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🇨🇦 Itinerary · Western Canada · 14 days

2-week Canada itinerary 2026: Rockies and Pacific

14 days in Western Canada: the Rockies, the Okanagan and Vancouver. From Calgary to the Pacific, day by day, with real distances and costed budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

8 places

Average budget

€2,800-4,000

Total distance

~1,900 km

Profile

Nature & city

Season

Jun-Sep

Calgary 1d · Banff 2d · Lake Louise 1d · Jasper 2d · Wells Gray 1d · Okanagan 2d · Vancouver 3d · Victoria 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Canada 2-week itinerary map: Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Wells Gray, Okanagan, Vancouver, Victoria

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€110

Calgary · Arrival

  • Morning Arrival in Calgary. Pick up the car (SUV recommended).
  • Afternoon Rest or drive to Canmore, gateway to the Rockies.
🛌 🛌 Canmore · e.g. Basecamp Resorts (1 night)·🚗 Rental from the airport·Canada guide →
2

~€90

Banff · Town & lakes

  • Morning Sulphur Mountain gondola, Lake Minnewanka.
  • Afternoon Two Jack Lake, Vermilion Lakes, hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Banff · e.g. Banff Caribou Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 130 km from Calgary
3

~€70

Banff · Johnston Canyon

  • Morning Johnston Canyon hike and its waterfalls.
  • Afternoon Bow Falls, wildlife, downtime on Banff Avenue.
4

~€85

Banff → Lake Louise & Moraine

  • 6:30am Early shuttle to Moraine Lake.
  • Midday Lake Louise, canoe, Lake Agnes Tea House.
🛌 🛌 Lake Louise · e.g. Mountaineer Lodge (1 night)·🚌 shuttle · 🚗 Lake Louise
5

~€95

Lake Louise → Jasper · Icefields Parkway

  • 9am Icefields Parkway (233 km): Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier, falls.
  • Evening Arrival in Jasper.
🛌 🛌 Jasper · e.g. Forest Park Hotel (2 nights)·🚗 233 km
6

~€80

Jasper · Canyon & Maligne Lake

  • Morning Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, Spirit Island by boat.
  • Afternoon Whistlers SkyTram, starry sky in the evening.
7

~€90

Jasper → Wells Gray · Waterfalls

  • Morning Leave the Rockies for British Columbia (3h30, 320 km).
  • Afternoon Wells Gray Park: Helmcken Falls (141 m), dense forest.
🛌 🛌 Clearwater · e.g. Dutch Lake Resort (1 night)·🚗 320 km
8

~€100

Wells Gray → Okanagan · Vineyards

  • Morning Drive to the Okanagan Valley (3h, 270 km).
  • Afternoon Kelowna, lakes, vineyards and tasting, mild fruity climate.
🛌 🛌 Kelowna · e.g. Hotel Eldorado (2 nights)·🚗 270 km
9

~€75

Okanagan · Lakes & vines

  • Day Swim in Okanagan Lake, wine route, orchards, freshwater beaches.
  • Evening Dinner at a winery estate.
10

~€110

Okanagan → Vancouver

  • Morning Drive to Vancouver (4h, 390 km) via the Coquihalla.
  • Afternoon Stanley Park, Gastown, first contact with the Pacific metropolis.
🛌 🛌 Vancouver · e.g. Sandman City Centre (3 nights)·🚗 390 km
11

~€85

Vancouver · City & nature

  • Morning Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain.
  • Afternoon Granville Island, market, Kitsilano district.
12

~€90

Vancouver · Day trip or downtime

  • Option Day trip to Whistler (2h) or whale watching from the harbour.
  • Evening Sunset over English Bay.
13

~€95

Vancouver → Victoria · Island & ferry

  • Morning Ferry to Vancouver Island (1h35), coastal scenery.
  • Afternoon Victoria: Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens, British atmosphere.
🛌 🛌 Victoria · e.g. Hotel Grand Pacific (2 nights)·⛴️ BC Ferry · 🚗 island
14

Flight

Victoria → return

  • Morning Offshore orca watching (in season), or the Sooke coast.
  • Afternoon Return ferry to Vancouver, airport (YVR). Flight back to Paris.
⛴️ + 🚗 to YVR

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€2,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight (open-jaw): €850
  • 🏨 Hostel/motel: €95/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 Shared car: €40/day
  • 🍔 Groceries/diners: €35/day
  • 🎫 Parks pass + ferries: €180
Recommended

Comfort

€3,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight (open-jaw): €900
  • 🏨 Lodge/3★ hotel: €165/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 SUV: €60/day
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €45/day
  • 🎫 Activities + whales: €350

Premium

€6,000

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €1,900
  • 🏨 Fairmont and 4★: €350/night
  • 🚗 Premium SUV: €95/day
  • 🚁 Flights + private tours: €700
  • 🎫 Premium activities: €500

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

The Rockies: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

Calgary through the Rockies to Vancouver.

1 month

1 month

The whole West: Rockies, Vancouver and its island.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary covers ~1,900 km from Calgary to Vancouver by car, with a ferry to Vancouver Island. Choose an open-jaw ticket (arrive Calgary, return Vancouver) to avoid backtracking. The Parks Canada pass (€75) covers Banff, Jasper and Wells Gray.

🚗

Rental car

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

🛣️

Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93)

233 km · allow a full day

⛴️

BC Ferry (Vancouver Island)

1h35 · ~€70 with car · book in summer

🐋

Whale watching (Victoria)

~€100 · orcas from May to October

Adapt by season

June to September for the West

All of Western Canada is best from June to September: thawed Rockies, open roads, mild coast. July-August are busiest in the parks. September brings autumn colours in the Rockies and fewer people, but cool nights. The coast (Vancouver, the island) is rainier but still pleasant. In winter, the Icefields Parkway requires snow tyres and some links slow down.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In September 2022, I watched a family of orcas cross the strait during the Victoria whale tour: the guide cut the engine and we listened to them breathe in the silence. The season runs May to October, September is ideal (fewer people).
  • • The open-jaw Calgary/Vancouver ticket, saving 1,000 km of return.
  • • The Okanagan as a break between mountain and city, vineyards and swimming.
  • • Moraine Lake by the 6am shuttle, as in the 1-week format.
  • • Finish on Vancouver Island rather than leaving straight from the city.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Book the BC ferry ahead in summer, car crossings fill up.
  • • Don't underestimate the Okanagan → Vancouver drive (4h on the Coquihalla).
  • • Keep 3 nights in Vancouver, the city and surroundings deserve the time.
  • • Book Rockies accommodation months ahead.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Do I need an open-jaw ticket for this trip? +
Strongly recommended: arrive in Calgary, return from Vancouver. It avoids 1,000 km of empty backtracking through the Rockies. Most airlines offer this without a major surcharge.
How many kilometres for these 2 weeks? +
About 1,900 km from Calgary to Vancouver, plus the ferry to the island. Stops are spread out but on beautiful roads. Plan 3-4 hours of driving on transfer days.
When is the best time to go? +
June to September: thawed Rockies, mild coast. July-August are busiest. September offers autumn colours and fewer people, but cool mountain nights.
Do I need to book the ferry to Vancouver Island? +
Yes in summer: BC Ferries car crossings fill quickly (Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay or Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo). Book online a few days ahead to secure your spot.
Will we see whales? +
From May to October from Victoria or Vancouver: orcas, humpbacks, sometimes fin whales. Chances are high in season but never guaranteed. Expect ~€100 for a 3-4 h tour.
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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