Canadian Rockies Vacation with Alaska Cruise

Itinerary

• ARRIVE IN VANCOUVER, BC

  Welcome to Vancouver! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

• VANCOUVER - VICTORIA

  This morning, tour Vancouver, including the waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park with its old-growth evergreen forests and totem poles. Catch the FERRY over to Vancouver Island and Victoria. Visit world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS, followed by a special dinner in the original Butchart family residence. See major attractions on your city orientation tour, including the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park.
  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  VANCOUVER Guided sightseeing includes the waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park. Scenic BC Ferry crossing through the Gulf Islands to Victoria.
  VICTORIA Orientation drive includes the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. Visit [LF] Butchart Gardens, followed by dinner in the gardens. (B,D)

• VICTORIA VICTORIA Free day. (B)

  This day is free to explore on your own; your Tour Director suggests an optional wildlife and whale-watching trip. For shoppers, Government Street’s elegant shops and Market Square’s collection of specialty stores are good places to start. History buffs should be sure to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum.ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Victoria with wildlife and a whale-watching marine cruise. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with  Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mob

  Optional Activities

  Victoria Panorama by Seaplane

  Take to the skies during this thrilling, 20-minute seaplane flight over Victoria Harbour and the rugged coast of Vancouver Island!

  Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

  Discover the wildlife wonders of Vancouver Island during this inspiring cruise in search of the area's abundant marine animals and resident pods of orca whales!

• VICTORIA - WHISTLER

  Today, board a BC FERRY and cross the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Stop at SHANNON FALLS, where a boardwalk leads to a viewing platform near the base of the roaring falls. On to the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb Mountain. There’s time today to explore many of the 2010 Winter Olympics’ site

  VICTORIA Scenic BC Ferry crossing on the Strait of Georgia through the Gulf Islands en route to Shannon Falls and Whistler.WHISTLER Free time this afternoon and evening. Enjoy a 2-night stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, with classic elegance in a modern alpine setting at the base on Blackcomb Mountain.

  Today is free to explore all that Whistler has to offer. You might enjoy a trip on Whistler’s Peak2Peak Gondola, connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Enjoy spectacular scenery and incredible photo opportunities as you travel via the longest unsupported gondola span in the world. Other options include a walk in the tree tops, a sightseeing excursion by air, shopping in the village, or just relaxing at your resort. 

  Seaplane Tour

  There's no place quite like Whistler, and there's simply no better way to explore it than from the air during an exciting flightseeing tour!

• WHISTLER - KAMLOOPS

  WHISTLER Private breakfast and traditional welcome at the [LF] Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, dedicated to the history and culture of the First Nation's people. Scenic drive through the heart of Cariboo region en route to Kamloops.
  KAMLOOPS Free time this evening. (B)

• KAMLOOPS - JASPER

  KAMLOOPS Scenic drive on Yellowhead Highway past Mount Robson en route to Jasper.
  JASPER NATIONAL PARK Free time remainder of the day. (B,D)

  Enjoy a short sightseeing tour to see Jasper’s unspoiled beauty. Afterward, travel to glacial Maligne Lake for a narrated CRUISE to Spirit Island. On the return journey, stop to view Maligne Canyon. Balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own. Enjoy a short sightseeing tour to see Jasper’s unspoiled beauty. Afterward, travel to glacial Maligne Lake for a narrated CRUISE to Spirit Island. On the return journey, stop to view Maligne Canyon. Balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own.

• JASPER - COLUMBIA ICEFIELD - LAKE LOUISE - BANFF J

  This morning, travel through Jasper National Park on Icefields Parkway to the 1,200-foot-thick Columbia Icefield for a thrilling ICE EXPLORER RIDE. Climb Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and massive glaciers, then scale Bow Pass for splendid views of Peyto Lake. Next, stop at Lake Louise, whose green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria. Continue into BANFF NATIONAL PARK.

  JASPER NATIONAL PARK Scenic drive on Icefields Parkway en route to Columbia Icefield.
  COLUMBIA ICEFIELD Scenic Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier with a Glaciologist guide followed by a scenic drive over Athabasca Pass en route to Lake Louise.
  LAKE LOUISE Free time before driving to Banff National Park for a free evening. (B)

  Athabasca River Float Trip

  Enjoy some of Jasper National Park's very best scenery from water level on this exciting rafting float trip along the Athabasca River!

