West Coast best coast
15-Day Calgary to Vancouver tour
Discover the highlights & hidden gems that lie between Vancouver and Calgary.
Taking you from Calgary to Vancouver (or vice versa), the West Coast Best Coast tour is a Western Canada tour built for travellers looking to experience the highlights of Canada’s beautiful west coast. Visiting the Rocky Mountains, experiencing the turquoise waters of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, white water rafting along the Kicking Horse River, hiking your way through Whistler, taking in the breathtaking views of Squamish, and learning to surf in Tofino are just some of the amazing adventures awaiting you on this fan-favourite FML Adventures backpacking tour.
Are you ready to explore the best of Western Canada?
Itinerary Summary
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Day 1 - Journey to Tofino: Get to know your new FMLy
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Day 2 - Beach Day: Beach-side sauna and surf lessons
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Day 3 - Discover Tofino: Whale watching and exploring Tofino
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Day 4 - Travel to Squamish: Explore local Indigenous culture
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Day 5 - Explore Squamish: Choose your own adventure and hike the Chief
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Day 6 - Journey to Whistler: Enjoy forests, mountains and (hidden) lakes
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Day 7 - Choose your Whistler Adventure: Choose from biking, ziplining, bungee jumping and more
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Day 8 - Discover Pemberton: Joffre Lakes hike and Beer Farmers
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Day 9 - Journey to the Rockies: A travel day full of naps and Netflix
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Day 10 - Explore Jasper: Mount Edith Cavell hike and Maligne Lake cruise
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Day 11 - Columbia Icefields Parkway: Journey along Canada's most scenic highway
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Day 12 - YOHO National Park: White Water Rafting and chasing waterfalls
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Day 13 - Explore Banff: Gondola rides and exploring Banff Village
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Day 14 - Lake Day: Hike Lake Louise and Canoe on Moraine Lake
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Day 15 - Calgary Drop-off: A tearful goodbye
What's Included?
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All Accommodation: A combination of frontcountry camping, private camping and hostels.
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Majority of Activities: Most of the exciting activities featured in our epic adventure will be included in the price of the trip for travellers.
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Camping Equipment: Tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags will be provided for all travellers, as well as all equipment needed to make camp-life beyond epic.
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Transportation Costs: Includes transportation in a spacious 17-seater bus named Brent & covers all gas expenses and any required ferry crossings.
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Food: Groceries for the delicious feasts we eat long the way are included in the overall trip price.
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2 Epic Tour Guides here to make YOUR Canadian Adventure stress-free & unforgettable.
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All National Park and Provincial Park Entry Fees.
2023 TRIP DATES
Vancouver to Calgary
June 10 - 24
Calgary to Vancouver
August 13 - 27
trip price
END OF 2022 SALE price:
$4,950 CAD + 5% GST + 2% Booking Fee
Full price:
$5,500 CAD + 5% GST + 2% Booking Fee
Early Bird Prices are available from November 15th to December 1st.
All West Coast Best Coast tours will require a 20% deposit at time of booking. The remaining 80% will be due 30 days prior to trip departure.
*Please note that your tour will only be confirmed once at least 6 passengers have booked.
Tour Highlights
Canoe on moraine Lake
Hike Lake Louise
Explore Columbia Icefields
Surf Lessons in Tofino
Maligne Lake cruise
White Water Rafting in Yoho
YOHO waterfalls
Joffre lakes hike
Whale watching In tofino
Vancouver-Calgary Itinerary
The Calgary - Vancouver tour follows roughly the same itinerary but in reverse.
Please note trip itineraries are subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstances beyond FML's control.
Day 1: Vancouver Pick-Up and Journey to Tofino
WELCOME TO DAY ONE OF THE WEST COAST BEST COAST TOUR!
Day one of our 15-day adventure consists of meeting your new FMLy and taking a ferry crossing to Vancouver Island. Our journey continues by bus (what's up Brent?!) as we get comfy and head west to Canada's beautiful surf capital, Tofino.
Along the way you'll see some breathtaking and unique Vancouver Island views like an emerald oasis with a rope swing waiting for you to jump in and a small town market with goats on the roof. And, in true Tofino fashion, we will end the night with our first sunset view before a seaside bonfire party under the stars.
Accommodation Style:
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Tofino Hostel
Days 2 and 3: Discover Tofino
Tofino is known to be one of the most beautiful destinations in all of Canada and has so many fun experiences to offer to its visitors. It’s got whale watching, natural hot springs, sea kayaking, surf lessons galore, and beaches to die for. With so many activities to choose from, you're bound to fall in love with Tofino over these 3 days. No doubt. Our FML family will be chilling, surfing, eating extremely delicious food, and living our best lives.
Included Activities:
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Tuff City Sauna Experience
Accommodation Style:
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Tofino Hostel
Day 4: Journey to Squamish
After all the beach fun, it's time to head to one of our favourite places in B.C. and home to the FML headquarters, Squamish! We can't tell you how much we love Squam and just how much there really is to do in this hidden gem of a town - which is why we've decided to take you there.
Upon arrival, learn about the history of the Indigenous People of Skwxwú7mesh and discover how they preserve a unique balance of their culture and connection to the land.
