Terrace Northern BC | Credit: Tourism BC / Andrew Strain

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The Coastal Way Self-Drive

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Terrace Northern BC | Credit: Tourism BC / Andrew Strain

Northern Expedition | Credit: Northern BC Tourism / Mike Seehagel

Cow Bay Prince Rupert | Credit: Northern BC Tourism / Shayd Johnson

Cassiar Cannery Prince Rupert | Credit: Destination BC / Andrew Strain

Orca Whale | Credit: Destination BC / Andrew Strain

Aerial photo of Vancouver | Credit: Albert Normandin

Victoria Inner Harbour | Credit: Destination BC

Butchart Gardens | Credit: Destination BC/Local Wanderer

Jasper National Park

Maligne Lake | Credit: Parks Canada Ryan Bray

Bow River | Credit: Noel Hendrickson

Canada

The Coastal Way Self-Drive (Tour code: 11679)

Starts and Ends

Vancouver to
Calgary

Travel Periods

28 May 24 - 25 Sep 24

Experience

Self-Drive

Travel Style

Independent Holiday Packages

Travelling from the lush coastlines of southern British Columbia through to the Canadian Rockies, make for an ideal road trip.

Highlights

Embark on a full day of cruising the sheltered waters of Canada’s Inside Passage

Head out on a Whale Watching & Wildlife Safari Cruise in Campbell River

Travel through the spine of the Canadian Rockies along the amazing Icefields Parkway

Cross the Georgia Strait through the beautiful Gulf Islands to Victoria

Explore the fishing community of Port Hardy

Enjoy Freedom of Choice days in Victoria, Jasper and Banff

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12 days

From

AUD 5,992

per person, twin share

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Freedom of Choice options need to be confirmed within the next 2 weeks.

As multiple rooms have been selected, our team will contact you to discuss the Freedom of Choice options.

Day 1

Butchart Gardens Admission

Eat like a Canadian Food Tour

Whale Watch Cruise

Day 9

Maligne Lake Cruise

Jasper River Float

Jasper Nature Walk

Day 11

Banff Gondola

Lake Minnewanka Cruise

River Explorer Canoe Tour

Bow River Horseback Adventure

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Overview Inclusions Itinerary Accommodation Additional Information FAQs

Overview

Depart from one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver. Pick up your rental car and drive to Victoria. Cruise across Georgia Strait through the beautiful Gulf Islands with BC Ferries to Vancouver Island to explore Butchart Gardens.

Travelling north on the Island Highway, pass through Duncan, the “City of Totems” to Campbell River where you'll enjoy some of the best Whale Watching and Wildlife Safari Cruise.

Embark on a full day of cruising the sheltered waters of Canada’s Inside Passage. Along the passage, you'll encounter a wonderful array of snow-capped mountains combined with rich forests, which provides a background for a series of dramatic landscapes.

Follow the Yellowhead Highway, hugging the Skeena River, passing through the mining town of Terrace and into Smithers. Follow mountain passes and raging rivers as you wind your way to an overnight stop in Jasper. Discover the picturesque alpine town of Jasper on a Maligne Lake Cruise, Jasper River Float or Guided Nature Walk. Embrace the spectacular scenery including glacier-fed lakes, lush forests, and mighty rivers.

Experience the thrill of the amazing Icefields Parkway and enjoy the ultimate glacier exploration. Take in stunning aerial views on the Glacier Skywalk, standing on a glass platform almost 300 meters in the air.

Explore the charming resort town of Banff with a wide choice of excursions. Take in the views of Banff National Park on a scenic Gondola or marvel at the Canadian Rockies by boat cruising across Lake Minnewanka. Navigate the waters of Banff National Park on a River Explorer Canoe Tour or saddle up for a guided horseback adventure through the National Park. Take in the last glimpses of the Rockies before heading to Calgary where this incredible journey ends.

ENTIRE Cooling-Off Period
ENTIRE AUD Prices
ENTIRE Change of Mind
ENTIRE Industry Accredited
ENTIRE On Ground Support
ENTIRE Australian Owned

Inclusions

1 night in Victoria at Inn at Laurel Point

2 nights in Campbell River at the Coast Discovery Inn

1 night in Port Hardy at the Quarterdeck Inn

1 night in Prince Rupert at Prestige Hotel

1 night in Smithers at Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge

1 night in Prince George at Sandman Signature Hotel

2 nights in Jasper at Forest Park Hotel

2 nights in in Banff at Banff Caribou Lodge

12 days intermediate size car rental including GPS

BC Ferry between Vancouver and Vancouver Island

BC Ferry between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert

Whale Watching & Wildlife Safari Cruise

Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier

Glacier Skywalk Admission

Freedom of Choice Days

Freedom of Choice

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day, as follows:

One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 1
One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 9
One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 11

Expand the itinerary below for more details.

