Western Canada

Overview

To explore Western Canada, one must accept a new sense of scale. Home to the Rocky Mountains and the towering Mount Robson, Alberta and British Columbia have long been the top destinations for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. Snaking river canyons, sparkling glacial lakes, and alpine forests exuding a refreshing scent have a deep hold on the Canadian imagination. Their image is dotted with bears, moose, hiking boots, and the picture-perfect panoramas of Banff and Whistler. You could travel for miles without seeing a single soul, getting lost in your thoughts and finding a new sense of peace in the natural environment that surrounds you in National Parks like Jasper, Elk Island, Kootenay, and Yoho.

The cosmopolitan centres of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Victoria provide visitors with the chance to explore Western culture and heritage with their unique music, art, and culinary scenes, each paying homage to local food traditions and Indigenous history. See how wild the west can really get at the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo and festival that’s fun for all ages. Taste luxury in BC’s Okanagan Valley, famous for its bountiful vineyards and orchards, providing you with fresh fruits as you follow the sunshine to the Pacific Coast. You’ll find a relaxed pace of life where land and sea meet, taking long walks on desolate beaches as the sun paints golden evenings across the sky along the paradisiacal Sunshine Coast and lush Vancouver Island.