Welcome to breathtaking British Columbia! Upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) you’ll be transferred to your hotel in downtown Vancouver. Meet your fellow adventurers as your guide leads a warm group introduction and briefs you on the wonderous diverse landscapes that will fill your days ahead.
In the evening, take in a hearty welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers before turning in for the evening.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by 4pm. Airport transfers are included on the first day of your tour, however transfers between 8pm and 4am will incur an additional fee. Your transfer will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel for check-in.
Begin your day with a guided tour and discover what makes Vancouver one of the most liveable cities in the world. Visit forested Stanley Park and its series of totem poles, illustrating the stylistic differences between the First Nations from around the coastal region, such as the Haida, Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth.
Walk along the waterfront of English Bay and gaze towards beautiful Kitsilano or ‘Kits’ Beach and watch the ships roll in at the busy Canada Place port. Wander through historic Chinatown and wait for the magically photogenic Gastown Steam Clock to sound its whistle.
Later, join a Gastown Foodie Tour and get to know the local scene. You’ll taste innovative cuisine across the storied pubs, restaurants and cafes of the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Pair poutine – a Canadian comfort classic made of fries, rich gravy and melted cheese curds – with a frothy craft brew and sample Sicilian tortellini with local wine. End the night feeling warmed by a wealth of good food and friendship.
Wave goodbye to vibrant Vancouver as you board your coach for the scenic drive to Whistler. Travelling along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway, you’ll pass by the misty veil of Shannon Falls and the lumber town of Squamish, welcomed by British Columbia’s rocky terrain and lush greenery.
Later, arrive at the popular ski resort of Whistler Village, situated between the towering peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Centred around a quaint pedestrian village straight out of a storybook, Whistler is among Canada’s most popular ski towns thanks to its excellent conditions and stunning scenery.
Check-in to your hotel before spending the rest of your day freely.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes (120km)
Set out for another picturesque drive as you make your way to stunning Sun Peaks. Along the way, pass through Lillooet on the wide shores of the Fraser River – once a key supply centre for the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860s – and the cowboy country of Kamloops and Cache Creek. Arrive later today at the idyllic valley of Sun Peaks, surrounded by one of Canada’s biggest ski areas.
The rest of the day is spent at leisure, whether you choose to take the chairlift to the top of Sundance or Mount Tod, or simply soak up the atmosphere in this delightful northern town. For those eager to explore on foot, choose an optional twilight hiking lift ticket, for access to the region’s enchanting trails.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours (380km)
Gather your energy over breakfast, then set off for Clearwater and the theatrical landscapes of Wells Gray Provincial Park, where sprawling old-growth forests and thundering waterfalls lead to powerful whitewater rivers. Continue to Mount Robson Provincial Park for the perfect photo stop before the blade-like ridge of the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies.
Later, follow the Yellowhead Highway to the alpine wonderland of Jasper, Alberta, where you’ll check in for a restful evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours (450km)
Greet mesmerising Jasper National Park this morning, with the promise of a full day spent seeking the area’s abundant wildlife. Follow your guide through flower-blanketed meadows, around mirror-like lakes and under sweeping mountain peaks as you search for graceful deer and elk, gargantuan moose, cliff-climbing mountain goats or resident black bears.
Along the way, familiarise yourself with this diverse landscape of rugged mountain charms, then take an afternoon visit to the tumbling falls and hidden wonders of Maligne Canyon. Continue to majestic Maligne Lake for a narrated cruise across the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies, making sure to snap a photo as you glide along its shimmering waters.
Rise and shine for another day of unparalleled beauty. Leaving the meadows of Jasper behind, you’ll travel the magnificent Icefields Parkway for a scenic drive through the vast and rugged landscape leading to romantic Lake Louise.
Hop aboard an all-terrain Ice Explorer and drive out onto the Athabasca Glacier, one of six principal glaciers fed by the Columbia Icefield, sitting at an altitude of 2,700 metres. Step out for an unforgettable photo opportunity and the chance to fill your bottle from fresh glacial waters.
Later, continue to enchanting Lake Louise. Nestled between soaring peaks and the magnificent Victoria Glacier, the turquoise waters of this glacier-fed lake offer a painterly image of the quintessential Canadian landscape.
Check-in at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a world-renowned hotel offering views across the water and access to its nearby resort facilities.
You’ll have the afternoon to spend at leisure – perhaps indulge in a spa treatment or sit for high tea looking out on the lake (both at your own expense). In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a luxurious three-course dinner at the hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours (250km)
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll check out of your Fairmont stay and continue onward to the popular mountain resort town of Banff. Established in 1885, the national park of the same name is Canada’s oldest, and home to some of the country’s most spectacular natural features, including towering Cascade Mountain and the idyllic Vermilion Lakes. Here, you’ll check in at your hotel and settle in ahead of your eventful evening ahead.