Please note, if more than one room is selected during the booking process, our team will contact you afterwards to discuss options.

Itinerary

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Day 1 Vancouver Victoria

Depart Vancouver this morning to Victoria. Cruise across Georgia Strait through the beautiful Gulf Islands with BC Ferries to Vancouver Island. Time to explore Victoria, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, and British traditions such as high tea and shops full of woolens and china. Today you can personalize your day by pre-selecting one of three Freedom of Choice excursions below.

Overnight in Victoria at Inn at Laurel Point

Freedom of Choice Options

Butchart Gardens Admission:
On its 100th birthday in 2004, the Butchart Gardens was named a National Historic Site of Canada. Explore 22 hectares/55 acres of breathtaking gardens on the 53 hectare/130 acre estate.

Eat like a Canadian Food Tour:
Not many people can define exactly what Canadian food is. From local ingredients to historic dishes, this tour is the best way to experience Canadian culinary culture. Sip and savour local cuisine, explore the iconic Inner Harbour, and meet the chefs and owners that make Victoria such an exciting culinary hot spot.

Whale Watch Cruise:
Get up close with the killer whales on the Salish Sea with this guided, 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise from Victoria. Climb aboard a covered or open boat equipped with hydrophones to hear the whales and bring the underwater experience to light.

Credit: Butchart Garden

Day 2 Victoria Campbell River

Travelling north on the Island Highway, pass through Duncan, the “City of Totems”. If time permits visit the Quw’utsun’ Heritage Village which provides you with an insight into the lives of the North West Coast People (seasonal hours - admission not included).

Further north is the artist community of Chemainus, where you can admire giant murals which adorn the exterior walls throughout the town. By late afternoon arrive in Campbell River.

Overnight in Campbell River at Coast Discovery Inn

Wildlife in Campbell River

Day 3 Campbell River

The diversity of wildlife and awe inspiring scenery that exists so close to Campbell River is unparalleled! The area has quickly become the most predictable place in the world to see the Bigg's or Transient, mammal-eating Orca! Pacific White-Sided Dolphins are common and can often be seen in large groups. Eagles and several varieties of seabirds are all sighted regularly.

Overnight in Campbell River at Coast Discovery Inn

Campbell River | Credit: Destination BC Boomer Jerritt

Day 4 Campbell River Port Hardy

Today, continue your journey north. Near Port McNeil you may wish to take an optional Orca watching cruise into the waters if Johnstone Strait. Your day ends in the fishing community of Port Hardy.

Overnight in Port Hardy at Quarterdeck Inn

Port Hardy waterfront | Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island

Day 5 Port Hardy Prince Rupert

Embark on a full day of cruising the sheltered waters of Canada’s Inside Passage with BC Ferries . During the length of the 15-hour crossing, a wonderful array of snow-capped mountains combined with rich forests provides a background for a series of dramatic fjords.

Overnight in Prince Rupert at Prestige Prince Rupert Hotel

Cow Bay Harbour Prince Rupert | Credit: Destination BC

Day 6 Prince Rupert Smithers

Today, follow the Yellowhead Highway, hugging the Skeena River for most of the way. Pass through the mining town of Terrace and into Smithers.

Overnight in Smithers at Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge

Terrace | Credit: Destination BC

Day 7 Smithers Prince George

Depart Smithers today, continuing along the Yellowhead Highway. Pass through Houston - known as the Steelhead Capital and home to the world’s biggest fly rod - over 18 metres in length! Next you will travel through Burns Lake and Vanderhoof into Prince George.

Overnight in Prince George at Sandman Signature Hotel & Suites

Smithers

Day 8 Prince George Jasper

Today is another unforgettable day of scenery. Follow mountain passes and raging rivers as you wind your way to an overnight stop in Jasper.

Overnight in Jasper at Forest Park Hotel

Jasper National Park

Day 9 Jasper

Time to explore all that Jasper has to offer! Today you can personalise your day by pre-selecting one of three Freedom of Choice excursions below.

Overnight in Jasper at Forest Park Hotel

Freedom of Choice Options

Maligne Lake Cruise:
Cruise Maligne Lake, where you can marvel at the magnificent shoreline and Spirit Island.

Jasper River Float:
Enjoy a gentle rafting tour on the Athabasca River for a unique perspective of Jasper National Park.

