Heart of the Canadian Rockies (8910)

10 days from Calgary to Vancouver

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The Canadian Rockies are known for their stunning scenery, rugged mountains, breathtaking glaciers, mighty rivers, and gorgeous national parks. On this Heart of the Canadian Rockies tour, you’ll experience all of this and more! You’ll overnight in Calgary, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kamloops, Victoria, and Vancouver. In Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park and gateway to the Canadian Rockies, you’ll have time on your own to stroll along the river, explore the hot springs and quaint shops, and also take an optional excursion to view the incredible scenery by helicopter. You’ll also enjoy two nights in Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. You can hike, peruse the shops, and join an optional excursion to see beautiful Maligne Lake and Spirit Island. Between Banff and Jasper, you’ll experience a highlight of this Canadian Rockies tour—a thrilling ride aboard an Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle to the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies. Your journey also includes a stop in Lake Louise, whose turquoise waters create a natural mirror that reflects the surrounding mountains and pristine wilderness. This tour also includes ferry crossings between Vancouver and Victoria as well as sightseeing in both. In Victoria, your sightseeing includes world-famous Butchart Gardens with its 55 acres of showcase floral displays. You’ll also have free time in Victoria to explore on your own. Perhaps enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel, walk and discover Victoria’s delightful historic buildings and harbour, or take the optional Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition to seek out the resident pods of orca whales. All of this and more await you on this once-in-a-lifetime Canadian Rockies tour designed for savvy, value-minded travelers!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available), as well as a ferry crossing from/to Vancouver Island. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!


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Heart of the Canadian Rockies map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

This Cosmos travel package does not include meals. Most of our hotels offer anything from coffee to a full breakfast, so you can start the day the way you like best. At most lunch stops, your Tour Director will have information on local restaurants. Dinnertime is your chance to sample local cuisine. Sometimes your Tour Director will offer an optional dinner outing.


Notes:

Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.

Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.

 Itinerary

Day 1 CALGARY

Welcome to Calgary! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

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Day 2 CALGARY–BANFF NATIONAL PARK

The discovery of oil converted this ranching town into a sophisticated city. It is also home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. See many of the city’s attractions, including Canada Olympic Park and the Saddledome. Motor west through the foothills and into Banff National Park, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. An orientation tour highlights Banff’s unspoiled beauty.

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Day 3 BANFF NATIONAL PARK

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 have many suggestions, including a sky-high adventure with an unforgettable optional helicopter ride over the incredible Canadian Rockies.

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Day 4 BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy a day of scenic grandeur. First stop is Lake Louise, whose turquoise waters create a natural mirror that reflects the surrounding mountains. Up next, a stop at the Columbia Icefield to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Then, drive north into Jasper National Park, where precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as your journey scales three mountain passes. Later, consider an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of the town of Jasper upon arrival.

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Day 5 JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Today, experience the magic of nature on an optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island* where you’ll embark on a narrated cruise to learn about the history, geology, flora, and fauna amid stunning scenery. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer—from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.

*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.

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Day 6 JASPER NATIONAL PARK–MOUNT ROBSON–KAMLOOPS

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 in Kamloops

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Day 7 KAMLOOPS–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA

As you travel through British Columbia’s Cascade Mountains and the fertile Fraser Valley to the majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forest. Board your ferry for the scenic crossing to Vancouver Island. Prior to arriving in Victoria, visit world-famous Butchart Gardens and view the beautiful floral displays. Continue downtown and see the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider a relaxing stroll along the lively Waterfront Promenade.

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Day 8 VICTORIA

Today is free to explore on your own. Your Tour Director will have ideas for enjoying this most British of Canadian cities. Perhaps enjoy High Tea at the Empress Hotel or choose an adventure at sea with an optional Wildlife and Whale-Watching Expedition, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.

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Day 9 VICTORIA–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER

This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia, an arm of the Salish Sea, and through the scenic Gulf Islands. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, and other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant city known for its incredible scenery, thriving art scene, and diverse culture. Perhaps visit Robson Street and experience British Columbia’s premier shopping and entertainment location.

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Day 10 VANCOUVER

Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Vancouver further.

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 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

MARK LOVE

Escorting tours for more than 5 years

“Travel has always been my passion. After completing my degree in Tourism, I lived overseas and had the opportunity to visit numerous countries and experience different cultures. My background in the travel industry has enabled me to realize how invaluable a respected and experienced tour operator is. I have 5 years of experience as a Tour Director with Globus family of brands and am proud every time I represent the company and travel with my guests. The Canadian Rockies are my home and I can not imagine a better office space in the world. Regardless if I am viewing wildlife with my group, telling a story of historical significance, or just standing close by as guests enjoy the beautiful scenery of Western Canada, I love my role as a Tour Director. Being a part of a guests travel experience is the best reward that I can ask for!”

Tour Director - MARK LOVE

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Banff National Park
Victoria

Banff National Park

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter Tours

Discover unparalleled views of the Canadian Rockies and the Banff National Park region by helicopter. There are several options to choose from, but all deliver spectacular opportunities for a once in a lifetime experience in the Rockies.

Price Range: $$$$

Victoria

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Discover the wildlife wonders of Vancouver Island during this inspiring cruise in search for the area's abundant marine animals and pods of orca whales!

Price Range: $$$



The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).