Self-Launched Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest Adventure
14 days · Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest (Calgary to Seattle)
G Adventures charges £3,420
No-markup version: ~£1,330 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 14-day DIY version of G Adventures' Calgary-to-Seattle loop through Banff, Lake Louise, the Okanagan, Whistler, Vancouver, Olympic National Park, Portland and Mount Rainier. You'll swap the private van and CEO for intercity buses, Amtrak Cascades, a public ferry and a couple of independently booked hiking shuttles, and swap 3-star hotels for well-reviewed hostels, motels and park lodges. Same postcard landscapes — Banff's peaks, Lake Louise's turquoise water, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Sunrise Point at Rainier — for roughly a third of the tour price. Note: North America is not cheap; budget travellers should expect to spend more per day here than in Asia or Latin America. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights to Calgary/from Seattle.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Land at YYC and take the Calgary Transit Route 300 bus downtown (~CAD 10.50) or the shared shuttle. Check into a downtown hostel (HI Calgary City Centre or the Wicked Hostels are good budget picks). Use the afternoon to sort your SIM/eSIM, buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass if you're visiting multiple parks (around CAD 72.25 for the annual adult pass — cheaper than day passes if you hit Banff, Lake Louise, Rainier and Olympic), and pick up groceries for hiking days. Evening: wander Stephen Avenue and grab a cheap dinner; Alberta's drinking age is 18 so a beer is easy.
🚌Calgary Transit Route 300 bus from YYC (~£6)
🛏HI Calgary City Centre or Wicked Hostels (dorm ~£28)
- →Stephen Avenue walk
- →Buy Parks Canada Discovery Pass
- →Grocery stock-up
- →Sort eSIM
Calgary to Banff
Banff, Alberta
Take the Brewster/On-It express bus or a Rider Express coach from Calgary to Banff (~CAD 20–40, 1h45). Book into HI Banff Alpine Centre or a Banff hostel dorm. Afternoon is yours: hike Tunnel Mountain (free, ~1.5h round trip for classic town views), or if you want the big views, ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain (~CAD 75–90). Watch for elk and bighorn sheep along the Bow River. Optional evening: Banff Upper Hot Springs soak (~CAD 17).
🚌On-It/Brewster express coach Calgary–Banff (~£15)
🛏HI Banff Alpine Centre or Samesun Banff (dorm ~£35)
- →Tunnel Mountain hike (free)
- →Banff Gondola (optional, CAD 75–90)
- →Banff Upper Hot Springs (optional, CAD 17)
- →Bow River wildlife spotting
Lake Louise and on to Revelstoke
Lake Louise / Revelstoke, BC
Take the Roam Transit Route 8X from Banff to Lake Louise (CAD 10) — early start. Walk the lakeshore, then hike to Lake Agnes Tea House (~2h up, moderate; bring cash, tea and scones ~CAD 15). If the tea house is packed, the Plain of Six Glaciers is the other classic. Afternoon: bus onward to Revelstoke (Rider Express or Brewster, ~CAD 60–85, roughly 3.5h) and check into a hostel or motel. The town is a laid-back mountain base with cheap breweries.
🚌Roam Transit 8X Banff–Lake Louise (~£6) + Rider Express coach to Revelstoke (~£45)
🛏Revelstoke hostel or motel (dorm/private ~£30)
- →Lake Louise lakeshore walk
- →Lake Agnes Tea House hike
- →Plain of Six Glaciers trail
- →Revelstoke evening brewery
Revelstoke to Kelowna via the Okanagan
Kelowna, BC
Continue west by Rider Express/Ebus coach to Kelowna (~CAD 55–70, ~3h). Kelowna's a food-and-drink haven: most Okanagan wineries run walk-in tastings from ~CAD 15–25, and bus/tour shuttles run from downtown to the Westside wine trail. In the evening, hit one of the many craft breweries downtown (a flight is ~CAD 12). Stay in a downtown hostel or budget motel near the lake.
