In Valleys & Vineyards, nature leads the way. Golden hills roll into lush valleys, volcanic soil breathes life into orchards and vines, and Indigenous stewardship sets the tone for respecting the terrain. Here, every glass, plate, and path tells a deeper story.
As you travel over the Coast Mountains, moving east from Vancouver, the landscape in British Columbia changes dramatically. You leave behind the coastal rainforest and enter the drier, sunnier Okanagan Valley, with more than 200 wineries set among rolling hills above a chain of lakes. Autumn is harvest time in the valley, when the summer heat abates and the fields buzz with hard work and anticipation, making it the perfect season to enjoy its bounty.
Valleys & Vineyards may be new to UK travellers, but it represents a region that’s long been connected to nourishment for both soil and soul. From vineyard visits and fine dining to bike trails and paddling on the many lakes, an autumn trip here promises wellness in every sense of the word.
Getting to know the Okanagan Valley
Kelowna Mountain overlooking Okanagan Lake. Photo: Destination BC / Andrew Strain
Running through the interior of BC and centred on the city of Kelowna, the Okanagan is divided into three general areas: the temperate North Okanagan, where lush farmland and scenic drives set the pace; the lake-rich Central Okanagan, where urban sophistication meets hillsides dotted with wineries; and the semi-arid South Okanagan, where orchards and vineyards thrive under big skies.
Each is flush with stops worth making. In the North Okanagan, for example, there’s Vernon, a lakeside community known for its clear waters, outdoor spas, and access to tranquil trails where you might come to recharge. The Central Okanagan plays host to the largest population hub in the area, Kelowna, which is positioned on the shores of the 84-mile-long Okanagan Lake, the main body of water in the region. Wineries surround its urban core, unfurling through the idyllic hillside landscape along the lakeshore. Penticton, in the South Okanagan, sits between Okanagan Lake and the smaller Skaha Lake, and the four dozen vineyards and wineries of the Naramata Bench are just beyond the city.
Elsewhere in the South Okanagan, towns like Osoyoos and Oliver centre around the warmest freshwater lake in the country, Osoyoos Lake. Top wineries in this subregion make up the Golden Mile Bench, and the Similkameen Valley communities of Keremeos (the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada) and Cawston (the Organic Farming Capital of Canada) highlight the broader agricultural heritage in the Okanagan.
Sampling the bounty of vineyards and orchards
Klippers Organics in Cawston. Photo: Destination British Columbia
In a place as fertile and life-giving as Valleys & Vineyards, it’s no surprise that sustainability influences the regional winemaking. With wineries like Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery in Okanagan Falls, which is leading the way as Canada’s first Biosphere-certified winery — a globally recognised sustainable tourism standard — wine producers throughout the Okanagan have adopted organic, sustainable practices and produce a variety of wines to sample. Another biodynamic winemaker, Kelowna’s Summerhill Pyramid Winery, ages its organic wines in a pyramid cellar and offers tastings that sometimes include ice wine, a sweet dessert wine produced when grapes freeze on the vines.
Visit Checkmate Artisanal Winery — situated in a striking modern vineyard-view building — for several guided tastings, including the Grandmaster’s Table Experience where you’ll try a curated selection of chardonnays and merlots paired with small bites. At Nk’Mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, you can learn about the heritage and culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band while you sample wines like Talon, a red blend comprised predominantly of syrah, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon. It’s named for the Thunderbird, a powerful figure in many First Nations oral traditions. If you prefer to taste the wines of several up-and-coming wineries in a single destination, head to the District Wine Village in Oliver. Here, individual satellite wineries with tasting bars, an eatery, distillery, and brewery surround a lively outdoor plaza.
Beyond the vineyards, this landscape is also rich with orchards and fruit farms, where cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples thrive in the sun-soaked climate. During harvest season, roadside stands overflow with just-picked fruit, and pick-your-own farms invite you to do just that. These diverse offerings remind travellers that nourishment here comes in many forms — from the ground, the vine, and the people who cultivate both.
Savouring the perfect pairings
Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton. Photo: Destination British Columbia
With great wine comes excellent food at many wineries in Valleys & Vineyards. In Oliver, The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery serves contemporary lunches and dinners in a window-lined space with expansive vineyard vistas. Manzil Restaurant at Kismet Estate Winery plates regional Indian cuisine, including a multi-course tasting menu that might take you from lentil fritters, tandoori shrimp, and butter chicken to chai-infused semolina cake.
Home Block Restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery is one of the top dining spots in the Kelowna area, emphasising regional ingredients in dishes like wild seabass with roasted fennel or char-grilled ribeye paired with wilted spinach and cauliflower purée. Another high-end Kelowna option, The Restaurant at Mission Hill delights with creative cuisine on a scenic outdoor terrace where it’s easy to appreciate your surroundings.
At Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton, the menu reflects a deep respect for local farmers and seasonal ingredients, curated to pair harmoniously with the winery’s acclaimed wines. Meals like these are a welcome reminder of how many wonderful experiences in Valleys & Vineyards stem directly from the land.
Before or after any meal, take to the water for the ultimate digestif: movement. The calm, clear lakes around the Okanagan are ideal for stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing. Just as every bite of food tells a story about the land, so does every paddle dip — one more gesture in sync with the easy, elemental pace that defines Valleys & Vineyards.
Learning about Indigenous cultures
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos. Photo: Destination British Columbia
Indigenous Peoples in BC are the original stewards of the land. The Okanagan is situated on the land of the Syilx Peoples, whose deep-rooted care and respect for the land continue to shape the Okanagan in Valleys & Vineyards today. Gain insights into both the culture of the Okanagan People and desert ecology at Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre, where walking trails wind through the desert hills. The Osoyoos Indian Band, which also operates nearby Nk’Mip Cellars, owns and operates the cultural centre.
The exhibits and worthwhile guided tours at the Indigenous owned-and-operated Sncewips Heritage Museum in West Kelowna trace the history and present-day culture and traditions of the Okanagan People. A short drive away, stop into the Indigenous-owned Kekuli Café for flavourful bowls and sandwiches — perhaps venison or smoked salmon served on bannock, a traditional bread in many Indigenous communities and served with every meal.
Exploring on two wheels
Biking the Kettle Valley Railway. Photo: Destination BC / Kari Medig
In the temperate autumn months, cycling is among the most pleasant ways to get around the Okanagan and Boundary Country. The region’s premier multi-use path is the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail, which follows a former rail line 305 miles from Midway to Hope. Continuing from the Columbia Western Rail Trail, which stretches through the Eastern part of Boundary Country, the KVR begins in Midway, where you can explore the area’s rail history before pedaling the gentle stretch to Greenwood, passing through quiet grasslands and riverside valleys and heritage towns.
One of the most dramatic sections is the Myra Canyon Trail outside Kelowna, where you can pedal across 18 wooden trestle bridges high above the canyon, taking your time to soak up every view. Get your wheels from Myra Canyon Bicycle Rental and Tours, located at the trail entrance.
Another section of the KVR takes you along the Naramata Bench and through Penticton, with vistas across the vineyards down to Okanagan Lake. Popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists, this route passes trailside craft beer-maker Abandoned Rail Brewing Co. and several of the Naramata Bench wineries.
North of Kelowna, the Okanagan Rail Trail runs beside the turquoise waters of Kalamalka Lake. Rent an e-bike from Pedego Electric Bikes Oyama at the lake’s southern end and pedal north toward Kal Beach. Here, you can pick up coffee, muffins, or a picnic lunch at the always-bustling Rail Trail Café & Market.
Enjoying time to unwind and nights to remember
Penticton Lakeside Resort. Photo: Destination BC / @vancouverfoodie
Overlooking Okanagan Lake in Vernon, Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa is the largest luxury spa in British Columbia. Besides its seven steam rooms and saunas — plus a heated year-round infinity pool — KurSpa houses a Cryo Cold Chamber. You’ll spend up to three minutes in a room set to -110°C for an experience designed to energize your circulatory and nervous systems. At the opposite end of the valley, Solterra Desert Spa at Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos uses heat in treatments like the Desert Stone Massage, warming and relaxing your muscles after your adventures. All trips to Valleys & Vineyards inherently promote well-being, but at spas like these, wellness is made literal.
When it comes to choosing a place to lay your head, know that accommodations range from resort hotels to eclectic inns and winery guesthouses — all of which invite you to check in, slow down, and immerse yourself in natural rhythms. Independent guesthouses and B&Bs dot the valley, especially around Penticton, Naramata, and Kelowna. Campgrounds near Skaha Lake and Okanagan Lake provide scenic backdrops for outdoor lovers, while upscale options include Watermark Beach Resort on the shores of Osoyoos Lake, along with the aforementioned Spirit Ridge and Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa.
In Kelowna, Hotel Eldorado at Eldorado Resort blends classic elegance with modern convenience and proximity to urban wineries and dining. Just south, Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa provides a restful base, and Penticton Lakeside Resort is a longtime favorite for those wanting to explore both the Naramata Bench and the vibrant arts and food scene in town.
Many wineries in Valleys & Vineyards also have accommodations that allow you to sleep among the vines, including the 10-room Guest House at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery and The Inn at Therapy Vineyards along the Naramata Bench. One unique lodging sits above the tasting room at Liquidity Wines in Okanagan Falls: The Loft at Liquidity is a contemporary two-bedroom apartment with a gourmet kitchen and views that extend across hills and vineyards. When you’re ready to continue your wine-tasting, all you have to do is wander downstairs.
In a province filled with dramatic landscapes, diverse culture, and a sensibility that comes from being so in tune with the landscape, Valleys & Vineyards still manages to stand out. This is nature and luxury in one — a place to reconnect with yourself, nature, and your friends and family. 