5-Day Thompson Okanagan Sightseeing

Summary
Itinerary
What's Included
Accommodations

5-Day Thompson Okanagan Sightseeing

The Thompson Okanagan region is home to a myriad of colorful orchards, charming vineyards producing
world-class wines, captivating historical sights, and majestic scenery. The semi-arid, dry sunny days makes this area well suited for a diverse array of activities as well as a fascinating region to discover.

Vineyards, ranches, pioneer and First Nations history – there's a bit of everything in this comprehensive circuit throughout the Thompson Okanagan.

The Thompson Okanagan region is home to a myriad of colorful orchards, charming vineyards producing world-class wines, captivating historical sights, and majestic scenery. The semi-arid, dry sunny days makes this area well suited for a diverse array of activities as well as a fascinating region to discover.

Day 1 – Vancouver to Osoyoos (4 hours)

  • Travel from Vancouver to Osoyoos along Highway 1 to Hope, and then on Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. You’ll know you’re in farming country when you see the fruit stands lining the road. Tour the historic Grist Mill and Gardens. This fully restored water-powered flour mill and garden take you back in time to the pioneer days of pack horses, gold miners, and wood stoves. Living history performers invite visitors to share in the daily homestead chores, offering a truly hands-on experience of early life in the Similkameen valley. The Grist Mill has an heirloom apple orchard, a Living Museum of Wheat growing on the upper fields, and one of the most diverse heritage gardens in Canada.
  • Stop at Harker’s Fruit Ranch a few minutes east of Keremeos in Cawston. Tour the fields and orchard and pick up some freshly picked fruit and vegetables. Harker’s supplies produce to some of the most respected restaurants and grocers in BC.
  • In Cawston, you’ll encounter several wineries including Crowsnest Vineyards, Seven Stones Winery and the Forbidden Fruit Winery; the first indication that you’re in BC Wine Country. You can even stay for the night at the Harvest Moon Guest House adjacent to the winery.
  • Continue on Highway 3 but be on the look out for an unusual stop of interest just off the road on the right. Watch for the signs as you arrive at Spotted Lake. This is private property so please stay behind the fence! A rare and unique natural phenomenon covering 15.2 hectares, the lake contains one of the world’s highest concentrations of minerals. Legends of “Kliluk, the Spotted Lake” are woven into the Native Indian heritage of the Okanagan Valley with stories of Indians soaking away aches and ailments in the healing mud and waters
  • Proceed on Highway 3 to Osoyoos. Spend the afternoon at the Osoyoos Desert Centre.  The Osoyoos Desert Centre is an ecological interpretive centre on a protected portion of this habitat and has a carefully placed boardwalk around the area where visitors can learn about desert ecology, ecological restoration, and conservation of endangered ecosystems in the South Okanagan.
  • Overnight in Osoyoos.  Suggested accommodation:
    Best Western Sunrise Inn (www.bestwesternosoyoos.com)
    Walnut Beach Resort (www.walnutbeachresort.com)

Day 2 – Osoyoos to Vernon (3 hours)

  • Take the time to visit any of our many wineries along the BC Wine Route to sample award-winning wines and tour their lush vineyards. 
  • Enjoy a tour at Inniskillin Vineyards (www.inniskillin.com) south of Oliver where their tasting room boasts a panoramic view of vineyards and valley. Or, not far away is Jackson Triggs Winery (www.jacksontrigggswinery.com), one of Canada’s most celebrated wineries.
  • If it’s hot, and it usually is, you’ll want ice cream! Check out the best place for ice cream in the world at Tickleberry’s in Okanagan Falls. 
  • If you’re ready for lunch, we highly recommend the Cellar Door Bistro at Sumac Ridge Winery (www.sumacridge.com). Sumac Ridge is renowned for their sparkling wine and food pairing. Well worth the stop as the winery and restaurant are just off the highway in Summerland. Another lunch stop to consider not far away in Summerland is Zia’s Stonehouse.
  • If time permits, you may want to tour Mission Hill Estate Winery on your way through Westbank – the largest winery in the Okanagan Valley.
  • Continue on the “Wine Route” with a visit to Summerhill Estate Winery (www.summerhill.bc.ca) in Kelowna. Overlooking Okanagan Lake, this winery’s certification as the largest organic operation in Canada and its heartwarming charm make it an ideal location for lunch and dinner as well. 
  • Gray Monk Estate Winery will be your host for an afternoon tour. Friendly, knowledgeable staff explains Gray Monk’s winemaking and grape growing processes as you tour through the winery.
  • Overnight in Vernon. Suggested accommodations include:
    Holiday Inn Express (www.vernonexpress.com)
    Best Western Vernon Lodge (www.bestwesternvernonlodge.com)
    Predator Ridge Resort (www.predatorridge.com)

