The Canadian Okanagan Valley is a place you probably never think of when someone mentions western Canada. Most people instantly picture the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies, grizzly bears, and turquoise glacial lakes. But then you cross the mountains heading west, and suddenly the landscape begins to change dramatically. The air warms up, pine forests give way to orchards bursting with peaches and cherries, and everywhere you look, rows of grapevines cascade down towards the deep blue surface of a massive lake. The first time I saw it, I thought I was dreaming. Welcome to Okanagan Canada — a destination that completely rewrote everything I thought I knew about this country.
This corner of British Columbia is genuinely paradise on earth, and I’m honestly surprised that so few European tourists include it on their road trips. When we were working in Calgary back in 2016 and 2017, we drove out here on our very first mini road trip — it’s a favourite holiday spot for Albertans. Each visit was completely different, but they all had one thing in common: incredible food, world-class wine, and swimming in lakes that feel more like the Mediterranean in summer.
So come along — let me take you on a practical little guide. I’ll show you the wineries worth stopping at, the beaches where we spent entire lazy afternoons, and we’ll tackle the number one problem: who’s going to drive after all those tastings. 😅
TL;DR
- Where is it and how to get there: The Okanagan Valley lies in the southern part of British Columbia, roughly a 4-hour drive from Vancouver or 7 hours from Calgary. You’ll absolutely need a rental car to explore the area.
- Best base: Kelowna is the largest and liveliest town with the best amenities, while Penticton to the south is quieter and has a wonderful beachy atmosphere.
- Top highlights: Wine tastings (there are over 180 wineries), swimming in warm lakes, farmers’ markets with fresh fruit, and cycling the historic Myra Canyon rail trail.
- Watch out for driving: Canada has zero-tolerance drink-driving laws, and Uber barely works outside Kelowna. Always book an organised wine tour or a car with a driver for your tasting days.
- Prices: The Okanagan isn’t exactly a budget destination — especially in the summer season, expect to pay a premium for accommodation and tastings.
When to Go and How to Get There
If you’re planning a holiday where you want to sip wine on sun-drenched terraces and swim in warm lakes, the best time to visit is hands-down June to September. Just be prepared for seriously scorching heat in July and August — summer temperatures regularly climb above 35°C, and in Osoyoos at the very southern tip, where Canada’s only semi-desert sits, it gets even hotter. We preferred visiting in late August or early September, when the punishing heat had eased off, the grape harvest was kicking in, and the best fruit was ripening on the trees.
As for getting there, you simply can’t manage without a car. If you’re flying in from the UK, you’ll most likely land in Vancouver, from where it’s a scenic four-hour drive to Kelowna, or in Calgary, which is about seven hours away through stunning national parks. For finding the best rental deals, Lukáš and I have had consistently great experiences with DiscoverCars, which we use worldwide to compare prices. Direct flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver are available with British Airways and Air Canada, and WestJet runs connecting flights from Vancouver to Kelowna if you’d rather skip the drive. For the cheapest fares, we always search on Kiwi — it’s our go-to flight comparison tool.
Where to Stay and How Much a Holiday Costs
I need to give you a fair warning right off the bat: the Okanagan Valley is considered a premium summer destination in Canada, and prices reflect that. While you can find reasonable deals outside peak season, accommodation costs skyrocket in July and August, and the best hotels tend to sell out months in advance.
Think carefully about where you base yourself, because distances around the lakes are bigger than they appear on the map. Driving from Kelowna to Osoyoos can easily take over two hours. We often stayed in Kelowna with our Canadian friends because it has the most restaurants and the best nightlife. When Lukáš and I were travelling in our van, we preferred quieter campsites further south near Penticton.
For a double room in a nice hotel with a pool, expect to pay an average of 250 to 450 CAD per night in summer (roughly €170 to €300). Campsites are naturally cheaper, running around 40 to 60 CAD per night (about €27–€40), but you need to book them the very second the reservation system opens in spring — otherwise, you haven’t got a chance. Wine tastings at most wineries cost between 15 and 30 CAD (€10–€20), though if you buy a bottle afterwards, the tasting fee is often waived.
Where to Stay
Choose your base depending on the vibe you’re after. Here are the areas that offer the most bang for your buck.
