HEART OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES WITH VANCOUVER EXT
Day 1 - CALGARY. Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions. Day 2 - CALGARY - BANFF. The discovery of oil converted this cattle ranching town into a thriving, sophisticated city with skyscrapers and elegant shopping centers. It is also home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. Tour many of the city's attractions, including Canada Olympic Park, the Saddledome, and FORT CALGARY. Motor west through the foothills and into BANFF NATIONAL PARK, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. Join the optional excursion to Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of Banff's spectacular scenery. Day 3 - BANFF. Banff is one of Canada's favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities such as hiking, boating, and fishing. With a free day, your Tour Director will suggest an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. Tonight, take an optional excursion to the theater, featuring Canadian cuisine and entertainment. Day 4 - BANFF - LAKE LOUISE - JASPER. A day of scenic grandeur. First stop is Lake Louise, where its cold turquoise waters create a perfect natural mirror reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Next, journey northward into JASPER NATIONAL PARK where precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the motorcoach scales two mountain passes. Another highlight on today's agenda is a stop at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels upon ice that is 365 meters (1,200 feet) thick. Later this afternoon your Tour Director suggests an optional raft trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of Jasper townsite upon arrival. Day 5 - JASPER - MOUNT ROBSON'SUN PEAKS. With a morning at leisure, join the optional trip to Maligne Lake, where you embark on a narrated cruise to much-photographed Spirit Island. Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The Yellowhead Highway continues south along the mighty Thompson River with spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. Overnight at the Sun Peaks alpine resort. Day 6 - SUN PEAKS - FERRY CROSSING - VICTORIA. As you travel through British Columbia's Coast Mountain Range to its majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes abruptly from lush alpine forests to desert landscape. Board your afternoon ferry for the spectacular crossing to Vancouver Island. Sightseeing in Victoria includes the Inner Harbor, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, you might want to take Day 7 - VICTORIA. Today is a full free day for independent sightseeing. Your Tour Director will have ideas to enhance your enjoyment of this most British of Canadian cities. Take an optional whale-watching cruise and seek out pods of killer whales. A suggestion for this evening is an optional dinner in Chinatown, followed by a historic walk. Day 8 - VICTORIA - VANCOUVER. First stop today: the famous BUTCHART GARDENS with its 35 acres of showcase exhibits, including the English Rose Garden and the Japanese Gardens. This afternoon, board the ferry for a spectacular crossing though the Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean climate, to the British Columbia mainland. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes STANLEY PARK, Gastown, Chinatown, and many other famous landmarks. Tonight, your Tour Director will offer dining recommendations for this vibrant city. Day 9 - VANCOUVER. Two days at leisure for independent activities or choose from a variety of optional excursions. Your Local Host will have ideas for things to do and the best places to shop and dine. Day 10 - VANCOUVER. Two days at leisure for independent activities or choose from a variety of optional excursions. Your Local Host will have ideas for things to do and the best places to shop and dine. Day 11 - VANCOUVER. The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Vancouver International Airport. |
