Day 1 - Arrive Calgary / Transfer to Banff
Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport you transfer by regular scheduled motorcoach to the mountain resort town of Banff. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs - Junior Suite
Day 2 - Banff to Jasper Tour
This tour takes you through Banff and Jasper National Parks along one of Canada's most scenic drives, the Icefields Parkway. Highlights include Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, the Athabasca Glacier and Athabasca Falls. Time is allowed for lunch enroute. Included in your package is the 'Ice Age Adventure', a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed Brewster Ice Explorer to the middle of the glacier, on a 5-kilometre round- trip journey. Your driver-guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in comfort and safety. The trip affords many opportunities to see mountain wildlife and photograph the spectacular views.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Junior Suite Lakeview
Day 3 - Miette Hot Springs & Wildlife Tour
This combination of Hot Springs and Animal viewing has proven to be very popular! This 1.5 hour trip passes quickly while you relax and enjoy the many stops for wildlife and the commentary of the guide. Possible wildlife including bear, bull elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, deer, coyotes, beaver, moose and birds. The variety of topics discussed includes the habitat and habits of animals seen, fire controls in the Park, railroad history and more. At the Springs, go for a short walk to the Source of the Springs, enjoy a soak in the Hot Springs Pool (pool admittance fee included) and/or enjoy a meal (on own) at the quaint restaurant at the Springs to fill out the 1.5 hour visit.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Junior Suite Lakeview
Day 4 - Jasper to Prince George aboard VIA Rail Skeena
This afternoon you will transfer to the VIA Rail station (on own) where you will board VIA Rail's Skeena, the train to the Pacific Coast. You will travel in Totem Deluxe Class, VIA Rail's new totally glass-domed Panorama Car. This is a fabulous 1,160 kilometre (725-mile) journey, lasting two days, between Jasper, lying in the heart of the superb Rocky Mountains, and Prince Rupert, on the Pacific coast. This is a wonderful way to discover the region's scenery, Native culture and other attractions. While the route has been established for years, its schedule has been changed to cover the entire route during daylight hours. You will enjoy this spectacular trip! Upon arrival in Prince George, you will transfer to your hotel (on own) for check-in.
Moderate: Overnight Coast Inn of the North – Standard room
Superior: Overnight Coast Inn of the North - Superior room
Deluxe: Overnight Coast Inn of the North - Superior room
Day 5 - Prince George to Prince Rupert aboard VIA Rail Skeena
After a good nights sleep in Prince George, you will transfer back to the rail station (on own) to re-board the VIA Rail Skeena heading for the Pacific Coast and Prince Rupert. You will travel through many small B.C. communities and view scenery that is only accessible via train, and discover why it is Canada's best kept secret. Upon arrival in Prince Rupert you will transfer (on own) to your hotel.
Moderate: Overnight Crest Hotel - Standard room
Superior: Overnight Crest Hotel - Crest Class
Deluxe: Overnight Crest Hotel - Treat Suite
Day 6 – Kaien Island Circle Tour
This one-of-a-kind tour circles Kaien Island with informed commentary by an experienced local skipper. Take in the bustling Prince Rupert waterfront from boatside. On your tour you will pass Fairview Terminal where international freighters tie up WWII military installations, massive grain and coal facilities on Ridley Island, historical Village of Port Edward, reversing tidal rapids at Butze Rapids and Zanardi Rapids, seal Cove's Canadian Coast Guard Base and Seal Cove's Float Plane Base, one of the busiest on the coast. During the voyage, there will also be a good possibility of sighting porpoise, harbour seals and eagles.
Note: If tour is not operating, it will be replace with another tour OR removed from your package
Moderate: Overnight Crest Hotel - Standard room
Superior: Overnight Crest Hotel - Crest Class
Deluxe: Overnight Crest Hotel - Treat Suite
Day 7 – Grizzly Bear Watching Cruise OR Whale Watching Cruise OR Prince Rupert Panorama Flightseeing
Today you have a choice of activity, depending on your travel date, between a Whale Watching Cruise, a Flightseeing Tour of Prince Rupert OR a Grizzly Bear Watching Cruise that allows the opportunity to see bears in their natural habitat.
Whale Watching Cruise (Mid July to October)
View the Humpback Whale on the North Coast's sheltered Inside Passage! If you are willing to go where the whales are, you're in for the greatest show on earth! Whales diving, flashing enormous fan shaped tails, feeding with vast open mouths, hurling their fifty ton bodies up, completely out of the water, spouting an explosion of air and water that rains down upon you. North Coast whale watching is acknowledged as one of the most accessible and predictable locations to see Humpback Whales, also known as the big winged whale. Be prepared for a truly memorable experience as you explore the marine environment of the North Coast.
Grizzly Bear Watching Cruise (Mid May to End of July)
Experience one of the greatest treasures of the British Columbia North Coast! Your 6 hour tour will take you North through Chatham Sound, then East into rugged fjords and pristine wilderness to the Khutzeymateen, home of the largest population of Grizzly Bears anywhere on Earth. The area is home to a large variety of other wildlife including: Orca Whales, eagles, seals, mountain goats and black bears. This adventure will be the highlight of your holiday! Your tour includes a boxed lunch.
Prince Rupert Panorama Flightseeing Tour (May to September)
This 20 minute flight is an ideal introduction to seaplane aviation. Your flight will include a spectacular view of Prince Rupert and the wilderness beyond. Enjoy the unique sights of the Skeena River as well as the historic working docks and cannery at Port Edward. The North Pacific Cannery is the oldest cannery remaining on the B.C. coast.
