Thanks to seriously Instagrammable scenery, adrenaline-fuelled outdoor fun, and – dare we say it… the best campsites in the world, Canada is about to be catapulted to the top of your bucket list. This is the great outdoors that doesn’t take itself too seriously!
Here are our guide to the most amazing destinations in Western Canada.
1. Icefields Parkway Road Trip
Mother Nature is showing off, and it’s a good look on her. Icefields Parkway is a must-do, surrounded by jaw-dropping mountains that’ll make you feel just a teeny bit insignificant (in a good way). This is the ultimate Rockies road trip, with stop offs a-plenty – but we won’t spoiler you just yet). All you need to know is around every corner there is some more breathtaking scenery! In the meantime, simply crank up the tunes, sit back and drink in those views. Heaven.
2. Athabasca Glacier Hiking
This could be the coolest thing you do in Canada (sorry, not sorry). Glacier hiking is one of the best outdoor activities going, from your first tentative steps to your confident crampon-crunching finale. Get up close and personal with six squared kilometres of ice, where the colours range from deep, vivid blue to clear white crystals. The best bit? It’s an included activity on our Mountie tour!
3. Camping Heaven Tofino Campground
Unleash your wild side with some of the best back to nature camping you could wish for. It’s a wonder they’ve managed to squeeze in so many amazing campsites in the gaps between huge mountains, dense ancient forests and huge lakes, but we’re glad they did. You won’t have Wi-Fi, but you’ll find a better connection with nature. It’s impossible not to bond when you’re crowded round a campfire, s’mores at the ready and all those stars just waiting to be gazed at – this is where lifelong friendships and relationships get made.
4. Explore Vancouver
Leafy, artsy Vancouver made it onto our list of 6 of the Best Cities to Start Your Road Trip and it’s not hard to see why. The ‘gateway to the Rockies’ somehow manages to be chilled out, friendly and exciting in equal measure. Come for the mountains, stay for the free art galleries, up-all-night coffee and craft beer. Our tip is to get out on the water soon as you can, and a ferry trip to Granville Island is the perfect excuse.
Vancouver is also one of the hottest LGBT+ cities to visit; just think Justin Trudeau at Vancouver Pride. Head to Davie Village for laid-back lunches or after-hours cocktails at party central – just follow the rainbow-brick road. If you need to pick up some reading for that long flight home, then a visit to the Little Sisters is a must – this LGBT+ bookshop has been doubling up as campaign HQ and community hub for locals for years.
5. See Wildlife of Banff National Park
It’s an all-star cast with cameos from all your favourites. Grizzlies, elk, deer, moose, caribou, marmots, even eagles – the wildlife spotting opportunities are basically endless. And with so many national parks and protected places, there’s plenty of space to roam free. The best way is to lace up your hiking boots, grab a camera and hit the trails. With 1600km of trails outside your tent porch, you’re guaranteed a spectacular hike.
6. Lake Louise
Western Canada is paradise for lake lovers. You’re spoiled for choice, but the picture-perfect Lake Louise might just be our favourite. Get ready to flood your feed with mirror-like reflections, gorgeous sunsets and watery adventures – this is the home of the Canadian open canoe after all! Bonus points if you’re brave enough to leap in. If you do, we recommend warming up with a cuppa and homemade chocolate cake in Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, where the wooden veranda gives you a perfect vantage point for gazing over the lake.
7. Get Awestruck in Whistler
We double dare you not to fall in love with Whistler. If your heart doesn’t do backflips just looking at the gorgeous lakeside scenery, then the adrenaline-pumping activities are sure to get your pulse racing. Try to play it cool on a glass bottom gondola ride or bust out your best superman pose for some high octane extreme zip lining. Wanna test your nerves? Get yourself a mountain bike! With more than 500km of dedicated trails to choose from, you’re bound to find one to test the edges of your comfort zone. This is one of the best places in the world to take a ski instructor course and then apply for winter ski jobs.
8. Go Rafting
White water and white knuckles: you’ll have earnt your bottle of Moosehead lager by the end of the day! Kicking Horse River rafting is top of the bill when it comes to awesome adrenaline experiences in Yoho National Park. Not bad considering it’s in a park named ‘Yoho’, the Cree word for awe and wonder. The glacial-fed river’s clear waters and swift descent make it one of the best places in the world for white water rafting. So get paddling!
Has this list made you want to book flight? Book a gap year to Canada today.