🚌Rider Express/Ebus Revelstoke–Kelowna (~£38)
🛏Kelowna downtown hostel or budget motel (~£32)
- →Okanagan winery tasting (~CAD 20)
- →Craft brewery flight
- →Okanagan Lake waterfront walk
Kelowna to Whistler
Whistler, BC
This is a long travel day — book a direct coach (Ebus/Rider Express via Kamloops and the scenic Duffey Lake Road, ~CAD 90–120, 7–8h) or break it with a stop in Kamloops. Arrive Whistler in the evening and check into the HI Whistler or Whistler Athletes' Centre (the best-value beds in town are a bit out of the village, with a free shuttle in). Grab dinner in the village and stretch your legs on the Valley Trail.
🚌Ebus/Rider Express coach Kelowna–Whistler (~£65)
🛏HI Whistler or Whistler Athletes' Centre (dorm ~£35)
- →Duffey Lake Road scenic drive
- →Valley Trail evening walk
Whistler free day
Whistler, BC
Pick your adventure: hike Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain (free trail access in summer via the day pass trails), ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (~CAD 95), zipline with Superfly or Ziptrek (~CAD 155), or raft the Green/Cheakamus River (~CAD 145–196). Cheapest option: the Lost Lake loop and a picnic. All bookable directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Village food is pricey — self-cater breakfast and lunch.
🚌Free village shuttle / walking
🛏HI Whistler or Whistler Athletes' Centre (dorm ~£35)
- →Peak 2 Peak Gondola (optional, CAD 95)
- →Ziplining (optional, CAD 155)
- →Whitewater rafting (optional, CAD 145–196)
- →Lost Lake hike (free)
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and on to Vancouver
Whistler / Vancouver, BC
Morning: visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler (adult admission ~CAD 24, includes an interpretive tour and a short film) — the self-launched equivalent of the tour's G for Good moment. Afternoon: take the Epic Rides or Skylynx bus from Whistler to Vancouver (~CAD 35–50, 2h15). In Vancouver, check into a downtown hostel (HI Vancouver Central or Samesun) and walk the Seawall or explore Gastown and Granville Island Public Market.
🚌Epic Rides/Skylynx Whistler–Vancouver (~£28)
🛏HI Vancouver Central or Samesun Vancouver (dorm ~£32)
- →Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (~CAD 24)
- →Granville Island Public Market
- →Seawall walk
- →Gastown
Vancouver to Sequim via ferry
Sequim / Olympic Peninsula, WA
Travel like a local: SkyTrain to Bridgeport, Canada Line, or take the Pacific Coach Lines/Quick Shuttle to Tsawwassen terminal, then the BC Ferries sailing to Swartz Bay, bus to Victoria, and the Black Ball Coho ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles (foot passenger ~USD 23, 90 min). Alternatively cross at Blaine by bus and take the Washington State Ferries route via Puget Sound. From Port Angeles, Clallam Transit #30 runs to Sequim (~USD 1.50). In the late afternoon, drive or shuttle up Hurricane Ridge (Clallam Transit Hurricane Ridge shuttle in season, USD 1–5) for alpine meadows and mountain goat views. Stay in a Sequim motel or the Port Angeles hostel.
🚌SkyTrain + BC Ferries + transit + Black Ball Coho ferry (~£45)
🛏Sequim budget motel or Port Angeles hostel (~£40)
- →BC Ferries crossing
- →Black Ball Coho ferry
- →Hurricane Ridge viewpoints
Olympic National Park — Sol Duc & Lake Crescent
Olympic National Park, WA
Book a small-group Olympic day tour from Port Angeles/Sequim via GetYourGuide or join a ranger-led hike (free). The classic combo is Sol Duc Falls (easy 2.6km) and the Lake Crescent shoreline — Marymere Falls and the Mount Storm King trail for the fit. Rent a kayak on Lake Crescent (~USD 30/hr) or take a day pass at Sol Duc Hot Springs (~USD 20). Self-launched version: Clallam Transit #14 links Port Angeles and Forks with stop requests near Lake Crescent and Sol Duc, but a tour is worth it if you want multiple stops in one day.