- Kelowna: The hub of all the action. Perfect for those who want top-notch restaurants, a lakeside promenade, and the most famous large wineries at their doorstep. For a beautiful and very luxurious stay, check out the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort right on the lake.
- Penticton: The ideal compromise. The town sits right between two lakes, has a much more laid-back, surfer-style atmosphere than Kelowna, and from here you can cycle to the legendary Naramata Bench.
- Osoyoos: The southernmost tip of the valley, perfect for lovers of serious heat and bold red wines. It looks almost like Mexico down here, and the lake water in summer is practically bath temperature. The Spirit Ridge resort offers fantastic vineyard views.
Okanagan Canada: 13 Things to See and Do in Canada’s Napa Valley
The valley offers an incredible range of experiences — and it’s far from just about drinking wine. Let’s dive into the best things to do in Okanagan Canada, whether you’re after active adventures on a bike, a refreshing swim, or simply want to discover the most beautiful viewpoints with a chilled glass of Chardonnay in hand.
1. Kelowna and the Iconic Mission Hill Winery
Kelowna is essentially the capital of the entire valley, and you definitely shouldn’t skip it. Head into town and stroll along the Waterfront Park promenade, where you can walk along the lakeshore, grab an enormous ice cream, and watch the boats go by. The city has a wonderfully relaxed, almost spa-town atmosphere, full of charming little cafés and excellent bistros.
But if you want a real wow moment, you need to drive just outside the city to Mission Hill Family Estate on the western shore. It looks like something straight out of Tuscany, complete with a grand bell tower and jaw-dropping architecture. I’ll be honest — their wines aren’t the cheapest, and you absolutely need to book your tasting in advance. But the view from their terrace over the lake near Kelowna is genuinely worth it, even if you only go for a single glass.
2. The Mystery of Okanagan Lake and the Ogopogo Monster
Okanagan Lake is an absolutely massive body of water — it stretches an incredible 135 kilometres in length and plunges over 230 metres at its deepest point. It’s the lifeblood of the entire valley, and no matter where you’re staying, you’ll always find yourself drawn back to it. You can rent paddleboards, pedal boats, or hire a motorboat and explore the countless hidden little coves dotted along the shoreline.
The lake also has one enormous quirk that Canadians absolutely adore. According to an old Indigenous legend, a monster called Ogopogo lives in its depths — think of it as Canada’s answer to the Loch Ness Monster. It’s obviously more of an endearing bit of local folklore — you’ll find Ogopogo statues around town, plus plush toys and T-shirts in every gift shop. But I have to admit, when we sat on the beach one evening staring out at the dark lake surface, the local mystical atmosphere definitely got under our skin. 😅
3. Cycling the Naramata Bench
If you ask me what the absolute best thing we did in the Okanagan was, I’d say Naramata Bench without a moment’s hesitation. It’s an elevated area near Penticton that’s home to an incredible concentration of small, family-run wineries. The road winds through rolling hills, offering fantastic lake views at every turn, and every few hundred metres you’ll spot a sign beckoning you in for a tasting.
The best way to explore Naramata is to rent a bike in Penticton (an e-bike is a smart choice — those hills can be a proper workout) and head out for a ride. There’s no need to worry about traffic; drivers here are very considerate because everyone knows the roads are full of tourists on wine-tasting adventures. Make sure to stop at Poplar Grove for stunning views and at Hillside Winery for excellent food.
4. Summer Vibes in Penticton and Skaha Lake
When you head south from Kelowna to Penticton, you’ll instantly feel the change in atmosphere. While Kelowna is slightly upscale and buzzy, Penticton is the embodiment of Canadian summer in flip-flops. The town sits on a narrow strip of land — Okanagan Lake washes its northern shore, while the considerably warmer Skaha Lake borders it to the south. You can hit one beach in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
If you visit in August, you might just catch the famous Peach Festival — a huge local event celebrating the peach harvest with live music, parades, and mountains of food. Another brilliantly fun activity is floating down the local irrigation channel. You buy a giant inflatable ring and simply let the current carry you from one lake to the other. It’s an absolute laugh, especially if you do it with a group of friends.
