Depart Vancouver 8:00 AM. Pickup at the tour bus pickup zone, in front of Canada Place, between Howe Street and Burrard. Please have your confirmation ready before boarding.

We will travel east out of the city on the old Lougheed Highway through the suburbs and finally leaving the metro Vancouver. The guide will narrate the trip as we travel providing historical and modern information on the areas we pass through. Questions will be welcome and discussion is encouraged

9:30 Stop at Xá:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre, which is an important Salish spiritual site, home to a significant Transformer Rock, one of the ‘Stone People’ found throughout coastal British Columbia. Sacred to the First Nations people of the area, this rock is a physical manifestation of Salish spirituality. The Stó:lo tell of the legend of three respected Stó:lō leaders were transformed into this stone by Xexá:ls – the Transformers – as a penalty for not sharing the knowledge of written language given to them by the ‘Great Spirit’. Xá:ytem contains the shxweli (‘life force’, ‘spirit’) of these three transformed people, and exemplifies the importance of Stό:lō oral tradition and teachings.Today, at Xá:ytem, you walk into the past to wonder and learn about life long ago and experience the living culture of today. Through the traditional style Salish cedar longhouse, two pit houses (underground cedar-timbered circular dwellings), archaeology sifting shelter, hands-on activity stations and labs, Xá:ytem showcases thousands of years of cultural continuity. Continuing up the valley we enter the narrow confines of the Fraser Canyon as you guide tells the story of the war fought here between local natives and gold prospectors in the 1850s.

11:30 Arrival at Hell's Gate. When Alexander McKenzie traveled down this river in 1803 he was so terrified by the rapids he found here that he wrote that he had seen the Gates of Hell. It will be more fun for us as we cross the river on the Hell's Gate Air Tram right over the rapids as we descend to the visitors centre. Enjoy a walk along the river and across the suspention bridge, maybe pan for gold, or shop for souvenirs. There is a good place for lunch here. (or pack your own) 1:30 Depart Hell's Gate

3:00 PM Arrive Fort Langley. Traveling back down the valley this time on the south side of the river we will stop at Fort Langley. Established in 1812 as a fur trading post for the Hudsons Bay company it was the hub of the fur trapping and trade for many years and the first capital of what was to become the Canadian provide of British Columbia. Today it is a restored national heritage site with many displays and demonstrations of historical times. The fort is fully staffed by interpreters and guides in period costume to entertain and inform visitors about the early days in this area. 4:30 Depart Fort Langley

6:00 PM Arrival in Vancouver and end of tour.