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Real Canada

12 Days | Take a hike on this active adventure along Canada’s west coast

4.5 out of 5 based on 21 reviews submitted.
18 to 29s
From
NZD $3,308
View dates and book
This trip is for the 18 to 29 year olds

Ready to take a hike? You’ve come to the right place. Canada is home to some of the finest trails in North America. This tour will have you tackling paths that coil around mountains and snake through inland rainforests, plus enjoying views of massive glaciers and snow-covered peaks in the Canadian Rockies. Combine active adventures with spotting wildlife, munching maple-flavoured everything (cookies, donuts, bacon – you name it) and stargazing with your new friends. This 12-day adventure is the perfect introduction to Canada’s beautiful west coast.

Trip overview

Map of Real Canada including Canada
Start
Vancouver, Canada
Finish
Vancouver, Canada
Theme
18 to 29s
Destinations
Canada
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 29
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
SSYA
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.
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Why you'll love this trip
  • Keep your eyes peeled for moose and woodland caribous among towering cedar trees in the fairytale forest of Mt Revelstoke National Park.
  • The spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies makes for the perfect opportunity to unleash your inner Nat Geo photographer. It’s really hard to take a bad picture here.
  • From rafting trips to glacier treks, this trip is packed full of optional outdoor activities, giving you the perfect chance to get your hands and boots dirty.
  • Spend a few days seeing what all the fuss is about in Whistler, North America’s premier outdoor adventure hotspot (and a very quaint village to boot).
  • As a small group travelling in a private vehicle, we can be flexible depending on your preferences. Want to make a detour? If the group agrees, go for it!

Is this trip right for you?
  • Canada is a huge country and you want to see as much as possible on this tour. Be prepared for some long days of driving with your fellow travellers in a private vehicle. This is all part of the adventure though, and tight spaces can form firm friendships, but free space can be limited.
  • It is not uncommon for snow to remain on the ground in higher elevations until the end of May. The presence of snow may impact certain activities such as scenic gondolas or mountain hikes in late spring. Your trip leader will have a range of suggestions for alternative activities to do in your free time no matter the season. 
  • As we're travelling through the glorious mountains, weather can be unpredictable. We advise wearing layers in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so make sure you have warm clothing with you. Camping can be especially cold at the start and end of the season, though if you pack right, you’ll be comfortable.
  • This trip is an authentic, participatory adventure. You'll be expected to help with shopping, cooking and cleaning, as well as setting up and packing down your tent.
  • While this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, we recommend you are at least moderately fit in order to enjoy the included and optional activities. If you're not able to participate in all the hikes, you'll miss out on some fantastic scenery as well as the chance to see native flora and fauna.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Real Canada including Canada

Inclusions

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (10 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Activities
  • Mt. Revelstoke National Park
  • Glacier National Park
  • Rogers Pass Discovery Centre
  • Yoho National Park
  • Banff National Park
  • Visit to Lake Louise
  • Visit to Moraine Lake
  • Jasper National Park - Entrance Fee
  • Visit to Maligne Lake
  • Wells Gray Provincial Park
  • Vancouver orientation tour
Add on activities
  • Yoho National Park - Kicking Horse rafting (half day) - CAD109
  • Yoho National Park - Kicking Horse rafting (full day) - CAD159
  • Yoho National Park - Canoe Hire - CAD75
  • Banff - Cable Car up Sulphur Mountain - CAD60
  • Banff - Hot springs - CAD8
  • Banff National Park - Helicopter flight (25 mins) - CAD275
  • Banff - Horse Riding (1 hour) - CAD60
  • Banff - Mountain bike hire (full day) - CAD45
  • Banff - Cruiser bike hire (full day) - CAD38
  • Icefields Parkway - Athabasca Glacier Hike with Guide - CAD115
  • Jasper - SkyTram - CAD60
  • Jasper - Bike rental - CAD30
  • Jasper - Cruise on Maligne Lake - CAD79
  • Wells Gray Provincial Park - hiking - Free
  • Whistler - PEAK2PEAK Gondola - CAD82
  • Whistler - Zip Trek Tour (1.5 hrs) - CAD129
  • Whistler – Standard Mountain Bike Rental (full day) - CAD90

