A Taste of Stunning Canada

In my previous job working for a well known luxury tour operator I was lucky to travel to some fantastic destinations, some of which I would like to share with you over the coming weeks. In September last year I flew with Air Canada (who were excellent) to Vancouver, British Columbia.

We checked in to the beautiful iconic Fairmont Vancouver for 2 nights.

Vancouver is a lovely city, very clean and tidy and doesn’t feel crowded. Being by the sea is a bonus and Stanley Park is a must for hikers and nature lovers. There is plenty to do here. We took the open top, hop on hop off bus tour, a whale watching trip which was a full day and Granville Market foodie tour. We didn’t have time to get over to Vancouver Island which is a shame or take a float plane trip. You really need at least 4 nights here.

On day four we collected a hire car to make our way over to Jasper in the Rockies. Once out of the city the driving is really easy, not too much traffic on the roads and the scenery spectacular to say the least. We stopped off at Whistler, a very popular ski resort in winter and for thrill seekers in Summer with zip lining and mountain biking on offer and hiking trails for the energetic. We just sat and had a beer and burger (the driver didn’t) and watched all the action. After our pit stop we set off again for our overnight stop, Sun Peaks, only to find when we were an hour away, there had been a land slide which blocked the road, so a three hour detour later and we got to the hotel about 9pm.

After an early start and a hearty breakfast in the pretty village of Sun Peaks, we headed onward towards Jasper and crossed into Alberta, home of the famous Rocky Mountains. There are so many beautiful lakes and rivers, you have to keep stopping to admire and take pictures. When we arrived early evening, the famous Rocky Mountaineer train had just arrived on it’s 2 day journey from Vancouver, a great alternative to driving, but quite expensive, Before dinner we went to some stunning waterfalls and walked a few miles to work up an appetite.

Morning came and another road trip. Today we were on our way to the very popular town of Banff, about a five hour drive, but stopping off at the Icefield Parkway where you can walk on the huge glacier and then at spectacular Lake Louise to have hot chocolate in the Fairmont overlooking the crystal clear lake. Three days were spent in beautiful Banff with it’s traditional buildings and long shopping street. When we were not working (hotel inspections) we went up Sulphur Mountain on the gondola, the views were breathtaking. The time went so fast and before we knew it we were on our way to Calgary for the flight home.

It was a fabulous trip which I would love to repeat but for much longer and in reverse direction and finish with a cruise up through Alaska from Vancouver. there are so many options and different itineraries. Contact me if you would like to know more.

Dee.