Fly from London Heathrow with Air Canada via Vancouver. Regional UK departure airports available from £95 per person. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions over a ‘Welcome to Canada’ dinner.
Two Night Special Stay: Exclusive Fairmont Empress Hotel, located on Victoria’s Inner Harbour
Wander at your leisure through the world famous Butchart Gardens. Enjoy 22 hectares of gorgeously manicured floral displays influenced by the Butchart’s world travels. Today choose from one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE activities: (1) Whale Watching - cruise in either a comfortable covered boat or by high speed Zodiac inflatable boat (2) Scenic Floatplane Flight marvelling at the views over Vancouver Island (3) A horse and carriage tour to experience this Victorian tradition (4) Afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress Tea Lobby
(5) A historic walking tour through Victoria followed by the B.C. Museum at your leisure
(6) Fishing for British Columbia’s wild salmon (7) Learn and taste the art of cooking with a culinary instructor.
Travel to Nanaimo and cross to the mainland by ferry. Drive north along Howe Sound, stopping to view the awesome Shannon Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in British Columbia. Continue to the charming resort of Whistler Village, home to the 2010 Olympic Nordic and Alpine events. Today’s SCENIC ENRICH presentation involves stepping into the world of the Black Bear with Michael Allen, a world leader in Black Bear research, exclusive to Scenic Tours. This evening choose one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE Dining options: (1) Surrounded by an extensive wine selection, the Wine Room at the Wildflower will be a memorable dining experience (2) Inspired British Columbia regional cuisine at the Wildflower at the Château (3) Relaxed, casual dining with amazing views of the Château’s golf course at the Clubhouse (4) The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, with its reputation for great steaks, slow roasted Prime Rib and succulent seafood (5) Whistler Village Progressive Dinner, featuring top chefs and a sabering lesson in a 15,000 bottle wine cellar
Two Night Special Stay: The Fairmont Château Whistler
Today choose from one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE excursions: (1) Dog Sled Adventure (2) Helicopter flight over majestic glaciers, rugged peaks and turquoise waters of Whistler (3) Peak to Peak Gondola ride joining Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains (4) Mountain Adventure Tour to the surrounding areas of Whistler (5) Soar through the air on a Zip Line (6) An interpretive Nature Walk followed by the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (7) Snow Shoe through old growth forest on Cougar Mountain. This afternoon is yours to enjoy as leisurely or adventurously as you like in this alpine resort.
Today, visit Hat Creek Ranch to learn about the local culture as members of the Shuswap Nation share their fascinating history and culture. Continue to the alpine ski village of Sun Peaks, located in British Columbia’s interior, where you will spend one night at Delta Sun Peaks Resort. After dinner enjoy this evening’s SCENIC ENRICH highlight - a historic insight into the fur trading industry and life as a pioneer, exclusive to Scenic Tours.
Overnight Stay: Delta Sun Peaks Resort
Travel through British Columbia’s Cariboo Region, enjoying tantalising glimpses of the soaring granite mountains of Canada’s Rockies. Stand at the base of the awesome 3954m Mount Robson before arriving into Jasper Keep an eye out for Canadian wildlife such as bears, moose, elk and caribou often seen grazing by the roadside.This evening choose one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE Dining options: (1) Cavell’s, with views overlooking Lake Beauvert and the mountain ranges beyond (2) Creative regional cuisine at Moose’s Nook Northern Grill (3) With warm Canadian hospitality the Emerald Lounge is a relaxing refuge
Two Night Stay: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Today choose from one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE excursions: (1) Jasper Tramway ascending 2500m to the peak (2) Tour on a Harley Davidson™ Sidecar through Jasper National Park (3) Maligne Lake Cruise around Spirit Island learning the history, wildlife and glaciology (4) Rafting down the Athabasca River with an experienced guide (5)Maligne Canyon Nature Walk discovering the intricate formation and wildlife of this canyon (6) Canoeing on Pyramid Lake (7) Maligne Canyon and Lakes Tour. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps visit Jasper’s township or engage in the resort activities such as canoeing, golf or even take a stroll around the shoreline of the picturesque Lake Beauvert.
Travel south along the incredible Icefields Parkway, acclaimed as ‘one of the most spectacular journeys in the world’. Stop at the Columbia Icefield, where you’ll take the ‘Ice Explorer’ onto the mighty Athabasca Glacier, a 6km long and 1km wide expanse of ice. Enjoy a nature walk along the shoreline of the beautiful Lake Louise marvelling at Canada’s ‘Diamond in the Wilderness'. This evening choose one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE Dining options: (1) Enjoy friendly service and favourite North American family recipes at Poppy Brasserie (2) Swing through the doors of the Château’s Glacier Saloon for a casual pub style meal (3) World-class cuisine and old world charm in Fairview Dining Room (4) Savour traditional Swiss Alpine cuisine at Walliser Stube.
