Where to go on a multi-centre holiday to Canada

Calgary

Most famously known as the gateway to the world renowned Banff and Jasper National Parks, Calgary’s cowboy meets cosmopolitan culture is often brushed aside by tourists desperate to witness the awe-inspiring beauty that is The Rocky Mountains. But trust us, skipping out on Calgary would be a huge mistake and with its excellent flight connections from the UK, it’s never been easier to visit. This up and coming city boats the incredible title of one of the world’s most livable cities and it’s really not hard to see why with its trendy bars and eateries, its abundance of green space in and around the city and of course its world famous Calgary Stampede festival. If you’re looking to dart off to The Rocky Mountains or Western Canada’s larger cities like Vancouver and Toronto before experiencing what Calgary has to offer, we recommend you think again and start your Canada multi-centre holiday here.  

Banff and Jasper National Parks 

Next up it’s the two national parks that you simply can’t afford to miss during a Canadian multi-centre holiday: Banff and Jasper. In fact, we love these places so much we’re seriously contemplating appealing for it to be the law that you have to visit these places during a visit to Canada. 

Not only do both of these national parks boast some of the most jaw-dropping natural scenery in the world with their countless vibrant blue lakes, ancient glaciers, snow-covered mountains and dense pine forests but simply getting from one national park to the other is a magnificent experience in itself. Yep, we’re only talking about one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world: Icefields Parkway. This 200 km route stretches from Banff to Jasper and boasts over 100 ancient glaciers and breathtaking stop-overs on route making it one of Canada’s most popular hotspots with locals and tourists alike. Did someone say road trip?

Sun Peaks

Next up its time to say goodbye to Alberta and hello to British Columbia! If like us you strive to fit as much in as you can when travelling but you also like a few days to recharge and chill, Sun Peaks is the best place to do just this. Again, with so many incredible places to visit and things to do in Western Canada, Sun Peaks is often overlooked by the average tourist. Ah, but we’re not the average tourist are we? Known most commonly as the second largest ski resort in Canada, Sun Peaks is an incredibly beautiful village stopover all year round with its snow-covered mountain peaks in the winter and sweeping views of wildflower colour in summer. Use your time here to chill out, indulge in local cuisine at the small cafes and restaurants or simply take a stroll around the colourful buildings (and get a snap or two for those all-important boast posts on social media). 

Vancouver

Once you’re recharged and rejuvenated, it’s officially time to head to the bright lights of Vancouver. Seriously, no multi-centre holiday in Western Canada is complete without a visit to this vibrant city. With some of Canada's most explorable neighbourhoods, trendy eateries and a city-wide commitment to increasing green space, who said a city stop-over couldn’t be relaxing? And it doesn’t stop at this because Vancouver is also one of Canada’s most beautiful cities with its surrounding views of the natural scenery of British Columbia. 

Does this itinerary sound like it’s on to something? Hop over to our website and explore our self-drive Rocky Road Trip itinerary which will see you discover each of these incredible locations by car or opt for our Rocky Mountaineer Explorer or Rocky Mountaineer Discovery itineraries to discover Canada by car and train. Not convinced?  Have a read of our blog and discover why you should go on a self-drive holiday to Canada.