Whistler and the Coastal Mountains Tour

Day One: Vancouver to Whistler

Our tour starts with a pickup service anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area and travels up the world famous Sea to Sky highway. The Sea to Sky hugs the mountain side overlooking Howe Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, half the way, then leaving the ocean steadily gains altitude into the mountains, all the way to Whistler. Stops along the way will include; magic viewpoints and dramatic waterfalls. We endeavor to stay flexible mattering on the groups interests, and there is so much to see we never spend very much time traveling between stops, so there is lots of time spent out enjoying activities.

The first night is spent in Whistler, a Swiss styled village, and host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Approximately two million skier visits per year, but it is still a wonderful place to see in the summer.

We will travel to the top of the mountain and take in the new Peak to Peak Gondola.

"Spanning the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the new world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is a breathtaking, 4.4-kilometre journey to infi nite possibilities. Redefi ning the Whistler summer experience by creating limitless new ways to get up-close-and-personal with the mountains, this engineering marvel breaks three world records. "

• Longest unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres
• Highest lift of its kind at 436 metres above the valley floor
• Completes the longest continuous lift system on the globe

We will also visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre for a taste of the British Columbia's Native Culture. These BC First Nations exhibits within tell of the long history in the territory, of their relationship to the land, and all that lies within it. Their culture is as alive and vital as it has always been. Take a self-guided tour,strike up a conversation with our Squamish and Lil'wat hosts or with a resident artist, view a film about our two Nations, or examine our precious historical artifacts in our Class A exhibit space.

Overnight in Whistler.

Black Tusk from Whistler

Day Two: Whistler to Lillooet

We leave the glamour of modern Whistler, and travel farther north through Pemberton along the recently improved Highway 99 to Lillooet in the heart of the Coastal Mountain range. Truly wild this narrow mountain highway provides some old fashion thrills and chills as we descend the narrow canyon into the interior. Lillooet just over the crest of the mountains in the hot dry interior of British Columbia, this is Sage Brush country and we like to refer to Lillooet as "Jade Town", it will be apparent why right away. Huge blocks of raw Jade decorate the street corners and town parks. We will even have time to visit the local jade gallery.

Overnight in Lillooet.

Day Three: Lillooet to Vancouver

This day we will travel through ranching country, and then hug the side of the mountain down the length of the Fraser Canyon stopping at Hell's Gate Rapids.

A great place for lunch, we will take a cable car across the rapids to the far side for a great view of Hell's Gate, as named by early explorers.

The last stretch into Vancouver will include a stop at wonderful Minter Gardens. Nestled against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam in the beautiful Fraser Valley, is one of the most spectacular show gardens in the world!  Eleven themed gardens are designed to dazzle the senses with massive displays of artistic floral designs.

Evening arrival in Vancouver with drop off at your hotel, and the end of the tour.