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on day 1. This trip finishes on arrival into Vancouver around 3pm on Day 12.
2. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip however excludes nights 4, 5 & 6 (Banff National Park) and nights 7 & 8 (Jasper National Park) where you will be in shared accommodation. This is due to the availability of campsites and campsite space in these locations where Canadian National Parks are very strict about the number of tents per site.
3. A sleeping bag is required for this trip. If you would like to rent a sleeping bag locally, the cost is $50 CAD, payable in cash to your guide on Day 1 of the trip. Please advise your booking agent prior to departure if you require a sleeping bag rental.
4. Please note that the legal drinking age in the US is 21 and in some parts of Canada it's 19.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 based on 21 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Oliver · Traveled September 2023
Stunning scenery. Great fun. If you get Mikael for your tour guide, you're in luck. You are camping and moving around fairly quickly so you're gonna be exhausted by the end of it but that's all part of the fun.
Review submitted 19 Oct 2023

Monique · Traveled August 2023
I would 100% recommend this tour. It was the perfect length and you got to see so much that you wouldn’t be able to do on your own. The sights are beautiful and you make amazing friends on the way. Special mention to our awesome leader Mikael, he made the trip unforgettable.
Review submitted 03 Sep 2023

Paul · Traveled August 2023
An awesome trip. Mikaël was a great guide, the people were cool, and the scenery was gorgeous. Camping was fun and we didn’t have any problems outside of some weather at the beginning. Highlight of the trip was seeing elk, a moose, and a bear on the same day in Jasper!
Review submitted 03 Sep 2023

Alydia · Traveled August 2023
I loved this trip and would recommend it to anyone. The scenery was breathtaking and fed the soul. Our guide Mikail was a legend and we owe so much of the trip being as good as it was to him. He cooked every night and was very efficient with the food kitty (right down to noticing what people were/weren't eating and adjusting accordingly), was super organised and switched on, and constantly went the extra mile to ensure the group saw as much as possible / advised us on activities to ensure each individual personally got the experience they wanted. To address the negative reviews: yes, the first and last few days, bookending the trip, are mainly driving with fairly brief stops (you're covering a long way!). But once you hit Banff, and are settling into campsites for 2 - 3 nights, you won't feel it. For those who say it feels like a school trip - didn't find this at all. Secondly, this trip says 'moderate fitness'. But if you're more active and outdoorsy, this is one for you and you'll get more out of it. The best hikes require a higher base level of fitness and are absolutely worth it! As paid activities go, rafting, zip lining and horse riding were all amazing ways to see a new side of the Rockies - but if you can only choose one, make it the Athabasca Glacier. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are also heaps of free options - a personal highlight was hiking the Valley of the Five Lakes in Jasper (this is the best and warmest spot to wild swim and where you will most likely see wildlife), and hiking to a swimmable waterfall in Wells Grey. One last tip - LAYERS. At night, you want fleeces and beanies - no matter how hot the day has been. During the day, we had everything from clouds and rain (so bring a raincoat!!) to 27° heat (running base layers work super well and don't take up much space in your rucksack).
Review submitted 02 Sep 2023

Paige · Traveled July 2023
First of all, the scenery and wildlife were spectacular. Camping equipment was easy to use and the food kitty worked well. However, there is a huge amount of driving on this trip and while it was broken up well it does come at the cost of actually seeing the places you’re driving to. There was very little free time and so it really did feel like a school trip. We had communication issues with the guide at the start of the trip and while I appreciate that both intrepid and the guide tried to sort it, for the amount we paid it shouldn’t have happened. The biggest disappointment for me and I think the rest of my group was that we didn’t go to Moraine Lake. When I asked the guide why she said that “it was too much of a hassle last time” and that “we probably wouldn’t have had time.” Considering it’s included in the itinerary and in photos advertising this trip that isn’t a good enough excuse especially when it’s probably the most iconic spot in the Rockies. This is the 5th intrepid trip I’ve done and the only negative experience I’ve ever had so I was overall really disappointed. My expectations were high after my winter 2018 trip to Canada with Intrepid which was one of my favourite ever travel experiences and this really failed to meet it. If this was my first trip with your company I wouldn’t be rebooking for other tours.
Review submitted 21 Jul 2023
Real Canada
From
NZD $3,308