Howdy Flashpackers and welcome to Calgary – a warm and fun-loving hub surrounded by natural beauty in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. You’ve arrived in the sunniest city in Canada, with a strong community spirit and plenty of scenic parks and river paths to explore. It’s a fabulous starting point for our Rockies adventure, so why not take an amble before we meet in the early evening and head downtown for a welcome meal together. This is your chance to get to know your fellow Flashpackers and Calgary’s vibrant foodie scene over a craft ale or two. And in a place nicknamed “Cowtown” – after the annual Calgary Stampede – cowboy hats may well be a feature, too. Yee-haw! 

Get set for a show-stopper this morning, as we travel one and a half hours along the Trans-Canada highway to the world-famous Banff National Park. Covering over 2,000 miles of UNESCO-protected valleys and peaks, Banff is an adventurer’s playground of alpine meadows, glacier-fed lakes and spectacular mountain ranges. It’s a summertime haven, too, with long hazy days and blue skies providing an ideal canvas for exploring. We’ll begin our foray here in true style, with a hike along a remote prairie trail in the shadow of the majestic Rockies. In the afternoon, we’ll head over to Grotto Mountain for a tour of Rat’s Nest Cave – a wild underground labyrinth featuring ancient fossils and intriguing geological formations. 

Today we’ll be savouring Banff away from the crowds on the off-radar Sunshine Meadow Gondola and Standish Chairlift. Framed by rugged peaks, the ride whisks you up to 8,000ft above sea level, with 360-degree views over three lakes – Laryx, Grizzly, and Rock Isle – at the summit. We’ll take a short hike (there’s a restaurant at the top, too) before heading back down for an evening canoe tour along Bow River. This quintessential Canadian experience will see you and your fellow Flashpackers dial back to nature in an indigenous 15-person war canoe. Watch out for local wildlife including beavers, bald eagles, elk and muskrats, as we paddle past remote stretches of pine forest and the imposing Mount Rundle. 

It’s time for two gems of the Canadian Rockies: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. These two natural wonders are prized the world over for their astonishing blue hue that catches the light, reflecting a mirror-like view of glaciers all around. We’ll take a guided walk along the shoreline of both beauty spots, taking in Victoria Glacier, the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel and the Valley Of The Ten Peaks en route. Afterwards, we’ll have free time to explore. Along with other Flashpackers, you might like to take an optional ride up the Lake Louise Ski Hill Gondola for a Caesar cocktail – Canada’s answer to a Bloody Mary, served with clam tomato juice – at the top.

Have your soundtracks handy for a road trip today, as we travel three hours’ west through a sweeping landscape of mountains and forests, including three national parks – Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park. Our final stop is the laidback mountain town of Revelstoke but first, we’ll stop off at Golden for a sky-high thrill or two. We’re here for a mosey along Golden Skybridge, Canada’s highest suspension bridges that hover hundreds of feet above a Columbia Valley canyon – with extraordinary mountain views. With an adventure pass that also includes access to the Railrider Mountain Coaster, Sky Zipline and Canyon Challenge Course, today is all about stretching your limits (anyone for axe throwing?).

From one wow-worthy mountain resort to the next, the road-tripping continues as we set sights on the quaint little city of Rossland, nestled in the Kootenay Rockies. The trip takes around four hours and includes a gorgeous ferry ride across Upper Arrow Lake. Soon after, we’ll stop at Nakusp Hot Springs for a spot of alfresco bathing in this hidden hotspot featuring warm mineral pools overlooking the Selkirk Mountains. Later on, we’ll visit the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, which tells the heartbreaking story of over 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were uprooted from their homes and sent to internment camps during World War II. Tonight, you’ll have time to mooch around Rossland, with its historic downtown and live music buzz. 

There are so many reasons to love Rossland, your amphitheatre for today. Regularly voted one of Canada’s best places to live, this tiny and picturesque city is filled with friendly locals, microbreweries and hip restaurants – all underscored by a relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle. In summertime, the hiking trails around the Golden City – so-called because of its gold mining heritage – are a real draw. We’ll be embarking on one today, following a scenic circular route through the mountains, dotted with ancient trees and serene lakes, where you can take a dip. The Rossland Range is also home to a series of day-use huts, to hang out and picnic in along the way. Yet another excuse to disconnect and let loose in stunning Canadian scenery…

More dramatic views await as we road trip across British Columbia, passing remote settlements and countless picture-perfect lakes. We’ll stop off to stretch our legs in the sunny Southern Okanagan town of Oliver, famed for its colourful fruit stands, stacked with juicy peaches, pears, plums, apricots or bright red cherries, depending on the season. Our destination is Penticton, one of just two cities in the world situated between two lakes: Okanagan and Skaha. Summer here is all about lakeside beach culture, along with great produce from nearby orchards and vineyards. Tonight, we’ll drop by Fairview Cellars, a family-run boutique winery perched on Reed Creek, where you can let your hair down with wine tasting and dinner, exclusive to Flash Pack.  

