After almost 5 months of traveling through the United States we arrived in Canada, where the next adventure awaited us. We decided to focus our tour route mainly on the west of the country. We drove a well-known route through Western Canada in 10 weeks, which usually takes 3 to 6 weeks. We visited the most famous national parks, but also undertook unique hikes, looked for bears in the wild and took a whale-watching tour with Orcas. Are you traveling with us?
Our journey through the United States and Canada
This article is part of a large one-year tour the United States en Canada, with a Dutch 4×4 camper that we shipped ourselves… It is a bucket list worthy and an once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.
We wrote almost 100 articles about this ultimate tour. Visit our North America page for more information.
Border crossing America – Canada
The border crossing from Montana USA to Canada went fairly smoothly. From St. Mary Campground in Glacier National Park (USA – location here), we drove about 30 kilometers north to the Canadian border in Carway. At the border we received one or two questions about who we are and what we were doing. However, the Dutch camper in combination with a Dutch passport quickly put a broad smile on the customs officer's face. Enjoy your stay in Canada!
Tip:: If you cross the Canadian border from America with a (rental) camper or (rental) car, as a Dutch citizen you will receive an eTA on arrival.
Knowing more? Then read:
America & Canada | Everything about VISA, ESTA, B1/B2 & eTA
Our Tour Western Canada Itinerary
We have mapped out an itinerary for our tour of Western Canada in our travel plan. The route we would approximately take in 10 weeks can be seen below. It is the well-known route from or to Vancouver to Calgary. Normally you need three to 6 weeks for this, depending on your wishes.
After crossing the US border via Montana at carway, we were the first to visit the town cardston. Then we visited Waterton National Park en Banff National Park. The following days the city stood Calgary on the program, which was a welcome change from all the natural beauty of the national parks.
After a few days in Calgary we drove further north to Glacier National Park (the Canadian variant) and Jasper National Park, before we veered further west and south.
With Clearwater, Kelowna and Whistler Blackcomb we then drove to town Vancouver to deal with that ferry to cross over to Vancouver Island, which was our last destination in Western Canada. From there we crossed again by ferry, this time back to the American mainland.
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
Warm welcome to Canada
The first thing we did in Canada was go to the hairdresser. 'What on earth brought you to Cardston'? Is one of the first questions I received from the hairdresser. The town has only 3500 inhabitants and is completely deserted after 17:00 PM. I was subjected to a barrage of questions from both the hairdresser and the people waiting there. People really didn't understand that I had ended up not in Banff or Jasper, but in Cardston.
People showed a lot of interest and strangely enough almost everyone had a link with The Netherlands. Some had Dutch grandparents who had worked and lived in the Netherlands. They also told me that music would be played later in the day to kick off the weekend. I was curious about that!
Malou and I therefore returned later in the afternoon and sure enough, there was actually a whole band playing! While the hairdresser was still busy cutting, customers and waiters enjoyed country songs played by the band.
I had already let it be known that Malou can sing well. Malou didn't feel like it, but the hairdresser didn't let it go. He stood on it!
They chose to play a few songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival together. Bad Moon Rising, I've Got A Spell On You and Lodi passed by in quick succession. The hairdresser couldn't get the big smile off his face, he was beaming! Meanwhile, he was also more concerned with taking photos and videos of his Dutch guests than with cutting. He couldn't wait to share this at home with his wife and family.
The interest in us and the warm welcome we received here in Cardston already promised something for the remainder of our tour through Canada. The Canadians have proven to be incredibly friendly and, unlike the US, we haven't even had to discuss politics. What a relief!
Highlights tour through Western Canada
1.Calgary
Most people know the three largest cities of Canada; Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but haven't heard much about Calgary. Neither do I. Yet it is a large and pleasant city that is worth a visit. During our tour we left our camper behind in the countryside to discover the city of Calgary.
Calgary is a unique city that offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for sports activities, architecture, beautiful green parks or modern shopping centers, Calgary has it. You can walk around here for days and enjoy the parks or relax on one of the many cozy terraces and associated bars.
Also read: Tips for Calgary, Canada's most livable city
2. Waterton National Park
Waterton National Park was the first major national park we visited. We took beautiful walks here and we were also able to test our new inflatable boat on the water. It was a simple boat from Walmart, but we enjoyed it immensely! We floated around on the water for hours, which was really enjoyable with the view of the mountains.
3. Banff National Park
Tip:: Curious what we shoot with? Then view the display below.
The Fujifilm X-T5 with 16-80 is the ultimate all-round world travel camera† This camera has been declared several times by both the consumer association and Tweakers.net the best system camera you can buy. Even on automatic mode, you suddenly feel like a professional photographer!
- The best tested camera
- Fantastic photos
- 6.2K video
- 5 year warranty
We also made a great hike to the six glaciers, that is, the glaciers. A very tough walk of 18 kilometers. We saw so many other beautiful lakes and viewpoints during this hike that we wrote an entire blog about them. You can read it via the link below:
Also read: Most beautiful places in Banff National Park, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake
4. Banff, the town itself
You can experience the real holiday feeling in Canada in the town of Banff, which is located in the middle of the National Park. Here you will find countless souvenir shops, restaurants and bars and yes, it can be quite busy.
The town is beautifully decorated in the summer. We saw a lot of flower boxes and gardens in and between the shopping streets and restaurants. With the imposing peaks of Banff National Park in the background, taking a great photo is a breeze here.
5. Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park is often overshadowed by its big brothers Banff in the east and Jasper north of the park. Yet Yoho, like its brothers, has beautiful lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Reason enough for us to add this park to our camper tour through Western Canada.
