VACATION FEATURES:
Accommodations
- 14 nights hotel accommodation
Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- Telegraph Cove Whale Watching
- BC Ferries "Northern Expedition" from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert
- Maligne Lake Cruise
Admissions
- Ferry fare from Vancouver to Vancouver Island
- Butchart Gardens
- Quw'utsun' Native Village
- Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
- Banff Gondola Ride
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Hell's Gate
- Minter Gardens
Documentation
- Capilano Suspension Bridge discount coupon
- Jasper Museum discount coupon
- Icefield Photograph
- National Historic Sites Pass
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fee
- Hotel luggage handling
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 - Exploring Vancouver
Pick up your rental car (not included) and proceed to your Vancouver hotel. The day is yours to discover the coastal city of Vancouver. Canada's third-largest metropolitan centre, Vancouver is a busy port with a multi-cultural ambiance. The spectacular setting invites you outdoors; explore the restaurants, shopping, galleries and museums, nightlife, entertainment and more. An excellent choice to spend your first day in Vancouver would be to go visit the world-famous Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. Suspended 230 feet above the Capilano River, this is truly a unique and fun experience for all.
DAY 2 - Sightseeing in Victoria
Your destination today is the city of Victoria located on Vancouver Island. Departing Vancouver, stop at the village of Steveston and newly restored Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. This salmon cannery, built in 1894, now houses interpretive displays and exhibitions about the west coast fishing industry and its migrant workers. Continue to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal for your 90 min. ride to Victoria (ferry fare not included). Arriving on Vancouver Island, it is a short and richly scenic drive to Butchart Gardens.
DAY 3 - Discovering Victoria
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Victoria's attractions, museums, galleries, parks and Inner Harbour. Visit Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse, a former military installation and first permanent lighthouse built in 1860 that is still functioning today. Afterwards, spend the remainder of your evening doing some final sighteeing in Victoria. Perhaps visit the Undersea Gardens located in Victoria Harbour or pose for a memorable picture in front of the Parliament Building. Carriage rides are also available throughout the city for a relaxing end to your day.
DAY 4 - Victoria to Campbell River
Departing Victoria, wind your way up the Island Highway (Highway 1) through such communities as Duncan, known as the "City of Totems". Here you will find an authentic representation of the Northwest Coast Indians' world at the Quw'utsun' Heritage Village (formerly known as Cowichan). This site features totem carving demonstrations, weaving, beading and knitting. Continuing north, pass the community of Chemainus, the "City of Murals". Your final destination today is Campbell River - "Salmon Capital of the World". Upon arrival, spend your evening relaxing in one of the most serene and tranquil areas of the country. Be sure to have your camera ready, because you will surely be able to spot some wildlife.
DAY 5 - Arriving in Port Hardy
Northbound again, your route today features a stop at Telegraph Cove for a 5 hour nature cruise. Possible wildlife sightings may include Dall's porpoises, harbour seals, otters, killer whales or bald eagles. Depart Telegraph Cove and continue on the Island Highway, reaching its northern terminus at the city of Port Hardy, your destination for today.
DAY 6 - Cruising to Prince Rupert
An early morning transfer to the B.C. Ferry Terminal and you are boarding your vessel bound for a full day of cruising the scenic grandeur of one of the world's most beautiful and shortest (15 hrs) ocean voyages. As you follow 400 km of B.C.'s coastline, keep your camera handy- eagle, whale and porpoise sightings are common. You will be tracing a path between the northern tip of Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert, the gateway to Alaska.
DAY 7 - Prince Rupert to Smithers
Departing Prince Rupert today, follow the Yellowhead Highway through northern British Columbia's forested landscape. Your first stop will be the authentic fishing village of Port Edward and the North Pacific Cannery Village Museum (admission not included) followed by the replica Gitksan Indian Village of 'Ksan (admission not included), adjacent to the town of Old Hazelton.
DAY 8 - Smithers to Prince George
Continuing on the Yellowhead Highway, make a short detour to the Fort St. James National Historic Site, an authentic 1896 Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post. The site features reconstructed and restored buildings that house artifacts and replicas of furs, trade goods, and furnishing of the late 1800's. Site interpreters dressed in period costumes play out historic scenarios and demonstrate old time skills.
DAY 9 - Prince George to Jasper
Venturing eastward, enter the Rocky Mountains today and pass by Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Check-in to your Jasper hotel before taking a wander through this mountain resort town.
DAY 10 - Exploring Jasper
A day at leisure to enjoy Jasper. Set among some of the most rugged peaks in the Canadian Rockies, this peaceful townsite lends itself well to active or relaxed exploration. Included is a boat cruise on Maligne Lake. Some suggested activities (not included) are stopping at Maligne Canyon, the Jasper Tramway, hiking one of the local trails or taking a float trip on the Athabasca River.
DAY 11 - Jasper to Banff Sightseeing
Today, travel the scenic Icefields Parkway and stop at the Athabasca Glacier for an Ice Explorer ride onto the glacier. Other recommened stops are Athabasca Falls, Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnson Canyon.
DAY 12 - Discovering Banff
Enjoy the sights of Banff this morning as you enter a Banff Gondola car that will whisk you to the summit of Sulphur mountain. Also included in your package is admission to the Upper Hot Springs and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, birthplace of Canada's National Parks system. Other suggested sights and activities are a boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka, hiking, biking, canoeing or exploring any of the museums (not included).
DAY 13 - Banff to Chase
Today's journey on the Trans Canada Highway (#1) will take you over the Great Divide, past the Spiral Tunnels and to Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls (short side trips off the highway). From there, you will continue over Roger's Pass and may make a stop at Craigellachie where the last spike was driven in the railway that unites Canada coast to coast.
DAY 14 - Chase to Vancouver
Continue your journey westward through near-desert regions before turning southward to follow the Fraser River through a narrow canyon. During this stretch of highway, stop at Hell's Gate for a tram ride over the unique fish ladders in the Fraser River that aid spawning salmon in this difficult part of the river. Make a stop at Minter Gardens, before continuing on to downtown Vancouver.
DAY 15 - Departing Vancouver
Your vacation concludes today with the return of your rental vehicle to either the Vancouver International Airport or any downtown drop-off location.
"This was the best time we have had in a long time. Brewster was great!! Everyone we met was the best!! Two thumbs up! Would do it again in a heartbeat! The train was the best way to see Canada! There are really no words to describe how great this trip was, thanks for everything!!"
E. Wenz
Glendale, USA
"We have just come back from Canada and loved every minute of it. We especially want to praise Rick who drove us from Lake Louise to Jasper he was just fantastic and his commentary and knowledge on the transfer made it special. We went on the Icefields and he was just great and waved us off and was there when we came back from the trip.
Thanks so much!
I & R Parkinson
"We were really pleased with the whole holiday. The organization of the bus pick-ups and the helpfulness of the drivers could not have been better"
P. O'Connell
Buxton, UK
