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Introducing British Columbia

British Columbia covers a huge territory, with around 16,000 miles (26,000 km) of Pacific coastline that rises inland to the dramatic glacier-topped mountains of the Canadian Rockies. While British Columbia is the perfect destination for outdoor adventure, you'll also discover great wine in the Okanagan Valley, a rich indigenous heritage and gold rush history, and a vast pristine wilderness to explore.

When is the best time to visit?
There are two main seasons for traveling—the winter season, which is best for skiing at resorts or in the backcountry or visiting hot springs, and the spring-through-fall season, which is best for road trips, urban exploring, and hiking, biking, and sea kayaking in the outdoors. Learn more

Where should I go in British Columbia?
For a true wilderness experience, head to northern British Columbia to explore a sparsely populated region full of wildlife, remote lake chains, mountains, and countless rivers to canoe or raft. Southern British Columbia is more developed and thus has more options for road trips: for dramatic mountains, head to the Canadian Rockies; for great wine and food, head to the Okanagan Valley; and for coastal rainforest, head to Vancouver Island and the Great Bear Rainforest. Learn more

How many days do I need?
People are often surprised by the scale of British Columbia (it's twice as large as California). It takes multiple weeks to cover more than one region without feeling too rushed, so plan your trip accordingly. If you have 3-7 days, stick to one region. With 2 weeks, you can combine 2-3 regions, and with a month or more you can visit the main highlights of the entire province. Learn more

Getting around British Columbia
The best way to get around British Columbia is by rental car or RV. There are numerous routes, campgrounds, and amenities that make this easy and car ferries will shuttle you between islands. Expect to take multiple ferries if you're exploring the coastline or chartered floatplanes if you're flying into the more remote regions. Domestic flights are also a great way to combine regions that are far apart.

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 16 days

British Columbia Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper - 7 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper - 7 Days

One week is just enough time to explore the Canadian Rockies without feeling too rushed. Designed for those looking to get up into the mountains, this route starts and ends in Calgary and focuses on providing the best access to amazing trails as well as lesser-known regions that evade the crowds. The ideal season for this route is May through September. 

Trail to Helen Lake, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise & Jasper - 5 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise & Jasper - 5 Days

With just three full days, this is the minimum amount of time you'll want to get a great feel for the Canadian Rockies. Besides two longer days of driving, you'll be able to focus your time exploring the countless trails and viewpoints along the scenic Icefields Parkway. After returning to Canmore on your last night, it's a short drive to Calgary for your onward journey. 

Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 13 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 13 Days

Designed for outdoor adventure lovers, this route gets you away from the crowds into the best alpine scenery of the Canadian Rockies. You'll start and end in Calgary and drive the iconic Icefields Parkway in both directions, taking in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, with minimal driving time and more time in nature. 

Tod Lake near Sun Peaks Resort
Map of British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap & Okanagan Valley - 7 Days
British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap & Okanagan Valley - 7 Days

A week-long road trip featuring British Columbia's Coast Mountains and the wine region of the Okanagan. Starting and ending in Vancouver, you'll drive through Whistler, Sun Peaks, and then south through the Okanagan Valley to Kelowna and back to Vancouver. This route is relatively fast-paced and best suited for those who are short on time but want to cover the main highlights of the Coast Mountains and Okanagan. 

Volcanic plateau on the southern flank of Mount Edziza
Map of Mount Edziza Traverse in Northern BC - 10 Days
Mount Edziza Traverse in Northern BC - 10 Days

Located in the remote wilderness of northwestern British Columbia, this is one of the most beautiful and rewarding treks in Canada. A sacred landscape for the Tahltan First Nation, visiting this plateau was both a rite of passage and a journey of purification. Accessible only by floatplane, hike for five days across the alpine tundra against the backdrop of cinder cones, glaciers, and the mighty Coastal Range.

Hiking in the Ten Peaks Valley, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 10 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 10 Days

With 10 days, you'll have enough time to explore all the highlights of the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper. You'll also have time to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds, either on a multi-day hiking adventure, to a wilderness lodge, or into the lesser-known (but just a stunning) region of Kananaskis.

Make the Most of Your Time in British Columbia

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
Salmon Glacier in Stewart, northern British Columbia
How Many Days to Spend in British Columbia

British Columbia is vast—bigger than New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and most US states—and even travelers with generous schedules will have choices to make when planning a...

