Compare Discover the Canadian Rockies - Eastbound by G Adventures vs Yukon Adventure by Great Canadian Trails

Day 1 Vancouver

Arrive at any time.

Please make your own way to the joining hotel.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 2 Vancouver/Victoria

Head downtown to explore the lush gardens, beaches, woodlands, and miles of trails around Stanley Park, considered one of the world’s greatest city parks. Venture to historic Gastown, and stroll cobblestone streets past Victorian buildings that now house lively restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Then board the scenic ferry to Victoria.

Take a stroll around the city with your CEO to get familiar with your surroundings before you can enjoy the evening on your own.

Day 3 Victoria

Today is free to explore the charming city of Victoria. Wander along the waterfront and choose among an array of optional activities. Discover the stunning floral displays at the famous Butchart Gardens, peruse the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoy high tea at a historic hotel. Or opt to cruise the sea in a Zodiac boat in search of gray whales, sea lions, seals, orcas, and other marine creatures.

Day 4 Victoria/Whistler

Catch the ferry back to the mainland and drive the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the village of Whistler, host of some of the events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a G for Good experience at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a showcase for First Nations customs, art, and music. Join an indigenous guide on an interpretive walk through the forest, hear how First Nations people lived off this land, and learn about local flora used for food and medicine. Then take part in a traditional tea ceremony to sample teas and bannock while listening to ancestral stories and legends. Continue to the mountain resort of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Day 5 Whistler

Spend today exploring Whistler and the surrounding parks on your own. Stroll through the village, and opt to ride the gondola up the mountain for 360-degree views. Or choose to hike one of the many beautiful trails in the area, go ziplining through the rain forest, or set out on an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.

Whistler and its surrounding provincial parks are places you must discover. It is also a great place to try one of the many optional mountain activities.

Day 6 Whistler/Blue River

Pass through the Coastal Mountains into the Caribou Mountains on a route once marked by gold prospectors. Sit back and enjoy dramatic changes in your surroundings, the mountains to sweeping grasslands. Enjoy stops at Kamloops Lake, an oasis amid an arid landscape, and the turquoise Seton Lake, a freshwater fjord ringed by towering peaks. Arrive in the small community of Blue River.

Following this extraordinary route, once marked by the gold prospectors, we leave the Coastal Mountain Range and set foot into the arid and dry land of the Thompson Okanagan region. Aboriginal peoples led a semi-nomadic life moving between hunting and fishing grounds in the summer and settling into pit houses for the winter. Europeans came at first for fur trading and later on to establish cattle ranches, farms, and mining operations. The scenery changes dramatically and could even make you feel as if you were in a western movie.

Day 7 Blue River/Jasper National Park

Cross the Rockies into Jasper National Park and follow in the historic path of fur traders on a scenic float trip down the tranquil Athabasca River, encountering a few gentle rapids along the way. Look out for wildlife, which can include bears, moose, eagles, ospreys, and mountain sheep. Later, gaze up at the highest peak, Mount Robson, during a stop at the visitor centre.

Day 8 Jasper National Park

Spend the day at leisure enjoying Jasper’s friendly mountain hospitality. Choose your own adventure among an array of optional activities: Hike to Maligne Canyon, cruise glacially fed Maligne Lake, or rent a bike or canoe to explore on your own. This evening, rejoin your fellow travelers for an unforgettable soak in Miette Hot Springs, where spacious pools of hot mineral springs offer panoramic views of the spectacular Fiddle River Valley.

Jasper's friendly mountain hospitality, peaceful atmosphere, and the promise of real adventure make any visit unforgettable.

Day 9 Jasper National Park/Lake Louise

Pass lush coniferous forests, soaring mountains, turquoise lakes, and epic glaciers as we travel the winding Icefields Parkway—considered one of the world’s most scenic drives—to Bow Lake, stopping along the way to enjoy photo opportunities and wildlife encounters. At the Columbia Icefield, step foot on the lower Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide for a firsthand experience of this active glacial landscape. Continue to magnificent Lake Louise, an alpine lake legendary for its emerald-blue waters.

Along the 300km (186.4 mi) ride, a spectacle unfolds before our eyes: lush coniferous forests, immense mountains, turquoise lakes, high-falling cascades, and humbling glaciers. Numerous stops will be planned along the way for photos, observation, and wildlife encounters.

