About your Trip

Heading west? Take in some amazing experiences along the way with our 2 day Chinook tour, which travels one-way from Banff to Vancouver through the diverse and stunning landscapes of British Columbia. Explore Western Canada from the tall peaks of the Canadian Rockies, through the vast desert lowlands in the Okanagan, and finish by the lush coastal rainforests in Vancouver. We stop at scenic viewpoints en route for great photo opportunities, paddleboarding, hiking and swimming.

Now that’s how you head west!

What's Included

Dates & Prices

2024 DEPARTURE DAYS

May 8 to May 31

LOW SEASON

TUESDAYS

CAD $489

Jun 1 to Sep 30

PEAK SEASON

TUESDAYS, FRIDAYS

CAD $539

Oct 1 to Oct 9

LOW SEASON

TUESDAYS

CAD $489

JUST WANT TO CHECK AVAILABILITY?

To check current availability, click one of the BOOK NOW buttons above. Then scroll through the calendar in the pop-up window to see departure dates and availability. Note that dates shown in green are GUARANTEED! To continue with the booking process, click the BOOK NOW button on your preferred date, or to exit without booking, simply close the pop-up window.

TRIP OVERVIEW

FROM CAD $489

2 days/1 night

Season: May – October

Start: 08:00 Banff

End: ~18:30 Vancouver

Max Group Size: 24

ITINERARY SUMMARY

  • Day 1 Banff to Kelowna
    Yoho National Park/Emerald Lake
  • Day 2 Kelowna to Vancouver
    Paddleboard on Skaha Lake

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

We’re also wondering why it’s called Emerald Lake 😉

At 380 m, Takakkaw Falls are Canada’s second highest waterfall (seasonal)

Kalamalka Lake was named one of National Geographic’s 10 most beautiful lakes in the world

Hang out in Kelowna, along Lake Okanagan. Watch out for the Ogopogo lake monster!

Stop for lunch at one of the many stunning lakes in the Fraser Valley 

 

Sample some fresh Okanagan fruit along the way 

YOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1

Banff to Kelowna

Sadly, we leave the Rockies today (the desert is calling!), but we’ll go out with a bang, stopping at some of the most breathtaking scenic points in Western Canada. We will visit the Takakkaw Falls (seasonal), the pristine Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge, as well as stopping for a photo at the stunning Kalamalka Lake viewpoint once we reach the Okanagan Valley. Here you will find beautiful sandy beaches on crystal clear lakes and plenty of sun-filled activities! For the evening it’s downtown Kelowna for an abundance of bars and nightclubs in this university city! 

 

Please Note: during May and from mid-September onwards, we will visit Kootenay National Park instead of seeing Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge.

Moose Accommodation: Samesun Kelowna

DAY 2

Kelowna to Vancouver

On our final day, we’ll traverse West Kelowna and the Peachland’s in the Okanagan, known for being British Columbia’s primary wine and fruit growing region. You’ll stop at fruit markets, bakeries, and pass by numerous vineyards. Keep an eye on the vast Okanagan Lake and maybe you’ll see the Ogopogo monster!!! Our next destination is Penticton where we will go paddleboarding on the beautiful Skaha Lake. In the afternoon, we’ll climb over a high mountain pass, travel along the Nicola Valley and enter the Fraser Canyon. 

 We’ll then continue down the canyon through Hope, before stopping for a last group gathering on the shores of Harrison Lake by Harrison Hot Springs. The finale is near – we’ll finish in Vancouver where it’s all hugs and Insta handle swapping as you say goodbye to your Moose mates and head home – but armed with a whole bunch of amazing adventures to talk about! 

Meal Inclusions: Morning coffee and pastry at Frind Estate Winery 

Morning Activity Inclusion: Paddleboarding on Skaha Lake 

 

Moose Accommodation: There is no accommodation included tonight. You will need to make your own arrangements. We recommend that you do not book onward travel on this day in case of traffic or weather delays.

ACTIVITIES

There are various activities available in Banff before your tour – check our full activity list for details.

Optional activities are booked and paid through your Moose tour guide while on the tour. No need to pre-book! The following optional activities are available on this tour:

ACCOMMODATION

On the accommodated tour option, accommodation is included for all nights of the tour, in mixed gender, hostel dormitory rooms. Please note that you can request female only dorm rooms, and this is usually possible to accommodate, but we cannot guarantee it.

Most travellers book the accommodated tour option because it provides the best value for your money since we receive discounts from our accommodation providers that aren’t available to the general public. We choose hostels for their budget value, as well as offering great facilities and a warm, friendly atmosphere. By staying in shared dorm rooms you get a chance to meet more people, hang out with other tour guests, and keep the price as low as possible.

Not Interested in Staying in Shared Hostel Dorm Accommodation?

If you’d prefer to book your own accommodation, to stay in private rooms or in alternative properties, check out the non-accommodated version of this tour by clicking here.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The Chinook is the final 2 days of the 8 day Caribou tour, and is part of numerous combination tours we offer. Some of your fellow travellers will have started together in Vancouver and/or Banff before you join them. 

 Some sites on this tour are only available seasonally. Moraine Lake is only accessible from late May until mid-October. The road to Takakkaw Falls is open from mid-June until mid-October. If you want to visit these sites, please choose a departure within the appropriate date range. 

This tour starts in Banff. The closest airport is in Calgary (YYC).

If you’re flexible about when you can travel, consider the pros and cons of our travel seasons. In Low Season, you’ll get the BEST VALUE on our tours, there’s less traffic, and far fewer people at the most popular sites. The trade off is that the weather is typically more variable, cooler and wetter. In addition, a few sites may be closed, and the glacial lakes may still be frozen in the spring, although that’s also beautiful! In Peak Season, everything is open, the weather is more consistent, warmer and generally drier, and the glacial lakes are in their full glory. However, our tours cost more, traffic is busier, and the most popular locations on our itineraries can be very busy. 

We take your safety, and the safety of our staff and partners very seriously. Click here for more information.

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