Day 1
Fly to Vancouver – Drive to Harrison Hot Springs (82 miles)
Arrive in Vancouver, pick up your hire car and take the short drive eastwards to Harrison Hot Springs.
Overnight: Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa
Days 2-4
Harrison Hot Springs – Beaver Guest Ranch or Echo Valley Ranch (197 miles)
Today drive north on Highway 1 into the British Columbia interior. You can break up your journey with a stop just off the highway see to the thundering waters of the Fraser River at Hell’s Gate Gorge. Continue on basking in rolling hills, tranquil lakes and snow-capped mountains until you reach the Beaver Guest Ranch in the Cariboo Mountains. Here you will find an intimate and comfortable rustic accommodation and lots of activities to enjoy. Take to the waters and enjoy boat tours and kayaking on this lovely lake. Saddle up and take a trail ride, choosing between an hour, a half day or full day depending on your stamina. There are some beautiful hikes to enjoy in the area, with fresh herbs to be used in your cooking classes.
Alternatively you can upgrade to beautiful Echo Valley Ranch. This all-inclusive eco-friendly ranch and spa sits within 160 acres, set in the middle of four distinct geographical regions – the semi desert Fraser Canyon, boreal forests in the valley’s, treeless mountains and rolling grasslands. Enjoy horse riding, fly fishing, hiking and biking. The ranch offers all levels of horse riding from beginner to expert, and you can choose to either have lessons or a guided ride from two to six hours (extra charge). You could also book a gold panning experience – this ranch has exclusive gold panning rights on this section of the Fraser Canyon so why not follow in the footsteps of the 19 century prospectors, you might get lucky! If you want to take it easy, the Baan Thai Spa is brimming with Thai influence as you step into the tranquil space. Soothe your aching muscles from yesterday's exhilierating activities with a traditional Thai massage.
Overnight: Beaver Guest Ranch or Echo Valley Ranch
Day 5
Big Bar Ranch / Echo Valley Ranch – Terra Nostra Guest Ranch (208 miles)
It’s a longish drive today but you will be travelling through the beautiful British Columbia wilderness, along the Chilcotin River, with plenty of opportunities on the way to stretch your legs and admire the view. When you arrive at the Terra Nostra Ranch, you’ll see it’s worth the drive, sitting on beautiful Lake Clearwater with the backdrop of the Coast Mountains.
Overnight: Terra Nostra Guest Ranch
Days 6 & 7
Terra Nostra Guest Ranch
We recommend taking one of the ranch canoes out onto Lake Clearwater first thing this morning whilst the waters are still. A true Canadian experience, the canoe was vital to the indigenous population and early settlers, but now is the perfect way to get back to nature. Then you might want to book a horse ride (1 to 3 hour guided trails available at extra charge) giving you the opportunity to view the local wildlife including bald eagles, moose and beavers. Or you could take one of the hiking trails to spot wildlife and immerse yourself in this pristine wilderness. We've created this itinerary with two full days here to enjoy the ranch, but you can make your stay here longer or shorter, just let us know.
Overnight: Terra Nostra Guest Ranch
Day 8
Terra Nostra Guest Ranch – Tweedsmuir Park Lodge (84 miles)
Take the scenic drive past Nimpo Lake Anahim Lake and into Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Arrive in time for lunch at the award-winning Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, located in the Great Bear Rainforest, nestled between Mount Stupendous and Mount Mellikan. You’ll then have a an orientation, a bear presentation and a late afternoon drift in a non-motorised boat on the Atnarko River to look for grizzly bears. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, watching out for wildlife such as otters, bald eagles and bears.
Overnight: Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Days 9 & 10
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
First thing in the morning is a good time to spot bears and so you’ll be up early for a walk to the wildlife viewing stations which are reserved for the exclusive use of the lodge guests. Once there you’ll be served breakfast and then head out on a guided nature walk in the old growth forests. You’ll be shown how to track bears and then have a picnic lunch. In the afternoon continue exploring Tweedsmuir Park, driving along Tote Road past old homesteads, to the end of the road where you can hike to the stunning Stillwater Lake. Early evening enjoy canapes on the sun deck of the lodge, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Day 11
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge – Williams Lake (245 miles)
Leave the Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, heading east back to Highway 97. You’ll be staying at Williams Lake, and a lovely place to stretch your legs after your long drive is the Scout Island Nature Centre, where you can have a stroll and enjoy bird spotting.
Overnight: Coast Fraser Inn Williams Lake
Day 12
Williams Lake – Whistler (247 miles)
This morning head south on Highway 97 then meander west on Highway 99 to the Fraser River and into the mountains. A good place to break up the journey after a couple of hours driving is Marble Canyon Provincial Park. Then you’ll drive through Duffey Lake Provincial Park, past Lillooet Lake. Just before you arrive in Whistler, you might want to pause at the beautiful Nairn Falls to admire the view. You’ll arrive in Whistler in time for a lovely stroll into the pedestrianised village centre, to browse the shops, relax over a drink and enjoy a lovely dinner in one of the many restaurants.
Overnight: Aava Whistler Hotel
Day 13
Whistler
You have a day in Whistler, so you may want to pre-book an excursion with us to make sure you use your time well in this fun destination. There’s lots of activities to choose from such as kayaking and biking or ascending in the spectacular Peak to Peak Gondola, but if it’s wildlife that you’re interested in then perhaps book the Whistler Bear Viewing tour.
Overnight: Aava Whistler Hotel
Day 14
Whistler – Vancouver Airport (75 miles)
Say farewell to Whistler and take the short drive to Vancouver airport to drop off your hire car and catch your flight home
