Play & Pause: Canadian Rockies

Catch ya later Vancouver – today we’re heading eastwards. First: here comes the bride. Well, a waterfall that looks like one, anyway. We’ll take a hike up to the spectacular (and slippery) Bridal Veil Falls. Then, stick your head out the window (not literally) as we wind our way through Fraser Valley, over the Coquihalla Pass and into Canada’s version of Tuscany: the beaut, vineyard-packed Okanagan Valley. Tonight, chill at the hotel and prepare for more unfiltered and unREAL landscapes in the morning.

Another day, another jaw-dropping drive through the wilderness. This time, we’ll take the Trans-Canada Highway through Glacier and Yoho national parks. Stop for a photo at Emerald Lake (no prizes for guessing how it coined the name) before we continue the drive to Banff. Ready to turn it up a notch? Take an optional trip down the rapids of Kicking Horse River. Disclaimer: nobody said it would be a smooth ride. After an orientation tour of Banff, dinner tonight is on us. Later, get your trip mates together and whip out your best impersonation of a dancing sasquatch at a local bar. Warning: small group size = all your moves on show.

Banff is National Geographic on steroids. Like serious Schwarzenegger steroids. Rise early(ish) for an included visit to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Recognise them from your MacBook screensaver? Make the most of your free time by hiking to the viewpoints around the lakes or squeezing in some kayaking on the aquamarine water. Back in Banff, you’re free to do whatever you want. Need suggestions? Ride the Sulpher Mountain Gondola for epic views over the sweeping mountain ranges. Or for those with a heightened sense of adventure: tackle the Via Ferrata mountain climb. Then swap the adrenaline rush for a sugar rush – beaver tail, anyone?

Hope you remembered to charge your camera last night. Today’s drive along the Icefields Parkway is particularly ‘holy sh*t’-worthy. Play musical chairs on the coach trying to capture the best angles of the passing landscape and keep your eyes peeled for Yogi Bear. After an included lunch and a quick stroll around Jasper, the rest is up to you. Our hot tip? Get your grill on at one of the town’s steakhouses. Or sit back, relax, and soak up the alpine AF vibes in a cosy café bar. This is what you came for.

They say bigger is better – so, this is your chance to put Jasper to the test. With over 10,800 square kilometres of wildlife-filled forests, glassy lakes, roaring waterfalls and gobsmacking mountain ranges – Jasper National Park is just begging to be explored. See more on two wheels with optional mountain bike hire. Strap on those hiking boots and tackle the trails. Rent a canoe at Beauvert Lake. Or head up to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for a feed with a view. There’s even a brewery in town if that’s more your style. It’s 100% up to you.

Time to live the high life. Enter: Mount Robson – the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Stop for some sick views and to snap a pic for mum. Then, it’s onwards to Sun Peaks. Surrounded by looming mountains and quaint high streets, this place is a little slice of Europe in the middle of British Columbia. You’ll have time to take the chairlift up the mountain for some more hiking and insane views. Practise your swing at the golf course. Or roam through the turreted lodges and neat rows of pine trees. This place is a mood.

Tums full after another included brekkie, we’ll pass the small towns and Indigenous communities of British Columbia en route to Whistler. The holy grail of ski resort towns, you’ll be surprised at how much more there is to do when the snow melts. After getting our bearings on a walk around the village with our Trip Leader, the afternoon is up to you. Check out the legendary Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Or tackle that fear of heights with a rise on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Need some time out from all the adventuring? Head back to your accom and make a plan for your free day tomorrow.

This is your day, your way. So, make every second count. Our suggestion? Get involved in some optional zip-lining. There are different choices for different levels of crazy – including The Sasquatch: the longest zip-line in Canada and USA. Or take your togs and head to the Lost Lake for a swim. There’s plenty of hiking, biking and wine-tasting too. Go get it. Tonight, we’ll get together for one last group dinner. Try not to cry into your pint as we give this awesome trip the send-off it deserves. Cheers to that!

Enjoy a sleep in or one last hike on the trails – we’ll roll out mid-morning. The crazy-good landscapes aren’t over yet though! Following the Sea to Sky Highway, there’s a couple of stops to make at Shannon Falls and Stanley Park before we reach Vancouver. Time to say goodbye – or not. There are over 40 brew houses in this capital, just sayin’.