and maybe have some lunch on the marina. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely bike tour around Stanley Park (3hrs, 12km). This 1000 acre park is quite remarkable and displays striking diverse environments and cultural sights. We bike along the rainforest trails with its vast trees, along the ocean waterfront trail and see the legendary Totem Poles. Our guide is full of knowledge and stories about hidden treasures, history and the ecology. We stop regularly for a chat about the sights and the bike ride is classified as easy. This is a great introductory day to the city and Canada.

Our journey into some of the world's most beautiful mountains and forests starts today. Our first stop is in North Vancouver where the waterfalls and deep pools of Lynn Canyon provides us with walking trails through the forest and over a 50m high suspension bridge - wobbly fun! Our route taking us north then follows the coastline of the stunning Howe Sound with its steep sided forest clad mountains plunging into the sea. At the end of the Sound we find the town of Squamish and we take a walk to the high point - Stawamus Chief (702m). The hike takes approximately 3 hours and the summit views of the Sound are a tremendous reward for our efforts. We then continue in our vehicle for 1 hour to the Coast Mountains and the famous winter resort of Whistler. It's almost more spectacular in the summer months and is a great place to spend a couple of nights. We set up our tents for the first time tonight. Our campsite tonight will reflect those of the nights to come, and is nestled in-between large pine trees, with a fire pit, and good ablution facilities in a purpose built building. Total drive time approximately 2hrs 30 mins

Learning about the history of the First Nation is vastly important when visiting this area. This morning we spend some time at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (which despite its name, is actually in Whistler). The spiritual connections between the land and the people are strong and deep, and we get an insight to the rich and unique culture here. With our expert teacher we weave our very own dreamcatcher out of feathers, beads, sinew and a suede wrapped hoop. A lovely crafting activity which we can take home to hang on our windows to allow good dreams to pass through while entangling the bad dreams which perish at the first light of dawn. We have the afternoon free in Whistler. There is a whole host of activities that you can do from this adventure town. The tree top adventure course has different levels of difficulty and various ziplines; it's also possible to go climbing, SUP, canoeing, take the gondola up to the top of Whistler Mountain or even take a bear watching excursion! There are many different restaurants to choose from for dinner tonight and we camp here in Whistler for a second night.

This morning we leave the Coast Mountains and make our way into the Rocky Mountain Range. The drive is around 6 hours, and albeit long, the scenery is breath taking. On arrival into Wells Gray Provincial Park we visit the immense Helmcken Waterfalls. A multitude of waterfalls grace this area due to the snow melts and rainfall in the high mountains. With a drop of over 140m, The Helmcken is one of the best and the 4th tallest in Canada! We have a short walk around this area. It is then a short distance to our overnight here in Wells Gray Provincial Park. Total drive time approximately 6hrs 30mins

Rated as one of the best places to canoe in British Columbia, Clearwater Lake has a unique and incredible beauty which brings us closer to nature. It lies in over a million acres of untouched wilderness, which is hard to imagine but stunning to experience. In our classic Canadian canoes we gently paddle near the shores of the lake looking out for white head beady eyed bald eagles, and possibly on the shores moose and even bears. In the late summer (end Aug) we might see the returning Sockeye Salmon from their 3000 mile journey to Alaska and back to their breeding grounds. This day will stand out as one of the most beautiful of your holiday.

Today is a driving day, departing the wild west ranches at Wells Gray, heading South initially to Kamloops and then on East to the towering mountains of Revelstoke. We'll first head to the railway museum at Kamloops after a couple of hours on the road, a chance to stretch our legs but also to admire the thoroughly and beautifully restored 19th century steam train in all it's glory. We'll be here for a couple of hours before heading off in the direction of Revelstoke. On the drive this afternoon you'll pass the fascinating and incredibly named silt bluffs and hoodoos along the Shuswap Road. These bewildering plateaux of silt, suspended above the road in towering columns are actually the remains of the floor of an ancient glacial lake, now eroded away. We reach our campground for the next two nights in the late afternoon, with chance to swim in the campground pool, or for a small extra fee, bathe in the warming Albert Canyon Hot Springs. Total drive time approx. 4hrs 30mins.

