Canada Road Trip: Vancouver vibes and Rocky Mountains

Let's gooo! You board the plane and jet straight towards Canada's West Coast. Window seat bagged, headphones on, film at the ready – now it's time to simply lean back and enjoy the excitement! From above, you already get a taste of what's to come: endless forests, glistening lakes and the Rockies in the distance. Then as soon as you land, you grab the keys to your hire car and you’re ready to roll – your Canadian adventure can begin!
Welcome to Vancouver – where everyone wants to live, including you now! After all, it's supposedly the most liveable city in the world. Time to check it out for yourself! Pro tip: The SkyTrain goes straight from the airport to the city centre (optional, payable on site). If it's still early enough once you get there, it's worth making a detour to Gastown. Between the Victorian brick facades and cobblestones, everything here feels a bit like old-school Vancouver, until you glance over at the glittering skyline again. And when you hear an odd sound, that’s just the famous steam clock whistling! It marks the perfect signal to slowly wind down for the day, because your next round of city adventures awaits tomorrow.

Skyscrapers, water and – no matter where you stand – a totally next-level view of the mountains! Vancouver delivers absolute city vibes against a stunning natural backdrop, and you're right in the middle of it all. So you've just got to explore! Start out at Canada Place, where seaplanes take off and land every minute, then stroll along the Burrard Inlet and check out the swanky yachts in Coal Harbour. Next up: the world-famous Stanley Park, aka Canada's largest city park. You can even grab a bike (optional, payable on site) and ride around it all! Plus, because the park’s on a peninsula, it guarantees a super special view: giant, ancient trees on one side and the sea on the other – you can't find that just anywhere! And what’s definitely got to be on your DIY city tour? Granville Island, of course! Around 300 little shops, creative arts and crafts outlets and a foodie paradise await in the indoor market. From freshly caught salmon to shiny donuts and international street food, there's nothing you won't be able to find here!

Out of Vancouver and into adventure! Today, you're taking the legendary Coquihalla Highway towards Kamloops, and you're in for a mountain road straight out of a film: winding bends, sheer rock faces, lush forests and pure views as far as the eye can see. So keep your camera close by! In Hope, it's worth stopping at the Othello Tunnels, where old railway tunnels run right through the middle of a gorge, which are both easy to walk and super impressive. Then continue rolling through Canada's wilderness until you arrive in Merritt and enjoy a little break with a refreshing iced coffee in the local café before turning onto the home straight!
After a day packed full of new sights, Kamloops is ready to welcome you in the evening. So, hop out of the driver's seat and do a little vibe check in the city: stroll through the hip centre, grab an ice cream at Scoopz (trust us, it's worth it!) and then make your way to Riverside Park for the stunning sunset. Finally, it's off to bed – head full, heart happy.

Onwards and upwards towards the Rockies! Epic mountain panoramas are on the agenda today. In Glacier National Park, you’re in for dense dark-green forests, winding alpine passes and, of course, the icy glaciers that give the park its name – pure nature! Here, Canada is in total flex mode. Once you’ve taken it all in, you continue on to the next destination.
You pass the classic, wooden 'Welcome to Banff' sign and hey, presto: you're in the highest town in Canada! As you stroll along Banff Avenue, you realise that you've landed in an outdoor-lovers' paradise. Folks stroll around in hiking gear everywhere you look, outdoor shops dot every corner and, right in front of you, massive mountains rise up like something straight out of a postcard. Fun fact: a moose sometimes hangs out on this street. No joke! So you keep your eyes peeled – nature's totally wild here! Next up, you head to Moraine Lake for the grand finale of the day: crystal-clear water so turquoise it looks like you're watching it through a filter, surrounded by huge mountains and a stunning sunset that bathes everything in warm red tones. Does it get any better than this?!