You’ll have the morning free to explore Penticton, with its lively community and easygoing vibe. Stroll along the beach-lined lakeshore, take a peek inside SS Sicamous – an early 20th-century sternwheeler – and crack open a local craft beer as you drink in the scenic setting. With abundant sunshine, cooling lake breezes and an optimal temperature range, Penticton is a premiere grape-growing region and this afternoon you’ll rejoin your group for a wine-tasting safari. Taking in a string of vineyards in the feted “Napa Valley of the North”, you’ll sample crisp whites and sun-ripened reds as you learn about the processes from grape to glass. It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it…    

Raft, relax, recharge. That’s the motto of Kumsheen, a unique riverside retreat and the next stop on our legendary Rockies road trip. Passing parks, vineyards and mountains on a three-hour drive, we’ll arrive in time for an unmissable experience: whitewater rafting. Prepare to paddle your way down a series of rapids on the cascading Thompson River, as it twists and turns through desert-like scenery dabbled with canyons and pine forest. It’s enormously fun and, afterwards, you and your group can grab a well-deserved rest in Kumsheen itself, with an outdoor pool, hot tub and spa area. This evening, you’ll be staying the night in Anishinabe-style teepees. Think: candlelit tents complete with cosy duvets, and dinner under the starry night sky. 

We’re road-tripping once more, and this morning’s drive is arguably the best of the lot. Watch as the landscape changes from rocky canyons, desert ranches and turquoise lakes to the lush forests, creeks and waterfalls. Once in Whistler, a taste of the high life awaits in one of Canada’s most exclusive destinations, bursting with boutique shops, bars, restaurants and aprés nightlife. You’ll take to the skies in a sensational 30-minute flight over Whistler Valley, with a bird’s eye view over the immense mountains, glaciers, valleys and rivers. Taking off from Green Lake in a spray of water, you’ll hear the roar of the engine in your ears as you cruise above Whistler Village, spotting venues from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the magnificent Brandywine Falls.  

Canada’s First Nations people have lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years and you’ll spend the morning immersed in nature, together with an indigenous herbalist. Together, you’ll learn about the medicinal uses of local plants and discover how each tree has its own special story. Later, you’ll head out on a black bear-watching excursion (which vary in colour from black to cinnamon brown), with optional hiking and wild swimming. Then, it’s over to the wonders of Whistler Village to relax and explore. Pop by a gallery, hit the spa or hang out on a sunny patio with your fellow Flashpackers and watch the world go by. Peach gin fizz? Don’t mind if we do…    

Today we’ll trade the wild outdoors for big city livin’, completing our classic West Canada road trip with a 90-minute drive along British Columbia Highway 99 – aka, the Sea to Sky Highway. Around the halfway point, we’ll stop at Shannon Falls Park to admire one of the highest waterfalls in BC, at 335 metres. Stretch your legs with a a stunning circular ridge hike in Murrin Provincial Park, complete with alfresco lunch. Then it’s onwards to cosmopolitan Vancouver, with exceptional coast versus mountain views en route. The rest of the day is free for you to live like a Vancouverite, getting to know the beaches, parks, museums and food markets in this summertime dream of a seaport city; Canada’s West Coast gem. 

Covering 1,000 acres of rainforest and greenery on the tip of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is a must-see. We’ll uncover its secrets via a bike tour today, cycling through woodland trails, blooming gardens and the pristine seawall area. We’ll hear more about the park’s history, including the stories of the coastal first nations and their iconic totem poles. Free time follows – a great excuse to discover Vancouver’s many diverse neighbourhoods. Take a ferry across False Creek to the art studios of Granville Island, stop by a speakeasy in the cobblestone streets of Gastown, grab a Taiwanese bubble tea in Lower Robson or watch the volleyballers at Kits Beach. Tonight, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner in Vancouver’s dynamic downtown. 

Flashpackers, it’s time to bid adieu to captivating Canada; but what an adventure it’s been. We’ve been caving, rafting, swimming and teepee camping, all packed into two short weeks of outdoor immersion. We’ve cruised over the mountains of Whistler on a floatplane and revelled in blue-sky views from a gondola in Banff National Park. We’ve knocked back vino from boutique BC wineries and basked in some of the finest road trips on Earth. After breakfast, it’s time to make your own way to the airport – buoyed on by memories of new friendships in an incredible land. Or if you have spare time, why not stay on a few days in Vancouver? It is, after all, one of the happiest cities in the world.