Fly Drive Canada

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Vancouver. Upon arrival transfer independently to The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, conveniently located in the heart of downtown, with easy access to the waterfront.

Widely regarded as one of the best cities in North America, Vancouver is bursting with character and filled with attractions. Meander through downtown, enjoying the outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants. Head down to Gastown, renowned for its steaming clock, and shop the quaint boutiques that adorn the streets. Take a walk along the waterfront promenade, watching the floatplanes take to the air and to Stanley Park where Totem Poles stand sentry, the gardens are awash with colour and the horse and carts bring back visions of a bygone era. A trip to Grouse Mountain is a must, with a stop en route at Capilano Suspension Bridge. There is so much to see and do that these two full days will be filled to overflowing!

Today you head north for your outdoor adventure! It is an early start, as you fly from Vancouver International Airport to Masset on Haida Gwaii with Pacific Coastal Airlines. On arrival, you are transferred to Haida House (apx 50 minutes) to start four magical days of exploration and learning. Your home on Haida Gwaii is a beautiful and private cedar cabin. Designed to blend harmoniously with the landscape and honour traditional architecture, this stylishly furnished hideaway is the ideal place to reflect on the day’s adventures. From your deck, watch the sunrise while you enjoy an invigorating outdoor shower, or enjoy the evening glow and the view from your own private covered hot tub. This introductory package brings you to the edge of the earth, where you will retrace the footsteps of the past with cultural interpreters and Haida guides. Over four days, you’ll experience the natural wonder of the region and learn the story of its people. The “Taste of Haida Gwaii” itinerary is the perfect way to savour the food, culture, and nature of this remote archipelago on an abbreviated timeline. Dive deep into living history with a guided visit to the renowned Heritage Centre and Museum, followed by a narrative village tour. Step into the studios of acclaimed Haida artisans and indulge in a traditional Haida dinner. Your stay includes meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, activities, excursions and guide fees. Four and seven night package options are also available.

Sample Daily Itinerary:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT HAIDA HOUSE
Arrive on Haida Gwaii and settle into your beautiful cabin accommodations upon reaching Haida House in Tlell. Following a warm Xaayda Gwaay.yaay Haida Gwaii welcome and guest orientation session, enjoy a gourmet, west coast style dinner. Before or after dinner you will have time to walk along the long sandy beach or explore the 50-acre property.
DAY 2: SKIDEGATE + SOUTH END
Start your day with breakfast before departing for HlGaagilda Skidegate via a scenic drive along the coast. Upon arrival, you will be led on a private interpretative tour of the award-winning Kay Llnagaay Heritage Centre and Museum. An interpretive tour of the area’s carved poles follows, featuring visits to the studios and carving sheds of famed Haida artisans. Finish the day with an authentic traditional Haida dining experience.
DAY 3: TLELL + PORT CLEMENTS
Today you explore the area surrounding Tll.aal Tlell on the Magical History Tour, and enjoy moderate, relaxed hiking while learning more about the area’s rich ecology, paleontology, and geological history. Or you may participate in a privately led class with a renowned Haida weaver. Learn a few Haida words while you create your very own woven treasure. You will also visit the quaint village of Gamadiis Port Clements and embark on a spiritual forest walk to the viewpoint of the historic Golden Spruce.
DAY 4: DEPARTURE DAY
After another delicious breakfast in the privacy and serenity of your cabin, and perhaps a brisk morning trek along the Tlell River, it is time to say farewell and make your check-out arrangements.

It’s around an hours drive back to Masset Airport on the hotels shuttle, where you check in for your floatplane journey to Prince Rupert aboard Inland Air Charters. On arrival, you’ll collect your Intermediate SUV rental from Enterprise and make your way to Prestige Hotel, your base for the next two nights, in time for dinner. As it is something not to be missed, on your full day we have included a four hour whale watching tour with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours. They also operate grizzly bear tours, should that be of interest. The collections and artifacts of the Museum of Northern British Columbia reside in a cedar longhouse overlooking Prince Rupert Harbor and is well worth a visit. You may also choose to peruse the colourful spectacle of  Sunken Gardens Park, browse artifacts at Prince Rupert Fire Museum, learn about the early pioneer history at Kwinitsa Railway Museum and at North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site. For something a little different sample local beers at Wheelhouse Brewing Company, the options are wide and varied. 

Today, you follow the Yellowhead Highway which – hugs the Skeena River for most of the journey way, passing through the mining town of Terrace before arriving into Smithers. En route you pass through New Hazelton, where you may want to visit the Ksan Historic Indian Village, a tribal village with carving house, totem poles and a museum. Smithers sits at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain, offering a wide range of outdoor adventures. Head into the quaint town where you may chosse to visit Smithers Art Gallery to view the works of local and regional artists. Close by, you will find Bulkley Valley Museum detailing a history of the area which started in 1913 with the coming of the railroad. We’d also suggest visits to Twin Falls/Glacier Gulch with its two majestic waterfalls and to Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park which is home of some of the worlds most significant fossil beds.

You’ll depart Smithers today and continuing along the Yellowhead Highway. En route you pass through Houston, which is known as the Steelhead Capital and home to the world’s biggest fly rod – over 18 metres in length! Your journey then takes you through Burns Lake and Vanderhoof before arrival into Prince George. This town to home to hundreds of stores and a wide range of local restaurants. During your stay you can choose from a visit to Fort George Park, Prince George Railway Museum, Fort George Canyon Provincial Park, The Exploration Place Museum, Crossroads Brewing and Distillery or Cottonwoods Island Nature Park. 

Set in the heart of the Frontier, amid lakes and rolling ranchland, Williams Lake has been a hub for the ranches of the Cariboo and Chilcotin regions since the turn of the century. The founding of Williams Lake can be traced back to a single building in the Glendale/Comer area, a tiny chapel built in a Shuswap settlement in the 1840s. With the influx of European fur traders and gold prospectors, the church and the encampment flourished to become a small town. Head to Scout Island Nature Centre, offering a unique opportunity to view shorebirds and waterfowl that populate the wetland marsh. You may encounter ospreys, bald eagles, marsh wren, great blue heron, hooded merganser, hummingbirds and songbirds. Animals include red foxes, mink, river otters, beavers and muskrats. There are 1.5 miles of trails to explore! Water activities abound in this area. River rafting is legendary in the Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser system and canoeing and kayaking opportunities are plentiful, especially on the Quesnel River.

Whistler is a vibrant town in the heart of the mountains, where you can meander the small-village shops and enjoy al fresco drinks and dining. It is also the place where high-adrenaline pursuits can be enjoyed, from winter sports and zip-lining, to hiking and biking the mountain trails. Visit the Audain Art Museum and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, for your culture hit and then take to the skies – whether helicopter flightseeing or onboard the Sea to Sky Gondola.

Check out of the Hilton and make the journey back to Vancouver, where you return your rental car at the airport and check in for your flight back to the UK.