5. Organised Wine Tours — aka Who Is Going to Drive
This is an absolutely crucial point for anyone planning to taste wine. Canadian drink-driving laws are incredibly strict — the so-called zero tolerance here isn’t just an empty phrase. Police regularly set up checkpoints near wine regions, and there’s simply no getting away with having a couple of glasses in the sunshine and then getting behind the wheel. When we were with friends, one person always volunteered to be the designated driver for the day.
If you don’t want to hold back, the best solution is to book an organised wine tour. Plenty of companies operate in both Kelowna and Penticton — they’ll pick you up from your hotel in a minibus or even a limousine, whisk you around three or four pre-arranged wineries, sort out all the tastings, and then deliver you safely back afterwards. Uber used to be almost non-existent here; it does work in Kelowna these days, but definitely don’t rely on it in the more remote parts of the valley near smaller wineries.
6. Osoyoos and Canada’s Only Semi-Desert
If you keep driving south almost to the US border, you’ll reach the town of Osoyoos. The landscape changes colour once again — everything turns golden, and you suddenly find yourself in Canada’s only true semi-desert. Cacti grow here, you might spot a rattlesnake, and the summer heat is almost unbearable — which works wonders for the local grapes, producing full-bodied, bold red wines.
I highly recommend visiting Nk’Mip Cellars, which is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, run by the Osoyoos Indian Band. Alongside fantastic wines, you can pop into their desert cultural centre, where you’ll learn all about the history of this unique landscape and the culture of its Indigenous people. The water in Osoyoos Lake is the warmest in all of Canada — swimming here genuinely feels like stepping into a warm bath.
7. Cherries and Roadside Farm Stands
While the Okanagan region is best known for its wine, it’s also a massive fruit bowl. The moment you turn off the main highway onto the smaller back roads, you’ll keep stumbling upon charming little wooden farm stands selling fruit picked fresh from the tree. Prices aren’t that much lower than the supermarket, but the flavour is absolutely incomparable. We once bought a kilo of cherries at one of these stands, and I thought there was no way we’d finish them. We polished them off within an hour, standing right next to the car.
Cherry season peaks from late June through mid-July, and later in summer come the juiciest peaches and apricots I’ve ever tasted. Many farms also offer U-Pick experiences — they hand you a basket, you head into the orchard and pick whatever catches your eye, then weigh and pay at the exit. It makes for a lovely afternoon activity.
8. Cycling the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR)
For those days when your head’s a bit sore from wine and you need some exercise, there’s the absolutely phenomenal historic KVR Trail — a former railway line converted into a cycling path. The most famous and most beautiful section is called Myra Canyon, set high in the hills above Kelowna. That particular day, Lukáš and I decided to be healthy and swap wine for bikes. Good call — at least until we realised the end of the trail was rather far from the start. 😅 You can rent a bike right at the trailhead and ride along the flat, old railway bed.
The real magic lies in the route crossing 18 original wooden railway trestle bridges and passing through two tunnels carved into the rock. Since you’re at a fair elevation, the views down into the valley are absolutely breathtaking. Most people just ride this section, but if you’re a keen cyclist, you can follow the trail for days across the entire region.
9. Hot Springs and Spa Retreats
While summer in the Okanagan is all about cooling off in lakes, if you visit in spring or autumn, you’ll definitely be tempted by hot springs. I should set expectations straight, though, because lots of people search for hot springs right by the lake. There aren’t any natural hot springs directly in the valley itself — but you just need to drive a short distance east into the Kootenays region, which borders the Okanagan and makes for a perfect road trip loop.
If your schedule allows, drive over to Arrow Lake to soak in Halcyon Hot Springs, or head to the magical caves of Ainsworth Hot Springs, where you can float through warm water inside rock tunnels full of stalactites. If you’d rather not leave the Okanagan, a great alternative on chillier days are the excellent wellness centres at the top hotels in Kelowna — for instance, Sparkling Hill Resort, which is entirely adorned with Swarovski crystals and offers luxury treatments with a view.
10. Munson Mountain at Sunset
When you’re in Penticton and wondering where to sit and watch the sunset, head to Munson Mountain. It’s a fairly unassuming hill right above town, with huge white letters spelling out PENTICTON arranged on its slope — a bit like a Canadian version of the Hollywood sign.
