Kamloops and Sun Peaks are located about an hour apart in the arid interior of British Columbia. Primarily a service town, Kamloops sits at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers and is a hub for travel in the region. Located about half way between Vancouver and Jasper it is an ideal resting place for those driving this route, as well as being the overnight stopping place for the Rocky Mountaineer. Whilst the town itself is large and somewhat unremarkable the landscape around it provides an easy distraction and you don’t have to go far from the city limits to feel like you’re back in the wilderness. Additionally it is blessed with an excellent summer climate and this may go some way to explaining the delightfully laid-back approach of the locals, despite its size. Nearby Sun Peaks, nestled at the foot of Tod Mountain, is a small but lively resort town, which in winter is interior British Columbia’s largest destination ski resort. In summer it is a great base for a range of activities such as walking, cross country cycling, canoeing and golf and there are regular concerts and family entertainment programmes throughout the school holidays.

Summer hiking image courtesy of Sun Peaks Tourism/Royce Sihlis