• Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and dates of operation.• Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield (opens in early May), Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion (opens late May to early June), or Moraine Lake optional excursion (opens in early June). • Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.
Itinerary
Day 1 VANCOUVER
Welcome to Vancouver! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.Once settled, perhaps head out and start exploring this vibrant, culturally diverse city between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. Take a walk along the waterfront or explore the city’s thriving culinary scene, with a wide variety of cuisines to choose from.VANCOUVER-SKYLINE.jpg
Day 2 VANCOUVER
This morning, enjoy an included city tour highlighting Stanley Park, the harbour, beaches, and more. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring this exciting city. Perhaps take a water taxi to Granville Island to browse the bustling Public Market and relax at one of its waterfront cafés, or spend time in historic Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, known for its cobblestone streets, Victorian architecture, and the iconic Gastown Steam Clock.VANCOUVER-STANLEY-PARK-TOTEM-POLES-CLOSEUP.jpg
Day 3 VANCOUVER–KELOWNA
Depart Vancouver and journey through British Columbia’s fertile valleys and mountain forests to Okanagan Lake. Travel along the lake to the resort city of Kelowna, situated on the lakeshore and surrounded by orchards and vineyards.KELOWNA-OKANAGAN-VALLEY.jpg
Day 4 KELOWNA–BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Head north through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its peaches and vineyards, and climb 4,364-foot-high Rogers Pass, a National Historic Site in Glacier National Park. Make a photo stop at the pass to capture the views of rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Enter Yoho National Park and ascend Kicking Horse Pass at 5,332 feet. Reach Banff National Park, nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies, for a two-night stay. BANFF-NATIONAL-PARK.jpg
Day 5 BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Take an orientation tour this morning, then enjoy the day exploring Banff, Canada’s first national park and home to 53 species of mammals. Deer, elk, and bighorn sheep are among the wildlife most commonly seen. Hike, shop in town, or relax at the hot springs. Perhaps treat yourself to an optional helicopter flight for spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies. Or if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, join the Panoramas & Peaks* optional excursion to visit stunning Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.*This optional excursion begins operating in early June.BANFF-ELK.jpg
Day 6 BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER NATIONAL PARK
First, travel to Lake Louise, where turquoise waters reflect the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Then continue north to see steep gorges, snowcapped peaks, and brilliant blue and green lakes along the Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a ride on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels across ice measuring up to 750 feet/228 meters thick, and walk on Athabasca Glacier! Upon arrival in Jasper, enjoy an orientation tour of the town. LAKE-LOUISE-KAYAK.jpg
Day 7 JASPER NATIONAL PARK
Today is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer, from quaint shops to opportunities for wildlife viewing. Perhaps join an optional narrated cruise on the glacial-blue waters of Maligne Lake to legendary Spirit Island*, where you’ll learn about the history, geology, flora, and fauna of the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. Later, enjoy an optional scenic float trip down the Athabasca River.*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.JASPER-NATIONAL-PARK-SPIRIT-ISLAND.jpg
Day 8 JASPER NATIONAL PARK–MOUNT ROBSON–SUN PEAKS
Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972 feet. Continue along the Yellowhead Highway, following the North Thompson River on a route once used by fur trappers. Overnight in the mountain resort village of Sun Peaks.MOUNT-ROBSON.jpg
Day 9 SUN PEAKS–LILLOOET–WHISTLER
Head west, following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. Via Lillooet, “Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route,” your motorcoach follows the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes before a late-afternoon arrival in Whistler for a two-night stay. Enjoy an evening at leisure to start exploring this resort town, surrounded by dramatic alpine scenery. WHISTLER-MOUNTAIN-SCENIC.jpg
Day 10 WHISTLER
Spend the day in Whistler, located at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Have free time to explore the many sites of the 2010 Winter Olympics, or choose your own adventure from a variety of optional excursions, including a Ziptrek Adventure through an old-growth temperate rainforest, a guided Tree-Trek Canopy Walk along suspension bridges and boardwalks high in the forest canopy, or a ride on the Guinness World Record-holding PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola* between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains!*Operation of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is seasonal and may not be available on all departure dates.WHISTLER-VILLAGE.jpg
Day 11 WHISTLER–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA
Set sail across the Strait of Georgia to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, on scenic Vancouver Island. Afternoon sightseeing includes world-famous Butchart Gardens, home to 55 acres of spectacular floral displays, followed by a tour of this picturesque city featuring Legislative Buildings, Bastion Square, Inner Harbour, and Thunderbird Park, known for its impressive collection of First Nations totem poles.VICTORIA-BUTCHART-GARDENS.jpg
Day 12 VICTORIA
A day at leisure offers the chance to discover this charming city. Consider a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum, shop along Government Street, or take a leisurely stroll around the harbour. Or choose an optional wildlife and whale-watching expedition through the waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, with the chance to spot whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.VICTORIA.jpg
Day 13 VICTORIA–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER
Take a scenic ferry crossing to the mainland, where the tour ends at Vancouver International Airport at approximately 11:30 a.m. Please schedule flights for 2:00 p.m. or later (or consider a post night stay). You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights to explore Vancouver further.VANCOUVER-HARBOR.jpg