Hurdle1

We have 2 weeks in mid to late september and plan to visit canada from the UK. These are tow trips we would love to make and are trying to decide which one to do first.

Here are my plans for both:

1. Rockies - Fly to calgary and hire car, Banff (5 nights), Jasper (6 nights), Lake Louise (3 nights).

2. VI - Vancouver (4 nights), Victoria (2 nights), Tofino (4 nights), Campbell River (3 nights), Vancouver (1 night)

Which would be the better itinerary at this time of the year? Also, if anyone has any suggestion to alter the itinerary that would be great.

sludick

Both would be wonderful, tough decision. If you are able to do both trips and just need to decide which one first, flip a coin.

What things interest you?

Southam

By mid-September the mountains can get chilly. Snow is not too far off. For variety, you might swap one of the mountain resort towns for the Okanagan Valley In the British Columbia mountains. It has a much more temperate climate range supporting an extensive and scenic wine-making community. September should be harvest time. And Calgary is worth at least a full day of poking around as a wealthy financial powerhouse positioned between the prairies and the peaks.

Sam_Salmon

Vancouver Island in September- the Rockies June, July & August.

amer_can

Sept. in the roclies can be awesome. If you get a little snow who cares with the beauty that surrounds you. IMO 6 nights in Jasper is too much..3/Banff, 3/Lake Louise, 3/Jasper..hit the BC Okanagan if possible and maybe head south to #3 to continue to Vanc. That said the remainder trip to Vanc. on #1and/or Cochahalla is likewi8se scenic. Your Vanc, Vic and Tofino sound good. Don't know Campbell River., Last night in Vanc, ok... Are you aware of drop off charges?? Shop around!! I know there is extra charge for airport pickup and drop off. Enterprise might be worth a look see..We have had great service from them and consideration for extra driver (no charge) but drop off $50, but that was in same province. Don't need dress up clothes..everywhere you are going is pretty laid back. You will even see cut offs and tank tops @ The Empress in Vic. for high tea if you choose to go.dinner @ one of the fancy hotel(ie: Banff Springs, Lk. Louise Chateau etc.) restuarants could easily be blk. pants and a pretty top. Men..?? Don't know about ties but I doubt it but a blazer/jacket might be needed. You can check hotels for their dress codes if you want. Layers(long sleeve tees/sweater, etc.) and a windbreaker should be enough for the mountains, Tofino and ferry crossing. I would advise a scarf which you should always travel with anyhow and comfortable shoes. Welcome to our beautiful area of Canada.

BC_Robyn

September is full-on summer on Vancouver Island. Beach weather, sunshine, warm/hot (but never humid) temperatures. It's the perfect month to be there. The question is this: do you want the Rockies with glaciers, turquoise lakes, and alpine forest? Or do you want temperate rainforest, sandy beaches, mountains, and lakes you can swim in?

BC_Robyn

Should also say, Vancouver is a city that really comes alive in the summer - September, again, is one of the best months to visit. It'll give you a good balance of city life, beachy/island, excursions, as well as temperate rainforest/mountainous experiences.

amer_can

Misread your post.. thought you were coming to Calg, driving through to BC.. Sorry.. Cut the suggestions in half and do which ever sounds the best to you. Personally, I wouldn't want to have to make this decision!! 6 of one half dozen of the other!!! What ever you decide you will see some wonderful sights and sites.

Hurdle1

Thanks, some good advice here. Difficult choice, both looking at costing about the same. May even have to flip a coin!

We thought Campbell River as a good base for Bear tours and sea kayaking then we can make our way back down the island for the ferry crossing back to Vancouver. If we do the Vancouver Island itinerary we might take a day trip from Vancouver to Whistler to at least get a feel for the mountain resorts.

sludick

September (mid-late) is our favorite time to visit both destinations. We have even combined the two, but in that case allow about 2-1/2 weeks and do not include Campbell River.

I think you choices are great, and am glad you are not trying to cram too much into a single visit. If you DO want to do both, please plan 3 weeks. You'll take a couple of days to get over the jet lag. Flip a coin sounds like the remedy.