Moderate: Overnight Crest Hotel - Standard room
Superior: Overnight Crest Hotel - Crest Class
Deluxe: Overnight Crest Hotel - Treat Suite
Day 8 - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy aboard BC Ferries
This morning transfer (on own) to the BC Ferry terminal. Discover the beauty of the Inside Passage on this unforgettable day cruise aboard the gracious ferry-liner M.V. Northern Adventure. On the way, you'll travel through calm inlets, evergreen-covered islands, and majestic coastal mountains. Keep your eyes open for sightings of Killer Whales, Dolphins, and other wildlife. You will have a private 2 or 4 berth cabin with shower, washbasin, & toilet. Upon arrival in Port Hardy in the late evening, you will transfer by scheduled motorcoach service to your hotel.
Moderate: Overnight Quarterdeck Inn - Standard room
Superior: Overnight Quarterdeck Inn – Executive Suite
Deluxe: Overnight Quarterdeck Inn – Executive Suite
Day 9 - Port Hardy to Qualicum Beach Tour / VIA Rail Qualicum Beach to Victoria
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and begin your day tour to Victoria, you will travel southbound on the island highway to Victoria. A stop will be made for coffee at the unique ‘Cable House café’ in Courtenay, then continues on the scenic route to Qualicum Beach. You will be dropped off at the Qualicum Beach Train Station where you will board Via Rail's Malahat. On the Malahat you'll discover some of the most beautiful countryside on Vancouver Island. Upon arrival in Victoria, in the early evening, you will transfer (on own) to your hotel.
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont Gold Harbourview (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 10 - Whale Watching Tour
Whale and Marine Wildlife Watching expeditions have become one of Victoria's most popular activities. The waters around Southern Vancouver Island are home to three resident pods of Orca (or Killer Whales). You can also see gray and humpback whales (in season) dozens of species of seabirds, playful Porpoises, Seals & Seal Pups, Sea Lions, the majestic Bald Eagles, Lighthouses and marine eco-systems. Choose to have your excursion on exhilarating 28' open Zodiacs or a beautiful 46' MotorYacht (offering an enclosed cabin as well as outside viewing decks). Experienced skippers & naturalists, a perfect safety record, high whale sightings & free Marine Mammal Information Kit are included.
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont Gold Harbourview (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 11 - Victoria to Vancouver with Butchart Gardens
Morning at leisure to explore Victoria on your own or take an optional sightseeing tour. In the afternoon, travel from Victoria to Vancouver including the World Famous Butchart Gardens. Depart Victoria and transfer to the beautiful Butchart Gardens. 'Almost 100 years ago’ the Gardens began with an effort to beautify a worked-out quarry site on the 130-acre estate of Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Butchart. The Sunken Gardens soon spilled over into the Rose, Italian and Japanese Gardens. Today, the horticultural excellence achieved by the Butcharts is maintained throughout 55 acres of breathtaking gardens. After exploring the Gardens, your journey will continue on to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal where you will board BC Ferries to the Mainland. On your 95 minute cruise through the Gulf Islands and across the Georgia Strait, you will have the opportunity to enjoy awesome West Coast scenery. Food services and gift shop are available on the BC Ferry. Upon arrival at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, your final leg of the journey will take you into Downtown Vancouver to be dropped off at your hotel.
Moderate: Overnight Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Vancouver (includes buffet breakfast)
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont Gold (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 12 - Coast Rainforest Lynn Canyon & Capilano Fish Hatchery Adventure
Today you will enjoy the beauty of a South Coast Pacific Rainforest just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. A short transfer across the Lion's Gate Bridge brings you to the North Shore's Lynn Canyon and Capilano Canyon. During the hike see, smell and hear a genuine rainforest (yes, we said hear). Discover typical rainforest flora such as moss, fern and lichen, shaded by some of the oldest and largest trees in the Lower Mainland Douglas Fir, Cedar and Hemlock. Even orchids grow under this dense canopy. An experienced guide will explain the workings of this unique ecosystem. On the way back we'll show you the habitat of the pacific salmon and provide and unforgettable memory of discovering how these fish make the incredible journey from the sea up-river to the ladders that they climb to their spawning grounds. Enjoy snack & beverage in this beautiful setting.
Moderate: Overnight Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Vancouver (includes buffet breakfast)
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont Gold (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 13 - Depart Vancouver
Today you will transfer by private sedan from your hotel to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 12 nights hotel accommodation, any mandatory service charges and room tax
- VIA Rail Skeena rail tour including 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, & 2 dinners (Totem Deluxe Class)
- VIA Rail Malahat train trip from Qualicum Beach to Victoria
- Banff to Jasper tour including Ice-age Adventure at Columbia Icefields
- Miette Hot Springs & Wildlife Tour including Miette Hot Springs
- Kaien Island Circle Tour
- Choice of Activity: Whale Watching Cruise OR Prince Rupert Panorama Flightseeing OR Grizzly Bear Watching Cruise
- Port Hardy to Qualicum Beach Tour including transfer from BC Ferry to hotel in Port Hardy
- Whale Watching Tour in Victoria
- Victoria to Vancouver transfer including Victoria City Tour
- Butchart Gardens & BC Ferries passenger toll
- Coast Rainforest Lynn Canyon & Capilano Fish Hatchery Adventure including snack & beverage
- Regular Scheduled bus transfer from Calgary Airport to Banff
- Private sedan transfer from hotel to Vancouver Airport including gratuities
- BC Ferries from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy with a Private cabin
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Meals not listed as included
- Activities not listed as included
- Transfer not listed as included
- Gratuities
- Goods and Services tax (GST)
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)