We are starting to plan for a self drive tour of BC and Alberta July next year. We are travelling from Australia, but haven't booked our flights yet as we still need to work out some of our timings.

I've been reading recent posts on Vancouver/Victoria/Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise which are all on our radar - oh and Whistler

However later, we are doing an Inside Passage cruise, departing Seattle, which takes in Victoria (arr 0900 dep 1800)

Essentially I'm wondering if we should change things a bit so we maximise our time in some of the above places. My current plan is:

Day 1 Arrive Seattle
Day 2 Seattle-Vancouver
Day 3 Vancouver
Day 4 Vancouver-Victoria (stay Duncan)
Day 5 Duncan-Whistler (via Nanaimo)
Day 6 Whistler
Day 7 Whistler-Kamloops (say Shuswap perhaps, have heard Kamloops has little to offer)
Day 8 Kamloops-Jasper
Day 9 Jasper
Day 10 Jasper-Lake Louise
Day 11 Lake Louise-Banff (only a short hop so perhaps don't need 2 nights in Banff)
Day 12 Banff-Cranbrook
Day 13 Cranbrook-Castlegar via Crawford Bay
Day 14 Castlegar-Kelowna via Grand Forks only OR
Day 14 Castlegar-Kelowna via Osoyoos - better/worth it??
Day 15 Kelowna-Vancouver
Day 16 Vancouver
Day 17 Vancouver-Seattle
Pick up Inside Passage Cruise
Then home

We could obviously save by not taking the car over to Vancouver Is. if we take Victoria/Duncan out of the itinerary altogether. Only being in Victoria for 9 hours on the cruise component does that give us enough time for Buchart Gardens and a wander around Victoria itself? I've heard Duncan is worth a visit because of Canadian Indian influence - can we see this elsewhere in our itinerary?

I wanted to do something different to the Rocky Mountaineer which so many Australians do on their 'package tour' (Inside Passage included). Hence the thought of driving south from Banff.

It looks like the towns I have earmarked as potential places to stop do not of themselves offer huge attractions, but is the actual drive worth it scenically?

Are we extending ourselves too much? As Australians, long drives are not a problem Sydney to Melbourne in a day is fine if doing nothing else (545miles 10 hours) but being on hols we like to only spend about 4-5 hours if possible driving per day if there are no specific things to do.

We love the outdoors, walking (perhaps not hiking per se - 60 years young). We are even looking at zipping in Whistler! We are low key B&B people, not 5 star, but occasionally don't mind a splash out (is Chateau LL worth a splash on?)

Any comments/help/ideas would be very much appreciated.

I had so much help from Fodors ppl in 09 when we visited Hawaii, so I'm tapping in again.

Cheers
Valerie

Wow, you'll certainly be in constant motion!! If your object is to see as much as you can see, then your itinerary is fine. However, if you want to maximize your time in a few places, I would trim away some of the driving. If it was up to me, I would say delete the Cranbrook-Castlegar portion of your travels. It's a very long drive on an undivided two lane highway. My suggestion would be to drive from Banff through Yoho National Park to Golden, then westward to Revelstoke, by Shuswap Lake and then southwest to the Okanagan (Kelowna, Penticton and Osoyoos - wine growing regions). Plenty of scenic sights along that route, and it doesn't take nearly as much time to drive it, so you could shift around your itinerary somewhat (a bit more time in Victoria if you want to see Butchart Gardens), and a little bit more time in the mountain parks (Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper).

You can find B&B listings at www.bbcanada.com (a national directory), www.bbalberta.com (Alberta B&B association), www.bbcanmore.com (Bow Valley B&B Association) and www.stayinjasper.com (Jasper Home Accommodation Association - note that most licensed homes in Jasper offer accommodation only, no breakfast, although there are about a dozen that offer continental breakfast. Enquire early for best selection (some of the more popular B&Bs are pretty booked up for the summer season by April.)

Thanks so much Borealis - I'll check the maps and reconsider, sounds like a good option to spend more time in wine regions (being Aussies). I would be more comfortable spending more time in places, knowing it was worthwhile.

Is it still worth taking the car across to V.Island? Would it be worth adding in two nights there to get value?

Excellent suggestions on accommodation options krp - thanks will look into them. I realise things will get pretty booked early - that's why I try to plan so far ahead if we are heading into the northern summer.

BTW - soooooooooo sorry for not responding sooner. I was waiting for an email notification - nothing came

Overall I think you are taking on a bit too much driving.

I agree with Broealis about adding the Okanagan.

I would suggest adding a day to Vancouver and eliminating the car trip to Victoria. If you want to take the car definitely add a night as with your current itinerary you do not really have time to see Vicoria only really passing through. You will have enough time on your cruise stop to see Butchart gardens and walk around downtown Vicoria and possible pop into the Museum there if the weather doesn't cooperate for strolling. The Museum is very worthwhile!

Also try to avoid the Canada US border crossing on Friday or Sundays ( in summer waits can be in excess of 1.5 to 2 hrs and more.)

The hop from jasper to Lake Louise includes opportunity to visit Glacier national Park - a worthwhile stop. Lots of opportunity for hiking/walking around Banff area so would keep two nights.

Thanks for your tips geosand.

I have taken on board Borealis' suggestions and like the idea of more time in the Okanagan, so have rejigged the itinerary and quite like the look of it thus far.

Thanks for the heads up about the border crossing. Looks like we should be OK with that as we cross into Canada on a Monday and plan to return to Seattle on a Tuesday.

I'd be happy simply visiting Victoria on the cruise (apologies to those of you passionate about the Island). Not only will it save us money on the crossing but it will relieve the time pressure on night stays in some other places.

More re-jigging happening tonight!!!!