Direct answer
You need about 10–14 days to comfortably cover Vancouver, Victoria, Squamish and Whistler with most activities. With 7–9 days you can still see major highlights but will need to skip or shorten some experiences.
Recommended itinerary (12-day balanced plan)
Day 1 — Travel Edmonton → Vancouver
- Fly in; settle in waterfront/Coal Harbour area. Evening: Canada Place walk, FlyOver Canada (evening show if timed), Olympic Cauldron photo.
Day 2 — Downtown & Stanley Park
- Morning: Stanley Park Seawall ride/walk and Totem Poles
- Vancouver Aquarium (2–3 hr)
- Robson Street shopping; English Bay/Kitsilano Beach at sunset
Day 3 — Granville Island & Chinatown + Gastown
- Granville Island market, False Creek water taxi loop, craft stalls
- Afternoon: Gastown (steam clock) and Coal Harbour stroll
- Chinatown: explore Dragon Alley/Fan Tan lanes in late afternoon/early evening
Day 4 — Capilano + Grouse or Lynn Canyon
- Morning: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (arrive early) or Lynn Canyon (cheaper, less busy)
- Afternoon: Grouse Mountain (gondola, trails, activities). Pick one of Capilano+Grouse or Lynn Canyon+Grouse depending on crowds and energy
Day 5 — Lighthouse Park, Deep Cove & Quarry Rock
- Morning: Lighthouse Park (Horseshoe Bay area) short hikes and views
- Afternoon: Deep Cove village and Quarry Rock hike (easy 1–2 hr return)
Day 6 — Drive to Squamish; Sea to Sky corridor
- Stop: Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls (short stops)
- Afternoon: Sea to Sky Gondola (views, short hikes)
- Overnight Squamish or continue to Whistler depending on preference
Day 7 — Whistler
- Whistler Village, Peak 2 Peak gondola, optional zipline or mountain biking. Stay overnight in Whistler
Day 8 — Return to Vancouver or continue activities
- Extra day for activities missed, shopping, or extra outdoor options
Day 9 — Ferry to Victoria (or overnight ferry route)
- Morning ferry/Seaplane to Victoria (book ahead). Afternoon: Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings, stroll Causeway
Day 10 — Victoria highlights
- Butchart Gardens (morning or late afternoon for gardens + light show if seasonal)
- Beacon Hill Park, Hatley Castle (Teachings Point/Esquimalt), Fisherman’s Wharf
Day 11 — Victoria optional whale-watching or extra sightseeing
- Whale watching (half-day) or extra garden/castle time; evening return to Vancouver (if same-day) or overnight and fly next day
Day 12 — Buffer + travel back to Edmonton
- Use as buffer for delays, extra activities, or travel day home
Shorter options (7–9 days)
- 7 days: Fly into Vancouver (3 full days city highlights + Capilano/Grouse + Granville/Stanley), 2 days Whistler, 1–2 days Victoria (tight; prefer seaplane) — skip Lighthouse Park, Lynn Canyon, and Brandywine Falls
- 9 days: Add Sea to Sky stops and at least 1 full day in Victoria. Skip some leisurely shopping and repeat beach time.
What to skip if pressed for time (ranked)
- Skip: Lighthouse Park (beautiful but similar views available at Sea to Sky stops) if short on time
- Skip: Robson Street shopping (purely retail) for more outdoor time
- Skip: Lynn Canyon if you already do Capilano (both suspension-bridge experiences are similar)
- Skip or shorten: Kitsilano Beach (nice but optional) and English Bay if pressed
Priorities (must-do if limited time)
- Stanley Park Seawall + Totem Poles
- Granville Island + False Creek water taxi
- Capilano Suspension Bridge OR Lynn Canyon + Grouse Mountain
- Sea to Sky Gondola + Shannon Falls (en route to Whistler)
- Whistler village + Peak 2 Peak
- Victoria: Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens, and whale watching if you want wildlife
Practical tips
- Book ferries, FlyOver, Canada Place experiences, Sea to Sky and Peak 2 Peak gondolas, and whale-watching in advance (seasonal demand).
- Rent a car for Squamish/Whistler flexibility; for Vancouver–Victoria use ferry or seaplane and public transit in cities.
- Start popular attractions early (Capilano, Sea to Sky) to avoid crowds.
- Weather: pack layers and rain gear; many outdoor activities depend on conditions.
- Allow buffer time for travel and delays (ferries, mountain roads, and mountain weather can add time).
Timing summary
- Minimum: 7 days (fast pace, pick highlights)
- Comfortable: 10–14 days (see full 12-day plan above)
- Relaxed/activities-focused: 14+ days to include extra hikes, more whale-watching, ziplining, biking and leisure
If you tell me exact trip length, travel dates, and which activities you most want (e.g., whale watching vs ziplines), I’ll tailor a day-by-day plan optimized for your priorities.