  Rocky Mountain Wildlife Safari

  From moose to mountain goats, the majestic Rockies are home to some of the world's most fascinating critters, and this incredible evening excursion is your chance to spot them in their natural environment!

• BANFF

  BANFF NATIONAL PARK Scenic ride on the [LF] Banff Gondola for breakfast atop Sulphur Mountain. Sightseeing in Banff includes Bow Falls. Free time this afternoon before dinner at a local restaurant.

  Breakfast this morning is served on top of Sulphur Mountain. Take a scenic ride on the BANFF GONDOLA to the top of the mountain and then enjoy spectacular views of the valley below as you savor a flavorful meal. Additional sightseeing in Banff includes a visit to Bow Falls and the Hoodoos. The balance of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional helicopter flightseeing trip for a bird’s-eye view of the Rockies. Enjoy dinner at a lo

  Helicopter Tours

  Discover unparalleled views of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies region by helicopter. There are several options to choose from, but all deliver spectacular opportunities for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Rockies.

• BANFF - GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - KELOWNA

  BANFF NATIONAL PARK Scenic drive over Kicking Horse Pass and the Continental Divide en route to Yoho National Park.
  GLACIER NATIONAL PARK Drive over Rogers Pass en route to Kelowna.
  KELOWNA Free time this evening. (B)

• KELOWNA - VANCOUVER

  KELOWNA Scenic drive through Fraser Valley and over the Cascade Mountains en route to Vancouver.
  VANCOUVER Free time this afternoon before a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)

• VANCOUVER (EMBARKATION) VANCOUVER Embark on a 7-Night cruise

  VANCOUVER Embark on a 7-Night cruise. (B, D)

• CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE INSIDE PASSAGE Scenic cruise. (B,L,D)

  INSIDE PASSAGE Scenic cruise. 

  Sit back and relax as you cruise through the beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery of the Inside Passage. Keep your cameras ready for spouting whales, soaring eagles, barking seals, and other wildlife. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• CRUISING: TRACY ARM - JUNEAU, ALASKA

  TRACY ARM Scenic cruise.
  JUNEAU Free time. (B,L,D)This narrow, 26-mile-long fjord is another of Alaska’s most dramatic glacier settings. The lush rainforest recedes to reveal a stunning canyon of bare rock. The panorama of 7,000-foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of wondrous shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age—the twin Sawyer Glaciers, which calve icebergs into the jade-colored inland sea. Kittiwakes, mountain goats, and seals are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place. Visit one of the most remote capital cities—Juneau. Accessible only by air and water, Juneau is located at the base of two towering mountains in the heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage, and is home to a rich Gold Rush history, Native culture, wildlife, and a wealth of natural wonders. Shop for gold nuggets, visit the stately Governor’s Mansion, saunter through the swinging doors of the historic Red Dog Saloon, or visit mighty Mendenhall Glacier, an impressive river of ice that is 12 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
   

• SKAGWAY

  SKAGWAY Free time. (B,L,D)Once a major port for gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, today you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway up past Deadhorse Gulch to see what it was like ages ago. Step back in time as you stroll the wooden sidewalks of the town, preserved as a U.S. National Historic Park.
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• CRUISING: GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK

  GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) Scenic cruise. (B,L,DThis Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site protects a unique ecosystem in an ever-changing glacial landscape. Witness the spectacle of thunder and flying spray as huge slabs of ice break off and “calve” into the sea—making for lasting memories. National Park rangers accompany the ship, adding expert commentary to the day’s events.
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• KETCHIKAN

  KETCHIKAN Free time. (B,L,D)Experience Native Alaska firsthand. Meet the spirits of the raven, whale, and eagle as you view the largest collection of totems in the world at Saxman Totem Park or Totem Bight State Historic Park. Or, explore Creek Street, now home to contemporary art galleries and quaint boutiques.
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE

  INSIDE PASSAGE Scenic cruise. (B,L,D)Take a second spin through Alaska’s Inside Passage to enjoy the spectacular contrast from wide bays of still waters and barrier islands to narrow waterways edged with towering forested cliffs. Meals: Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• VANCOUVER, BC (DISEMBARKATION)

  The vacation ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. Please schedule flights afVANCOUVER Your vacation ends this morning. Scheduled flights departing from Vancouver International Airport after Noon. (B)