Things to do in Whistler
From the 4.4 km PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ride between two mountains to a Sea to Sky Gondola climb above 300 m cliffs and the sandy shores of Alta Lake, Whistler packs an unusual range of landscape into a small corner of British Columbia.
Signature experiences
The categories that define a first trip to Whistler — the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, a Sea to Sky Gondola climb, the Stawamus Chief, mountain biking and hiking trails, and Whistler's own pedestrian village.
Helicopter & Seaplane Tours
Scenic helicopter flights over Wedge Mountain, Blackcomb glaciers and the Black Tusk, plus seaplane transfers and day trips connecting Vancouver's harbour to Whistler.
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Ziplining Adventures
Zipline tours in the Whistler forest, from Ziptrek's guided lines and evening zip line runs to the Superfly Ziplines circuit billed as the longest zipline in North America.
4 guides
Snowmobile Tours
Guided snowmobile trips into the Whistler backcountry, from beginner and family outings for kids to twilight tours that pair riding with axe throwing.
4 guides
Bear Viewing & Wildlife
Guided black bear viewing on the Whistler mountainside, including scenic tours with Olympic Park access and outings that combine ATV riding with wildlife spotting.
4 guides
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting trips on the Green River near Whistler and the Elaho River near Squamish, including the Wet and Wild Elaho Exhilarator run through canyon rapids.
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ATV & Off-Road Tours
Off-road adventures near Whistler on side-by-side ATVs, riding forest roads and backcountry trails around the valley with a guide.
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Climbing & Via Ferrata
Guided rock climbing and via ferrata routes around Squamish and Whistler Mountain, plus the hike up the Stawamus Chief using its fixed chains and ladders.
3 guides
Mountain Biking
Guided e-bike tours and mountain bike lessons around Whistler and Squamish, including easy e-bike rides with photo stops and beginner coaching on local trails.
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Hiking Trails
Guided day hikes to Garibaldi Lake, Panorama Ridge, Cheakamus Lake and Joffre Lakes, plus the Watersprite Lake trail near Squamish.
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Gondola Rides
Gondola rides across the corridor: the Sea to Sky Gondola above Squamish with its suspension bridge, and the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola linking Whistler and Blackcomb.
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Jet Boat Tours
Guided jet boat tours across Howe Sound from Squamish, including the Grand Loop route and the Coastal Giants run along the sound's coastline.
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Kayaking & Paddling
Kayak and paddling trips around Squamish and the Cheakamus River, from single kayak rentals and a family-friendly splash to wakeboarding and wingfoiling lessons on Howe Sound.
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Boat Tours & Sailing
Sailing and boat tours on Howe Sound from Squamish, including a luxury yacht sailing trip, wildlife-spotting boat tours and yacht expeditions from Vancouver.
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Skiing & Snowboarding
Winter tours on Whistler Blackcomb, from backcountry skiing and splitboarding introductions to evening snowshoeing at Whistler Olympic Park and private ice fishing outings.
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Spa & Wellness
Spa and wellness experiences in Whistler, centred on the private thermal-journey day tour set in the alpine surroundings around Whistler Village.
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Food & Drink Tours
Whistler food tours including a guided four-course progressive lunch, a self-guided culinary pass, a hidden-gems dinner tour, and a Squamish honey-tasting experience.
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Museums & Culture
Cultural sites across the corridor: the Audain Art Museum's British Columbian art, First Nations heritage at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Britannia Mine Museum and the Vallea Lumina night walk.
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Adventure Parks
Adventure park activities near Whistler and Squamish, from bobsleigh and summer bobsleigh rides to axe throwing and the Squamish canyon entry ticket.
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Multi-Day Tours
Multi-day trips beyond a single Whistler visit, such as a budget-friendly three-day tour combining Victoria and Whistler from Vancouver.
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Transfers & Getting There
Private and shared transfers between Vancouver, YVR airport and Whistler, plus bus connections to Squamish and cross-border transfers to Seattle or SeaTac.