Tip:: Curious what we shoot with? Then view the display below.
The Fujifilm X-T5 with 16-80 is the ultimate all-round world travel camera† This camera has been declared several times by both the consumer association and Tweakers.net the best system camera you can buy. Even on automatic mode, you suddenly feel like a professional photographer!
- The best tested camera
- Fantastic photos
- 6.2K video
- 5 year warranty
In the park you can leisurely drive to the sights or opt for a walk here and there in this beautiful nature.
Also read: Tips for Yoho National Park | Roadtrip Canada
6. Glacier National Park (Glacier Hike)
After we get in Yoho National Park After checking off a few easy hikes and enjoying the beautiful lakes and waterfalls, it was high time to challenge ourselves a bit. We decided to Glacier National Park of Canada to add to our tour of Western Canada, because we wanted to check a bucket list item off Malou's list.
Malou had never seen a glacier before, let alone one up close. To touch one was quite a dream. That's why we took action Glacier National Park of Canada a tough hike to the Illecillewaet glacier. 1300 meters of altitude in one day and three days of muscle pain. But let's face it, wasn't it absolutely worth it?
Also read: Glacier hike in Glacier National Park
7.Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the second most popular national park in Canada. Like Banff, it is a beautiful area with lakes, waterfalls, mountains and glaciers, where you can take the most beautiful walks.
Jasper is very big! You can choose to drive around for one or two days and stop at different places, but you can also (for as long as you want) take adventurous walks and/or relax at the beautiful lakes. Because it is very popular among tourists, it is wise to prepare your visit.
Also read: Tips for Jasper National Park
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
8. From Jasper to Vancouver (or vice versa)
But what else is there to see in Canada? Jumping salmon and even more waterfalls of course! We drove from Jasper National Park to Vancouver in a few days and made a few stops to spot some beautiful waterfalls and jumping salmon. We visited, among other things Clearwater en Rearguard falls, two well-known stops for those traveling between Vancouver and Jasper.
Also read: From Jasper to Vancouver – Jumping salmon and waterfalls
9. Vancouver city
Vancouver city is amazing and definitely a highlight of your tour of Western Canada. You will probably pick up your camper here or drop off your camper here. Don't be tempted to skip the city, there is so much to see here! Due to the maritime climate (which is unique and mild for Canada), the temperature here is much more moderate all year round. Winters here are relatively mild and summers are average to warm. This is reflected in the beautiful nature. How about something special, for example? Lynn canyon park in North Vancouver?
But there is also plenty to see in the city itself. From ultra-modern buildings to centuries-old houses – this city exudes Canada in its purest form. It is one of the most liveable cities in the world, and it is not without reason that people from all over Canada flock to this city. Do you want to explore Vancouver in a fun way? Then read our blog about it Biking in Vancouver.
Also read: Tips for Vancouver | Complete travel guide
10. Vancouver Island tour
Vancouver Island has been in the spotlight for some time now Canada high on my wish list. Partly because of bears, orcas, cute fishing villages and the special nature. It's a great addition to your tour of Western Canada, if you're willing to spare a week or more for it.
There is so much to tell about this big island! We wrote a total of 6 articles about this beautiful island. A good starting point is the summary article (#1 in the list below), but below you will also find links to the other Vancouver Island articles:
- Tour Vancouver Island, Canada | Tips and highlights
- Spotting bears on Vancouver Island
- Orca & Whale Watching on Vancouver Island
- Pacific Rim National Park, west coast of Vancouver Island
- Chemainus, the Street Art town of Vancouver Island
- Ferry Vancouver – Vancouver Island
Conclusion
10 weeks of driving around Canada flew by like 10 days. We have driven some fantastic panoramic routes here. We have seen and done fantastic things.
Compared to America, we saw significant differences in nature. It is greener in Western Canada with more rugged mountain peaks, lakes and glaciers. We also noticed a difference in people's attitudes. A little more reserved and less exaggerated. Making first contact with Canadians was a little more difficult than with Americans, but afterwards it felt more genuine.
But the overwhelming nature is what you ultimately come for. The beautiful glaciers that we admired up close, spotting bears and Orcas in the wild. Banff National Park, Vancouver Island. Each one turned out to be bucket list-worthy places and experiences that we will never forget.
If you are thinking or dreaming about doing a similar tour through Western Canada – don't hesitate any longer.
Don't be the person who says on his deathbed: If only I had...
Chris – Wereldreizigers.nl
A tour of Western Canada will become a bucket list-worthy life experience never to be forgotten.
I promise!
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
Plan your vacation to Canada here
- Camper trips compare to Travelhome from ANWB.
- Itineraries : TUI, canada plus, sawadee.
- Winter sports in Canada book yourself OAD.nl.
- Flight tickets For Canada you can book via Skyscanner.
- Rental cars : Sunnycars, Alamo en rental cars.
- Tours and Activities in Canada you book through GetYourGuide.
- Campsites in National Parks you book on Park Canada.
- Hotels & Resorts in Canada you book with Booking.com.
- Travel insurance for Canada you close at Allianz.
- SIM cards en e-sims for Canada you buy at International sim.
- Parking at the airport you can arrange via Parkos, Central parking of iParking.
- travel items (you can order suitcases, world plug adapters, etc Bol.com.
Our journey through the United States and Canada
This article is part of a large one-year tour the United States en Canada, with a Dutch 4×4 camper that we shipped ourselves… It is a bucket list worthy and an once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.
We wrote almost 100 articles about this ultimate tour. Visit our North America page for more information.