Included activities:
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Squamish Indigenous Cultural Experience
Accommodation Style:
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Downtown Squamish Hotel
Day 5: Explore Squamish (FML Hometown Adventure)
Day two in Squam is all about BIG adventure! We start the day with a morning of optional activities to give everyone the chance to make their West Coast Best Coast tour what they want it to be. BUT, a MUST-DO is the Stawamus Chief hike up to one of three peaks overlooking the town and, of course, some of the BEST tacos you'll ever have at A-frame tacos (which will occupy our afternoon).
Optional activities:
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Intro to Mountain Biking: $175 + Tax
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Intro to Mountain Climbing: $99 + Tax
Accommodation Style:
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Downtown Squamish Hotel
Day 6: Journey to Whistler
It's time to head north as we travel along Highway 99 to Whistler!
For our first afternoon in Whis, we'll enjoy the area's forests, mountains and (hidden) lakes, before getting settled at our new accom and heading for a big night out in the village.
Accommodation Style:
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Whistler Hostel
Days 7 and 8: Whistler Adventure
The next two days are an action-packed adventure so get ready for some Canadian forests, mountains, and lakes.
Day seven is full of optional fun for everyone to test their limits and have fun in a way that suits them best. Make the most of your adventure! If none of these float your boat - enjoy a free day in Whistler Village.
Day eight, we head out to oh-so-beautiful Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. The climb may not be the easiest, but the views from the top are beyond worth it - like nothing you've ever experienced before. Feeling accomplished after that hike, we deserve a little treat to some bevvies at Pemby Beer Farmers before getting hyped for a big night out in good ol' Whistler.
Optional activities:
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Whistler Bungee: $140 + Tax
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Sasquatch Zipline: $140 + Tax
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Peak to Peak Gondola: $82 + Tax
Accommodation Style:
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Whistler Hostel
Day 9: Journey to the Rockies
The journey to the Rockies is a BEAUTIFUL one but it is a LONG one so get those movies downloaded on Netflix, get your playlists prepped and pull out that book you've been waiting to read because it's a 10-hour travel day on the oh-so-wonderful Brent the Bus.
Take the day to regroup, get some much-needed sleep, live your best life and don't forget to soak in the views because we're driving through a beautiful region in the country: Canada's temperate desert.
Upon arrival in Jasper, we'll get set up for our first night of camping!
Accommodation Style:
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Frontcountry camping in Jasper National Park
Day 10: Explore Jasper
For our full day in Jasper, we’ll take on the beautiful Mount Edith Cavell hike, for breathtaking views of glaciers and MARMOTS. In the afternoon, we’ll drive along Jasper's wildlife highway to get a glimpse at all of the incredible wildlife in the region, and will finish the day off with a breathtaking cruise along Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.
Included Activity:
Accommodation Style:
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Frontcountry camping in Jasper National Par
Day 11: Columbia Icefields Parkway
Day 11 is a HUGE day for exploring all things Canada as we'll be driving down Canada's most famous highway - the Icefields Parkway. Headed towards YOHO National Park, we will be taking multiple pitstops to really get the most out of this beautiful region of Canada. These stops include visiting the base of the Columbia Icefield, admiring the beauty of Canada's Weeping Wall, and taking a polar plunge in Bow Lake.
The beauty of this day is that we can stop for anything and everything that catches our eye - whether it be beautiful sights, wildlife, or even visiting Canada's best porta potty.
Finally, we will arrive in YOHO National Park and settle down at our private campsite for the night in preparation for another big day of adventures with the squad.
Accommodation style:
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Private campground in Golden
Day 12: YOHO National Park
White. Water. Rafting. On YOHO’s Kicking Horse River. Yes. Yes. YES!
This day will have you yelling “WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!” for 99.9% of the day. We’ll be taking the wildest adventure along the rapids of YOHO’s Kicking Horse river, accompanied by a professional rafting guide who’s there to ensure that we all have an incredible time on the river.
In the afternoon, we’ll get to enjoy some of YOHO’s best highlights and hidden gems – Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls and some casual lake floating to end the day. Everything about this park is incredible, so you’re bound to love your YOHO experience.
Included Activity:
Accommodation style:
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Private campground in Golden
Days 13 and 14: Explore Banff
Banff, here we come!
Banff is a beautiful mountain town with forests, mountains and lakes GALORE. On the way, we visit some final YOHO hidden gems (hello Wapta Falls), before arriving in Banff and taking the gondola up to Sulphur Mountain. Soak in the yummy waterfalls and beautiful mountain views before we set up camp in Banff.
On day two, get ready to visit the most famous places Banff has to offer: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake! As the most photographed lakes in the world, you can't miss a hike around Lake Louise and a canoe ride across the Gatorade blue waters of Moraine Lake before a delicious and final FMLy dinner and night out in Banff.
Included Activity:
Accommodation style:
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Frontcountry camping in Banff National Park
Day 15: Calgary Drop Off
Day 15 marks the end of our West Coast Best Coast adventure. With two hours of free time, it's time to browse the local shops of Banff Village and get our last dose of the mountains before heading to Calgary. Calgary is where we say our goodbyes and reminisce on our epic 15-day adventures across Western Canada *Cue the waterworks*
