TAUCK TOURS> CANADA

  1-877-306-5595

   CANADIAN ROCKIES & BRITISH COLUMBIA

CANADIAN ROCKIES & BRITISH COLUMBIA ITINERARY:

1. Arrive Seattle
Tour departs: 1:30 PM from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A sightseeing tour upon your arrival introduces you to the landmark sights of Seattle, the Emerald City. Flanked by stunning views of evergreen forests, the Cascades, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, Seattle is a city defined by its natural beauty, with abundant opportunities for a variety of outdoor pursuits. Your accommodations at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle put you in the heart of the city, steps from popular attractions. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Olympic Peninsula to Victoria
Sail across beautiful Puget Sound to the wildlife-rich Olympic Peninsula this morning; bordered on three sides by the sea, it is recognized as one of the world’s most important wild ecosystems with temperate rainforests and glacier-carved mountains. After lunch, enjoy a tranquil ferry cruise to Vancouver Island and Victoria; your hotel overlooks the city’s stunning natural harbor. Meals BLD

3. The Butchart Gardens / Victoria
Visit the 55-acre colorful flower displays of The Butchart Gardens; see a variety of garden designs, including Japanese, Italian, Rose, and Sunken Gardens which grow 700 varieties of flowers. Return to Victoria for an afternoon at leisure. British Columbia’s capital offers myriad attractions to explore, including Victorian architecture, the country’s oldest Chinatown, the Royal British Columbia Museum and Beacon Hill Park, which entices with spectacular views. Experience proper afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress, a particular delight in this distinctly “British” city. Meals B

4. Gulf Islands / Vancouver
Ferry through the Gulf Islands – almost 200 islands of different shapes, sizes, and features – to the vibrant city of Vancouver, a cosmopolitan and culturally diverse city at the foot of the Coast Mountains. A city sightseeing tour discovers such Vancouver landmarks as Stanley Park, one of the world’s largest urban parks; Prospect Point; and historic Gastown, the city’s original settlement. Explore at leisure the rest of the day. Meals BL

5. British Columbia Rail Journey
Cross Vancouver’s landmark Lion’s Gate Bridge this morning and board the Whistler Mountaineer. You’ll enjoy panoramic views from your custom-built Glacier Dome rail car as the train follows the “Sea to Sky Corridor” to Whistler, Canada’s largest year-round resort. Visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre this afternoon. Dedicated to the history and culture of local First Nations, this 30,400-square-foot complex is scheduled to open in 2008 as a showcase for Squamish and Lil’wat cultures. Exhibits feature a Squamish longhouse and Lil’wat istken (earthen dwelling with a fire pit). The remainder of the day is free to do as you please in the beautiful town of Whistler. Meals BD

6. Vistas of British Columbia
Travel through the snow-capped peaks of the Coast Range and the Pemberton Valley into British Columbia’s high desert interior. Stay tonight in a handcrafted log cabin at a rustic mountain resort in a pristine natural environment, where stunning views of the Monashee and Cariboo mountain ranges will take your breath away. Meals BLD

7. Jet Boat Adventure / Jasper Nat’l Park
Start the day with an exciting jet boat adventure over freshwater rivers that glide through the hidden scenery of British Columbia. Follow the Yellowhead Pass to Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies’ highest peak, and continue on to The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where you will spend the next two nights. Meals BLD

8. Spend the Day in Jasper
Today is free to explore Jasper National Park on your own. Established in 1907, it is Canada’s largest national park and is internationally renowned for wildlife viewing which includes moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears and more than likely members of the hearty elk population. Glaciers, rugged peaks, turquoise mountain lakes, and crystal-clear streams await viewing. Enjoy the optional activities of your resort, ranging from golf to whitewater rafting on the Athabasca River. Meals BD

9. Travel the Icefields Parkway
Drive on the Icefields Parkway en route to Lake Louise; one of the world’s most spectacular mountain highways, the road offers views of the highest mountains in the Canadian Rockies, glaciers and ice fields, as well as pristine forests, lakes, waterfalls, and wild rivers. Experience one of the ancient relics of the Ice Age up-close on a drive atop Athabasca Glacier aboard an Ice Explorer. Your journey continues through the alpine wilderness to your lakefront resort. Meals BLD

10. Lake Louise / Banff National Park
Spend the morning at leisure enjoying Lake Louise’s breathtaking scenery; few settings are as photogenic as the one revealed from the front lawns of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where a dark green forest frames the emerald lake and its backdrop of white-capped mountains. Descend along the Bow River Valley to Banff National Park and enjoy two nights at The Fairmont Banff Springs. This baronial stone “castle” was opened in 1888 as an opulent destination resort by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Meals BLD

11. Banff National Park
Explore historic Banff National Park on your own today; Canada's oldest national park boasts dramatic mountain landscapes, glaciers, high morainal lakes, and rushing rivers. You may wish to visit the quintessential alpine village of Banff or take the opportunity to experience the resort’s optional activities on your own – its famous golf course is considered one of the world’s most scenic and its European-style Willow Stream Spa is renowned for its array of pampering amenities. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

12. Journey Home
Depart Banff National Park and travel to Calgary, a distance of approximately 80 miles. Tour ends: Calgary International Airport at 10:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in; flights direct to the United States clear United States customs in Calgary. Meals B

The Whistler Mountaineer
Follow British Columbia’s Spectacular “Sea to Sky Corridor” aboard one of Canada’s most scenic rail journeys. This three-hour rail journey from North Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia, aboard the Whistler Mountaineer, showcases the unique blend of contrasts the “Sea to Sky Corridor” is famous for – old-growth forests and modern cities, deep valleys and snow-capped peaks, seascapes and mountain views, natural serenity and bustling resort towns – all delivered with world-class Western Canadian hospitality.

Tauck guests aboard Whistler Mountaineer – Canada’s popular tourist train – will enjoy Glacier Dome service, featuring panoramic views from custom-built, single-level, glass-domed coaches. An adventure in true comfort with exemplary service in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, Glacier Dome’s air-conditioned coaches offer each Tauck guest a front-row seat to an endless array of breathtaking wilderness views.

Passengers will be served a full breakfast en route to Whistler. In each 68-seat Glacier Dome coach, on-board attendants provide a detailed commentary of the region. All guests will have access to Whistler Mountaineer’s open-air observation car, offering fresh air and unrestricted views of the spectacular wilderness.

Departing from Vancouver, the Whistler Mountaineer travels through the Horseshoe Bay Tunnel and along the eastern shores of Howe Sound, past Shannon Falls and Mount Garibaldi, arriving at Whistler, Canada’s largest year-round resort. The Whistler Mountaineer is operated by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, a division of Great Canadian Railtour Company.

Back to Tauck's Canada - Menu Page