British Columbia Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest British Columbia Content

British Columbia's Parliament Buildings in Victoria are lovely to see  when lit up
British Columbia in September: Travel Tips, Weather & More

September is autumn in British Columbia, with pleasant and still-summery weather in many parts of the province. A variety of festivals in Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna showcase some of British Columbia's finest culture and cuisine, making September a great month to visit. Read on to learn more.

Visit Vancouver in winter
British Columbia in December: Travel Tips, Weather & More

December's cold, frosty weather brings snow sports enthusiasts back to British Columbia for the busy winter season. Hit the slopes at popular mountain resorts throughout the province, especially in the Rocky Mountains and around Vancouver. Not into skiing? Check out the big city attractions of Vancouver instead, or watch the storms roll in on Vancouver Island. Here's what you can see, do, and experience in British Columbia in December.

Visit Whistler in November
British Columbia in November: Travel Tips, Weather & More

November is the end of fall and the start of winter in British Columbia. As the snow sports season kicks into gear, visitors can hit the slopes or the trails, or opt for other shoulder-month pursuits, like bird watching and attending food festivals. Find out more about visiting British Columbia in November below.

British Columbia Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
British Columbia map: Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 7 Days
Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 7 Days
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British Columbia map: Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 5 Days
Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 5 Days
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British Columbia map: Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 13 Days
Best of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip - 13 Days
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Related Destinations

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Trip Reviews for British Columbia

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Great City/Outdoor Adventure
British Columbia | Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2022

D
Desiree K.
Bakersfield, CA | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2022

Carl did a great job of balancing out city sightseeing opportunities with outdoor adventures around Vancouver. The best part was trying out things like cycling around the sea wall and city, something I wouldn’t normally think about doing. The accommodations were in fantastic locations. I appreciate the thoughtfulness into my itinerary since it was so last minute.
I will definitely use this company again. Thank you! read more

Carl did a great job of balancing out city sightseeing opportunities with outdoor adventures around Vancouver. The best part was trying out things like cycling around the sea wall and city, something I wouldn’t normally think about doing. The accommodations were in fantastic locations. I appreciate the thoughtfulness into my itinerary since it was so last minute.
I will definitely use this company again. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Sunset Inn and Suites
Vancouver

The location was close to so many places like the ferry to Granville or Kipsilano and the beach. They did a great job letting guests know about the fireworks shows and other activities going on around the area. The staff were so nice. The bag to go option for breakfast is nice, but having a hot breakfast was a wait.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Every staff member I encountered were helpful and nice with a greeting.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Embassy Inn
Victoria

The hotel was close to downtown Victoria, and I block from the harbor. It was a good location to everything. The breakfast buffet was good since it lasted until 10:30 and there was plenty of room for sitting.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Vancouver

The bridge was busy, but the walk after the bridge was quiet and worth the trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
It was a free courtesy bus from Vancouver to the Bridge.
Local specialist: Carl Saulnier-Gagnon
Carl
Carl Saulnier-Gagnon
Local specialist in Québec | Reviewed on Aug 09, 2022

Hi Desiree,
So happy that you enjoyed your vacation.
Thank you for your review and let us know it will be a pleasure anytime :)

Merci

Well organized and Taylor rd to our needs
British Columbia | Jun 12 - Jun 22, 2022

John
John R.
Wilson, NC | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2022

All of the trip was well organized and was Taylor’s to exactly want we wanted. Most of the hotels selected were great. All do the activities were spaced out well to give us flexibility to do things once we arrived. This was our first time using Kim Kim and we look forward to using them again! read more

All of the trip was well organized and was Taylor’s to exactly want we wanted. Most of the hotels selected were great. All do the activities were spaced out well to give us flexibility to do things once we arrived. This was our first time using Kim Kim and we look forward to using them again!

Hotel Reviews
Sunset Inn and Suites
Vancouver

The bedroom in the suite we had was tiny! It had a king sized bed but we barely had room to walk around it. We had to move our suitcases out of our way each time we needed to move. Would have rather had a queen bed if meant we had more space. The living room and kitchen were nice. Breakfast was included but had to be ordered ahead of time

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was clean but space of the bedroom was a major draw back l. It also had a window AC unit with ductwork duck taped to the window and wasn’t very secure. Bedroom had window unit behind the curtain so it blew cold air into the curtain the whole time. Room was visible to other buildings so we had to keep it closed for privacy making the AC unit useless. Fortunately our time of year didn’t require much AC and we were still comfortable
Moose Hotel and Suites
Banff

This hotel was amazing!!! The amenities were great! We enjoyed the rooftop hit pools and room service for breakfast was very convenient! The suite was spacious and the bathroom was really nice! We can’t wait to come back here.

