Western Canadian Circle from Calgary

Prices are per person listed in Canadian dollars. Subject to applicable taxes. Prices listed do not include discounts or promotions - please inquire. Package prices and itinerary are not finalized until confirmed by a Vacations Canada travel planner.  Contact your travel professional or a Vacations Canada travel planner to customize or build your own vacation package. View Terms and Conditions.

VACATION FEATURES:

Accommodations
- 8 nights hotel accommodation
- 1 night aboard VIA Rail

Meals
- 2 Breakfasts
- 2 Lunches
- 3 Dinners

Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- Beautiful Banff Tour
- Banff Lake Cruise
- Evening Trail Ride and Steakfry
- Icefield Parkway & Glacier Experience from Banff to Jasper
- Overnight VIA Rail Journey from Jasper to Vancouver
- Vancouver Sunset Dinner Cruise
- Victoria City and Butchart Gardens Tour
- Vancouver Trolley Attractions Tour
- 2 Day Journey from Vancouver to Calgary

Admissions
- Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
- Banff Gondola Ride
- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre

Transfers
- Transfer from Jasper Hotel to the Jasper Train Station
- 3 taxi transfers in Vancouver

Documentation
- Brewster Sightseeing Excursion discount coupon
- Icefield Photograph
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fees
- Hotel luggage handling

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Sightseeing in Banff

Your motor coach adventure will start from downtown Calgary this morning heading towards the town of Banff. Upon arrival, a sightseeing tour will take you to the hoodoos, a photograph stop of the Bow River and an afternoon gondola ride (all admissions included). Your next two overnights will be spent at your chosen hotel in Banff providing plenty of opportunities to explore the many shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

DAY 2 - Exploring Banff

This morning, take a cruise on Lake Minnewanka (seasonal*), highlighted by jagged peaks, hoodoo clusters and Devil's Gap. After your cruise take some time to wander Banff's countless shops and restaurants. Perhaps take some time to visit the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. This afternoon you'll travel by horseback on a trail ride that includes an authentic cook-out.

DAY 3 - Banff to Jasper

Today your journey will take you northwards into Jasper National park along one of the most scenic highways in North America. After a stop at the Columbia Icefields for an interpretive Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, you will continue on to Jasper for your overnight stay.

DAY 4 - VIA Rail from Jasper to Vancouver

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the Jasper train station (included), where you will board the VIA Rail train bound for Vancouver (dinner included).

DAY 5 - Arriving in Vancouver

Enjoy breakfast (included onboard) then the train arrival at Vancouver's Pacific Central Station in early morning. Transfer by taxi (included) to your hotel. This evening, take an awe-inspiring West Coast Sunset cruise over the Pacific Ocean. See the wonder of Stanley Park as you pass underneath the Lions Gate Bridge, cruise through English Bay, then enter into False Creek near dusk. Dinner is included this evening.

DAY 6 - Visiting Victoria

Today, enjoy a ferry cruise through beautiful Active Pass in the Gulf Islands to the quaint capital of British Columbia. Marvel at the spectacular ever-changing Butchart Gardens. You'll drive the scenic route into Victoria and the Inner Harbour. Take your free time to explore this unique city: Government Street shopping and dining, Empress Hotel, Legislative Buildings, Royal B.C. Museum and more. Relax on the bus and ferry ride back to your hotel..

DAY 7 - Discovering Vancouver

Take a trolley tour (included) of Vancouver's major attractions this morning. You may wish to stay on for the entire route, and revisit the sights that sparked your interest earlier, or you may wish to jump on & off the trolley several times throughout the 2 hour loop. Admission is included to the Vancouver Aquarium.

DAY 8 - Vancouver to Kelowna Sightseeing

Your two-day journey through western Canada starts with a morning departure from the sights and sounds of downtown Vancouver. The first leg of travel today travels from cityscape, through the lush Fraser delta region, and over the Coquihalla Pass. Start along 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. This act, in turn, will attract and feed many predators such as eagles and bears who depend on this yearly feast to build body fat that will sustain them during the lean winter months ahead.

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. After lunch, continue your trek on the Coquihalla Highway up into the heart of ranching country. A brief stop at the Merritt Visitor Centre allows time to stretch and learn about this historic territory, one of the premier ranching settlements in British Columbia from 1880.

Turning east, the road takes you into the famed wine region of the Okanagan Valley. The last 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. Kelowna 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 9 - Kelowna to Calgary Sightseeing

After a hearty breakfast (included), embark on a 3rd day of exploration that leads north through the Okanagan Valley, through the town of Vernon, home of Silver Star ski area, and into the small town of Armstrong. Enjoy a short stop before continuing on your journey. Driving further north, after a quick stop in Sicamous, the “Houseboat Capital of Canada”, you reconnect with the Trans Canada Highway #1, where the road winds its way into the Monashee Mountains and travels past Craigellachie, which is the site of the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. This railway system connects Canada from coast to coast.

A lunch stop (included) is made in the alpine town of Revelstoke, founded in 1880 when the CP Railroad was built through the area. Today, it’s a growing favorite destination among outdoor enthusiasts for golf, hiking, skiing and heli-skiing. 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).

Shortly afterwards, enter Banff National Park and make the last stop of the day at world famous Lake Louise , one of the most stunning emerald green lakes in the Canadian Rockies. It was originally named “Emerald Lake” by Tom Wilson (former member of the North West Mounted Police and CP Rail employee), before being renamed for Princess Louise, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. There will be enough time to walk to the lakeshore for your own photo shoot of this fa