After breakfast at the campground this morning, we climb into the van for a drive up the side of Mount Revelstoke itself and along the Meadow in the Sky Parkway. This scenic drive winds its way up the side of the mountain with ample opportunities to stop and hike at various places of interest. Along the way are small lakes and sprawling meadows which fill the hillside with colour in spring and early summer, and maintain their lush green hues throughout the summer months. This is a wild hillside, and we may be lucky enough to spot moose and bears foraging as we explore. Our guides will help us to observe these great animals from a safe a respectful distance and offer advice on what to do should we encounter any of these beautiful creatures on our guided walks. Eventually we will reach the summit and the beautiful fire lookout cabin that is perched on the top of this broad and generous mountain top. All walks are short (<1km) and mostly level on well made paths, and we can pick and choose which walks we do as we drive up the side of the mountain. This afternoon we return to camp for a relax or splash in the pool, before an evening meal at our own expense, at the campground. Total drive time approx. 2hrs. In the afternoon our guide can take us for another walk in the Valley of the Five Lakes, or you may wish to spend some time in Jasper Town itself. There are also various optional activities such as paddle boarding on Beauvert Lake which you might be interested in. The walk at the Valley of the Five Lakes takes around 2hrs, which as the name suggests passes by crystal clear lakes which are shades of jade and blue. Abundant berry crops in the area are a favourite for bears, so we need to keep an eye out and listen to our guide! This evening we have a free evening in Jasper. There are a number of restaurants and eateries in Jasper to serve all palates.

This morning we will break camp and head towards Golden, with a few stops along the way. Our first stop takes us to a wolf sanctuary. We have an insight into the lives of one of the most enigmatic and iconic natural predators of wild Canada. We will visit a wolf sanctuary to learn about how their presence helps to provide balance for all other species living in the same environment. Their wild cousins live all around the mountains and woodlands here, but their elusive nature means they are rarely seen. This afternoon we have the option to experience the adrenaline and thrill of some classic Canadian white-water rafting, with gentle and adrenalin fuelled options both available. Alternatively, we can hike with our guide in the Yoho National Park and see the huge Takkakaw Falls. We reach our next campground in the Columbia Valley late afternoon. This campground is perched alongside the lazy Columbia River with pitches nestled between the trees affording great views of the Rocky and Percell mountains. We'll have dinner here before a night in our tents. Total drive time approx. 3hrs 30mins.

Our second day in the Columbia Valley is a wonderfully relaxed day with plenty of fun water based options to keep us entertained, young and old. After a lazy breakfast at camp, we head straight down to the river equipped with paddleboards for a cruise through the beautiful wetlands that fill the floodplain here. The wetlands are home to hundreds of species of birds, amphibians and fish life, and we should keep our eyes out for bald eagles perched in branches overlooking the river in search of their next meal. After a morning on the boards, we have several options this afternoon to keep the young ones entertained, including a giant slip 'n slide, and a corn maze to explore. We'll also squeeze in the short hike to Bugaboos Lower Falls, a wonderful stretch of water with grand billowing waterfalls. This evening we have a BBQ on the decking by the water. A super relaxing end to a gorgeous day. Total drive time approximately 1hr.

This morning we pack up our camp and head out for a driving day to one of the most spectacular parts of this trip. The Icefields Parkway is our driving route, said to be one of the most beautiful journeys on the planet, and eventually we will arrive at the incredible Athabasca Glacier. Winding along the Continental Divide we pass the soaring mountains, tree filled valleys and icefields. We have plenty of time in the schedule to stop for photos, and we'll want to at every corner. We are supplied with lightweight micro crampons which fit easily over our walking boots, and then begin our walk on to the glacier. This is an incredible experience walking over the ice slopes and peering into the blue ice caves and canyons. Our guides are ACMG certified are experts in ice and very knowledgeable about the area. Tonight we overnight in the heart of the Icefield Parkways in a wilderness hostel in 6 berth dormitories. Total drive time approx. 3hrs 30mins.

After breakfast at the hostel this morning we leave the Parkways heading south to another blockbuster sight. The ice-blue waters of Lake Louise, framed by the tree lined and steep sided mountains that surround it. If there is a view that encapsulates the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies, then this is surely it. Once we've snapped our bucket list pictures of 'that view' we head out around the shores of the lake for a walk (approximately 1 hr on well made paths). After our walk we're heading for Banff and the Sulphur Mountain gondola. This 8 minute ride takes us to the pinnacle of this mountain and to sweeping views encompassing six mountain ranges as well as the town of Banff below. We'll have chance to walk the boardwalk here, and learn about Canada's first National Park in the informative discovery centre here, before returning down into Banff for our final evening. This afternoon we may also have time to swim in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. We'll celebrate our final night together with a pizza and bowling night, a fitting finale to our epic Rockies road trip. Total drive time approximately 2hrs

Our holiday finishes after breakfast with a transfer to Calgary Airport. Depending on flight times you'll have some free time in Banff this morning. The drive to Calgary Airport is approximately 1hr 30mins.