Itinerary Highlights
- Ride across mountain plains on horseback, discover the wild outdoors by mountain bike and live life like a cowboy or cowgirl at Three Bars Guest Ranch
- Drive through spectacular mountain scenery and enjoy lakeside picnics and lunches while driving through southern British Columbia
- Visit British Columbia's vineyards in the Okanagan Valley and taste some of Canada's finest wines
- Hike through the spectacular wilderness of EC Manning Provincial Park in the Cascade Mountains, then relax in Harrison Hot Springs healing 'Hot Springs'
- Best time to travel May - September
What's Included
- Accommodation Throughout
- Car Hire
- GPS Device
- International Flights
16 nights from £6,875 per person
Nicola
Travel Specialist
Start your Canadian adventure with six-nights at Three Bars Guest Ranch where you can ride through the mountains and along the rivers on horseback, hike through the wilderness or speed along challenging trails on high-end mountain bikes. Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals, cosy log cabin accommodation and genuinely friendly hospitality from the Beckley family and their team of wranglers. Additional activities in July & August include a guided river float trip, evening entertainment, campfires and a full kids’ horseback riding programme.
Your adventure continues with a self-drive itinerary through the beautiful southern region of British Columbia, passing mountain ranges, crystal clear lakes and wineries.
Spend two nights at Nelson, Osoyoos, Kelowna and Harrison Hot Springs. Enjoy the outdoor lifestyle with hiking, mountain-biking, lake-based watersports and white-water rafting. Savour gourmet cuisine and fine wines produced in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, spot native wildlife such as bear and moose, and soak in the hot springs at Harrison and Ainsworth. Your final stop is Vancouver, a modern and cosmopolitan city in one of the world’s most spectacular settings where the mountain backdrop is simply breathtaking.
This is truly a stunning itinerary combining a traditional ranch farm stay with British Columbia’s majestic mountain and lake scenery.
Itinerary
Day 1 UK to Cranbrook
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Fly from the UK to Cranbrook in southeast British Columbia, nestled between the Canadian Rockies and Purcell Range of the Columbia Mountains. You will be met at the airport by staff from the Three Bars Ranch who will transfer you to the ranch.
Day 2 - 7 Horseback Riding & Ranch Activities
Cranbrook, British Columbia
After a hearty breakfast at the main lodge you will be paired with a horse suitable for your riding ability. During your stay at Three Bars Ranch there are a wide range of on-ranch activities available for you to enjoy. Besides horseback riding there are hiking trails, high-end mountain bikes, trap shooting and fishing as well as an indoor pool and outdoor hot tub for you to use. Horseback riding is available every morning and afternoon, you will ride in small groups of four to six people and they are tailored to each group’s riding experience and interest. You can ride high up into the mountains for panoramic vistas or cool afternoon rides by the river. You will normally return to the ranch for lunch of hot and cold entrees, salads or BBQ cookouts.
Staying at
Three Bars Guest Ranch
Day 8 Cranbrook to Nelson (140 miles)
Nelson, British Columbia
Transfer to Cranbrook airport where you will collect your rental vehicle for your fly-drive adventure through the southern mountains, lakes and vineyards of British Columbia. Take the scenic drive along A3 that follows the shoreline of Kootenay Lake, an interesting stop is the glass house, built by a former funeral director, from discarded empty embalming bottles! Take the ferry across the lake from Kootenay Bay to Balfour and continue your drive to Nelson.
Hotel: Prestige Nelson Lakeside Resort
Day 9 Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Spend a full day exploring this beautiful region. Nelson is one of Canada’s finest heritage cities with over 350 heritage buildings dating back to the late 1800’s, we recommend the self-guided heritage walking tour. Outdoor activities include hiking, climbing, mountain biking caving, water sports on the lake and in the summer white-water rafting. Further afield and on the other side of the lake there are the Ainsworth Hot Springs and the limestone formations at Cody Caves Provincial Park.