Overnight Special Stay: Fairmont Château Lake Louise - early bookers can enjoy a free upgrade to Lake View rooms
Witness Lake Louise change colour with the rising sun and enjoy a morning at leisure before visiting nature’s craftwork of Emerald Lake and Natural Bridge. Upon arrival in Banff, you will travel 698m on the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. This evening choose one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE Dining options: (1) The finest and freshest seasonal cuisine at Bow Valley Grill (2) Authentic German and Swiss dishes in the Bavarian Cottage-style Waldhaus Restaurant (3) First class Italian cuisine at Castello Ristorante (4) Take your senses on an epicurean journey in the Banffshire Club (5) Experience a true taste of Japan at a Sushi Bar and Restaurant.
Two Night Special Stay: Iconic Fairmont Banff Springs (early bookers enjoy a free upgrade to Valley or Mountain View rooms)
Today, choose from one of the following SCENIC FREE CHOICE activities: (1) Helicopter ride over Spray Valley and the spine of the Goat Range (2) Lake Minnewanka Interpretive Cruise (3) Relaxing oar powered Bow River Float Trip (4) Tour and Afternoon Tea at your ‘Castle in the Rockies’ (5) Golf at the Championship Banff Springs Golf Course (6) Guided Nature Walk with an expert naturalist (7) Husky Kennel Tour. This afternoon is yours to explore the alpine township of Banff, located inside Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park and the world’s third. SCENIC ENRICH Rocky Mountain Round Up, exclusive to Scenic Tours. Celebrate this event with fellow travellers as you enjoy authentic cuisine, local entertainment and western hospitality.
Enjoy a two day rail experience on ‘The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World’. If you take advantage of our early booking offers, you can enjoy an upgrade to a GoldLeaf carriage and experience unsurpassed levels of dome car service. Cross Kicking Horse Pass and view the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of Rogers Pass before arriving into Kamloops.
Overnight: Kamploops (mid-range hotel assigned by Rocky Mountaineer)
Continue westward following the Thompson River and Fraser River Valley before arriving into Vancouver.
Two Night Stay: Exclusive Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
SCENIC ENRICH Be the first to explore the rainforest and new Cliffwalk, as the Capilano Suspension Bridge opens early, exclusive to Scenic Tours. Later enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s highlights including the historical hub of Gastown and the local’s playground Stanley Park, which features many cultural and natural attractions.
The afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure before dinner tonight with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
This morning transfer to Vancouver’s Pier, Canada Place. Board your luxurious cruise ship for a seven night Alaskan Voyage. Early bookers will be able to check into their upgraded Verandah Stateroom (subject to availability) on Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam and settle in for an unforgettable cruise. Familiarise yourself with the multitude of services, facilities and activities on offer at your convenience and contained all on one lavish vessel.
Next Seven Nights: Cruising
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ambience as you cruise north. Alaska’s dramatic coastline reveals North America’s last great wilderness. Keep a look out for wildlife such as orcas, humpback whales and bald eagles as you sail by. Tonight, like every other night on-board your magnificent ship, enjoy a dinner of mouth-watering delights. Evenings on-board your cruise ship glitter with choices - catch a musical production starring performers from Broadway productions in the show lounge or visit one of the many lounges featuring live music. For a quiet night perhaps catch the feature movie at the theatre or in the privacy of your own cabin.
Surrounded by the Gastineau Channel, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefields, Alaska’s capital is famed for its scenery and isolation. Juneau is accessible only by air or sea so the best way to arrive is by luxury cruise. In Juneau, there are a number of shore excursions available including; explore the lush Tongass National Forest, journey above on Mount Robert’s Tramway, learn the city’s Gold Rush story, drop into the Red Dog Saloon or visit the fascinating Alaska State Museum (some shore excursions are at own expense).
Cruise into Skagway, the gateway to the Klondike and a featured setting of Jack London’s book, ‘Call of the Wild’. Enjoy plenty of free time to go ashore and stroll along the weathered boardwalks admiring the shop front facades, reminiscent of the gold rush era. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park boasts restored buildings inviting you to take a stroll back in time.
Early this morning, enter the iceberg strewn waters of Glacier Bay National Park. Marvel at the glacial ice wall carved by nature in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. This breath-taking scenery will be brought to life by a National Park Service Ranger as they help you spot wildlife and interpret the glacier activity and surrounding environment. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world.
Arrive into picturesque Ketchikan, salmon capital of the world. In Ketchikan, there are a number of shore excursions available including;stroll along the elevated boardwalk, take a self-guided tour of the town, cast a line at the fishing camp or experience a bear adventure by float plane (some shore excursions are at own expense).
Relish in the bow to stern luxury of your cruise ship as you journey south through the spectacular waterways.
Disembark early this morning and transfer to Vancouver Airport with your Scenic Tours Representative, to board your homebound flight.
Welcome home!
Brochure: IS/WW/GBP1213
Tour code: RPCW.101