Tips for future travelers

Use the included local transit bus pass. Parking is difficult and it was so nice to have convenient mass transit that was free to us as guests.

Authenticity & Character
Fireplace in the suite amazing balcony views
Location
It was right downtown we could walk to most Places
Staff
Very friendly and helpful. I lost my camera on the bus and they helped me track it down.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Vancouver
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore around Banff
Banff
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gondola operates greeted us and asked were we were from. Very friendly
Transport
We had our own gondola. We also were able to go early due to it not being busy so we got more time at the top.
Columbia Icefield Excursion
Canada

A very unique experience one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and engaging drivers answered all our questions
Transport
Really fun to ride the monster truck bus!
Maligne Lake Cruise
Canada
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Maude Pepin

Marie Christine was super to deal with. She responded quickly to any questions I asked!
British Columbia | May 26 - Jun 1, 2022

S
Sue P.
Canada | Reviewed on Jun 08, 2022

Marie Christine was super to deal with. She was attentive and listened to my requests for destinations. All of our accommodations exceeded our expectations.

The only disappointment was the itinerary said breakfasts were included, when in fact most of our accommodations did not (there is a discrepancy from the itinerary and the information about the hotels.). If I had noticed this at the beginning of the trip, I may not have taken advantage of the KimKim service as pricing was now... read more

Marie Christine was super to deal with. She was attentive and listened to my requests for destinations. All of our accommodations exceeded our expectations.

The only disappointment was the itinerary said breakfasts were included, when in fact most of our accommodations did not (there is a discrepancy from the itinerary and the information about the hotels.). If I had noticed this at the beginning of the trip, I may not have taken advantage of the KimKim service as pricing was now higher than what I had expected.

Hotel Reviews
Best Western Plus Merritt Hotel
Merritt

Convenient, clean and friendly hotel. Nice to have a great selection for the breakfast which was included.

Authenticity & Character
Large room, great shower!
Location
Convenient to the highway
Staff
Friendly front desk staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were spotless
Kelowna Bed and Breakfast
Kelowna

Fantastic place and friendly hosts.

Tips for future travelers

Book it before you miss the opportunity to stay here!

Authenticity & Character
Spacious room with private patio!
Location
We could easily walk to downtown Kelowna. Beautiful neighbourhood
Staff
Made sure we knew where everything was located and made us feel at home.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless!
Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff

This is a unique hotel and the rooms are much smaller than newer hotels. We stayed here because of the history of the hotel.

Tips for future travelers

The rooms are very small - we went for the ambiance of the building and the grounds.

Authenticity & Character
The history of this hotel is amazing.
Location
Bus stop outside the hotel can be used for free to take you into town. Otherwise it is a 15 minute walk.
Staff
Extremely friendly and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless!
Blackstone Mountain Lodge
Canmore

Lovely hotel with spacious rooms. Each room has a complete kitchen!

Authenticity & Character
Large rooms and full kitchen
Location
Close to downtown, great coffee shops and a nice walking trail along the river.
Staff
Everyone was super friendly!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless!
Activity Reviews
Arrive in Kelowna
Kelowna

We arranged a last minute wine tour with Gerry of Wine Boss Tours. He graciously waited while we met him at his first pick up. The tour was fun and Gerry provided great insight into the wineries we visited.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gerry was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining!
Transport
Clean van and water was provided for us!
Banff to Lake Louise
Banff

Banff is a beautiful town but busy with tourists. We enjoyed the delightful coffee shop and went there twice for the fresh breakfast sandwiches made with their “made on the premises” bread. They were delicious and so was the coffee!

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Marie-Christine Desjardins
Marie-Christine
Marie-Christine Desjardins
Local specialist in Mont-Tremblant | Reviewed on Jun 08, 2022

Thank you so much for your review, Sue. It was a pleasure organizing your trip - it took me back a few years ago when I did the almost same itinerary! As for the breakfasts, I understand it was disapointing. It was raised to kimkim support and we are all working on a solution so it does not happen again. I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and do not hesitate to reach out if you are planning another roadtrip, maybe Eastern Canada this time? :) Take care!