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only £242.00
WEST COAST - Big West Tour
SAVE £13!
Our classic Big West Pass offers an excellent opportunity to see the major highlights of the Canadian Rockies and the alpine beauty of Whistler. This 2500 km route takes you to the Canadian Rocky Mountains through the wild recreational paradise of British Columbia as you pass by mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and much more.
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0845 3 447 667
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Moose Travel Network
- Backpacker bus
- Includes tours, activities & experiences
- Hop-on Hop-off bus passes
EAST COAST
| Big East Tour |
| This is a great little tour of the East Coast |
| Mohawk Tour |
| The longest east Coast tour - see it all! |
| Whaler Tour |
| Head North for Whale watching & nature |
WEST COAST
| Big West Tour |
| See The Rockies & beautiful Whistler |
| Grizz Tour |
| The Rockies, the Interior and Banff National Park |
ALL OF CANADA!
| Full Mountie Tour |
| The BIG ONE!! Yup - see it all!! |
| Mega Moose Tour |
| A quicker / easier version of the 'Full Mountie' |
Can’t see one you want?
BUILD YOUR OWN!- Call 0845 3 447 667
- Or email us through this section
WEST COAST - Big West Tour
What is it?
Our classic Big West Pass offers an excellent opportunity to see the major highlights of the Canadian Rockies and the alpine beauty of Whistler. This 2500 km route takes you to the Canadian Rocky Mountains through the wild recreational paradise of British Columbia as you pass by mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and much more. You get a chance to explore Banff and Jasper National Parks along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic roads in the world!
In addition, you travel along the Sea to Sky highway where you follow the jade green waters of Howe Sound and then ascend toward one of the world's great ski and summer resorts - Whistler! During peak season (mid-May through August), this pass takes a minimum of 9 days, but in early and late season may take as long as a minimum of 11 days.
The Route
Click here for a map of Canada >>
What you get
- Transportation and highway tolls
- Services of the tour guide/driver
- Wolf sanctuary entrance fee
- Winery tour and tasting fee
- All park entrance fees
- Moose t-shirt
- Moose Survival Guide
Trip Options
- Whitewater rafting or riverboarding (seasonal) from Banff
- Lake kayaking in Revelstoke
- Go-karting near Revelstoke
- Tandem skydiving near Vancouver
- Bungee jumping or zip lining in Whistler
- Mountain biking in Whistler
SAVE MONEY: Buy before you fly!
A strong UK exchange rate + our deals mean that Moose passes are currently cheaper through us than bought direct in Canada. Don’t believe us - look for yourself! >>
"Big West"
Buy in Canada: $489
= £255 (converted 28.08.08)
gapyear.com price: £242 (Save £13!)
Itinerary
Day: 1 | Location: VANCOUVER TO SHUSWAP LAKE
Our adventure begins around 8:30 am as we head east out of the city and into the fresh and fragrant Fraser Valley! We'll stop for introductions and an overview of the trip, followed by a short walk through the wet coast rainforest to Bridal Veil Falls. From there we head into the town of Hope, where the original Rambo movie was filmed, and on to Kawkawa Lake for lunch. After lunch, we'll drive up through the Cascade Mountains and into the much drier interior of British Columbia, passing through ranching grasslands, en route to our destination at Scotch Creek, Shuswap Lake. This afternoon, why not challenge your fellow travellers in the Moose Travel Network Western Canadian Mid-Summer Classic Multi-Sport Invitational Beer Drinking Eco Race 2008 (seasonal)? Then celebrate your victory in the pub and brag to the locals!
Day: 2 | Location: SHUSWAP LAKE TO BANFF
Today we'll be in four, count 'em, FOUR National Parks, as we make our way into the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains! But first we'll spend the morning following the shores of Shuswap Lake, before stretching our legs with an easy jaunt around the Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk in Mount Revelstoke National Park. Then we'll drive through the infamous Rogers Pass National Historic Site where we'll stop at the Info Centre to learn about this avalanche prone area, wildlife, and early pioneering in Glacier National Park. On to Yoho National Park, where we'll see the amazing Natural Bridge and get our first glimpse of an aqua blue glacier lake - Emerald Lake! Finally, we'll cross the Continental Divide into Banff National Park and the province of Alberta where we'll settle for the night in the historic town of Banff. Enjoy the great nightlife, including the Storm Cellar Pub at the hostel, historic sites, hot springs, shopping and excellent outdoor recreation opportunities!
Day: 3 | Location: BANFF TO JASPER
Better have an extra memory card for your camera today because it's nothing but spectacular scenery all day! First stop is Lake Louise, the most photographed and most visited place in the Canadian Rockies. And it only gets better as we hit the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world! Check out the great views,from the Big Bend Lookout, of Cirrus Mountain and a classic U-shaped valley carved out by glaciers. Then we'll cross into Jasper National Park and will actually walk on a glacier at the Columbia Icefield, the largest icecap south of the Arctic Circle! Next up it's group photo time at Tangle Falls, followed by a walk through the deepest, most interesting limestone canyon in the Rockies - Maligne Canyon. We'll stop in the Jasper townsite for supplies before heading to our rustic wilderness hostel for dinner and a great Canadian campfire!
