7 nights / 8 days
Calgary - Banff, Banff sight seeing & Banff Gondola, Yoho National Park to Lake Louise, Lake Louise to Jasper on the Ice Fields Parkway, Jasper with Maligne Lake, Quesnel on the Rocky Mountaineer, Whistler on the Rocky Mountaineer, Whistler Vancouver
Upon arrival at Calgary International Airport transfer to Banff by coach. Savor the beauty of the Canadian Rockies as we pass by the resorts of Kananaskis and Canmore. Your day is free to explore the Banff Town ship.
Your tour of Banff this morning shall take you through the town of Banff and its surroundings. Among the highlights visit to the Hoodoos - shaped by centuries of wind, Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain Drive, which overlooks the splendor of the Bow River Valley, and the Cave and Basin, where Banff's history began. The highlight of this tour is your included visit in the Banff Gondola to the summit of the Sulphur Mountain where you could have spectacular views of Banff and the 6 mountain Ranges.
Explore the natural attractions of Lake Louise and Yoho National Park. With our experienced driver cum guide journey along the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon where time is provided for a short walk along the canyon. Learn about Castle Mountain while on your way to lunch. At Lake Louise, the 'Jewel of the Canadian Rockies' you'll have time to stroll the shores and photograph the famous Victoria Glacier. In the afternoon see the incredibly blue Moraine Lake before crossing the Great Divide for a stop at the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint, where three lines of railway are laid at different elevations to cross the Kicking Horse River on four bridges. Marvel at Emerald Lake and then relax and wander around the trails at Takakkaw Falls, the second-largest waterfall in Canada. Arrive at your hotel in Lake Louise in the mid afternoon. (The Yoho Park tour is seasonal and operates between June – September only).
Travel by the rivers of Banff and Jasper National Parks in the luxury of your motor coach. Journey from Lake Louise shadowing the Great Divide to explore the natural viewpoints of Crowfoot Glacier and Peyto Lake. Continue alongside the Mistaya River to the Bill Hill and the Columbia Icefield. Enjoy a ride on an all-terrain Ice Explorer on the Athabascan glacier. Continue alongside the Sunwapta River to the Athabasca Falls and thereon to Jasper.
Nestled in the wilderness of the Jasper National Park Jasper is the largest and most northerly of the mountain parks. Its beauty and history is set amid some of the most rugged peaks in the Rockies. Explore the natural attractions of Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake on this tour. At Maligne Canyon, stroll along the 50 meter walls while learning about its unique underground water system. Discover the mystery of the disappearing lake and board a 90 minute interpretive boat cruise (Seasonal) on the serene waters of Maligne Lake to the world famous Spirit Island.
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain resort of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to the charming rural town of Quesnel, gateway to the North Cariboo. Pass through the Rocky Mountain Trench with the steep Rocky and Cariboo Mountains either side, and onto the rolling hills and vast forests of British Columbia’s northern interior, home to abundant wildlife. Highlights include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Yellowhead Pass, Moose Lake and the opportunity to view the abundant wildlife found in this unspoiled wilderness region. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer passes through the town of Prince George and follows the Fraser River into Quesnel, your overnight destination.
Your journey continues south today to the four-season resort of Whistler. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the desert-like conditions of the Fraser Canyon, and the Cariboo Plateau with its rolling hills and vast ranchlands, to the river canyons and lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley. Highlights include sweeping views of the Fraser Canyon and Deep Creek Bridge, one the highest railway bridges in the world and the shorelines of Anderson Lake and glacial fed Seton Lake. Your rail journey ends today on arrival in the resort town of Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games alpine events.
Spend the morning in this year round mountain resort town. Browse the various shops filled with local artists wares and unique finds, or simply sit back and enjoy the scenic views of the mountains at one of Whistlers many cafes or restaurants. Optionally take a Gondola ride and enjoy the spectacular panorama that Whistler has to offer. In the Afternoon journey on the Sea to Sky Highway for your tour ending at Vancouver.
The Rocky Mountain Delux