Tour Pacific

Join us in 2013 for our Challenging Tour Pacific ride.

Ride from Vancouver to Calgary via the Icefields Parkway

Tour Pacific is part of the Cycle Canada Series, rides designed to explore the diversity of the country and its people.

Support in populated and remote wilderness areas

Tour Pacific is a supported tour and accommodation is mainly camping. There are indoor stays at the start and end of the tour and on our rest day Kamloops. Cycling will be on paved roads, although there can be construction and there are optional upaved suggestions. Services in some areas can be minimal and riders will pass through remote areas with spectacular scenery. On most nights we will have hot showers and electricity. There will be some stays in no-service campgrounds.

Maximum group size of 18 to 20 people

For the fourth annual ride we will be taking between 18 and 20 people. Please contact us early to register.

Following the Fraser River to Cowboy Country

Leaving Vancouver, we're on the north side of the Fraser River Valley until we reach the Coast Mountains. Our pass through this range is the Fraser River Canyon. Past Hell's Gate, we reach the junction of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. Then we follow the Nicola River to Kamloops. You will pass by big ranches where cowboys still do the roundups on horseback. Our first day off is in Kamloops. Kamloops is the regional centre for Cariboo district of British Columbia and a town with all the modern amenities.

The Columbia Icefields, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff

We'll visit Jasper, an historic townsite in the Rockies where we'll have a day off to explore Jasper National Park. From Jasper we will follow the Athabasca and Sunwapta Rivers - we're on the world renowned Icefields Parkway where we view the the Columbia Icefields a 325 square kilometre field of ice and snow that overflows into 8 spectacular glaciers.

At the Icefields we cross into Banff National Park and make our way to the Saskatchewan River Crossing, or The Crossing. We'll ride through the Mistaya River valley to the highest point of the Parkway which is the Bow Summit at 2056 metres. We stay in Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, 15 km south has excellent hiking trails. Then it's along the Bow River to Banff and down through the foothills to Calgary.

Icefields Parkway Segement

Can't get two weeks off? Ride a portion of Tour Pacific from Jasper to Calgary. Includes the Icefields Parkway

We have a limited number of spaces for riders who want this shorter segment of Tour Pacific, so inquire early.

Included in your Tour Pacific Package:

Pre-Trip

• Trip preparation Guide, including training tips, route and routine overviews and safety information.
• Half-day trip orientation on the first day of schedule.

Meals and Accommodation

• Pre-booked accommodation.
• Mainly camping.
• Camping is in private serviced or government campgrounds and unserviced remote sites.
• Some indoor stays at university residences.
• Single accommodation and there may be double.
• Guaranteed single accommodation available as a suppemental cost.
• Support staff to drive support vehicle, deliver bags
• Meals included are prepared by our staff including dinners and hot breakfasts on riding days.
• Fruit and snacks will be available to take with you on riding days.
• Final day pizza party in Calgary

Route Support

• Daily maps and route instructions.
• Head office toll free telephone and Skype assistance.
• Support vehicle to carry your gear.
• The support vehicle is equiped with power outlets for charging phones and computers and for pumping up sleeping mats at locations where we have power.
• Riders have individual storage shelves for gear. There is a fridge, coffee maker, shelter tent, tool kit and floor pump on the vehicle.
• CycleCanada water bottle, safety triangle to wear while riding.
• Support staff, cook and driver.
• Full tool kit and work stand on support vehicle.

Join us for the Tour Pacific or Icefields Parkway Bicycle Tour

We are pleased to announce our dates and fees for 2013.

Please check availability on our tours before registering.

Tour Pacific

• Vancouver, B.C. to Calgary, Alberta
• Dates: June 25 to July 10, 2013
• Fee: $1,625.00
• Deposit: $400.00

Icefields Parkway

• Jasper, Alberta to Calgary, Alberta
• Dates: July 6 to July 10, 2013
• Fee: $750.00
• Deposit: $250.00

Fees are per person in Canadian funds

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is in addition to above fees. A discount on this tax applicable to non-residents of Canada.

We recommend you obtain travel, medical and personal insurance.

Please read our policy statement for Cycle Canada events: Policies

You'll find information on other great cycling tours in Canada here: Cycle Canada Events.

What to Bring on Tour Pacific:

A Bike and Enthusiasm

• A bike in good working order, a flexible attitude and enthusiasm!
• Tour Pacific is planned for paved roads and paths but some unpaved sections are unavoidable, especially through construction projects – we recommend a sturdy road bike suitable for a long distance expedition ride.
• For camping nights, a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and a pillow (we have tents you can rent).
• Mess kit (cup, plate, bowl, eating utensils). Participants bring mess kits and are only responsible for cleaning their own kits.

Personal Items

• Don't forget a tool kit, just in case you have a flat or other minor mechanical problem. If your bike has unique and difficult to find parts you may wish to bring spare parts – please check with us.
• A helmet, water bottles, sunscreen, insect repellent and a rain gear in case of inclement weather.
• Cash for lunches, munchie stops and meals on rest days and ferry days.
• Personal items such as camera, identification, cycling and aprés cycling clothes

Luggage and Bike Boxes

• Travelling light is a good plan
• Cycle Canada has no official limit on transporting your daily luggage. For camping stays we aim to have tenting sites close to the truck but this is not always possible. So, keep in mind that you may need to carry your bags at times.
• One area where we do have constraints is taking hard shell bike cases. Some soft shelled bike cases may not present a problem. We generally can transport Bike Friday Cases on the assumption that box is used as storage for the cyclist's gear. If you need to bring a bike case please let us know, we'll assist with advice so you can make arrangements. If you have special logistical issues, such as travelling from overseas, please let us know. We'll do what we can to help.

Renting Bikes

• Most participants on our rides bring their own bikes, particularly on a tour of this length. But travelling with bikes can be complicated. Please let us know if you wish to rent a bike and we will provide suggestions on rental companies.

Proudly Canadian

Cycle Canada, The Veloforce Corporation is a Canadian company that organizes cycling activities. It is owned by Bud & Margot Jorgensen. Bud is a long-time recreational cyclist and founder of Tour du Canada. Our operations are located in Alliston, Ontario, just north of Toronto.

We have been organizing affordable supported cycling expeditions and vacations throughout Canada since 1987.

Cycling in Canada

We believe that Canada is the best place in the world to go for a bike ride.

Our primary focus is to offer an enjoyable cycling experience. We encourage participants in our events to ride at their own pace and to join us with the goal of completing their tour by bicycle. We believe they will enjoy a cycling trip more in groups where they get to know other riders and share the pleasure of travelling as cycle tourists.

Read more about the management of Cycle Canada here: About Us.

Our Pledge to You

Participants in our events have a right to expect that Cycle Canada, as organizers, and its staff will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that riders complete their ride and are enriched by the cycling experience. We hope that each rider will find companionship in, and be tolerant of other members of the group and help to make the trip a memorable and positive experience for all riders.