6 - 8 day Grand Circle Tour
Vancouver - Kamloops - Valemount -
Shuswap - Okanagan - Vancouver
Day 1 - Vancouver - Boston Bar - Lytton - Cache Creek - Kamloops
(approx. 5 Hours Drive)
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From Vancouver, follow the Trans Canada Hwy. #1 north along portions of the original Gold Rush Trail. Stop at Hell?s Gate in Boston Bar for an aerial tram ride high above the breathtaking Fraser Canyon. (drive time - 2 hr. 30 mins)
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Continue north to Lytton, the gateway to Gold Country where the mighty Fraser and Thompson Rivers meet. Watch for rafters along the way enjoying a trip down the river. (Drive time - 45 mins)
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From Lytton, head to Cache Creek where you can tour one of the last original roadhouses of the Gold Rush Trail - Historic Hat Creek Ranch. (drive time - 50 mins)
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After visiting Cache Creek, follow Hwy. 1 through desert like terrain, rolling grasslands, rich farmlands and acres of ginseng to Kamloops.
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Offering all services of a larger center, Kamloops is a delight with a wide range of shopping, downtown and riverside restaurants, streetside cafes and entertainment such as summertime music in the park, theatre and sporting events. (drive time - 1 hr.)
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Overnight in the Kamloops area.
Day 2 - Kamloops - Clearwater- Blue River 0r Valemount
( 5 - 6 Hours Drive, Depending on which route)
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Scenery and more scenery is the theme for this day. From Kamloops, take highway 5 north (the Yellowhead) to Clearwater, the gateway to Wells Gray park (drive time - 1 hr 30 mins to Clearwater, 1 hr 50 mins to Helmcken Falls).
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Spend the morning exploring Wells Gray park on horseback or strolling along a few of the many trails.
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Lunch in Clearwater.
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Continue north to Blue River and Valemount (popular Heli vacation sites). Common sights along the way are icefields including the massive Alberta Glacier.
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Overnight in a hotel nestled between the Cariboo, Rocky and Monashee mountains or overnight Blue River or Valemount (drive time: to Blue River 1 hr 15 mins, to Valemount 2 hrs 15 mins)
Day 3 - Blue River or Valemount - Mount Robson
Day 4 - Mount Robson - Shuswap
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Circle back west to the Shuswap along the Trans Canada Highway.
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Drive time from Banff, Alberta, is 4 hrs 30 mins.
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Overnight in the Shuswap area and enjoy the beauty of the Shuswap Lakes system.
Day 5 - Salmon Arm - Sicamous - Vernon
(1.25 Hours Drive)
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Travel East along Hwy. 1 to Salmon Arm. Spend the morning browsing through Salmon Arm for crafts by local artisans and strolling along the waterfront where you will see the largest freshwater pier in North America.
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Salmon Arm?s pride in its past is evident in the careful restoration of heritage buildings located the RJ Haney Heritage Park.
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The Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Area provides a wonderful ecological opportunity for wildlife viewing.
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Wind up the morning with lunch at a downtown cafe.
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After your morning in Salmon Arm continue east along Hwy. 1 to Sicamous - the "Houseboat Capital". Here you can rent a powerboat to spend the afternoon water-skiing or try your hand at jet skiing. For a more relaxing afternoon, Sicamous has many hiking trails for all ages and abilities.
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From Sicamous, head south for Vernon. Overnight
Day 6 - Vernon - Kelowna
(1 Hour Drive )
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Travel Highway 97 through to Kelowna. Stop and enjoy the views, road side fruit stands when in season and winery tour at Gray Monk Cellars.
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Travel into Kelowna and enjoy the waterfront parks, sidewalk cafes, museums, and shopping
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Overnight in Kelowna
Day 7 - Kelowna - Penticton - Osoyoos - Penticton
(4 Hours Drive)
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Travel south to Penticton and stop at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery for a tour
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Enjoy a lunch at the wineries bistro, Cellar Door
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Travel to the south Okanagan communities of Naramata, Oliver and Osoyoos.
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There are several wineries and road side fruit stands to visit
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Overnight in Penticton
Day 8 - Penticton - Keremeos - Vancouver
(6 hours drive)
Note: To make this tour a 6 day itinerary, from Kamloops (Day 2) head to the Shuswap and tour the area, overnight in Revelstoke or Golden; (Day 3) head to Banff and overnight, (Day 4) travel to the Okanagan for the final leg of the tour.
