Mountains, Waterfalls & Wines from Calgary

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VACATION FEATURES:

Accommodations
- 7 nights hotel accommodation

Meals
- 2 Breakfasts in Kelowna
- 2 Lunches in Revelstoke and Minter Gardens

Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- 2 Day Journey from Lake Louise to Vancouver
- Excursion of Banff
- Banff Lake Cruise*
- Excursion from Banff to Jasper
- 2 Winery Tours and Tastings in Kelowna

Transfers
- Transfer from Calgary to Banff
- Transfer from Jasper to Lake Louise

Admissions
- Banff Gondola
- Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
- Minter Gardens with guided Walking Tour

Documentation
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fees
- Hotel luggage handling

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Calgary to Banff

Today, transfer to the resort town of Banff from the Calgary International Airport or your downtown hotel (included). Upon arrival in Banff, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

DAY 2 - Exploring Banff

This morning’s excursion tours through the town of Banff and its environs. Ascend Tunnel Mountain Drive to view Bow Falls and the hoodoos, followed by a visit to Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake. Later, take a ride (included) on a gondola car to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Enjoy a 360º panorama of a sea of mountain ranges, valleys, lakes and a bird’s eye view of the Banff town site, 770 metres (2526 feet) below. This afternoon, take a short excursion to Lake Minnewanka, one of Alberta’s largest bodies of water, for your boat cruise. Cruise for approximately 1.5 hours, travelling beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Aylmer and Mount Inglismaldie, the hoodoo clusters and into Devil’s Gap. Big Horn sheep, deer, bears and eagles are frequently seen at the water’s edge. Return to Banff via picturesque Two Jack Lake and majestic Mount Rundle.

DAY 3 - Banff to Jasper

Today’s journey travels north along the famous Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular highways in North America. Travel through Banff and Jasper National Parks with a stop at the Columbia Icefield allowing time for a Brewster “Glacier Experience.” A memorable trip onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier in a specially designed Brewster Ice Explorer, takes you to the middle of the glacier while the driver/guide explains how the glaciers are formed and points out interesting geological features (Ice Explorer included). The ice is 365 metres (1,200 feet) thick - about the height of the Empire State Building. At the icefall below the glacial headwall, take the option of stepping out onto ice formed from snow that fell 400 years ago. After this unique adventure, time is allowed at the Columbia Icefield Centre, to relax over lunch (not included) and visit the new and expanded Parks Canada Interpretive Centre. Leaving the Athabasca Glacier, your camera should be ready to capture the majesty of the Athabasca Falls, prior to your arrival into Jasper.

DAY 4 - Jasper to Lake Louise

Spend the morning exploring Jasper on your own. You may wish to visit the local shops, take an optional sightseeing excursion of Jasper or visit Whistler’s Mountain and ride the skytram to the summit. This afternoon depart Jasper and travel south along the scenic Icefields Parkway to the Lake Louse.

DAY 5 - Lake Louise to Kelowna

Today, depart Lake Louise and head into the province of British Columbia. Ascending Roger’s Pass, the summit of Glacier National Park, this route follows the Canadian Pacific rail line all along the way. One of the highlights of the trip is a stop at the Spiral Tunnels. This unique feature is an engineering marvel that loops into the heart of Mount Stephen. This was created in 1909 in order to reduce the steep grade of the rail line, a hazard of early travel that caused the concern for runaway cars due to the 4.5% grade (2.2% is the desired grade).

A lunch break (included) is made in the alpine town of Revelstoke, founded in 1880 when the CP Railroad was built through the area. The last a stop today is in the small town of Armstrong before continuing on your journey south into the famed wine region of the Okanagan Valley, through the town of Vernon, home of Silver Star ski area.

Kelowna is the overnight destination and is the cosmopolitan and cultural centre of the Okanagan Valley, including five pristine golf courses, white sand beaches, orchards and Big White ski area, in addition to over a dozen local wineries. An evening arrival at your selected Kelowna hotel allows time for dinner (meal not included) and exploration of the lakefront.

DAY 6 - Exploring Kelowna

Start your day off with a delicious Okanagan breakfast (included) at your hotel. Afterwards you will have your choice of taking one of two tours. "A Taste of the Okanagan" allows you to visit the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm to learn more about this fragrant plant. There will be a Lavender Presentation as well as a gift boutique. From there, travel to Tantalus Vineyards for a wine tasting overlooking Okanagan Lake. After this, you will travel to Summerhill Sunset Organic Bistro for lunch (included) After lunch, continue to Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan for some cheese and gelato tastings. Alternatively, the "Westside Bench Winery Tour" gives you the change to visit the Mission Hill Family Estate for a tour and wine tastings at this exquisite landmark winery. Enjoy wine tastings at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, one of Canada’s leading wineries. Taste wines at Kalala Organic Estate Winery. Savour delectable cuisine at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate Estate Winery (lunch included), overlooking vineyards, Okanagan Lake and the Valley.

DAY 7 - Kelowna to Vancouver

After a hearty breakfast (included), the first stop of the day is at a local winery for an exclusive tour and educational wine tasting. Sample a variety of hand-crafted Okanagan wines in this unique and authentic setting, surrounded by the actual vineyards where the fruit is produced on site.

Depart the Okanagan Valley on the Coquihalla highway which travels through the interior to the town of Merritt. Then continue your trek on the Coquihalla Highway through the heart of ranching country and back into mountainous territory. Later in the day, a two hour stop at Minter Gardens will feed your body and soothe your senses with a delectable lunch (included) and guided walk through the exquisite gardens. Following lunch, connect with the mighty Fraser River (named after Simon Fraser, a fur trader who explored the area in 1808), a major salmon spawning route. Up to 10 million fish a year travel up to this waterway each fall to the exact stream bed of their birth where they will complete their life cycle by spawning and dying. On the last leg of your journey, you’ll find yourself travelling through the lush Fraser delta region and then into downtown Vancouver, for a late afternoon arrival.

Surrounded by water on three sides and nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range, Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia with over half a million residents and one of the mildest climates in Canada. Home to spectacular natural scenery and a bustling metropolitan core, Vancouver was Host City to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. Whether you prefer to explore Stanley Park, shop, visit historic and natural sites or dine in the finest restaurants, there is always something to do in Vancouver.

DAY 8 - Vancouver Departure

A morning check out of your hotel ends your Mountains, Waterfalls & Wines holiday. *Wh