Day 3 – Vernon to Kamloops via Armstrong, Salmon Arm and Chase (4 hours)

  • Depart to Armstrong, along Highway 97A, and visit The Village Cheese Factory which prides itself on using traditional techniques in creating award-winning, export quality cheese.
  • Continue on to Salmon Arm, via Highway 97B, and discover its rich history at the RJ Haney Heritage Park. Stroll through a pioneer Victorian home, school house, and church. A blacksmith shop, Salmon Arm’s first gas station and a vintage fire department are also located here.
  • Heading west from Salmon Arm on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), Talking Rock Resort and Quaaout Lodge, (www.talkingrock.ca), located three kilometers east of Chase, brings First Nations traditions alive. Experience a traditional native lunch of “Bird in Clay” or “Salmon in Clay”. Take a tour of the resort and visit the kekuli (winter home), sweat lodge, and teepees. Golf is just across the street at Quaaout’s new 18 hole acclaimed course “Talking Rock”.
  • Overnight in Kamloops. Suggested hotels/lodges include:
    Kamloops Towne Lodge (www.kamloopstownelodge.com)
    Hampton Inn (www.hamptoninnkamloops.com)
    South Thompson Inn & Guest Ranch (www.stigr.com)

Day 4 – Kamloops to Harrison Hot Springs via Highway 1 & Highway 7 (5 hours)

  • Before departing Kamloops, visit the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park and experience the rich cultural history of the Shuswap People. Attractive museum exhibits, outdoor cultural displays, and a unique gift shop make this a “can’t miss” destination. Before departing Kamloops, you may want to go for an hour’s hike to the top of Kenna Cartright Park in west Kamloops. The parking lot is next to the Trans Canada Highway and the half hour trail and the view at the top provide stunning views overlooking Kamloops!
  • More adventure awaits with a scenic trip down the Fraser Canyon along the Trans Canada Highway (Highway #1). Allow plenty of time to drive this stretch of highway known as one of the most unique in the province.
  • Since this is your last day exploring the Thompson Okanagan, we suggest something to celebrate and something a little different. You’ve seen rivers the entire trip so why not get on one! Hyak River Rafting (www.hyak.com) provides rafting trips on the Fraser, Chilco, Chilliwack, Thompson and Chilcotin Rivers. Choose one that suits your adventure style and take off for a half or full day trip. Since 1980, starting with a modest fleet of 4 rafts, the company has grown to become the largest rafting fleet in Western Canada. They now have a wide variety of rafts to offer the perfect rafting adventure whether you’re a first time rafter or an experienced adrenaline junkie.
  • Arrive at Hell’s Gate Airtram (www.hellsgateairtram.com) for lunch. The narrowest and wildest section of the canyon, Hell’s Gate is nature at its most magnificent. Descending safely in one of their comfortable 25-passenger cabins, you’ll experience an eagle’s eye view of the Fraser River’s unique Hell’s Gate fishways, where two million sockeye salmon challenge the river each year on an epic journey to their inland spawning grounds. At the lower terminal, after a 500-foot (142m) descent across the river canyon, there are observation points to view the mighty Fraser River, where at peak spring levels, about 200 million gallons of water per minute surge through the 35 metre wide gorge.
  • Continue west on the Trans Canada Highway. At Hope, you will exit onto Highway #7 heading to Harrison Hot Springs. 
  • Overnight at Harrison Hot Springs.

Day 5 – Harrison Hot Springs to Vancouver (1 hour)

For a complete list of Thompson Okanagan Travel Trade accommodation partners, go to: www.totabc.com/travel_trade

For Bed & Breakfast accommodation listings, go to: www.bcsbestbnbs.com

For additional community information, go to:
Osoyoos: www.destinationosoyoos.com  
Vernon: www.vernontourism.com
Salmon Arm: www.shuswap.bc.ca  
Kamloops: www.tourismkamloops.com