Panoramic Rockies & Cruise

Day 1: Arrive Vancouver

Welcome to Vancouver. Get settled in at your hotel before meeting your Travel Director this afternoon.

Day 2: Vancouver - Victoria

Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Vancouver, one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities. Explore historic Gastown, the city’s oldest neighbourhood, designated a National Historical Site in 2009. At Stanley Park, view the famous collection of totem poles and enjoy lovely views from Prospect Point. Reach the coast and board the ferry for the crossing to Victoria.

Enjoy picturesque views of the many islands dotting the Strait of Georgia before docking at Swartz Bay. A short drive takes you into charming Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Your introductory sightseeing tour takes you along the waterfront district, past the Parliament Buildings and Government Street.

Hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites

Day 3: Victoria Sightseeing

This morning, head for Butchart Gardens and start with an Iconic Breakfast at the Blue Poppy Restaurant with its conservatory atmosphere where light pours in through skylights and windows face the stunning gardens. Then, roam one of the world’s greatest floral displays in the amazing 55 acres (22ha) of flowers and show gardens.

The rest of the day is free to enjoy the many delights Victoria has to offer. Perhaps visit The Royal BC Museum, one of the finest in Canada. Consider whale watching as you cruise Victoria and the protected waters of Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Indulge with the best views of whales and fantastic photo opportunities, all the while being entertained and educated by the industry’s best marine adventure guides.

Optional: Victoria Whale Watching

Board your vessel to enjoy a three-hour whale-watching expedition in the waters off Victoria. While it can’t be guaranteed in advance which of the abundant marine wildlife you’ll see on your journey, chances are you’ll also spot magnificent bald eagles, porpoises or seals. Spring and summer are the best times of the year to see the resident Orca whales in all their glory. Approx. duration: 3 hours.

Hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites

Day 4: Victoria - Whistler

Travel to Chemainus, a seaside community that is renowned for its Mural Project-a series of giant outdoor wall murals. Then, ride the ferry across the Georgia Strait back to the mainland in Horseshoe Bay. Travel along the Sea-to-Sky Highway offering stunning scenic ocean vistas of Howe Sound, soaring mountains, dramatic waterfalls and bustling communities.

Stop at Shannon Falls Provincial Park to view the spectacular waterfalls, the third highest in the province of British Columbia. Arrive in the quaint alpine village of Whistler, co-host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Hotel: Pinnacle Hotel, Whistler Village

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Whistler Free Time

Spend a full day at leisure in Whistler, nestled between the breathtaking Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains. Explore the village at your own pace and relax at one of the many outdoor venues; perhaps visit the excellent Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, where the Squamish and Lil’wat people invite you to learn about the cultures of the First Nations of BC.

Join one of the many optional excursions, including ziplining, whitewater rafting or a thrilling ride aboard the Peak-to-Peak Gondola, as you glide along the world’s longest unsupported span. The gondola is also the highest lift of its kind, linking the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain and the Rendezvous Restaurant on Blackcomb Mountain. Other activities include flightseeing over the lakes and glaciated peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Hotel: Pinnacle Hotel, Whistler Village

Day 6: Whistler – Sun Peaks

Travel along scenic Duffy Lake Road where you can catch glimpses of Duffy and Seton Lakes via Lillooet, “Mile 0” of the Gold Rush Route. Follow the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail, before reaching Sun Peaks, one of British Columbia’s premier ski resorts.

Hotel: Sun Peaks Lodge

Day 7: Sun Peaks - Jasper

Drive through white-fenced ranch lands and follow the Yellowhead Highway, catching a glimpse of the snowcapped Columbia Mountains in the distance. Enjoy views of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies and enter Jasper National Park. Arrive in Jasper, nestled inside Jasper National Park. A brief tour gives you an overview of this charming, laidback mountain resort.

Hotel: Ramada Hinton

Day 8: Jasper National Park

Enjoy a full day at leisure in the largest National Park of the Canadian Rockies. The beauty of the area will leave you breathless. Optional activities abound-from a gentle float trip on the scenic Athabasca River, to a wilderness hike to view the glacier on Mount Edith Cavell, or a scenic cruise on Maligne Lake.

Optional: Jasper Float Trip

Join the fun and experience an easy rafting / scenic float trip down the Athabasca River, a designated Canadian Heritage River. A National Park licensed guide will provide commentary on the human and natural history of Jasper while navigating you along the same route used by the “fur traders” over 2 centuries ago. Lifejackets and the specially designed, 25 foot (7 meters) long, oar-powered rafts; offer a safe and comfortable ride through several small, easy sets of rapids and calm stretches that any first-time rafter will enjoy.

Don’t worry the guides do all the rowing; you sit back and enjoy while exploring all the spectacular scenery drifting down a route that was used by fur traders many years ago. There is always a chance of seeing various wildlife including elk, deer, moose, coyotes, wolves, eagles, ospreys, mountain sheep and bears. Tours will operate rain or shine, and a poncho will be provided when required. Approx. duration: 50-90 minutes.

