Day 1 - Arrive in Calgary & Drive to Cathedral Mountain Lodge
Upon arrival at the Calgary International Airport pick up your rental car and begin your journey to Cathedral Mountain Lodge, located approximately 200kms (125 miles) from Calgary. Depart the Stampede City of Calgary and travel through the rolling foothills into the Rocky Mountains. Travel past the resorts of Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise before crossing into British Columbia. Cathedral Mountain Lodge is located approximately 10 kms (6 miles) from Field, BC.
The Cathedral Mountain Lodge is nestled in the trees at the edge of the glacier-fed Kicking Horse River, offering Canadian Rockies accommodation at its finest. Your log cabin is perfectly appointed to create an oasis of luxury. Cabins are furnished with pine log queen size beds topped with luxurious cozy down duvets and feather pillows. The large sitting areas are beautifully appointed with Canadian antiques and tall sliding doors that lead to the spacious bathroom with deep soaker bathtubs. Warm yourself by the wood-burning stone fireplace, indulge in a leisurely bath in the soaker tub, or ponder the serenity of the wilderness while sitting on the large private deck. There is no television or telephone to disrupt your mountain escape. Your purpose is to replenish and revive.
Luxury: Overnight Cathedral Mountain Lodge - Mountain View Log Cabin (includes continental breakfast)
Day 2 & 3 - Exploring at Leisure
Wake up to the song of wild birds and the call of an alpine river, to the scent of fresh pine and the beauty of mountain wildflowers in an authentic log cabin. The next 2 days are yours to explore the area at leisure. Visit the second highest waterfall in Canada - Takakkaw Falls, magical Lake O'Hara, the mysterious Natural Bridge, the historic Burgess Shale or the incredible Spiral Tunnels. Go white water rafting down the Kicking Horse River, canoe Emerald Lake, or try your hand at horseback riding, fishing, or mountain biking. The surrounding mountains and wilderness offer something for every level of hiking/mountaineering experience and fitness.
Luxury: Overnight Cathedral Mountain Lodge - Mountain View Log Cabin (includes continental breakfast)
Day 4 - Cathedral Mountain Lodge to Banff
Today depart Cathedral Mountain Lodge and enjoy a leisurely drive to Banff. You may want to choose the Bow Valley Parkway and make a stop at Johnston Canyon, where you can walk along the paved footway to either the lower or upper waterfalls before continuing to Banff. In Banff, visit the Banff Gondola and take a spectacular 8-minute gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. From this vantage point at the summit, you will enjoy amazing panoramic views of Banff townsite and the surrounding peaks of the Bow Valley. You may wish to visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site where a natural hot springs led to the creation of Canada's first National Park in 1885. At the end of the day, you will need to drop off your car rental. A private limousine will pick you up at the car rental location and transfer you to the Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
You will be staying at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge which lies on the gentle slopes of Tunnel Mountain, which native people called 'sleeping buffalo'. The Main Lodge complements its natural setting with square timber, post and beam construction, and high open ceilings. Simple, elegant design is a hallmark of the resort, and symbolizes the lifestyle at the Lodge. Premier rooms have pine ceilings, a wood burning fieldstone fireplace which is stocked daily with complimentary firewood, cable television with VCR. The over-sized bathrooms have a slate heated floor, a separate shower stall and an old-fashioned claw-footed bathtub.
Luxury: Overnight Buffalo Mountain Lodge - Buffalo Suite
Day 5 - Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service® - Banff to Kamloops
Early today, a private limousine will transfer you to the Rocky Mountaineer® train station. For the next two days, you will experience the "Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World!"® aboard Rocky Mountaineer®. Travel in exceptional style in the GoldLeaf® dome coach that puts you in the middle of the awe-inspiring scenery of the Canadian Rockies. As you relax in your reserved seat, coffee or chilled orange juice is served, and the pampering does not stop. Comfort and luxury are found in the GoldLeaf® dining room on the lower level, where white linen, gleaming tableware and fresh flower bouquets await you. Your menu choices will include seasonal regional cuisine created by talented onboard GoldLeaf® chefs. Savour the ultimate dining experience, with stunning and constantly changing vistas outside your window. When the train arrives in Kamloops you will immediately be taken to your overnight accommodation where your luggage will have already been delivered. With Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service®, you are experiencing one of the world's most unforgettable rail adventures.
Luxury: GoldLeaf Service®
Overnight in Kamloops (Hotel to be advised)
Day 6 - Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service® - Kamloops to Vancouver
Early this morning, depart for your second day aboard Rail Mountaineer. The journey continues westwards from Kamloops and travels along the Thompson River to the Fraser Canyon. At Hell's Gate watch water torrent past the canyon walls at its narrowest point, a true highlight of the canyon. Upon leaving this region, the train will journey through the fertile Fraser Valley to the coastal city of Vancouver. When you disembark from the train in Vancouver you will be met by the driver of a private limousine who will transport you to the luxurious Fairmont Waterfront Hotel and your exclusive Gold Level room.
Luxury: Overnight Fairmont Waterfront - One Bedroom Fairmont Gold Suite (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 7 - Private Vancouver City Tour
Today, a driver will meet you at the hotel and take your private 4 hour Vancouver tour by luxury SUV. Surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is a nature lover's paradise. A multicultural heritage makes the city one of world's most liveable urban centers. Discover Vancouver's many flavours and the rain forest around it on this private sightseeing tour. Highlights will include Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, English Bay, Queen Elizabeth Park and Granville Island. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Luxury: Overnight Fairmont Waterfront - One Bedroom Fairmont Gold Suite (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 8 - Vancouver to King Pacific Lodge
In the early afternoon your driver and private limousine will transport you to the Vancouver Fairmont Airport Hotel where a representative of the King Pacific Lodge will greet you and take you to the South Terminal for your flight to Bella Bella. Arriving in Bella Bella, you will be met by a King Pacific Lodge representative and transferred to the floatplane dock for a short flight from Bella Bella to the King Pacific Lodge. A champagne welcome and warm greeting from the staff awaits you.
