17 days Western Canada Explorer ( 2018 )
Stunning lakes, towering peaks, breathtaking landscapes, and thrilling experiences describe this Canadian Rockies tour. You’ll overnight in Vancouver, Seattle, Spokane, Cranbrook, Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Jasper National Park, Kamloops, Whistler, and Victoria.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARRIVE IN VANCOUVER | Welcome to Vancouver! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure. |
| 2 | VANCOUVER–SEATTLE | This morning’s city tour includes the harbor and beaches, Chinatown, historic Gastown, and Stanley Park with its towering evergreen forests and totem poles. This afternoon, travel to the “Emerald City” of Seattle. This evening is free to start exploring on your own. Breakfast. |
| 3 | SEATTLE | Seattle sightseeing includes Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Seattle’s original downtown, and the city’s diverse neighborhoods. After lunch at a waterside restaurant, the remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to take a trip to the top of the Space Needle for amazing views of the city below, visit the original Starbucks store, take a tour of underground Seattle, or spend time at the Museum of Pop Culture. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Breakfast. Lunch. |
| 4 | SEATTLE–LEAVENWORTH–SPOKANE | Depart Seattle and stop in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth. There’s time to stroll the charming streets, visit the Nutcracker Museum, or sample local fare. Arrive in Spokane later this afternoon for an evening at leisure. You may wish to walk along the banks of the Spokane River or ride the Gondola Skyride over some of the area’s waterfalls. Breakfast. |
| 5 | SPOKANE–SANDPOINT–CRANBROOK | Start the day with sightseeing of Spokane, including Manito Park Gardens. Then, travel along the scenic Pend Oreille River into Idaho. Stop in charming Sandpoint, nestled on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. There’s time to browse the boutiques and galleries before traveling back into Canada and the former railway town of Cranbrook. Dinner this evening is at your resort. Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 6 | CRANBROOK–FORT STEELE–BANFF NATIONAL PARK | Visit the restored town of FORT STEELE, where fortunes were made during the Kootenay Gold Rush. Next, drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon before entering BANFF NATIONAL PARK, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Sightseeing in Banff includes stops at Bow Falls and the Hoodoos. Your home for the next three nights is the amazing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Opened by Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888, the hotel is internationally recognized as the “Castle of the Rockies.” Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 7 | BANFF NATIONAL PARK | A full day at leisure to enjoy all that Banff has to offer. You may wish to take a ride on the Banff Gondola, shop for souvenirs on Main Street, or perhaps take an optional helicopter flightseeing trip for dramatic aerial views of the Rocky Mountains and Banff. Breakfast. |
| 8 | BANFF NATIONAL PARK | An additional day to explore more of Banff. Your Tour Director recommends a visit to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, a stroll along Bow River, or a relaxing soak at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. This evening, enjoy a WESTERN BARBECUE Prime Alberta Beef and musical entertainment. Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 9 | BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE | En route to Lake Louise, a side trip showcases one of the crown jewels of the Rockies—Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Here, 10 mountain peaks soar above 10,000 feet and surround the tranquil waters of the lake. Next, visit Natural Bridge, where the Kicking Horse River disappears before re-emerging through a natural span of rock. Then, visit Emerald Lake to enjoy views of the turquoise-colored water and spectacular scenery. Later, we arrive at enchanting Lake Louise. After checking into your room, the rest of the day is free to enjoy the beauty, romance, and serenity of this famous location. Dinner this evening is at your historic resort, whose past guests have included celebrities and royalty alike. NOTE: The visit to Moraine Lake is normally possible from late May to early September. Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 10 | LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER NATIONAL PARK | Travel on awe-inspiring Icefields Parkway past towering peaks and immense hanging glaciers to JASPER NATIONAL PARK. Ride an exciting ICE EXPLORER on the 1,000-foot Athabasca Glacier and see thundering Athabasca Falls. Arrive in Jasper and enjoy a 3-night stay at the alluring Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, nestled on beautiful Beauvert Lake. Breakfast |
| 11 | JASPER NATIONAL PARK. EXCURSION TO MALIGNE LAKE | This morning, CRUISE on Maligne Lake, the largest glacially-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy clear azure water, lofty snow-capped peaks, and learn the history of Spirit Island. Before returning to Jasper, a stop is made at MALIGNE CANYON, where a short walk reveals unique rock formations and waterfalls. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Why not explore one of the many hiking trails in Jasper National Park? Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 12 | JASPER NATIONAL PARK | A full free day to explore more of Jasper. You may want to join in on an exciting float trip down the Athabasca River, shop for a favorite souvenir, enjoy a world-famous scone from Bear’s Paw Bakery, or just kick back and relax at your resort. Breakfast. |
| 13 | JASPER NATIONAL PARK–BLUE RIVER–KAMLOOPS | Depart Jasper and travel to Blue River, British Columbia. Here, board a specially designed boat for a RIVER SAFARI. As you travel up small rivers, keep an eye out for a variety of wildlife, which could include bears, eagles, moose, elk, and more. Make sure to have your camera handy! We finish the day in Kamloops. Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 14 | KAMLOOPS–LILLOOET–WHISTLER | Continue through British Columbia to Lillooet and visit the XWISTEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, which contains over 80 identified pit houses—the traditional winter homes of the First Nations people. Afterward, enjoy a SALMON BARBECUE along with traditional dishes, such as bannock (flatbread) and whipped berries. Arrive in Whistler, home of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Breakfast. Lunch. |
| 15 | WHISTLER–VICTORIA | Catch a BC FERRY to Vancouver Island and the very British city of Victoria. Upon arrival, enjoy sightseeing including Beacon Hill Park, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening is at your leisure. Breakfast. |
| 16 | VICTORIA | A full free day to explore the capital city of British Columbia. You may wish to join an optional wildlife and whale-watching trip, visit nearby Butchart Gardens, enjoy Afternoon Tea at the historic Empress Hotel, or sample local ales at one of the city’s local craft brew pubs. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a festive farewell dinner. Breakfast. Dinner. |
| 17 | VICTORIA–VANCOUVER | This morning, travel via BC FERRY through the Gulf Islands back to the British Columbia mainland for a transfer to Vancouver International Airport. Please schedule flights after 2 pm. Breakfast. |