Enjoy!

ltt

just pick one and i'm sure you won't regret it. hopefully you can get back and do the other one. if i were to do the rockies one - i would cut down the nights in the banff/lake louise area a bit - they are only about 45 minutes away from each other. i'd probably do 4 nights in banff, 4 nights in jasper, maybe 2 in lake louise (be aware it is a very small village, not a lot of choices for restaurants/hotels - mostly a great area for hiking or skiing in the winter) and then a destination in bc maybe mixed in there - wells grey provincial park by clearwater bc - or fairmont or radium hot springs or if you like further driving the okanagan area in bc is beautiful. if you want to stay in alberta, stick to the rockies but you might want to consider a couple of nights in the kananaskis area (between calgary and banff) or a couple of nights in the drumheller area which is very unique.

dottyp

Hi, hurdle1,
What a decision you have ahead of you. We are doing both areas at more or less the same time of year and in 2 weeks.
We arrive in Jasper from Calgary on 26 September, stay there 2 nights, with a trip to Lake Maligne on 27/9, and exploring the area; 28/9 travel to Banff via The Icefields Parkway. This is with a tour operator as we are not driving in Canada - we are from New Zealand so not used to driving on the opposite side of the road.
We then have 3 full days in Banff. On one day we take a tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, as well as Discover Banff and its Wildlife. Another day we have organised a Nature enthusiasts walk for the morning.
On 3/10 we travel to Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer, arriving in the evening on 4/10. We are there until 10 October. One morning we catch the ferry to Vancouver Island, stay overnight in Victoria and catch the floatplane back to Vancouver the next evening. It is not as long as I would have liked but a taste. Hopefully we will be able to return.
I have shared this as a possible way you might be able to mix both itineraries. However, if you know you are going to return then I would suggest the 2nd option for September. Friends have been at that time and said it is a great time to visit.
Whatever you do, enjoy planning and then turning plans into reality!

sludick

To follow in dottyp's track, let me share our similar plans for this coming late September:

- Fly into Spokane; night at airport hotel (Priceline). We are taking a couple of family members on this 2 week trip.
- Drive to Nelson, night at The Hume. (Steve Martin movie Roxanne was filmed in Nelson, you can get a map for a "walking tour" of film sites, fun).
- Drive to Kimberley BC - involves car ferry and some scenic leisurely driving; spend some time shopping/eating at the Platzl (town modeled Bavarian style). Night at Mountain Spirit Resort.
- Drive up to Banff via Radium (visit eccentric woodcarver if he's around and maybe lunch across street at Bavarian style restaurant). Good place to see big horn sheep and entrance to Kootenay National Park leading into Banff.
- Week in timeshare in Banff.(No specific details here; that's another conversation.)
- Up to Jasper; 2 nights in Patricia Lake Bungalows. (There are a couple other good choices as well.)
- To Wells Gray Provincial Park for 2 nights. Staying at a B&B - Moul Creek Lodge, there are other choices. Visiting waterfalls, taking boat tour of lake,etc.
- To Okanagan for some winery visits and change of scenery; stay 2 nights at Spirit Ridge Resort down in Osoyoos (Penticton is a good central stopping point also).
- Drive back to Spokane, stopping to visit Grand Coulee Dam. Airport hotel again for early morning departure.

Altogether this is a bit over 2 weeks, as I have learned to exclude travel days from vacation time and also that any distance travel (flight across US in this case, a day each way). Just to give you a feeling for distance - once out of US, road speed will be much lower and roads very scenic (read: winding and mountainous).

Borealis

If you are coming from the UK, I would choose the Rockies. Why? Because there are no rugged, wilderness, high elevation mountains in the British Isles, so you'll be seeing something completely different. Vancouver Island, although lovely, is an island surrounded by seas.

As for the weather, don't let people scare you off. September weather is usually quite warm although the nights can be brisk and chilly. If it does snow in September, it's usually at high elevations, that is, at the tops of the mountains (which actually makes for spectacular scenic photos!!). The golden colours of the larches and birches is usually at its peak at the end of September (may vary a bit from year to year)

We spent the middle to end of last October in the Rockies, it was rainy in the middle of the month and began to snow closer to the end of the month. Winter was quite early last year in Alberta (where I live - on the doorstep of the Rockies!!!). September is just fine (and fewer tourists!!)

tomfuller

It's been decades since I have been to Banff/Lake Louise. I have been to Jasper several times in the past 11 years.
I don't think the scenery is much better in Banff than in the Jasper area. Just my opinion. From what I've heard, Banff and Lake Louise are more expensive overall.
My mode of transport to Jasper is on the ViaRail Canadian.
Instead of flying to Calgary, fly to Edmonton which has a ViaRail stop. The Canadian only runs 3 days per week.
Brewster has bus tours if you didn't want to rent a car.
You could stay in the Rockies for a week and then take the Canadian overnight to Vancouver.