Day: 4 | Location: JASPER TO BANFF
We start off the morning at Athabasca Falls, the most impressive waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, where you can really feel the power of the thundering water! Then scan for mountain goats while enjoying views of the Athabasca valley at Goat Viewpoint. We next stop for photos of the Stutfield Glacier, which hangs off the 1100 m cliffs between Mount Kitchener and the Stutfield Peaks. Then it's on to Peyto Lake, perhaps the most spectacular of the glacial lakes, and named after "Wild" Bill Peyto, a legend in these parts in the late 1800's! And we're not done with the stunning lakes yet, as next up is Moraine Lake (seasonal stop), where you can scramble up the "moraine" pile for a stunning view of the lake in the "Valley of the Ten Peaks". Finally, we return to Banff, the hub of adventure activities in the Rocky Mountains! We highly recommend that you jump off the bus here. Try a full day of whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River, go riverboarding, horse riding, or mountain biking for an optional extra cost, or hike one of the local mountains for free!
Day: 5 | Location: BANFF TO REVELSTOKE
Today we leave the Rocky Mountains on our way back towards Vancouver. Our morning drive takes us along the Bow Valley Parkway, a great place to spot elk, wolves, bears and bighorn sheep. We'll stop at Johnston Canyon and get the blood flowing with a stroll along a suspended boardwalk in this limestone canyon to a little waterfall. Then it's back to British Columbia, where we'll visit Takakkaw Falls (seasonal stop), one of the highest waterfalls in Canada at 384 m! Look for mountain goats near the base of the falls. Continuing westward, we're heading to the Wolf Wildlife Centre to get up close and personal with a wolf pack, while learning about their habitat and social structure, as well as common misconceptions about these mysterious animals. You'll even get to howl with them! Crossing back through the Selkirk Mountains, we'll wander through an ancient forest along the Giants Cedars Boardwalk before arriving at our destination for the night, Revelstoke. This afternoon you can try kayaking on a Columbia Mountain lake (optional extra cost), go for a hike for free, or just hang out and enjoy the pool, sauna, hot tub or bar at Glacier House resort!
Day: 6 | Location: REVELSTOKE TO KELOWNA
Are you a fan of the Grand Prix auto racing circuit? Well, show us your driving skills first thing this morning on the go-kart track (optional extra cost)! Then enjoy a well-deserved ice cream at the D. Dutchman dairy farm in Sicamous, while checking out the funky-haired chickens (serious!) We'll also stop at the Enderby flea market for a round of "spot the redneck" and for some interesting shopping. Then it's on to the Okanagan Valley and our lunch stop at Kalamalka Lake. Go for a swim in one of National Geographic's top 10 lakes of the world! We'll then head into Kelowna and make our way to an organic winery for a tour, including the pyramid wine cellar, and more importantly a tasting session. Enjoy the wine and great views of Lake Okanagan, home of the Ogopogo lake monster (Nessie's cousin)! After checking into the downtown hostel, you can spend the afternoon at the beach (across the road), or go houseboating (seasonal) or paintballing for an optional extra cost. Then rip it up in the bars and nightclubs of this university city on the last night of the tour!
Day: 7 | Location: KELOWNA TO VANCOUVER
Today we'll head back to Vancouver, crossing over Lake Okanagan on a floating bridge, the only one of its kind in Canada. Then it's up over a high mountain pass at 1728 m, before descending into the beautiful Nicola Valley and the town of Merritt. Better strap on your boots and 10 gallon hat, because Merritt is the Country Music Capital of Canada and home of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival! From here we'll head south along the Coquihalla Highway, and return to the town of Hope and the Fraser Valley. Then pump yourself up because once we hit Abbotsford, it's time for the thrill of a lifetime - tandem skydiving (optional extra cost)! You'll get great views of the valley, Vancouver and the Coastal Mountains from up to 14,000 feet! Finally, we head back into the city and it's time to say goodbye to your new friends.
Day: 8 | Location: VANCOUVER TO WHISTLER
Today we leave Vancouver by crossing over the Lions Gate Bridge onto the North Shore. We'll drive up to the lookout point in Cypress Provincial Park for great views of Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Then we'll breeze past Horseshoe Bay and Furry Creek (where Happy Gilmore was filmed!) before stopping for a short walk up to the base of the 355 m high Shannon Falls. Continuing north through Squamish, we'll jump out at the Tantalus Viewpoint for views of the glaciers across the Cheakamus and Squamish River valleys. Then it's on to Whistler, where we'll check into the Chalet Alta Vista, an upscale backpackers lodge just up the street from Alta Lake. You'll have the rest of the day free to go for a swim in one of the five lakes in the valley, take a mountain bike for a spin, wander through the pedestrian-friendly village, or relax on the deck at the hostel. Then rip it up in the bars and nightclubs at night because Whistler goes off!
Day: 9 | Location: WHISTLER TO VANCOUVER
Get out of bed whenever you feel like it today because we're not leaving until 3:30 pm! Get your thrill on by zip lining, bungee jumping or downhill mountain biking, go for a hike up Whistler Mountain, or relax in one of the beautiful parks. The day is yours to enjoy as you please! When we do leave, we'll stop to check out the picturesque Brandywine Falls (any Hobbit fans here?) and the old mining centre at Britannia Beach before finishing up in Vancouver in the evening.
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