🚌Small-group tour or Clallam Transit #14 (~£15)
🛏Sequim motel or Port Angeles hostel (~£40)
- →Sol Duc Falls hike
- →Marymere Falls
- →Mount Storm King trail (fit hikers)
- →Lake Crescent kayak rental (optional)
- →Sol Duc Hot Springs (optional, USD 20)
Sequim to Portland
Portland, OR
Slow morning: visit a Sequim lavender farm (Dungeness valley, several free/donation-entry farms) or walk the Dungeness Spit at the National Wildlife Refuge (USD 3 vehicle/foot entry) — one of the longest natural sand spits in the world. Then bus or ferry-hop south: Clallam Transit to Port Angeles, then the Dungeness Line/Greyhound to Seattle and Amtrak Cascades to Portland, or a direct Greyhound/Flixbus if available (total roughly USD 45–65, 6–8h). Arrive Portland late afternoon, check into HI Portland Northwest or a hostel near downtown, and do your own orientation loop: Pioneer Courthouse Square, Powell's Books, and a food cart pod for dinner (a meal is USD 10–15).
🚌Clallam Transit + Dungeness Line + Amtrak Cascades (~£45)
🛏HI Portland Northwest or Kex Portland (dorm ~£33)
- →Dungeness Spit walk (USD 3)
- →Sequim lavender farm
- →Powell's Books
- →Food cart pod dinner
Portland to Crystal Mountain
Crystal Mountain / Mount Rainier area, WA
Morning in Portland: join a guided bike tour (~USD 45) or rent a Biketown e-bike and ride the Springwater Corridor and Eastbank Esplanade (~USD 15 for the day). Midday, take Amtrak Cascades north to Tacoma or Seattle (~USD 35–45), then a Mount Rainier shuttle/rental car or the Rainier Express to the Crystal Mountain base area. Crystal Mountain Resort has hostel-style and budget lodge beds; alternatively base at Packwood. Stock up on groceries — options near the park are limited.
🚌Amtrak Cascades + shuttle/rental car (~£55)
🛏Crystal Mountain lodge or Packwood motel (~£45)
- →Portland bike tour or e-bike rental
- →Springwater Corridor ride
- →Amtrak Cascades scenic ride
Mount Rainier National Park — Sunrise
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Get up early for Sunrise Point — the highest road-accessible point in the park (6,400ft) and the best 360° view of Rainier and the Cascades, weather permitting. Drive or shuttle up before 8am to beat the queues and the clouds. Hike the Sourdough Ridge Trail or the Mount Fremont Lookout trail (~9km, moderate). Buy your park entry online in advance (USD 30/vehicle, or free with the America the Beautiful pass at USD 80 if you're also doing Olympic). Afternoon: back at Crystal Mountain, optional scenic gondola (~USD 40) or the adventure ropes course.
🚌Shuttle/rental car to Sunrise (~£10)
🛏Crystal Mountain lodge or Packwood motel (~£45)
- →Sunrise Point viewpoint
- →Sourdough Ridge Trail
- →Mount Fremont Lookout hike
- →Crystal Mountain gondola (optional)
Crystal Mountain to Seattle
Seattle, WA
Travel into Seattle by shuttle or Amtrak (via Tacoma/Sumner, ~USD 25–40). Check into Green Tortoise Hostel or HI Seattle at the Pike Place Market. Self-guided Seattle afternoon: Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and the Olympic Sculpture Park (free). Optional: Space Needle (~USD 35–40), Chihuly Garden and Glass (~USD 32), or the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Cheap eats at Pike Place — fish and chips or a piroshky are USD 10–15. Evening at a Capitol Hill bar or live music venue.
🚌Shuttle/Amtrak to Seattle (~£25)
🛏Green Tortoise Hostel or HI Seattle (dorm ~£35)
- →Pike Place Market
- →Olympic Sculpture Park (free)
- →Space Needle (optional)
- →Chihuly Garden and Glass (optional)
- →Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Seattle departure
Seattle, WA
Final morning: coffee at the original Starbucks or a local roaster, a last wander through the market, then Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac Airport (~USD 3, 40 min) for your flight home. If you have a late flight, the Museum of Flight or a ferry to Bainbridge Island (walk-on ~USD 10) makes a good final stop.
🚌Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac (~£2.50)
🛏—
- →Pike Place coffee run
- →Bainbridge Island ferry (optional)
- →Link Light Rail to airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,330 | £3,420 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,090 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,330
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,330 per person for 14 days in Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest (Calgary to Seattle). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,420 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,330 — a saving of roughly £2,090 (61%) per person.
How long is the Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest (Calgary to Seattle) trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest (Calgary to Seattle).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, road-trip trip through Canadian Rockies & Pacific Northwest (Calgary to Seattle), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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