Jasper Nature Walk:
A guided nature walk featuring a spectacular array of rolling hills, jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams, and stunning glacial lakes.

Maligne Lake | Credit: Pursuit Mike Seehagel

Day 10 Jasper Banff

Today, travel through the spine of the Canadian Rockies along the amazing Icefields Parkway and encompass the ultimate glacier exploration. From walking on ancient ice with the Ice Explorer Ride, to standing on a glass platform almost one thousand feet in the air at the Glacier Skywalk, today’s experiences will leave you with a special appreciation for this treasured region of the Rockies.

Overnight in Banff at Banff Caribou Lodge

Glacier Skywalk | Credit: Pursuit

Day 11 Banff

With easy access to pristine wilderness and endless outdoor adventures, in Banff National Park you feel truly immersed in nature. Today you can personalize your day by pre-selecting one of four Freedom of Choice excursions below.

Overnight in Banff at Banff Caribou Lodge

Freedom of Choice Options

Banff Gondola:
Maximize your views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion on a round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Lake Minnewanka Cruise:
Admire views of the Canadian Rockies by boat as you cruise across the turquoise-hued Lake Minnewanka and over to Devil’s Gap.

River Explorer Canoe Tour:
Enjoy the serenity of the Bow River and marvel at the surroundings. A fun and interactive way with your guide to explore the waterways of Banff National Park. Perfect for families. No paddling experience necessary.

Bow River Horseback Adventure:
Saddle up for a journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback riding adventure.

Lake Minnewanka | Credit: Paul Zizka

Day 12 Banff Calgary

Today you will leave behind the fresh mountain air and colourful sights of the Rockies. Drop off you rental car at Calgary airport and start your journey home.

Accommodation

Inn at Laurel Point

Victoria
Overlooking Laurel Point Park, this waterfront hotel is a 5-minute walk from the Black Ball Ferry Line and a 10-minute walk from the Royal BC Museum. Featuring private balconies with water views, the airy rooms include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, plus minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. There's a heated indoor pool, an exercise room and a Japanese garden, plus a Pacific Rim-inspired restaurant with a patio and harbour views.

Quarter Deck Inn

Port Hardy
The Quarterdeck Inn & Marina Resort offers full-service comfort and hospitality to ensure a relaxing stay. Surrounded by nature just a short walk from downtown Port Hardy, each room offers beautiful ocean views and are equipped free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions with cable and mini fridges.

Prestige Prince Rupert Hotel

Prince Rupert
The Prestige Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of historic Prince Rupert, close to shopping and a variety of great local restaurants. The hotel is only a short stroll to Prince Rupert's Inner Harbour where you can enjoy local attractions, events and entertainment, as well as local artists' specialty shops and so much more.

Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge

Smithers
Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge is located minutes from downtown shops and restaurants, historic walking tours, picturesque hiking trails, outstanding mountain biking, scenic golfing and all the amazing attractions of the Bulkley Valley. Be sure to visit our two on-site restaurants, Noir Kitchen and Bar and Don Cherry’s Sports Grill. Guests are encouraged to borrow complimentary bikes, sporting equipment, board games and beach toys for added enjoyment.

Sandman Signature

Prince George
An 8-minute walk from Prince George Golf & Curling Club, this modern lodging is 15 minutes' walk from the banks of Fraser River. Forests for the World, a park with lakes and hiking trails, is 10 km away. Streamlined rooms have modern decor and muted tones. They offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and sitting areas.

Forest Park Hotel

Jasper
Set amidst the breathtaking Canadian Rockies, the Forest Park Hotel (formerly the Sawridge Inn) is a resort style hotel that offers the rustic charm you’d expect in Jasper National Park. Beautiful guest rooms, on-site spa, decadent dining and heated pool with jacuzzi and steam room add to the luxury you want in your mountain getaway.

Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa

Banff
Located in Banff National Park, the Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa offers a mountain lodge hotel, a great steakhouse restaurant and a full service spa, all in one outstanding location. This ideal vacation spot is located on Banff Avenue, the main street in the town of Banff. Surrounded by mountains, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy.

Additional information

Official language

French & English

Local currency

Canadian Dollars

Excluded

International airfares and taxes
Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.)
Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package
One-way car rental fees (if applicable). If any one-way surcharges apply, this will be advised at the time of booking and is payable locally upon collection of the vehicle.
Car rental rates exclude optional coverage such as Personal Accident Insurance Plus (PAI Plus) and Personal Effects Protection (PEP).

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
For further details please visit our Payments page.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

Travel on a specific airline of their choice
Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?