The walk up is totally easy — about ten minutes from the car park — and at the top, you’ll find a bench, views over both lakes, and absolute peace and quiet. It pairs perfectly with a takeaway pizza and a bottle of local wine, which is exactly what Lukáš and I did every single time. ☺️
11. Kalamalka Lake Near Vernon
Right at the northern end of the Okanagan region, about forty-five minutes past Kelowna, lies the small town of Vernon. Most tourists turn around in Kelowna, but that’s a huge mistake — they’d be missing out on Kalamalka Lake, which is rightfully nicknamed the Lake of a Thousand Colours.
The water in this lake is full of tiny limestone crystals, and as it warms up through the summer and the sun hits it at different angles, the colour shifts from deep blue to a brilliant turquoise reminiscent of the lakes in Banff or Lake Louise. A large provincial park surrounds the lake with plenty of hiking trails, making it a great way to escape the biggest crowds that tend to gather further south.
12. Winter Escape to Big White Ski Resort
Although I’ve been writing about Canadian summers and swimming this whole time, I can’t forget what happens here in winter. When the vineyards disappear under snow and the valley fills with inversion clouds, life doesn’t stop — it just moves up into the hills. Less than an hour’s drive from Kelowna sits Big White Ski Resort, one of the most popular family ski resorts in Canada.
The snow here supposedly has some of the best quality in the world. Lukáš and I have only been here in summer so far, but every friend who’s skied there raved about it. The so-called “snow ghosts” — trees wrapped in thick layers of snow and ice — look like something out of a horror film on photos. In a good way. 😅 The resort is designed as ski-in, ski-out, so you simply strap on your skis outside your cabin door and ride straight down to the lift.
13. Hiking and Bear Safety
You can’t go to Canada and not do at least one proper hike. The hills surrounding the Okanagan lakes are threaded with hundreds of kilometres of trails at various difficulty levels. In Kelowna, the Knox Mountain hike is hugely popular — you get a bird’s-eye view of the entire city from the top. Near Penticton, you can tackle the Skaha Bluffs, a favourite destination for rock climbers and hikers alike, where you wind your way between towering rock formations.
Even though you’re close to civilisation and surrounded by orchards and farms, you’re still in Canada and firmly in bear territory. Especially in autumn, when the fruit ripens, black bears often wander down from the mountains looking for an easy meal. Always carry bear spray on longer hikes, make plenty of noise, and check with locals about the current situation in whichever park you’re heading into.
Where to Eat and Drink
Canadian cuisine might not have the global fame of French or Italian food, but the Okanagan plays by different rules. Most good restaurants here cook with ingredients from neighbouring farms — the veg comes from the field next door, and the wine from the vineyard across the road. You can taste the difference on the plate immediately.
For a truly luxurious gastronomic experience, book a lunch table at one of the big winery restaurants — for example, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery. Their outdoor terrace overlooking the lake is pure romance.
In Penticton, I recommend the excellent café and bistro The Bench Market — they do brilliant coffee and fantastic avocado toast. For something more casual, when hunger strikes after an afternoon swim, keep an eye out for the food trucks around town. You’ll often stumble upon excellent Asian fusion or proper homemade burgers.
Where to Go from the Okanagan
If you’ve got more time in Canada and want to keep exploring, the Okanagan Valley is a brilliant springboard for further adventures. On our western Canada road trip, we had countless magical moments. Don’t miss these guides:
- Our guide to cosmopolitan Vancouver — it might rain a bit more there, but you’ll fall head over heels for the city.
- Our tips for the national parks and the iconic Lake Louise in the nearby Rocky Mountains.
- If you fancy a longer stay, we’ve put together a complete guide to working in Canada and getting your visa sorted.
Practical Tips to Finish
When travelling overseas, never underestimate the importance of good travel insurance — healthcare in Canada is eye-wateringly expensive. We’ve been loyal fans of SafetyWing for years, and it covers us even on long-term trips. For staying connected in the Okanagan so you always have navigation to the next winery at your fingertips, I personally use an eSIM from Holafly — check out our Holafly review so you know what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to the most common questions you might have before your trip to the Okanagan Valley.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in CanadaSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in Canada →Where can I get a map of Okanagan Lake with tips for the best spots?
Is it safe to swim in the lakes in Okanagan?
Do I really need reservations for every winery?
How much money should I budget for a weekend stay?
What animals might I encounter in the valley?
Can you get around Okanagan using public transportation?
Can you see the Northern Lights from Kelowna?
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
