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🇨🇦 Itinerary · Western Canada · 30 days

1-month Canada itinerary 2026: the whole West

30 days in Western Canada: the Rockies, British Columbia parks, Vancouver and all of Vancouver Island. Day-by-day road trip, distances and costed budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

30 days

Stops

11 places

Average budget

€4,800-6,800

Total distance

~3,200 km

Profile

Grand tour

Season

Jun-Sep

Calgary 2d · Banff 3d · Lake Louise & Yoho 3d · Jasper 3d · Wells Gray 2d · Okanagan 3d · Vancouver 4d · Victoria 3d · Tofino 4d · North island 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Canada 1-month itinerary map: Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Wells Gray, Okanagan, Vancouver, Victoria, Tofino, Yoho

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

10 days, day by day

1

Stage 1

Calgary · Arrival & city

  • Days 1-2 Calgary, tower, Inglewood district. Pick up the car (SUV recommended). Optional Stampede in July.
🛌 🛌 Calgary · e.g. Hotel Arts (2 nights)·🚗 Rental from the airport·Canada guide →
3

Stage 2

Calgary → Banff · Rockies

  • Days 3-5 Banff: Sulphur Mountain, Lake Minnewanka, Johnston Canyon, hot springs, wildlife.
🛌 🛌 Banff · e.g. Banff Caribou Lodge (3 nights)·🚗 130 km
6

Stage 3

Banff → Lake Louise & Yoho

  • Days 6-8 Moraine Lake by shuttle, Lake Louise, then neighbouring Yoho Park: Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge.
🛌 🛌 Field (Yoho) · e.g. Emerald Lake Lodge (3 nights)·🚌 shuttle · 🚗 Yoho
9

Stage 4

Lake Louise → Jasper · Icefields Parkway

  • Days 9-11 Icefields Parkway (233 km). Jasper: Maligne Canyon and Lake, Spirit Island, starry sky, Miette hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Jasper · e.g. Forest Park Hotel (3 nights)·🚗 233 km
12

Stage 5

Jasper → Wells Gray · Waterfalls

  • Days 12-13 Leave the Rockies (3h30). Wells Gray Park: Helmcken Falls, lakes, old-growth forest.
🛌 🛌 Clearwater · e.g. Dutch Lake Resort (2 nights)·🚗 320 km
14

Stage 6

Wells Gray → Okanagan · Vineyards

  • Days 14-16 Okanagan Valley: Kelowna, wine route, lake swimming, orchards, mild climate.
🛌 🛌 Kelowna · e.g. Hotel Eldorado (3 nights)·🚗 270 km
17

Stage 7

Okanagan → Vancouver · Metropolis

  • Days 17-20 Vancouver: Stanley Park, Gastown, Capilano, Granville Island, Whistler day trip, whales.
🛌 🛌 Vancouver · e.g. Sandman City Centre (4 nights)·🚗 390 km
21

Stage 8

Vancouver → Victoria · Island

  • Days 21-23 Ferry to the island. Victoria: Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens, orca watching, Sooke coast.
🛌 🛌 Victoria · e.g. Hotel Grand Pacific (3 nights)·⛴️ BC Ferry · 🚗 island
24

Stage 9

Victoria → Tofino · Wild coast

  • Days 24-27 Drive to Tofino (4h, 320 km) via Cathedral Grove (giant trees). Pacific Rim Park, surf at Long Beach, Hot Springs Cove, rainforest.
🛌 🛌 Tofino · e.g. Pacific Sands Beach Resort (4 nights)·🚗 320 km of winding roads
28

Stage 10

Tofino → North island

  • Days 28-30 Drive up to Campbell River and the north of the island. Bear and whale watching, ancient forests, final beaches.
  • Return Return ferry to Vancouver, airport (YVR). Flight back to Paris.
🛌 🛌 Campbell River · e.g. Anchor Inn (3 nights)·🚗 + ⛴️ return