Optional: Mount Edith Cavell Guided Walk

Join your guide on the “Path of the Glaciers” with Mount Edith Cavell’s snowcapped peak towering a mile overhead. See the emerald green of the “Lake of Forgiveness” and look out for incredible glacial formations, including icebergs and ice avalanches. Be sure to wear your good walking shoes for this 90-minute moderate walk. You’ll have plenty of stops for picture taking, enjoying the scenery and learning about the local history and geography. You may also spot wildlife during the 40-minute drive to and from this area. Operates seasonally. Approx. duration: 3 hours.

Optional: Maligne Lake Boat Cruise

Nestled in a ring of towering mountains, Maligne Lake is the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Here you’ll discover world-famous Spirit Island, the crown jewel of Jasper National Park. The Maligne Lake Cruise is an experience like no other with an experienced crew who will guide you through the rich history, ecology and geology of Maligne Lake. This interpretive tour has been declared the “Best Boat Cruise in Canada” by 8 million Reader’s Digest subscribers.

You’ll be inspired by the beauty of Maligne Lake’s vibrant blue waters and by the stunning lofty peaks as you cruise to Spirit Island, a world-famous destination and one of the most photographed locations in the Rockies, accessible only by boat. Subject to weather conditions. Approx. duration: 1.5 hours.

Hotel: Ramada Hinton

Day 9: Jasper – Icefields Parkway – Lake Louise - Banff

Proceed along the world-renowned Icefields Parkway amidst stunning vistas of deep green forests, snow-covered mountains, hanging glaciers and towering peaks. Sightseeing stops along this beautiful highway include Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield, Bow and Peyto Lakes (weather dependent) and Crowfoot Glacier. Keep your camera ready as you look for wandering wildlife.

Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a ride on a specially designed Ice Explorer, winding your way along the surface of the massive Athabasca Glacier. Learn about the Columbia Icefield, the power of glaciers and the early explorers who discovered them. Another stop is at the “Jewel of the Canadian Rockies”-exquisite Lake Louise, offering quintessential Canadian Rockies scenery with its sparkling blue water lake, nestled at the base of the impressive Victoria Glacier.

Continue along the scenic TransCanada Highway and arrive in Banff, inside Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hotel: Inns of Banff

Day 10: Banff Sightseeing

Your morning sightseeing tour of Banff includes the sights of Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Few towns in the world boast as beautiful a setting as Banff. The mighty Bow River courses right through town, while massive mountains rear up around the outskirts of the town. The rest of the day is free for you to pursue your own interests. To see more of this beautiful area, perhaps take an optional gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain to experience stunning views of six mountain ranges and the village below or ride aboard a helicopter for one of the most epic adventures in the Canadian Rockies.

Optional: Royal Canadian Tour

This journey will only enhance the Three Sisters Peaks Tour by exploring the Goat and Sundance Ranges of the Rocky Mountains. You will see mountain peaks, alpine meadows, waterfalls and untouched glacier lakes. Perhaps even a glimpse of some wildlife. It’s an extraordinary adventure not to be missed.

Optional: Mt. Assiniboine Tour

You are in for something special as you are transported to Mount Assiniboine – “the Matterhorn” of the Canadian Rockies. Our most popular adventure has all the fantastic scenery of the previous tours plus a fly by over top of the glacier. This photogenic peak rises majestically to 3,611meters (11,870 feet) along the Great Divide. The Gloria and Assiniboine Glaciers will astound you. This is an experience you will never forget! Approx. duration: 30 minutes.

Hotel: Inns of Banff

Day 11: Banff – Kelowna

Drive across the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass and stop at the Spiral Tunnels, a feat of early engineering for one of the steepest railroad stretches in the world. Then, it’s on through Yoho National Park and across Roger’s Pass in Canada’s Glacier National Park. Pass Mount Revelstoke National Park, wind your way down the mountains and enter what is known as Canada’s “fruit basket”-the Okanagan Valley. Stop at a local winery for a tour and tasting before arriving at your hotel in Kelowna.

Hotel: Ramada Kelowna

Day 12: Vancouver – Inside Passage Cruise

After boarding the ms Nieuw Amsterdam, set sail at 4:30 p.m., passing below Vancouver’s spectacular Lion’s Gate suspension bridge.

Meals: 1 Dinner

Day 13: Cruise the Inside Passage

With most of southeast Alaska accessible only by boat or plane, cruise the Inside Passage for a unique view.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 14: Cruise Tracy Arm and Juneau

The dramatic Sawyer Glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm are framed by mountains and bathed in the blue hue of the ice. Arrive in Juneau where you can shop downtown, kayak, dogsled, raft or flightsee.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 15: Cruise to Skagway

Step into the town’s colourful past at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 16: Cruise Glacier Bay

From the comfort of your ship, enjoy the pristine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 17: Ketchikan

While ashore, check out the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles or join an optional guided tour through town or a harbour cruise.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 18: Cruise the Inside Passage

Today is a day of relaxation as you cruise back to Vancouver.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner

Day 19: Depart Vancouver

Sail into Vancouver Harbour this morning.

Meals: 1 Breakfast