Rockies and Alaska Cruise
Day 1
Transfer by coach to Banff
Dazzling glaciers, big animals, alpine meadows and emerald lakes – are right here in Banff National Park. Nestled in superb natural settings, the charming towns of Banff and Lake Louise have all the comforts of the big city. Over 7,500 people call the park home, so you’re as likely to encounter the locals as you are the resident wildlife.
Banff – 3 nights hotel standard of your choice.
Day 3
Icefields Parkway
Get ready for a scenery overdose on this action-packed 10-hour tour which begins by being collected from your hotel in Banff and ends with a visit to the Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier.
The journey in-between is all part of the fun too with the spectacular Icefields Parkway, considered one of the most scenic highways in the world, offering glorious mountain vistas and sweeping coniferous forests at every turn,
There are stops at Crow Foot Glacier, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake – where you will hear stories of early explorers who opened these valleys – and you will also pause for a scenic Alpine Picnic and the chance to drink the pure waters that run off the glaciers.
In the afternoon continue to Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields Centre. Surrounded by some of the largest peaks in the rockies, board the snow coach for the highlight of the trip, an ‘Ice Explorer’ tour of the glacier.
Your whole experience will be enhanced by your informative guide who will explain the history of the area as well as regaling you with tales of about the early explorers who discovered and mapped these valleys in the late 1700s.
Day 4
Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Tour
Stunning emerald-coloured lakes are like London buses on this tour which includes a visit to, not one but two, amazingly photogenic lakes.
With its blue-green water set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is probably the most beloved and most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies and a great place to start the tour.
Often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Canadian Rockies’. you will have plenty of freetime to take photos, investigate the nearby Fairmont Chateau and also explore the lake’s stunning shoreline.
Next is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, that of Moraine Lake which is nestled high in the mountains. This utopian body of aqua is only half the size of Lake Louise but arguably more scenic.
Along the way, this itinerary also takes in the picturesque views from the Bow Valley Parkway, Chateau Lake Louise and Castle Mountain before ending with a short walk to a spectacular viewpoint in the Valley of Ten Peaks which overlooks Moraine Lake.
Throughout the trip your informative guide will tell the stories of the area including how a tragic accident at Lake Louise shaped Canadian mountain culture.
Day 5
Your journey continues towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. You will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver.
Day 7
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located a short distance away from Downtown Vancouver and, as you’ll discover on this tour, boasts a host of family friendly attractions.
Of course, the most famous attraction is the incredible suspension bridge
Originally built in 1889, the structure spans 137 metres across and rises 70 metres above the picturesque Capilano River, offering incredible views and a different perspective the surrounding nature.
There are plenty of other things to enjoy in this 27 acre park which offers an all-encompassing BC experience.
**This is an optional excursion, you may prefer to take a trip to the beautiful Vancouver Island or just leisurely stroll around Vancouver city.
Day 8 – Day 16
Join a Holland America cruise. An example itinerary
| Vancouver | Canada, BC | Embark | Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown, Grouse Mountain | ||
| Inside Passage | Canada/Alaska | Cruising | Natural sheltered sea route, Dramatic scenery, Glaciers | ||
| Tracy Arm | USA, Alaska | 1.Cruising | Steep-sided fjord, Sawyer Glacier | ||
| Juneau | USA, Alaska | 1300 to 2200 | Glacier flights, Mendenhall Glacier, Mount Roberts Tramway | ||
| Skagway | USA, Alaska | 0700 to 2100 | Gold-rush town, White Pass Scenic Railroad, Jet boats | ||
| Glacier Bay | USA, Alaska | Cruising | Spectacular tidewater glaciers | ||
| Ketchikan | USA, Alaska | 1000 to 1800 | Totem poles, Saxman Village, Creek Street | ||
| Inside Passage | Canada/Alaska | Cruising | Natural sheltered sea route, Dramatic scenery, Glaciers | ||
| Vancouver | Canada, BC | Disembark | Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown, Grouse Mountain | ||
Fly to London.
Please call us on tel. 0118 9596262 and we will be happy to tailor your holiday.
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