Canada – British Columbia

To our surprise, while on the way to Banff through the forest, we immediately encountered a black bear. We stopped instantly to take pictures, and in no time at all, the area was filled with cars.

Period: July

Temperature: 15 – 22 C°

Day 1 – Calgary
After a 9-hour flight, we arrived in Calgary, where we immediately picked up our rental car. However, it turned out they had no GPS systems in stock; they promised to deliver one in Banff. This wasn’t the best news after a long day. Our biological clock was already showing midnight, even though it was only 4 PM local time (8-hour difference with Belgium). We drove towards Banff without GPS, map in our laps. Leaving Calgary was challenging due to numerous traffic lights. Once on Canada West 1 Highway, the journey smoothed. After 130 kilometers, we reached Banff and were welcomed warmly at Brewster’s Mountain Lodge.

Day 2 – Banff

At 6.30 AM, it was time to rise. After a hearty breakfast, we headed to the Banff Gondola, which took us to the top of Sulphur Mountain at 1583 meters. From here, we had a stunning view of Banff’s surroundings. It’s a must-stop if you desire the ultimate postcard photo of Banff! After about two hours, we were back on the road to Lake Louise. To our surprise, we encountered a black bear in the forest on our way. We stopped immediately to take photos, and soon, the place was swarming with cars. Not even a kilometer later, we saw two Elks grazing by the roadside. Even as I stepped out to photograph them, they continued grazing unperturbed. What a start to the day! By noon, we reached Lake Louise. After a quick bite in town, we visited the lake itself. The breathtaking sight explained the throng of tourists in the parking area. After Lake Louise, we continued to Morraine Lake, which offered another picturesque scene and is depicted on Canadian dollar bills.

Day 3 – Sunwapta Falls

In the morning, we left Banff for Jasper. No sooner had we hit the Icefield Parkway than we saw another black bear. After capturing the necessary photos, we resumed our journey. Now, one postcard moment followed another. All the praises of Canadian nature weren’t exaggerated—it’s genuinely stunning. Along the way, we encountered another black bear. By noon, we reached Columbia Icefield—a group of glaciers from the ice age, slowly melting away. With the Snocoach, we reached the Athabasca glacier. After quick photos, we returned down and continued our journey to Sunwapta, where we would stay overnight. Soon, we spotted Stone Goats clinging to the mountain. In the evening, we arrived tired but satisfied at Sunwapta Falls Resort.

Day 4 – Jasper

This morning, it was quite cold outside (between 0 and 5°), but the sky was brilliantly clear. After breakfast, we checked out and visited Sunwapta Falls. The morning light made for some great photos. Back in the car and with the heater at maximum, we continued to Jasper, choosing the old route in hopes of seeing more wildlife. And it paid off—we saw a White Tail Deer and later two more in a beautiful setting. In the afternoon, we arrived at Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites and quickly explored the nearby lakes.

Day 5 – Jasper

We rose early again and headed to Maligne Lake, hoping to see many animals, and we did see a lot—reindeer, a mountain goat, Bighorn Sheep, and Chipmunks. By 10 AM, we reached Maligne Lake, a beautiful location. We decided to walk around the lake. By noon, we returned to Jasper with a pit stop at Pyramid Lake for a picnic and rest. We planned an early night, anticipating a long drive to Clearwater (300 km +) the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 – Clearwater

Around 9.30 AM, we left Jasper for Clearwater, leaving the Rocky Mountains and the province of Alberta behind. Now in British Columbia, the scenery changed, but we didn’t see any wildlife on our journey. We decided to stay only two nights in Clearwater as there wasn’t much to see. Surprisingly, our Lodge, the Alpine Meadows Resort, was a luxurious resort with its own lake and a whirlpool.

 

 

 

Day 7 – Clearwater
Still impressed by the delicious dinner from the night before at the Lodge’s restaurant, we learned at breakfast that bears often roam the estate and that we should remain alert. During breakfast, we also witnessed the skills of some hummingbirds (the Rufous Hummingbird, to be exact), drinking from the sugar-water feeder at high speed, their wings averaging 80 strokes per second. After breakfast, we went canoeing on the lake and enjoyed some sun in the afternoon.

Day 8 – Clearwater / Wells Gray
After a day of relaxing, we were ready to explore again and headed to Wells Gray Park, known for its waterfalls. First, we drove to Helmcken Falls, taller than Niagara Falls. We were not particularly impressed by the falls but by the number of mosquitoes. This was “bear country,” but “mosquito country” would have suited it just as well. Next were the Dawson Falls, locally called the “mini Niagara falls,” which were beautiful. We could walk beside the river and see the speed at which the water rushed to the precipice. The last waterfall we visited was Spahat Falls. The stream seemed to come from the middle of a mountain. Here, you could clearly see the erosion of thousands of years on the lava rock. Impressive. Throughout this day and during the many drives, we kept a sharp eye out for wildlife, spotting a Belted Kingfisher, an American Robin, a Northern Harrier, a Mule Deer, and many squirrels.

Day 9 – Whistler
We left our beautiful cabin in the Alpine Meadows Resort in Clearwater to drive to Whistler, a long journey of about 365 km. The weather was cloudy. The landscapes were varied, transitioning from a green landscape in Wells Gray filled with cedars and other conifers to a Western-like terrain, sparse vegetation, wild horses in the fields, high canyons, and deep cliffs. After a 7-hour journey, we reached the Summit Lodge in Whistler. Just before entering Whistler, we encountered a black bear in a tree by the road, enjoying red berries! A great photo moment! In the evening, we explored Whistler city, the co-host of the 2010 Winter Olympics with Vancouver. In the summer, Whistler is a paradise for mountain biking, downhill racing, skating, rafting, etc.