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Day Trips from Vancouver
Full-day guided tours from Vancouver to Whistler along the Sea to Sky Highway, often combined with a village walk or a stop at Shannon Falls.
4 guides
Sightseeing Tours
Scenic sightseeing tours along the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver and Squamish, taking in Howe Sound viewpoints and highlights of the Whistler valley.
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Plan Your Trip
Practical planning guidance for a Whistler trip, covering getting there on Highway 99, when to book tours, and what to pack for the season.
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Seasonal Guides
Season-by-season guidance for Whistler, from deep winter snow and spring skiing to summer hiking and biking, and the golden larches of autumn.
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Compare Your Options
Side-by-side comparisons to help choose between tours, seasons and ways of getting to Whistler, such as gondola versus helicopter or guided versus self-drive.
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Family Activities
Family-friendly options around Whistler and Squamish, including snowmobile tours for kids aged six to twelve, gentle hikes, and the Cheakamus family splash outing.
2 guides
Where to Stay
Guidance on where to stay in Whistler, from the pedestrian Whistler Village to quieter valley neighbourhoods and options across the wider Sea to Sky corridor.
2 guides
Budget & Costs
What things cost in Whistler, from lift tickets and taxes on top of listed prices to tipping norms and the Canadian dollar exchange rate.
2 guides
Olympic Legacy
Sites and stories from the 2010 Winter Olympics around Whistler, including the Whistler Sliding Centre's bobsleigh runs and the Nordic venues at Whistler Olympic Park.
3 guidesMore ways to experience the region
Specialist interests and practical planning — kayaking, waterfalls, Viking history, the Jæren beaches, and the comparisons every first-time visitor searches for.
Browse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do in Whistler
This hub arranges Whistler-area activities into more than a dozen categories, because a mountain resort, a fjord-like sound and a glacier-fed lake district don't fit under one label. 4 km end to end with an unsupported span of roughly 3 km, up to about 436 m above the valley, crossed in 11 minutes. Hiking splits by destination: Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge, long alpine days in Garibaldi Provincial Park, and Joffre Lakes, a 10 km round trip past three turquoise lakes — never a beginner outing in poor weather. Other hikes cover the Stawamus Chief above Squamish and the Train Wreck Trail near the village.
The Sea to Sky Gondola is its own category: a suspension bridge and viewing deck above Squamish. Waterfalls centres on Shannon Falls, at about 335 m among the tallest in British Columbia. Lakes covers Alta Lake, Lost Lake and Green Lake, warm enough to swim in from about July to early September. Village walking & the Whistler Mountain Bike Park covers the pedestrian Village Stroll and the reference lift-served downhill trails, while Crankworx fills the village every August. Museums groups the Audain Art Museum and the Britannia Mine Museum; Olympic heritage covers the Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley.
Culture, family activities, day trips, transport, seasons and planning round out the rest, since whether the Sea to Sky Highway needs winter tyres changes what's actually possible on a given day.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Whistler
What are the main categories on this hub?
Mountain gondolas, hiking (split between Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge), other hikes, the Train Wreck Trail, waterfalls, lakes, village walking, art and culture, museums, indigenous heritage, bike park & spas, family activities, day trips, transport and seasons.
Is Panorama Ridge suitable for beginners?
No. It's a long, exposed hike with three chained sections and a real fall risk — fatal falls have occurred there — and should never be treated as an easy walk.
What is the Flørli staircase?
A former mine railway with a train ride built for a copper mine at Britannia Beach, kept as a National Historic Site with an underground tour.
Is Garibaldi Lake free to visit?
Yes — the lake and trail are free; BC Parks requires a free day-use pass in high season, booked online in advance, and the hike is long and demanding.
What's the best way to see the mountains themselves?
By gondola from Squamish on the Sea to Sky Gondola, or from the water on Howe Sound. Highway 99 also runs along part of it but can require winter tyres from October to April.
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