British Columbia Travel Insights

Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 15 Days

This route focuses on getting you into the incredible mountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies, starting and ending in Calgary. You'll head north and south along the iconic Icefields Parkway while basing yourself in a few key locations along the way. As well, you'll explore beautiful Kananaskis Country, a region just south of Banff and Canmore that locals regard as their favorite hiking region (without the crowds of the more famous parks).

Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 16 Days

Discover the best of the Canadian Rockies by basing yourself in a few key locations where you can stay for a few nights and explore the backcountry trails and lakes. You'll take in the main highlights of the Icefields Parkway as well as the lesser-known regions, such as the beautiful Kananaskis Country and Yoho National Park. This route focuses on less time driving and more time out on the trails.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 5 Days

This packed five-day itinerary is perfect for travelers with a thirst for adventure who are on a time crunch. Beginning and ending in dynamic Vancouver, discover British Columbia's rugged beauty beyond the city as you follow the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway to the year-round outdoor destination of Whistler. Explore the village, see the colorfully graffitied boxcars of historic Train Wreck, and hike the Garibaldi Lake Trail for some of the province's most rewarding views.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 3 Days

Follow the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway on this quick road trip between Vancouver and Whistler. Enjoy the urban pleasures of the city before getting a taste of the mountains in the upscale, chalet-style village of Whistler. Whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation, there are a number of opportunities: half-day hikes to alpine lakes, panoramic road-side vistas, luxury spas, and gondola rides to mountain peaks.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 7 Days

With seven days, you'll have plenty of time to explore Vancouver and the Coast Mountains around Whistler. This trip is best suited for those looking to spend most of their time outdoors—there are countless day hikes, alpine lakes, and scenic vantage points to check out. In between adventures, you'll also get a taste of some of the best restaurants in Canada and have time to explore the downtown and cultural highlights of the city.

Guide to British Columbia's Regions

British Colombia has the perfect trip for everyone, any time of year. From cosmopolitan Vancouver to the vast tracks of wilderness in the north, from wine tasting in the rolling hills of the Okanagan to salmon-fishing in wild waters of Haida Gwaii, there really is something for everyone. To help you figure out your perfect trip, we've broken down the main regions for you to consider.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 4 Days

Visit two of British Columbia's most popular destinations on this 4-day road trip. In Vancouver, stroll the cobbled streets of historic Gastown and enjoy some of Canada's best restaurants. Then take the stunning Sea-to-Sky Highway to the mountains of Whistler where you can access numerous hiking trails to alpine lakes. En route, take time to stop at ocean viewpoints or walk the short trails to local waterfalls.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 6 Days

Experience the best of the city and coast mountains on this short road trip between Vancouver and Whistler. You'll have a day to explore cosmopolitan Vancouver before driving north along the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway to the mountain resort town of Whistler. You'll then have two solid days devoted to exploring Whistler's bounty of alpine trails, glacial lakes, and great restaurants and breweries.

Canadian Rockies to Vancouver: Banff, Radium, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 12 Days

Experience the best of the Canadian Rockies on this epic road trip from Calgary to Vancouver. Start by exploring famous Banff National Park before crossing over into British Columbia and heading south through interior lake country and historic mining communities. Finally, you'll have a few days to unwind and relax at the end of your trip by visiting some of the country's best wineries in the Okanagan Valley, surrounded by Canada's only desert. 

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 14 Days

Immerse yourself in the wild and rugged beauty of British Columbia on this two-week road trip that covers the province's best natural highlights. Carving an "S" through the Canadian Rockies, Kootenays, and the fruit belt of the Okanagan, you'll begin in Calgary, drive through Banff, Yoho, and Mount Revelstoke national parks, and end your journey along the southern border sipping some of the best local wines.

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 13 Days

Starting in Calgary and ending in Vancouver, you'll cross the Canadian Rockies with ample time to explore beautiful Banff National Park. After the Rockies, wind your way south through historic mining towns and lake country to the province's famous wine region, the Okanagan Valley. Here, in Osoyoos, visit some of the best smaller local wineries that British Columbia has to offer before ending your trip with a day to explore Vancouver.

Pacific Marine Circle Route - 6 Days

Starting and ending in Victoria, this loop follows the southern coastline of Vancouver Island before veering north through old-growth rainforest accessed by former logging roads. The reward? Countless remote beaches, some of the largest trees on the island, and numerous great hiking trails. This is the perfect itinerary for getting off the beaten path in a short amount of time.

