Western Bike Explorer

Welcome to Canada! On arrival, please make your way to your hotel for this night. Rest, relax and recuperate. Tomorrow you ride!

After breakfast you collect your motorcycle and the adventure begins. Head for the Capilano Suspension Bridge on the North Shore. Then ride the famous ‘Sea to Sky’ highway to the alpine resort of Whistler. The quiet Duffey Lake Road then leads across the scenic Coastal Mountains to the warm and dry high sierra. Lillooet is a small native community set on the banks of the Fraser River and an interesting place to stop before your overnight stay in Cache Creek.

The Trans-Canada Highway gives you two riding options into the BC interior, east along the South Thompson Valley or south to the scenic ‘cowboy country’ of the Nicola Valley and the vineyards of the Okanagan. Both routes take you to Kamloops, a large regional centre with an interesting native museum. We love the quieter highways that take you away from the traffic along quieter valleys and lakes. Then ride along Shushwap Lake into the rugged Monashee Mountains, where the friendly town of Revelstoke awaits.

Start with a scenic 26-km hairpin ride to the top of Mt Revelstoke National Park, and explore the glaciers, mountain roads and cedar forests of Glacier National Park. You can also hire an ATV, go canoeing, white water rafting, hiking or flightseeing.

A ride along the Trans-Canada Highway brings you through the amazing Glacier National Park and the unspoilt wilderness of Yoho and Banff National Parks. Along the way, visit historic Golden, beautiful Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls, Lake Louise and picture perfect Moraine Lake before settling into your hotel.

No need for an early start. Banff is just 45 minutes away but there’s plenty to see and do in Banff National Park. Ride the twisty Bow Valley Parkway, walk into Johnson Canyon or paddle a canoe on Lake Louise. Banff is beautiful and always buzzing with plenty of attractions, shopping and a huge selection of bars and restaurants to tempt you.

Banff offers plenty of options. Explore Lake Minnewanka, the hoodoos and Bow Falls. Take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and soak in the hot springs. Or try your hand at horse riding, canoeing, hiking or mountain biking, perhaps finishing the day with a tasty western dinner at Wild Bill’s.

Today you ride what many consider to be the world’s most scenic highway, the Icefields Parkway, flanked by snow-capped peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes and forested valleys. Marvel at the views across Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, the blue of Peyto Lake. Cross the Bow and Sunwapta Passes and top at the Columbia Icefields Centre to take a ride or walk on a Glacier. Always keep an eye open for some of the diverse wildlife that frequently shows up on the roadside. You have a two night stay in Jasper to further enjoy the amazing national park scenery.

A full day to explore the Rockies and Jasper. We include a 90-minute morning cruise on Maligne Lake in our itinerary, allowing you plenty of time take the mountain road to Mount Edith Cavell, hike the Maligne Canyon, ride the Sky Tram or have lunch on top of Whistler Mountain.

The Yellowhead Highway takes you to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson. Then through the Columbia Mountains to Clearwater and Wells Gray Park, where you will find Dawson Falls and the spectacular Helmcken Falls which are three times higher than Niagara Falls.

You head west again today through the area of 1000 lakes, famous for its great fishing. Then follow the Fraser River and historic Goldrush Trail north on the Caribou Highway. There is an optional 160km side trip to the goldfields of Barkerville before staying overnight in the northern city of Prince George.

Another day of empty roads and great riding, continue onward through Vanderhoof in the beautiful Nenchako Valley. Visit picturesque Fort St James and see the historic buildings of Telkwa, set at the confluence of two pristine mountain rivers.

The ride west from Smithers to the Pacific Ocean follows the winding Skeena River where River boats once serviced the mining ‘port’ of Hazelton, where several native tribes also lived, and provided transport to the port of Prince Rupert. Discover the traditions of the Tsimshians natives and the colourful history of this little town and Prince Rupert.

Thousands of years ago the Ice Age sculptured the many fjords of the Inside Passage. Today is a day to let the world pass by slowly and take in the breath-taking mountain views and marine life of the Pacific as you relax on the scenic ferry ride to Vancouver Island.

Explore the beautiful northern end of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy is a bustling port and offers wildlife viewing excursions for Bear, Elk, Moose, Birdlife and, of course, Whales. Ride south, passing quiet little inlet communities to Port McNeil and Campbell River, the self-proclaimed ‘Salmon Capital of the world’. At the end of your ride, maybe stroll in the sea breeze on Discovery Pier. You might see salmon, eagles, or whales very close by. Take in views over Discovery Passage, Quadra Island and the Coastal Mountain range of mainland British Columbia. Explore the trails along the Campbell River.

Campbell River is the gateway to Strathcona Park, the Discovery Islands, and West Vancouver Island. In these renowned wilderness destinations, you’ll find a world of mountains, beautiful coastlines and islands. Hug the coast along the Strait of Georgia for great views as you head south. Qualicum Beach has a 4km stretch of sand and a seaside promenade. Visit Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park before riding west to the wild and unspoilt Pacific Coast and the Pacific Rim National Park. Visit Port Alberni and take a ride on a restored 1920s train before you reach the 200ft rainforest trees and raging rivers of the far west. Tofino lies at the end of the road and offers tranquillity in a breath-taking landscape.

Charter a boat, or take a bear or whale watching tour, and round off the day with a visit to the local Micro Brewery.

You won’t be disappointed to ride the Pacific Rim Highway a second time. Some say the views are better going east. Enjoy Canadian culture with the murals on the buildings in Chemainus and totem poles in Duncan. Explore Victoria’s Parliament, historic buildings and the Royal British Columbia Museum with its superb native art. Visit Fisgard lighthouse, or go whale watching on the protected Pacific coastline.

The return to the mainland is by a scenic ferry trip across the Strait of Georgia from Swartz Bay to Vancouver. It’s a short ride from the ferry terminal into Vancouver giving you plenty of time to explore Victoria or Vancouver.

Return your motorcycle early and give yourself time to sightsee in this beautiful city. Take a city highlights tour, visit Stanley Park, Chinatown, Granville Island, Gastown and of course famous Robson St, before returning to the airport for your flight home.