Day One: Vancouver to Penticton/Naramata
Our tour starts with a pickup service anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area and travel
s through the picturesque Fraser Valley farming area and into the Coast Mountain Range.
The afternoon is spent exploring the many the 19 excellent wineries between Pentiction and the small village of Naramata. Commonly called the Naramata bench since it runs along the hillside over looking Lake Okanagan. Wineries such as: Lake Breeze, Spiller, Soaring Eagle, Township 7, Stonehill, and Mistral Estate to name just a few. Winery stops are determined by the wishes of the group and the season, as well as input from the guide. We endeavour to stay as flexible as possible, and all wine tasting fees are included.. The evening is free at one of the feature hotels in the area, usually on the shore of beautiful lake Okanagan, with spa options available. (Please call us for details)
Overnight in Pentiction area.
Day Two: Penticton to Osoyoos
After breakfast, there are options for golf, spa, hiking, or biking the nearby historic Kettle Mountain Trail or a relaxing morning on the beach. Early afternoon we head south through the arid wine growing country stopping a several of the many wineries along the way, again determined by the interests of the group. These wineries are the "Wine Characters of the South Okanagan" and pride themselves
as being world class. We will visit Antelope Ridge, Crazy Horse, Inniskillin, Silver Stage, and Oliver Twist to name but a few.
After the arrival of settlers and the establishment of the Osoyoos Indian Reserve, aboriginal people adapted to ranching, farming and breeding horses. The people of the Osoyoos Indian Band have continued to change with the times. Today 450 people live on the 32,000 acre reserve working in the band's many businesses. NK'Mip Cellars is Canada's first aboriginal-owned winery. The band first planted grapes forty years ago and owns 230 acres of prime Vinifera and French hybrid grapes, and also leases land to some of the Okanagan's biggest wine producers. Many award winning wines have been produced from these locally-grown grapes.
NK'Mip Resort is the band's newest enterprise, which includes Sonora Dunes golf course. Spirit Ridge Resort and Spa, NK'Mip RV Park and NK'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, (which we will visit).
Evening free in to enjoy many of the recreational opportunities available or just relax by the lake. Overnight in Osoyoos
Day Three: Osoyoos to Vancouv
er
After breakfast, and a mid morning departure, we will make a stop at The Osoyoos Desert Centre. A 67 acre nature interpretive facility where visitors can learn about desert ecology, habitat restoration and conservation of endangered ecosystems in the South Okanagan. Guests are invited to explore Canada’s desert by taking a guided or self-guided tour along a 1.5 km elevated wooden boardwalk. In addition, the Centre features an interpretive facility with hands-on exhibits and a native plant demonstration garden. Tucked into the southernmost corner of British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley, this extraordinary habitat is home to one of North America’s most fragile and endangered ecosystems. The area hosts one of the largest concentrations of species at risk (over 100 rare plants and over 300 rare invertebrates) in Canada, and is of international importance. Our desert is actually part of the Great-Basin Desert.
During the afternoon we will travel through ranching country, with more wine tasting available, and back across the coast mountain range.
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.