Pacific Marine Circle Route - 5 Days

This short road trip takes you off the beaten path to explore Vancouver Island's southern coastline, following former logging roads that have recently been paved. You'll have short drives each day so you can spend more time exploring nature—old-growth rainforests, remote beaches, hiking trails, as well as smaller historical communities.

How Many Days to Spend in British Columbia

British Columbia is vast—bigger than New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and most US states—and even travelers with generous schedules will have choices to make when planning a trip. Two weeks is a great place to start, allowing time to explore many of the province's highlights, from its coastal beaches and islands to the national parks of the interior. Travelers on a shorter schedule should stick to one or two regions—with a focused approach, you can get to know the parts of British Columbia that call to you without spending too much time on the road.

Okanagan Valley Road Trip: Wine & Outdoors - 5 Days

Undertake a quick five-day trip through the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia's premier wine region. A five-hour drive away from the dynamic west coast city of Vancouver, you'll weave your way alongside the Similkameen River and through the forested parklands of the Crowsnest Highway to reach the "Napa of the North." You'll have one night in Kelowna, the perfect jumping-off point for the surrounding vineyards, restaurants, and outdoor adventures.

Okanagan Valley Road Trip: Wine & Outdoors - 6 Days

This 6-day itinerary through the Okanagan Valley is perfect for wine and outdoor enthusiasts. It begins in Vancouver, where you can walk or bike Stanley Park's Seawall before driving the winding Crowsnest Highway through forested parkland to reach Kelowna. Tour a wide variety of vineyards and sample local wines after a morning spent biking, hiking, and swimming around the Okanagan.

Okanagan Valley Road Trip: Wine & Outdoors - 7 Days

This scenic week-long trip splits time in two of British Columbia's popular destinations: Vancouver, with its multi-cultural restaurants, art galleries, museums, and Pacific Coast backdrop, and the smaller, more relaxed city of Kelowna, the unofficial capital of the vine-striped and orchard laden Okanagan Valley. You'll visit a variety of wineries, from large established estates to smaller family-run businesses, as well as overnight in the charming village of Harrison Hot Springs—the perfect introduction to southern British Columbia.

Okanagan Valley Road Trip: Wine & Outdoors - 8 Days

In eight days, you'll experience the best of Okanagan Valley's wine region. Starting and ending in Vancouver, this scenic drive takes you through the coastal mountains toward the drier interior of the Okanagan Valley. Split four days between Kelowna and Osoyoos, visiting both newer and more established wineries while taking in some outdoor adventure.

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson & Osoyoos - 9 Days

This nine-day driving adventure focuses on the Canadian Rockies, including the Kootenay Rockies and the southern end of the vine-striped Okanagan. You'll explore British Columbia's impressive landscape, from emerald-green lakes to glacial rivers and rugged mountain tops. Challenge yourself with a half-day hike in Banff National Park, canoe the Columbia River Wetlands amid wildlife near Golden, and discover wines of the snaking Similkameen Valley en route to Vancouver.

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Radium, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 10 Days

Drive through three diverse landscapes—the Rockies, Kootenays, and Okanagan—on this 10-day road trip. After getting a taste of Calgary's cowboy heritage, you'll weave your way through British Columbia's most beautiful parks, down through the untamed wilderness of the Kootenays, to spend two nights in Canada's only desert, Osoyoos, in the southern Okanagan. You'll end the trip with two days in Vancouver, a sophisticated city with world-class restaurants, dominated by mountains and the sea.

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 8 Days

Explore the beauty of southern British Columbia, from the stunning peaks of the Rockies to the fertile valley of the Okanagan. This 8-day drive begins in Calgary and ends in Vancouver and offers the outdoor enthusiast numerous opportunities to get into the rugged wilderness as well as indulge in more refined cultural experiences. You'll visit the small communities of the Slocan Valley, see the impressive Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, and hike through the old-growth forests around Revelstoke.

Canadian Rockies to Vancouver: Banff, Radium, Nelson & Osoyoos - 7 Days

On this seven-day road trip, explore the ice-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, the backcountry wilds and mountain towns of the Kootenays, and the fruit and wine belt of the Okanagan. The adventure begins in Calgary before leading you into Banff National Park and then south into Kootenay National Park before arriving in down-to-earth Nelson. After Nelson, drive through the arid desert of Osoyoos before ending your trip in Vancouver.