Day 10 – Whistler
After breakfast, we decided to take a mountain bike trip. After selecting the right helmet and mountain bike, we set off. This proved to be a fun way to experience the environment, especially to smell it (delicious pine scents in the forest), and the shaded spots in the forest provided refreshing and energizing feelings. We also explored Lost Lake, also known as Whistler Beach, due to the number of locals bathing and sunning here in the summer. In the afternoon, we watched the skills of downhill racers on one of Whistler’s ski slopes. The weather was beautiful, sunny, and warm, so we swam in the outdoor pool at the Lodge.

Day 11 – Campbell River (Vancouver Island)
This morning we left the Summit Lodge in Whistler and drove to West Vancouver to take the ferry to Vancouver Island, where we would visit three different places during our last week in Canada. After the crossing, we drove to Campbell River to the Painter’s Lodge, a beautiful lodge right by the water. On the drive there, we saw many birds of prey, promising for the coming days!

Day 12 – Campbell River
After breakfast, we took the water taxi across to April’s Point on Quadra Island, a Lodge linked to the one where we were staying. After a short walk on Quadra Island, we took the taxi back. Around 4:15 PM, we had a Zodiac Wildlife Tour booked. We gathered at the marine center where we received our special float suits, goggles, and hats. Ready to start the tour. Today, Transient Killer Whales (Orca’s) had been spotted, not often seen in this region, so we hurried to find the Orcas. After a few minutes, we stumbled upon a group of 4 Orcas. What a beautiful moment!! It was not easy to take photos and film in a bobbing zodiac. We followed the Orcas for about an hour. Shortly after, we went to a bird reserve – at a speed of 80km per hour; it felt like we were in an amusement park – the boat jumped 2 to 3 meters over the waves. In this reserve, about 40 species of birds nested, including herons, seagulls, cormorants, Oyster Pickers, etc. We also saw some seals! On the way back, we also spotted several Bald Eagles!

Day 13 – Tofino
This morning, we left Campbell River for the other side of Vancouver Island, Tofino. Finally, after a long drive, we reached sunny Tofino by the Pacific Ocean in the late afternoon. The room in our hotel, the Best Western Tin Wis Resort, overlooked the ocean. We took a walk by the sea and drove to the town of Tofino in the evening to dine. We found a great restaurant, SoBo, where we had a delicious meal!

Day 14 – Tofino
We woke up early this morning as we had a Whale-spotting boat trip booked. The weather was completely different from yesterday. It was very cold, there was a gray fog in the air, and it rained. We had a quick breakfast at Chocolat Tofino, then headed to the pier. Along with about 30 other people, we boarded the boat. Soon after departure, we encountered some Bald Eagles. After a while, we finally saw a whale (a Grey Whale). Due to the shallow water, the whales do not really jump out of the sea. Just as we were about to sail on, the tail of the 10-meter-long animal surfaced, providing a great photo opportunity. Along the way, we also encountered a rare species of seagull and sea otters, and at one point, we saw sea lions on some neighboring rocks. Due to the bad weather and light, this trip was a bit of a disappointment. After a 3-hour rocking boat journey (waves up to three meters high), we were happy to land. In the evening, we went to eat again in Tofino, this time at the Shelter Restaurant where I ate one of the tastiest

hamburgers ever. After dinner, we went for a walk on the beach where we discovered many jellyfish washed ashore, some as big as 40 cm in diameter!

Day 15 – Tofino
Today was a sunny day, perfect to explore the nearby Pacific Rim National Park. We followed a trail through the rainforest, admiring the lush vegetation and towering trees, some as old as 800 years. We spent a wonderful day at the park, experiencing the breathtaking landscapes of the island and its rich biodiversity. At night, we had dinner at the Pointe Restaurant, enjoying delicious food with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. The chef surprised us with creative culinary combinations, making it a memorable evening.

Day 16 – Victoria
After breakfast, we drove to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, located at the southern end of Vancouver Island. The city is known for its British atmosphere and beautiful gardens. After checking in at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, a luxurious and historic hotel overlooking the Inner Harbour, we explored the city. We visited the Royal BC Museum, discovering the cultural and natural history of the province. After the museum, we strolled through the Inner Harbour, admiring the Parliament Buildings and the Royal London Wax Museum.

Day 17 – Victoria
Today, we visited the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. It was spectacular to see the Sunken Garden, transformed from a former limestone quarry. The garden was bursting with colors, featuring roses, dahlias, and numerous other flowers. The Japanese Garden was serene, and the Italian Garden showcased stunning architectural designs. We spent the day enjoying the beautiful landscapes, wandering through various themed gardens, and savoring a delightful afternoon tea at the Dining Room Restaurant overlooking the gardens.

Day 18 – Vancouver
We left the charming city of Victoria and took a ferry back to Vancouver. It was a bittersweet moment, realizing our fantastic journey was coming to an end. We reached Vancouver and checked into the Pan Pacific Hotel. After dropping off our luggage, we spent our last day exploring areas of the city we hadn’t seen earlier, visiting the diverse neighborhoods and enjoying the multicultural cuisine. We also did some last-minute shopping for souvenirs, making sure to bring back memories of our unforgettable Canadian adventure.

Day 19 – Departure
The day of departure arrived, and we reluctantly said our goodbyes to Canada. We checked out of our hotel and headed to Vancouver International Airport, reflecting on the wonderful experiences we had, the stunning landscapes we saw, the friendly Canadians we met, and the exotic wildlife we encountered. We boarded our flight with a heart full of gratitude and a camera full of memories, promising ourselves to return to explore more of the incredible country of Canada. The plane took off, and we looked down at the beautiful land one last time, already missing the adventures we had.

And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed our travel journey as much as we did, and perhaps you’ll find inspiration to plan your own Canadian adventure! Safe travels!