Tonight, enter Banff National Park, where much of the park’s wildlife becomes active in the cooler hours around sunset. Led by a knowledgeable guide, this wilderness safari takes you to spots where sightings of elk, bighorn sheep and even grizzly bears are most common. Learn about the park’s efforts to protect these animals and their habitats from various threats. With a 95% success rate in wildlife sightings, you’re bound to see some of these creatures up close.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour (60km)
This morning, set off on a half-day tour of Banff and its fantastical surrounds. Pass by the castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs, witness the tumbling rapids of Bow Falls, look out over the Bow River from Surprise Corner Viewpoint and gaze in awe at the stretching shores of Lake Minnewanka. Along the way, sip light refreshments and enjoy moreish maple cookies.
Continue to Sulphur Mountain for an included trip up the memorable Banff Gondola, ascending to the 2,451-metre summit for unmatched 360-degree views over the valleys.
Bright and early this morning, board the Rocky Mountaineer for a scenic rail journey across Western Canada. Recline before the panoramic windows of your coach and savour both a gourmet breakfast and lunch on board while expansive views of evergreen forests and jagged, snow-capped peaks zip past.
Over the next two days, the winding tracks of this historic railway will carry you through Canada’s untamed wilderness, traversing the Continental Divide on the way to Vancouver. Travel from the glaciated Canadian Rockies and ranchlands of the Interior, passing the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and expansive Rogers Pass, as well as Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was set.
This evening, check-in at your Kamloops accommodation and spend some time admiring this riverside hub, known for outdoor adventure.
GoldLeaf Upgrade: Select the Superior or Deluxe Upgrade at checkout to experience GoldLeaf Service aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Enjoy panoramic views from a stunning bi-level glass-dome coach, soak up even more astounding scenery on an exclusive viewing platform, then sit down for gourmet meals in style in your carriage’s white-cloth dining section as you traverse a landscape of peerless grandeur.
Join the Rocky Mountaineer for one more day of humbling natural scenery. Depart British Columbia’s interior and follow the Thompson and Fraser Rivers on your continued journey.
From the arid interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, and on to the Cascade Mountains and lush green fields of Fraser Valley, today’s scenery is a dramatic display of the country’s natural diversity. Watch for steep slopes along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in Fraser Canyon.
Once you reach the coast, your local driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
On your final day in Western Canada, enjoy time at leisure exploring vibrant Vancouver, from the lively markets of Granville Island to the scenic paths around Stanley Park.
Later, transfer to Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal to board Holland America Line’s Koningsdam for your Alaskan voyage. Your ship sails at 4pm, so be sure to arrive in time for embarkation; boarding times will be provided ahead of your departure date.
Please note: Today’s included lunch is available onboard the Koningsdam only, should you choose to board ahead of embarkation.
Today, you’ll pass through the Inside Passage, a protected network of waterways that wind through glacier-cut fjords and lush temperate rain forests along the rugged coast of Southeast Alaska. Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to the famed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orcas plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline.
Today, a brief service stop will enable you to admire the beauty of Tracy Arm Inlet. Steep cliffs and glacier-covered mountains flank this fjord, fringed by the largest intact temperate coastal rainforest in the United States.
Next, arrive in Juneau at 1.30pm, with time to enjoy this most remote, beautiful and strange state capital until 10pm. Surrounded by water, forest and mountains, in Juneau you can hike a glacier, eat freshly caught fish on a seaside patio and tour a capitol building all in one day.
Of course, the real highlight of any visit to Juneau is the plentiful opportunities for spotting wildlife. Hike up Mount Roberts and you may just chance upon wild deer and bald eagles.
Arrive into Skagway at 7am, with a full day to discover this port town before your 8pm departure. At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, this port town served as the primary gateway to legendary goldfields and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement – a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons and guesthouses.
As the gold rush faded in the 1900s, so did Skagway, but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colourful history, pristine wildlife and unrivalled natural beauty.
On your way through Glacier Bay, close your eyes and take in the soundscape – creaks and groans of ‘living’ ice fields, shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles and splashes from breaching humpback whales. Frosted peaks tower over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park) and marine wildlife are all a given on Glacier Bay cruises, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique.
Arrive in Ketchikan at 11am for a full day of exploration. Alaska’s ‘First City’ is so named because it’s the first major landfall most cruisers pass as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage. The town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured with abundant rain.
Ketchikan has long been an important hub for the salmon fishing and packing industries. Visitors can try their luck sportfishing or simply savour freshly caught seafood at one of the local restaurants.
Rejoin the ship before 7pm for a timely departure and dinner on board.
Enjoy sights you may have missed on your way north as you now traverse the Inside Passage heading south, back to Vancouver. Take in stunning surroundings all day long, breaking to take advantage of the ship’s onboard amenities as you please.
Your ship arrives back in Vancouver at 7am this morning. Disembark and make your own way to the airport for your onward departure.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 7am. Please book your flights to depart from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) after 12pm. Airport transfers are not included for your tour. The cruise ship terminal is located approximately a 20-minute drive from Vancouver International Airport (YVR).