Canadian Rockies to Vancouver: Banff, Radium, Nelson, & Osoyoos - 11 Days

Highlighting the towering Canadian Rocky Mountains, the wild and rugged Kootenays, and the vineyards of the southern Okanagan, this 11-day road trip takes you from Canada's cowboy capital of Calgary through to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. You'll cover significant ground in some of the country's best national parks from hiking around the deep-teal Moraine Lake in popular Banff to soaking in the natural rock-lined hot pools of Lussier Hot Springs. Hike, bike, and white water raft your way around glacier-fed lakes, alpine meadows, and turbulent rivers.

Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson & Osoyoos - 15 Days

From craggy snow-capped peaks to icy-blue glacial lakes and rushing streams, this epic road trip features a trio of Canada's famed national parks—Banff, Yoho, and Revelstoke—that highlight the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Starting in Calgary, you'll pass through Banff and Lake Louise before venturing into the dramatic landscapes of the less explored national parks of the Kootenays. Then you'll trace British Columbia's southern border and spend time in Canada's only desert, Osoyoos—the perfect locale to drink wine and discover Okanagan wine country—before ending your trip in Vancouver.

British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap & Okanagan Valley - 7 Days

A week-long road trip featuring British Columbia's Coast Mountains and the wine region of the Okanagan. Starting and ending in Vancouver, you'll drive through Whistler, Sun Peaks, and then south through the Okanagan Valley to Kelowna and back to Vancouver. This route is relatively fast-paced and best suited for those who are short on time but want to cover the main highlights of the Coast Mountains and Okanagan. 

British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap, & Okanagan Valley - 8 Days

This scenic road trip starts and ends in Vancouver and takes you through the Coastal Mountains to Shuswap Lake before turning south through the farms, orchards, and vineyards of the famed Okanagan Valley. Over eight days, you'll venture across southwestern and central British Columbia to explore exceptional landscapes from high alpine mountains to marshy lowlands and arid deserts in and around Osoyoos. Thread the weaving Gold Nugget Road, paddle a replica of a 30-foot voyageur canoe, and drink wine until your heart's content at world-class wineries in the Okanagan.

British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap, & Okanagan Valley - 9 Days

This road trip loops through British Columbia's Coastal Mountains to the Okanagan, taking in scenic mountain views, arid deserts, and vine-striped valleys. Beginning and ending in Vancouver, follow the Sea-to-Sky Highway north to Whistler, through Cariboo Country to the quaint lakeside community of Salmon Arm, and down through the Okanagan Valley to Osoyoos. Dine on east-meets-west cuisine in Vancouver, step back in time at Historic Hat Creek, and hike amid alpine meadows and lakes in E.C. Manning Provincial Park.

Whistler & Pacific Rim Road Trip - 11 Days

On this 11-day itinerary, you'll explore the alpine lakes and dramatic peaks of the Coastal Range, the old-growth rainforests of Vancouver Island, and the rough-and-tumble shoreline of the Pacific Rim. Start with two nights in Vancouver before dedicating a week to the outdoors on Vancouver Island where you can go whale watching, stroll driftwood-strewn beaches, and take in the Victorian-era architecture of the province's capital.

Whistler & Pacific Rim Road Trip - 12 Days

Follow this 12-day road trip through British Columbia's Coast Mountains and Vancouver Island. Starting with three days in Vancouver, you'll drive the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler before crossing the Strait of Georgia to Pacific Rim National Park. Look for whales off the coast of Tofino, surf at Chesterman Beach, and pick up a hiking trail through ancient rainforest to the wave-whipped Pacific Coast.

British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap, & Okanagan Valley - 10 Days

On this self-drive tour, you'll explore southwestern and central British Columbia, discovering alpine mountains, surprising deserts, and the famed Okanagan wine country in 10 days. The tour will take you from dynamic Vancouver through the snow-covered Coast Mountains to Whistler. The circuit continues east to the wooded hills and farmlands of Salmon Arm before leading you through the orchards and wineries of the Okanagan Valley and to the southern desert town of Osoyoos.

Best Time to Visit British Columbia

British Columbia covers a huge territory, stretching from more than 620 miles (1,000 km) of Pacific shoreline to glacier-topped mountains, the rolling hills of Okanagan wine country, and the temperate urban center of Vancouver. While winter brings cold weather and plenty of snow to the interior, British Columbia’s coast is warmed by Pacific Ocean currents, making it temperate year-round. Planning a trip requires some thought into both what region and season to target for a British Columbia visit—this guide outlines your best options.