Hotel: Prestige Nelson Lakeside Resort
Day 10 Nelson to Osoyoos (163 miles)
Continue your journey through southern British Columbia, passing Christina Lake, known for its clean, clear, warm waters and on to Grand Forks, nestled in a lush, broad valley will mile after mile of rolling farmland. Your journey will take you through cute small towns, over mountains and through valleys with endless stops for spectacular photo opportunities along the way.
Overnight at Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos
Day 11 Osoyoos
Okanagan Valley is filled with mountains, lakes, rivers, vineyards and is an outdoor adventure playground. In Osoyoos you can hike and bike along miles of mountain trails, or sail and kayak on Lake Osoyoos. Ride on horseback through stunning valleys or visit the spectacular Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. Golfers have a choice of Osoyoos Golf Club and Sonora Dunes while wine connoisseurs are spoiled for choice with over 60 different types of grape cultivated in the region.
Overnight at Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos
Day 12 Osoyoos to Kelowna (77 miles)
Drive north to Penticton, situated between two lakes, stop at the beautiful red sandy beach at Skaha Lake for a paddle in the waters before a leisurely lunch in Penticton or stopping off to visit the lakeside wineries. Continue your scenic drive along the along the shores of Okanagan Lake to your lakeside resort in West Kelowna. Stay - The Royal Kelowna
Day 13 Kelowna
Enjoy a full day exploring the region, visiting wineries, spending time on the lake and enjoying the vast range of outdoor activities available in the area. Visit the Myra Canyon Trestles where you can hike or bike along the highly-scenic Kettle Valley Railway through a steep-walled canyon through two tunnels and 18 trestle bridges. Kelowna offers a variety of restaurants, wineries and micro-breweries while back at The Cove Lakeside Resort you can savour seasonal fare with amazing lakefront views. Stay - The Royal Kelowna
Day 14 Kelowna to Harrison Hot Springs (200 miles)
Continue your westbound journey before turning south via Princeton to EC Manning Provincial Park, a recreational paradise in the heart of the Cascade Mountains. Here you can enjoy hiking through the wilderness with miles of trails anywhere from a 15-minute walk to six-day hikes. Wildlife in the park include beaver, bear, moose, chipmunks and more than 200 species of bird. Harrison Hot Springs is only another 70-miles after Manning Park.
Day 15 Harrison Hot Springs
As the name would suggest, the healing hot springs at Harrison Hot Springs Resort are one of the area’s most popular attractions. Visit Kilby historic Site, a living museum taking you back to 1920’s Fraser Valley. Enjoy time on the lake, dine at a lakefront restaurant or hike through Sasquatch Provincial Park where you might spot some of the native wildlife such as tailed frog, bald eagle and beaver.
Staying at
Harrison Hot Springs Resort
Day 16 Harrison Hot Springs to Vancouver (82 miles)
Follow the Fraser River through Fraser Valley, stop at Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, these spectacular falls are a short walk from the parking lot. For the adrenaline seekers you can join an unforgettable white-water raft adventure on Chilliwack River. Stop at Abbotsford where you can stroll through the Historic Downtown area, a thriving area of boutiques and eateries housed in charmingly restored heritage buildings.
Day 16 Vancouver
Explore Vancouver’s attractions and neighbourhoods at your leisure. Visit the historic Gastown, with tree-lined streets full of boutiques, bars and eateries. Cycle around Stanley Park or travel over Lions Gate Bridge to visit Capilano Bridge and take the cable car to the summit of Grouse Mountain for spectacular views of the city skyline and Gulf Islands. For nightlife head to Davie Village or Yaletown.
Staying at
Loden Hotel
Day 17 Vancouver to UK
If time permits take a scenic seaplane flight over Vancouver’s towering skyscrapers, harbour and Gulf Islands, or to Victoria on Vancouver before driving to the airport to drop your rental vehicle in time for your flight to the UK.
Nicola
Travel Specialist
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Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm
New Years Eve: 9am - 3pm
25th Dec, 26th Dec & 1 Jan: CLOSED
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
16 nights from £6,875 per person