Moored in the shelter of Barnard Harbour on Princess Royal Island, King Pacific Lodge is quite simply the most luxurious wilderness lodge ever built. Designed for absolute comfort and positioned to capture spectacular views of the landscape. The lodge is a remarkably civilized place in the midst of absolute wilderness. The lodge is owned by the Morita family, founders of the Sony Corporation. Guests can enjoy the abundance and diversity of the flora and fauna found in the coastal rainforest of British Columbia. The 15,000 square-foot lodge features 17 guest suites along with a full dining and lounge facility, games room, Spa and an outdoor deck. The lodge offers a beautiful Wet Coast décor, with slate floors on the main floor, wood interior, handcrafted wood furnishings and views of nature at its best.
Your accommodation for the next 3 nights will be in the Waterfall Suite, a corner suite with expansive views of the ocean and the waterfall, this 1400-sq ft suite offers guests a haven of comfort and space. The living room features a cozy open fireplace and dining room as well as two decks and a stocked bar. The bedroom has a king-size bed and slate-lined bathroom with double soaker tub and ocean views.
Luxury: Overnight King Pacific Lodge - Waterfall Suite
Day 9 & 10 - Wildlife & Nature Activities
Today is yours to explore the area. A number of activities are included in your package, all you have to do is decide what you want to do first. Activities included in your package are guided Ocean Fishing, guided hiking, guided kayaking, Marine Wildlife Viewing, a cultural program and unlimited use of lodge facilities.
In early June and July, pods of resident orcas cruise Whale Channel feeding on migrating salmon. Local whale researchers are available to help you identify the pods and listen in on their conversations with strategically placed hydrophones. Eagles soar overhead as their young learn to take flight and begin to forage for themselves. The sea lions bark and roar as they jostle for the sunny spot on Sea Lion Rock, just minutes by boat from the lodge. And of course, the lodge's local family of otters is always ready to share your salmon dockside as your catch is cleaned and readied for you to feast on that evening or freeze and take home.
Late in July and throughout August and September the humpback whales return from their Hawaiian wintering. The cold Pacific waters on which King Pacific Lodge floats are some of the richest in the world and provide ample food for humpback mothers and their calves. A kayak paddle at low tide reveals the ocean's bounty and our expert guides will not only teach you the paddling strokes but also share their knowledge of local flora and fauna. This is a wonderful season for hiking and you may catch the silhouette of the rare black wolf in the distance as you picnic on Wolf Track Beach. Dahl's porpoise's gambol and race alongside the boat as you speed your way back to the comfort and luxury of the lodge for yet another sumptuous meal and a relaxing spa treatment.
September is the pinnacle of bear viewing - grizzlies, black bears and the rare white Kermode or ?spirit bear' as it is known by the natives, greedily feed on migrating salmon so plentiful that the rivers and streams appear black. The guides know just where to take you for that incomparable glimpse of the temperate rainforest's most magnificent carnivore. Often at this time of year, the humpback whales feed in Barnard Harbour and breach within yards of the docks of the lodge - hear them breathing as you lie in your own king-size bed, warm and cozy under a luxurious duvet.
Luxury: Overnight King Pacific Lodge - Waterfall Suite
Day 11 - Depart King Pacific Lodge
You have the day to enjoy the lodge before departing the lodge. In the late afternoon, depart King Pacific Lodge, via floatplane and fly back to Bella Bella. Upon arrival, you will transfer to the Bella Bella Airport in time for your flight back to Vancouver. Upon arrival, walk a short distance to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel and check into your exclusive Gold Level room.
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel - Fairmont Gold room (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 12 - Depart Vancouver
Your departure for home is the essence of convenience. An elevator from the hotel lobby will place you directly in the United States departure check-in area of the airport. The concierge will gladly arrange for a bellman to accompany you with your luggage.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 11 nights accommodation, room tax and any mandatory service charges
- Rocky Mountaineer® 2 day rail tour (Banff to Vancouver) in GoldLeaf Service® including 2 breakfasts,2 lunches & snacks & 1 dinner at hotel in Kamloops
- 4 Day Full size car rental including unlimited mileage, LDW, PAI, PEC, Taxes, Airport surcharge, VLF, and Extra driver
- Vancouver City Tour by private Luxury SUV including gratuities
- Round-trip flight between Vancouver and the lodge
- Champagne Welcome Reception at King Pacific Lodge
- All gourmet meals including beverages at King Pacific Lodge
- Open bar at King Pacific Lodge
- A wide selection of guided activities (ocean fishing, hiking, kayaking, wildlife viewing and a cultural program)
- Unlimited use of lodge facilities (games room, steam room, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge pool, wireless internet access, extensive library)
- Private Limousine transfers from Banff car rental drop off to hotel; hotel to Banff train station; Vancouver train station to hotel; hotel to Vancouver Fairmont Airport Hotel including gratuities
- Mandatory conservation surcharge
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Helicopter excursions, Kermode Bear viewing and spa services at King Pacific Lodge
- Car Rental: Drop fee between Calgary & Banff (approximately $50CAD), refuelling service charge, baby seats, toll highway charges, additional driver taxes, and credit card security deposit
- Attractions not listed as included
- Gratuities not listed as included
- Meals not listed as included
- Transfers not listed as included
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)