Day 10 Lake Louise/Banff

Enjoy the morning at Lake Louise, taking in the scenery of the Victoria Glacier. Opt to join a hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, following a forested trail past Mirror Lake and cascading waterfalls to the shores of Lake Agnes, where a remote tea house built in 1901 serves loose-leaf teas and other refreshments. Continue to Banff. Go on a walk back in time through this historic resort town alongside an expert from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies. As you explore local landmarks on foot, discover how the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad served as a stepping stone towards opening up western Canada.

Day 11 Banff/Calgary

Spend the morning in Banff, then drive to Calgary for a day at leisure. Experience the city’s Western spirit at lively honky-tonk bars, go museum-hopping, or opt to visit the Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, where you can luge down the bobsledding track in a wheeled cart or soar through the sky on a zipline.

Famed for its entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population, Calgary prides itself on being the heart of the new west while honouring its cowboy heritage.

Day 12 Calgary

Depart at any time.

If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 1: Whitehorse

Welcome to Whitehorse! Upon arrival, make your way to the downtown hotel using the hotel's complimentary shuttle. Named after the rapids on the Yukon River which resembled the flowing manes of charging white horses, the territory's capital was a First Nations’ campsite until the Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of gold-seekers on their way to the Klondike. This evening is free to explore the historic town and its quaint Main Street.

Day 2: Carcross Day Hike (4-5hrs, 9km)

Today we will hit the road and go south down the Klondike highway, to the First Nation community of Carcross, once known as 'Caribou Crossing'. In Carcross, we will climb the Sam McGee Trail, a historic and rewarding hike. The trail was originally made to service the tramway built in 1905 by Sam McGee for a silver mining operation and there remain many remnants of the tramway and mining artifacts along the trail. The hike has an elevation of 618m, is 9km long, and takes 4-5 hours. The mountain and lake views from the top are sure to amaze. We return to our hotel in Whitehorse for overnight.

Day 3: Visit and Hike in Kluane National Park (4hrs, 14km)

Today, you will have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Kluane National Park and Reserve. Truly a dream hiking destination, Kluane offers an alpine and subalpine landscape for hikers of all levels. At 22,000 square kilometres, the park is half the size of the Netherlands. It’s also home to Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, and the largest non-polar icefields on Earth. Wildflowers bloom in abundance during summer, and in the fall, the aspen forests and alpine create an unforgettable display of colour. After a stop at the visitor's centre, we enjoy an easy afternoon hike on the Thunderegg Creek Trail; a good half-day hike that gives us a closer look at Kluane’s famous mountains, following along an old exploration road with open views of the Alsek Valley. The trail is 14km long with minimal elevation gain, and takes approximately 4 hours ending at the namesake sphere-shaped 'thunder egg' rocks. We spend the next 2 nights at a comfortable inn in the community of Haines Junction, conveniently located on the edge of the national park.

Day 4: Kluane National Park Full-Day Hike (6.5-8hrs, 15km)

We have a full day to truly experience majestic Kluane, as we are spoiled with trail options in this incredible park. Depending on local conditions and the group's interest/abilities, we may choose Sheep Creek trail which offers incredible mountain views and wildlife spotting opportunities. Sheep Creek is 15km long, has a 1100m elevation gain, and takes approximately 6.5 hours. Alternatively, we can consider the famous but difficult King’s Throne on Kathleen Lake, which has an elevation gain of 1250m, is 15km long, and takes approximately 8 hours. The views of the surrounding valleys and Kathleen Lake are absolutely breathtaking. This evening we return to Haines Junction for dinner (not included) and overnight.

Day 5: Half-Day Hike and Takhini Hot Springs

In the morning, we will have time for another short hike. We will decide on which one based on how we feel after the last two days. In the afternoon, we will return to Whitehorse and make our way to the Takhini Hot Pools to relax in the healing waters after hiking through Kluane. Rich in minerals, the natural hot springs have been in operation for over 100 years. This evening we have another opportunity to take time to explore Whitehorse and get to know the capital. Overnight downtown hotel.

Day 6: Paddling the Yukon River (5-7hrs)

It's time for a canoe trip down the Yukon River – this trip is one of the highlight experiences of the Yukon! The Yukon River presents excellent opportunities to spot unique wildlife and to see the Yukon from a different perspective. We paddle for about 5-7 hours down the historic river between its beginning near Marsh Lake, through Mile's Canyon, and to Schwatka Lake (2 people per canoe, no paddling experience required). From here, we return to Whitehorse for a celebratory farewell dinner and final night in the capital.

Day 7: Whitehorse

Today marks the end of our adventure. Take advantage of the hotel's free airport shuttle and have a safe onward journey!