Day 1 - Arrive in Vancouver
Upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport, pick-up your rental car and drive to your Vancouver hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.
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 2 - Deluxe Vancouver City Tour
Enjoy a full day exploring the beautiful city of Vancouver, Canada's largest western city. A 4 hour city tour is included in your package. This 4 hour tour introduces you to some of the best sites in Vancouver including the downtown core, the Lookout Tower, English Bay, Stanley Park, Chinatown and Granville Island. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own.
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 3 - Vancouver to Victoria
Travel 3 hours by car and ferry through the pastoral Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. En route to downtown Victoria, visit the world famous Butchart Gardens. Upon arrival in Victoria you are at leisure to explore the beautiful Inner Harbor of Victoria, including the legendary Empress Hotel and the Royal British Columbia Museum. (admission included)
Moderate: Overnight Chateau Victoria
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Empress Hotel - Fairmont Gold Harbour view (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 4 - Victoria to Tofino
Today, you will travel north along the scenic Island Highway to Parksville. En route you can visit the Cowichan Native Cultural Centre in Duncan or the artist's community of Chemainus. Today's 5-6 hour journey will end in the small resort community of Tofino, nestled on the most western part of Vancouver Island.
Moderate: Overnight Best Western Tin Wis Resort
Superior: Overnight Long Beach Lodge - Ocean view room (includes continental buffet breakfast)
Deluxe: Overnight Long Beach Lodge - Deluxe Beachfront (includes continental buffet breakfast)
Day 5 - Whale Watching Tour
Today you have the possibility of viewing the majestic beauty of the gray whale on a 3 hour whale watching excursion by Zodiac or Hard Hull boat, our choice. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the region. You may wish to walk along famed Long Beach, with its miles of pristine sandy beach and pounding surf, or explore the rain forest on a selection of well-groomed trails. Or you may want to explore the quaint fishing villages of Tofino and nearby Ucluelet.
Moderate: Overnight Best Western Tin Wis Resort
Superior: Overnight Long Beach Lodge - Ocean view room (includes continental buffet breakfast)
Deluxe: Overnight Long Beach Lodge - Deluxe Beachfront (includes continental buffet breakfast)
Day 6 - Tofino to Vancouver / VIA Rail - Vancouver to Jasper
This morning you drive to Nanaimo where you will take another BC Ferry route back to Vancouver. You may check you're your luggage at the train station and spend the remaining afternoon exploring Vancouver, before returning your rental car downtown. Tonight, you will travel aboard VIA Rail's 'Canadian', and experience a dream voyage in the intimacy of a private room. The train will take you through the Fraser Valley & Canyon areas. By nightfall you will be lulled to sleep by the peaceful movement of the train.
Moderate: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Superior: Overnight VIA Rail in a Private Bedroom
Deluxe: Overnight VIA Rail in a “Romance by Rail" Suite
Day 7 - Arrive in Jasper
By the time you awake you will see glaciers, mountain peaks and lush forests. You will also pass Mt. Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Mid-day the train will arrive in Jasper National Park. Upon arrival you will transfer (on own) to your hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon exploring the town of Jasper with its many shops, park exhibits and restaurants.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lake view Junior Suite
Day 8 - Maligne Valley & Watchable Wildlife Tour
Today embark on a tour of one of the most spectacular areas of Jasper National Park . First visit shimmering Patricia and Pyramid Lakes and take a stroll over a rustic footbridge to Pyramid Lake Island . From there traveling though the Maligne Valley in search of osprey, eagle, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, deer and bear. Stop at Maligne Canyon where 10,000 years of erosion have created a 165-foot deep gorge. Here we set off on a short walk to marvel at the Maligne River as it thunders through the canyon in a series of waterfalls. From the canyon continue to disappearing Medicine Lake and then to spectacular Maligne Lake . Have your cameras ready as both areas are rich in wildlife and scenery. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own or try one of the optional activities such canoeing, rafting, hiking, golfing, tennis and trail riding.
Moderate: Overnight Amethyst Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lake view Junior Suite
Day 9 - Jasper to Banff Tour including Columbia Icefield
Enjoy a narrated tour from Jasper through the 'heart' of the Canadian Rockies to Banff along the Icefields Parkway. You will be inspired by rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness. This tour along the Icefields Parkway takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks, stopping at the Columbia Icefield. Included in your package is the 'Icefields Snocoach', a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed 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. Late afternoon you will arrive in Banff.
Note: The Columbia Icefields snocoach operates from April 15 - October 15, weather permitting. If it is not operating, it will be removed from your package and your tour will be shortened by 1.5 hours.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Junior Suite
Day 10 - Discover Banff Tour
Build a connection to this World Heritage Site on this trademark sightseeing tour as you visit Banff's landmarks and historic places and hear how the 11,000 year old human history of the Bow Valley changed when three railway workers rediscovered the Cave & Basin, now a National Historic Site. Your time will be spent enjoying the sights, taking photos, and participating in short walks to view points, on the many stops of the tour.
Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the town site and visit the many museums, art galleries, & boutiques. Visit the Banff Gondola, where you will take a spectacular 8-minute gondola ride (included) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. From this vantage point at the summit, you will enjoy amazing panoramic views of Banff town site and the surrounding peaks of the Bow Valley.
Note: Discover Banff Tour operates from April 18 - October 15. If traveling in early April, it will be replaced with a Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour which operates from until April 13. Please note there is no tour operating between April 13 - 18, if traveling during this time period the tour will be removed from your package.
Moderate: Overnight Banff Caribou Lodge
Superior: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont room
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Junior Suite
Day 11 - Tour ends in Calgary
Today your tour comes to an end as you transfer by bus from the Rockies to the Calgary International Airport. You may wish to extend your vacation with an overnight stay in Calgary.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 9 nights accommodations, any mandatory service charges and room tax
- 1 night bedroom accommodation and meals on VIA Rail (Deluxe Package: overnight in a 'Romance by Rail' Suite)
- 6 day full size car rental including unlimited mileage, LDW, PAI, PEC, Taxes, Airport surcharge, VLF, and Extra driver
- Vancouver Deluxe City Tour including the Lookout Tower
- 3 hour gray whale watching by Zodiac or Hard Hull boat in Tofino
- Maligne Valley & Watchable Wildlife Tour
- Discover Banff Tour including the Cave & Basin Historical Site (SUBSTITUTIONS: If tour is not operating, it will be removed from your package)
- Jasper to Banff Tour including a 1 1/2 hour Ice Explorer ride (SUBSTITUTIONS: Tour operates from Mid May to Mid Oct, if tour is not operating it will be substituted with a transfer only)
- Admissions to the following attractions: Butchart Gardens, Royal BC Museum, Sulphur Mountain Gondola
- Coach transfer from Banff to the Calgary International Airport
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Car Rental: refueling service charge, baby seats, toll highway charges, additional driver taxes, and credit card security deposit
- Meals not listed as included
- Gratuities
- BC Ferry tolls
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)