Vancouver is at the hub of
transport links to many parts
of western Canada. Deciding
where to move
onward from
the city - and how to go -
presents a wealth of
possibilities. We've listed
the basic alternatives,
together with cross-references
to more detailed accounts of
the various options.
Alaska and the Yukon
You can fly to Whitehorse
in the Yukon directly from
Vancouver, but there are no
nonstop flights to Alaska
from the city: all go via
Seattle in the US. You can
fly to Seattle or take a bus
to Sea-Tac Airport in around
three hours from Vancouver
Airport or various downtown
hotels and other locations
. You can
drive to
Alaska through southern
British Columbia to Dawson
Creek, where you can pick up
the Alaska Hwy
, which runs through the
Yukon to Fairbanks. Allow at
least three days.
Alternatively drive to
Prince George, head west
towards Prince Rupert and
then strike north up the
more adventurous Cassiar Hwy
to connect with the Alaska
Hwy in the Yukon. Using
public
transport you could take
either a BC Rail train
or Greyhound bus to Prince
George (one day), connecting
with another Greyhound to
Dawson Creek and Whitehorse
(two days). Alaskon Express
buses link Whitehorse with
Alaskan destinations.
To travel to Alaska by boat
from Vancouver you need to
go via Bellingham (in the
US), Prince Rupert, or Port
Hardy on Vancouver Island
.
British Columbia
Two main road routes
strike east from Vancouver
towards Alberta and the
Canadian Rockies - the
Trans-Canada Highway and Hwy
3, both served by regular
Greyhound buses .
Both give access to the
Okanagan
, known for its warm-watered
lakes and summer resorts,
and to the beautiful
mountain and lakes enclave
of the Kootenays
. VIA trains run
through the region via
Kamloops to Jasper (for the
Rockies) and Edmonton three
times weekly. Buses and BC
Rail trains also serve the Cariboo
region, the duller central
part of the province
. Several mouthwatering
itineraries can be put
together by combining car or
public transport journeys in
the BC interior with BC
Ferries' connections from
Port Hardy on Vancouver
Island
to either Bella Coola or
Prince Rupert.
Calgary and the Canadian
Rockies
It takes between ten and
twelve hours to drive to
Calgary on the Trans-Canada
Hwy, and about ninety
minutes less to reach the
heart of the Canadian
Rockies, Banff. Special
express-service Greyhound
buses operate over the same
route. There is no longer a
VIA Rail passenger service
to Calgary. Very frequent
one-hour flights connect
Vancouver and Calgary, and
charter operators such as
Canada 3000 offer highly
competitive rates on this
route.
Vancouver Island
Numerous ferries ply
between Vancouver and three
points on its eponymous
island - Swartz Bay (for
Victoria), Nanaimo and Comox.
Most leave from Tsawwassen
and Horseshoe Bay, terminals
about thirty-minutes' drive
south and west of downtown
respectively. As a foot
passenger you can buy
inclusive bus and ferry
tickets from Vancouver to
Victoria or Nanaimo. Car
drivers should make
reservations well in advance
for all summer crossings
. Public transport
connects to the Pacific Rim
National Park, the island's
highlight, and to Port Hardy
on the island's northern tip
for ferry connections to
Prince Rupert and Bella
Coola.
