Canadian Parks Walk

Day 1: Seattle - Paul Lake Provincial Park

Our tour starts at 7:30 am at the Clarion Hotel Seattle International Airport in Seattle. As this is an early start we recommend that you book a night's pre-tour accommodation at this hotel, which can be booked at the same time you book this tour. After leaving Seattle, we drive over the border to Canada and continue northeast past the city of Kamloops to Paul Lake Provincial Park. On our first day, the trail at this park offers a lovely setting for a chance to get acquainted, while loosening those legs for the rich variety of trails that lie ahead. Nestled in a mixed forest of Douglas-fir, pine and aspen this is a popular area for bird-watching, with several species often sighted. The park protects habitat for falcon, white-throated swift, bald eagle, coyote and mule deer. The park has a large campground and over seven kilometres of hiking trails. Meals included: 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 2 - 4: Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in Canada, covering an area of 18,878 square kilometres (4200 square miles). It is much less developed than other areas of western Canada and offers a true wilderness feel. There are several options on offer in Jasper, so it is easy to fill three days here with some amazing walks and hikes to places such as Maligne Canyon, Mount Baldy, Opal Mountain and Five Lakes – all of them defining the utter serenity of Jasper National Park. We can also take the cable car to Whistler Mountain for a bird's eye view of this splendid park. There are also opportunities for mountain biking alongside glorious lakeside scenery or hike the trails at the base of Mount Edith Cavell for tremendous views of Angel Glacier, while listening for the thunderous echoes of huge chunks of ice calving from the glacier. We also keep a lookout for wildlife that call the park home; species such as bighorn sheep, mountain goat, white-tailed deer, moose, the rare woodland caribou, grey wolf, beaver, marmot, puma, black bear and grizzly bear. Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Day 5: Icefields Parkway – Banff National Park

We travel on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), a scenic road that cuts through the heart of the Rockies and offers surely one of the world’s most spectacular drives. It links Jasper National Park with Banff National Park. We have a chance to enjoy experience some of its jewels close up by walking along the brink of Sunwapta or Athabasca Falls. We also get to explore Athabasca Glacier on an included guided tour and get to stand in awe high above the powder-blue surrealism of Peyto Lake. We end our day by continuing on to Banff National Park. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 6 & 7: Banff National Park

We have a few days to explore the incredible diversity of Banff National Park. Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, this splendid national park was established in 1885 and is Canada’s oldest national park. Its mountainous terrain encompasses coniferous forests, alpine meadows, icefields and glaciers. It is the veritable outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with opportunities for canoeing on Bow River, mountain biking or riding the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Consider hiking to one of the famous teahouses near Lake Agnes or continue on to the Plain of Six Glaciers. Both offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountain scenery, while the extra effort required to reach Plain of Six Glaciers will be soon forgotten when you are photographing the nearby glacier. Outstanding hikes are available and, with an abundance of wildlife around, there is always a chance of seeing something. Another exciting optional activity is to view all this scenic grandeur from a helicopter. There is nothing better after a hard day of fun than a soak in the Sulphur Mountain Hot Springs. Banff’s nightlife offers great live music and a fine selection of restaurants. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 8 & 9: Yoho National Park

Overshadowed by the neighbouring parks of Banff and Jasper, Yoho National Park is the hidden gem of the Canada national parks system. The word ‘Yoho’ is a native word that means ‘awe’. This place is a photographer’s dream with several hiking opportunities that take us amongst Yoho’s pristine alpine landscape that includes mountains, lakes and waterfalls. We can experience the raging Kicking Horse River first-hand with an optional exhilarating half-day white water rafting excursion or choose to canoe and hike at magnificent Emerald Lake. An excellent alternative option is walking the challenging trails overlooking Takakkaw Falls. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 10: A British Columbia Provincial Park

Leaving Yoho we head back towards civilisation, but we're not there just yet! We have our final rendezvous with nature as we spend time in one of the many provincial parks in British Columbia. Here we get to bid farewell to our sojourn in the wilderness with a chance to enjoy a final walk on one of the many beautiful trails. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 11: Vancouver

On the edge of the Canadian wilderness lies the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. With a metropolitan population of over 2.3 million, this is one of the most attractive cities in the world, surrounded by water on many sides. Native American culture is very much alive here as evident by totem poles in the famous Stanley Park. We enjoy a short orientation tour of the city that takes us to the thriving Chinatown as well as Stanley Park. In your free time you can make your own discoveries and further enjoy the delights of Stanley Park by hiring a bicycle or some roller blades. In the park is also the fascinating Vancouver Aquarium – home to playful sea otters. Other options include strolling around the shops in the popular Gastown area, visiting the excellent Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and learning more about Native American culture, and sampling the excellent dining options and nightlife that this vibrant city has to offer. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 12: Seattle

We make our way back to USA and Seattle (the ‘Emerald City’) where there's time to enjoy the lively Pike's Place Market and also the stunning views from the Space Needle observation tower (optional), which is 184 metres (605 feet) high! Our tour concludes upon arrival back at the Clarion Hotel Seattle International Airport at approximately 5 pm. Optional post-tour accommodation is available at the Clarion Hotel Seattle International Airport. Please inquire when booking your tour. If you are planning to fly out of Seattle tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 9 pm (21:00 hrs). Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch