Okanagan Motorhome Wine Tour

Day 1 - Fly to Vancouver

Arrive in Vancouver and make your own way to your hotel. Transfer not included

Day 2 - Pick up RV

Pick up your RV in Vancouver and head to Kelowna, the start of our wine tour.  From Vancouver, the drive is 388km. You will arrive later in the evening so it's a good idea to ensure you have your campground booked in advance.  

Day 3 - Kelowna East Side Wineries

Head out today to tour some of the wineries on the east side of Kelowna.  Camelot Vineyards is a young winery which welcomes visitors May 1st – October 31st on Tuesdays through Sundays between 11am and 5pm.  House of Rose is nestled amongst apple orchards on the outskirts of Kelowna and is renowned for its Winter Wine, a secret blend of ice wine with grapes picked late in the fall.   

Day 4 - Kelowna to Penticton

This morning we suggest you begin at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland for a Tour and Tastings.  Known as one of the pioneer wineries of the BC wine industry, Sumac Ridge produces a variety of excellent wines including a sparkling Brut that few Okanagan winemakers produce.  

Your next stop in Summerland is at Thornhaven Winery, situated in a quaint little valley overlooking Okanagan Lake. Located only two blocks away is DirtyLaundry Winery.  These two wineries are quintessential Okanagan winery settings and shouldn’t be missed. 

After passing through the heart of Penticton, you’ll enter onto the “Naramata Bench”, home to more than 15 wineries with amazing vistas, view and vineyards along the way.  Consider having lunch at the Barrel Room Bistro at Hillside Estate Winery.  With its high ceilings and cool shaded patio, it’s the perfect place to escape the midday sun. This is a great opportunity to try a wine the Okanagan is known for, a Reisling or perhaps Sauvignon Blanc. 

Day 5 - Penticton to Osoyoos

You can start your day off by spending part of the morning discovering Penticton and its quaint downtown core or strolling along the lakeside boardwalk.  Perhaps your winery visits the previous day left you inquisitive to see other products from Okanagan Wineries. Head south on Highway 97 towards Canada’s only desert region and the town of Osoyoos.  You may feel like a “pick me up” in the quaint village of Okanagan Falls.  Stop for some coffee or ice-cream there at Tickleberry’s – they have the best ice-cream in the valley! 

From Okanagan Falls, take Green Lake Road to your first winery visit of the day at See Ya Later Ranch Winery, formerly known as Hawthorne Mountain Estate Winery. Originally planted as an orchard in the early part of the last century, this winery has terrific wines, a fabulous view and a unique north-east facing vineyard. 

Consider stopping for lunch at the Toasted Oak Bar and Grill in Oliver.  Known as the “Wine Capital of Canada”, Oliver is a thriving agricultural community that’s home to the popular Festival of the Grape and the Tomato Festival. The Toasted Oak has a large selection of B.C. wines by the glass and a unique menu that features many ingredients from this area. Don’t miss the cool misters on the patio!   Two special afternoon tours will highlight your day.  This first is a tour of Burrowing Owl Winery. This is a sprawling estate winery that produces some of B.C.’s most sought after wines.  Buy them at the winery because they’re hard to find elsewhere.  Next it’s on to taste the wines of Tinhorn Creek Estate.  This winery is nestled in the hillside next to a former gold mining creek and near the site of an old ghost town. The self guided historical tour atop the “Golden Mile” provides some fabulous views. 

Day 6 - Osoyoos

Here in Osoyoos you’ll find yourself  in the world famous “Pocket Desert” a semi-arid shrub-steppe area in the South Okanagan containing several species of plants not found elsewhere in Canada.  Spend the morning at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, an ecological interpretive centre on a protected portion of this habitat. Stroll the elevated boardwalk and learn about desert ecology, ecological restoration of damaged portions of the landscape, and the flora and fauna which inhabit this unique ecosystem. Spend the afternoon at the Nk’Mip Desert Centre.  This state-of-the-art venue celebrates thousands of years of Okanagan First Nations habitation.  The Centre provides on-site cultural tours together with interpretive displays reflecting the unique and contemporary experience of the desert and its relationship to the local First Nations people.   Right next door to the Desert Centre you’ll find Nk’Mip Cellars.  The winery site is one of the most attractive in the South Okanagan with outstanding views in a setting of natural beauty.  Situated on a bench overlooking the shores of Osoyoos Lake, the vineyards and orchards provide a stunning contrast  against the desert landscape.  

Day 7 - Osoyoos to Peachland

As you leave Osoyoos this morning, take highway 3 out of the Okanagan, climbing the scenic Richter Pass  to the neighboring Similkameen Valley.  This relatively undeveloped valley has seen several new wineries and large vineyards sprout up in the last two years.  Your first stop today takes you a kiometre off the highway to the shores of the Similkameen River and Forbidden Fruit Organic Winery. 17km west of Osoyoos, you’ll find Seven Stones Winery.  The vineyard name comes from the legend of the seven individual rock formations throughout the Similkameen Valley known as the Seven Stones.

Your journey then  takes you to Crowsnest Vineyards, situated on an orchard and vineyard bench overlooking the beautiful Cascade Mountains. This winery has just completed a new building  that features a restaurant and overnight suite accommodation. Take in the sights on their vineyard side patio and enjoy a German varietal wine and delicious cuisine paired to perfection!  Other vineyards close by include Orofino and Rustic Roots. 

Travel on to Keremeos and stop to visit the Grist Mill & Gardens.  Founded in 1877, and lovingly restored to grind fresh flour daily with power from a giant water wheel, the historic mill is over 125 years old.  Colourful heritage gardens take you back in time to the pioneer days of pack horses, gold miners, and wood stoves.  You might even be invited to share in the daily homestead chores, offering a truly hands-on experience of history.  Be sure to check out their range of delightful baked goodies made with the freshest stone-ground flour in British Columbia.  Just west of Keremeos on the outskirts of town, you’ll found K Mountain Winery. This winery produces some excellent red and white wines and also ice wine. They also have a deli and sell fruit and gifts.    

Day 8 - Peachland to Kelowna

A little past Peachland you’ll find Hainle Vineyards & Winery Bistro.  If you’re hungry, take the opportunity to eat here.  You can watch from your seat as the culinary team prepares fresh artisan creations from the exhibition kitchen.   Framed by the Okanagan hills, the vineyards of West Kelowna offer more opportunties to taste and savour some great wines.  Larger wineries such as Mission Hilloffer a variety of tour options while smaller wineries like Little Strawhave tastings only.  

Day 9 - Kelowna to Shuswap Lake

Continue on to Shuswap Lake via Vernon for your overnight stop.  En route we suggest you check out a couple of small wineries on the east banks of Lake Okanagan just north of Lake Country. Tours of the Grey Monk Estate Winery take place daily year round and you are welcome to sample and purchase from the wide variety of wines they produce.  Neighbouring Gray Monk is Ex Nihilo Winery- Latin for “out of nothing”.   This Mediterranean style  winery has a new tasting room where you can enjoy a truly unique Okanagan Valley wine experience.   After passing through Vernon, take Highway 97A to Armstrong. 

At Armstrong, turn west on Lansdowne Road and follow the signs about six kilometers through verdant farmland to Edge of the Earth Vineyards in the beautiful Spallumcheen Valley.  

Next take Highway 97B to towards Salmon Arm.  Our last vineyard on this tour is the Larch Hills Winery located at 110 Timms Road.  To get here, leave 97B at Black Road and follow the signs.  Larch Hills produces premium cool climate wines and has won numerous awards at festivals across Canada. 

Day 10 - Shuswap Lake to Vancouver

Enjoy the drive back as you leave the Shuswap and take your chosen route back to your pick-up location. Your arrival back in Vancouver will most likely be too late to drop off the vehicle today so we suggest you plan to drop off on the morning of Day 11.

Day 11 - Vehicle Drop off

Drop off vehicle and make your own way to Vancouver Airport (we can add on a shuttle transfer for you please ask for details)