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€4,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight (open-jaw): €900
  • 🏨 Hostel/motel: €100/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 Car 30 days: €40/day
  • 🍔 Groceries/diners: €40/day
  • 🎫 Parks pass + ferries + activities: €350
Recommended

Comfort

€5,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight (open-jaw): €950
  • 🏨 Lodge/3★ hotel: €170/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 SUV 30 days: €60/day
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €50/day
  • 🎫 Whales, bears, tours: €600

Premium

€9,800

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €2,000
  • 🏨 Fairmont, lodges, 4★: €380/night
  • 🚗 Premium SUV: €95/day
  • 🚁 Flights + experiences: €1,200
  • 🎫 Private tours: €900

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

The Rockies: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Calgary through the Rockies to Vancouver.

You're here

1 month

1 month

The whole West: Rockies, Vancouver and its island.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

Over a month, this trip covers ~3,200 km from Calgary to Vancouver Island by car, with a BC ferry. Choose an open-jaw ticket (arrive Calgary, return Vancouver) to avoid backtracking. The Parks Canada pass (€75) covers Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Wells Gray.

🚗

Rental car 30 days

€40-60/day · SUV advised · open-jaw Calgary/Vancouver

✈️

Open-jaw flight

Arrive Calgary · return Vancouver · saves 1,000 km back

⛴️

BC Ferry (Vancouver Island)

1h35 · book in summer with car

🐻

Bear & whale watching

Vancouver Island · black bears, orcas, humpbacks in season

Adapt by season

June to September, peak summer in July-August

A month in the West runs from June to September. July-August are hot and dry in the Rockies and Okanagan, perfect for swimming and hiking, but it's high season. September brings autumn colours and fewer people. The Pacific coast (Tofino, the island) stays wetter year-round but gorgeous. Outside summer, several mountain roads and links slow down or require snow tyres.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In August 2021 I surfed Long Beach at Tofino under a light mist, then walked the Pacific Rim rainforest in the afternoon: going from the icy ocean to the thousand-year-old trees in one day remains my island highlight. Allow at least 4 days for Tofino, the drive from Victoria is long (4h winding).
  • • Add Yoho Park next to Lake Louise, Emerald Lake is worth the detour.
  • • The north of Vancouver Island for bears, away from the southern crowds.
  • • The open-jaw Calgary/Vancouver ticket, saving 1,000 km.
  • • Book Spirit Island and Moraine shuttles well ahead.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Don't underestimate the Victoria → Tofino drive (4h winding), leave early.
  • • Book the BC ferry and Tofino accommodation months ahead.
  • • Leave a margin on the island, distances are longer than they look.
  • • Pack rain gear for the Pacific coast, wet year-round.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is a month necessary for this trip? +
Yes to link the Rockies, the BC interior and all of Vancouver Island without rushing, about 3,200 km and 11 stops. In 2 weeks, you stop at Victoria without pushing on to Tofino (see our 2-week format).
Do I need an open-jaw ticket? +
Strongly recommended: arrive in Calgary, return from Vancouver. It avoids 1,000 km of empty backtracking. Most airlines offer this without a major surcharge.
When is the best time to go? +
June to September. July-August are hot and dry in the Rockies and Okanagan, perfect for swimming, but it's high season. September offers autumn colours and fewer people.
Will we see bears and whales? +
Yes, it's one of this trip's highlights: black bears and grizzlies from the Rockies roads and on the island, orcas and humpbacks off Victoria and the north island (May-October). Always keep your distance.
Is the drive to Tofino difficult? +
Not difficult but long and winding: 4h from Victoria (320 km) through the mountains, with the Cathedral Grove stop. Leave early, take breaks, and plan 4 days there to enjoy it.
Do I need an eTA for Canada? +
Yes, the eTA is mandatory for French citizens arriving by air (about CAD 7, valid 5 years), to apply online before departure. The passport must be valid for the whole stay.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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