The Okanagan Valley at a glance
The Okanagan Valley is the largest wine-growing region in British Columbia and stretches more than 250 km from north to south. The valley is larger than the lake that gives it its name. It divides into northern, central and southern parts and into formal sub-regions.
Peachland is on the west shore corridor of Highway 97, with Kelowna to the north and Penticton to the south. Not every town in the valley sits on the same shore of Okanagan Lake, so check a map before you plan a day. If wine is the reason for your trip, start with the Okanagan wine tours page.
Our pick: e-bike wine tasting
Takes you through the valley's vineyards at your own pace, with lunch built in.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Okanagan Valley tours and wine days
Wine tastings, lake trips and day tours across the Okanagan Valley, with live prices and availability.
The Okanagan wine region
One region, many styles of visit.
How big is the wine region?
The Okanagan has around 200 wineries. The figure of 277 licensed grape wineries covers all of British Columbia, not only the Okanagan.
Sub-regions
The Okanagan has 11 formal sub-regions. Lake Country, East Kelowna Slopes and South Kelowna Slopes are named around Kelowna. West Kelowna and Peachland are not formal sub-regions of their own.
Close to Peachland
The Westside Wine Trail in West Kelowna is the nearest group of tasting rooms. See the wineries page for how it works.
The south of the valley has its own guide. For tastings around Penticton and Naramata, see Penticton wine tours, and for the far south see Osoyoos.
Towns and lakes
Choose a base and take day trips.
Kelowna
Kelowna is about 25 km north of Peachland, roughly 30 minutes by car. It has a waterfront park and the William R. Bennett Bridge over the lake.
Kelowna near Peachland →Okanagan Lake
The lake runs along much of the valley and is where most of the swimming and boating happens.
Okanagan Lake at Peachland →Vernon and Kalamalka Lake
Kalamalka Lake is a separate lake, 8 km south of Vernon near Coldstream. In summer its colour shifts to blue and green because of light-reflecting calcium carbonate crystals. There are marked swimming areas only in the main bays, and the BC Parks beaches have no lifeguards. Cliff jumping is dangerous, and bears, rattlesnakes and swimmer's itch are possible. Do not expect a perfect colour every day, and treat the swimming areas as unguarded.
Planning a day or a longer route
Distances in the valley are long, so pick one area per day. From Peachland, Kelowna is about 30 minutes away and a natural day trip. Vancouver to Kelowna is about 4 hours by road, and Banff to Kelowna about 5.5 hours. Those are rough guides without stops, traffic or weather, and they are not times to Peachland.
Check DriveBC for road status before any long drive, and remember that wildfire season can affect Highway 97. If you drink at tastings, hire a driver or take a tour rather than driving yourself. The getting there page covers the airport and buses.
Okanagan Valley: frequently asked questions
Where is the Okanagan Valley?
In the interior of British Columbia, along Highway 97 and a chain of lakes. Peachland lies between Kelowna in the north and Penticton in the south.
How many wineries are there in the Okanagan?
Around 200. For all of British Columbia there were 277 licensed grape wineries in June 2026.
Is Peachland in the Okanagan Valley?
Yes, on the west shore of Okanagan Lake. It is not its own wine sub-region, and the tasting rooms are mainly in West Kelowna.
Is Kalamalka Lake the same as Okanagan Lake?
No. Kalamalka Lake is a separate lake near Vernon, 8 km to the south of the town.
How much time does the valley need?
One day gives you a tasting, a lakeside stop and a town. For the whole valley from north to south, plan several days, since it is more than 250 km long.