Itinerary Details
Western Canada With Inside Passage & Calgary Stampede
Day 1: CALGARY Welcome to Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.
Day 2: CALGARY Welcome to the Calgary Stampede—“The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” Your hotel is ideally located on the train line that will take you to Stampede Park, allowing you to come and go as you please! Dust off your 10-gallon hat and mosey through the gates of Stampede Park into a world of wonder and “Wild West” ropin’-n’-ridin’ with your included admission. Step back in time to experience the traditions and culture of Canadian First Nations at Elbow River Camp or sample savory and sweet Western fare at the Midway. Enjoy a wide variety of exciting talent on the many entertainment stages, and then head into the dazzling array of international exhibits and displays of Western art. This evening, watch the heart-stopping Chuckwagon Races in an all-out dash for the finish line, an amazing contest of nerves and horsepower. You’ll be out of your seats cheering on your favorite driver during each heat! Afterward, get ready for an outdoor stage show featuring hundreds of singers, dancers, and musicians in a lavishly produced and choreographed musical variety spectacular.
Day 3: CALGARY Saddle up for another rip-roaring day exploring the Stampede grounds and grandstands for the famous Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Fuel up for the day’s activities by visiting Fluor Rope Square at Stephen Avenue Mall for a pancake breakfast. Return to the Stampede grounds this morning—a great opportunity to see anything you may have missed the day before. Complete your Western look with cowboy hats, shirts, or boots from one of the many vendors. Then take your seat in the grandstands and cheer on your favorite contenders at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo this afternoon. See the best of the best as they saddle up for world-class rodeo action where top riders and ropers take on the West’s wildest horses—and experience edge-of-your-seat bull riding action! Outside the ring, get in the rhythm of Western tradition with square dancing, mock gun fights, country bands, bars, restaurants, and livestock. So much to see!
Day 4: CALGARY–BANFF NATIONAL PARK This morning, take a city tour of Calgary. Highlights include downtown, Fort Calgary, Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. Then travel west into the majestic Canadian Rockies and beautiful Banff National Park where you’ll spend the next two nights. Have an orientation tour upon arrival.
Day 5: BANFF NATIONAL PARK Enjoy your day exploring Banff, one of Canada’s favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities including hiking, horseback riding, golfing, and fishing. Your Tour Director will have lots of suggestions. Lift your sights higher on an exhilarating optional helicopter ride with spectacular views over the Canadian Rockies. If you prefer your feet on the ground, join the Panoramas & Peaks* optional excursion to breathtaking Moraine Lake in the famed Valley of the Ten Peaks.
*This optional excursion begins operating in early June.
Day 6: BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD––JASPER NATIONAL PARK Head north to marvel at steep gorges, snowcapped mountain ranges, and the turquoise waters of Lake Louise that perfectly mirroring the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Continue to the Columbia Icefield to experience a ride to Athabasca Glacier on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Wind your way up the western fringe of Alberta and through some of the Canadian Rockies’ most breathtaking wilderness. Later, go with the flow on an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Arrive in Jasper and take an orientation tour that showcases the area’s unspoiled beauty.
Day 7: JASPER NATIONAL PARK Make your day magical with an optional narrated cruise on the gorgeous blue waters of Maligne Lake and see much-photographed Spirit Island*. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer, from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.
*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.
Day 8: JASPER NATIONAL PARK–MOUNT ROBSON–PRINCE GEORGE Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest of Canada’s Rockies at almost 13,000 feet. Continue to Prince George, the province’s “northern capital” for an overnight stay.
Day 9: PRINCE GEORGE–SMITHERS–VIA RAIL THE SKEENA–PRINCE RUPERT Today, board VIA Rail’s Skeena train for the trip of a lifetime. Sit back and enjoy an all-daylight journey that winds its way through the majestic Coast Mountains and follows the mighty Skeena River—often referred to as the “River of Mists.” Retrace the steps of the ancient First Nations trading routes and follow the paths of the earliest fur traders. Along the way, keep an eye out for soaring bald eagles, black bears, moose, and other wildlife. Disembark in Prince Rupert for a two-night stay.
NOTE:
Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.
Day 10: PRINCE RUPERT After an orientation of Prince Rupert, enjoy a visit to the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site for a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Learn of the canning process and what life was like in the village in the last century during peak production. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.
Day 11: PRINCE RUPERT–INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE–PORT HARDY Early this morning, embark on one of the world’s most beautiful ocean voyages! The scenery is spectacular, with towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, endless islands, and virgin rainforests. Marine life abounds, often with sightings of sea lions and porpoises—you may even spot a killer whale! Late-evening arrival into Port Hardy.
NOTE:
Cruising time through the Inside Passage is approximately 16 hours. Please come prepared with all medications, eyeglasses, and any other items you will need.
Day 12: PORT HARDY–CHEMAINUS–VICTORIA An early departure from Port Hardy follows the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, through the port of Campbell River, the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Continue south with a stop in Chemainus, a unique village with more than 30 murals depicting pioneer settlement of the area. Late afternoon arrival into Victoria.
Day 13: VICTORIA Morning sightseeing includes the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. The rest of the day is yours to explore this charming city. Perhaps enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel, visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, or stop to smell the roses and countless other gorgeous blooms on an optional excursion to Butchart Gardens with its 55 acres of magnificent floral displays. This evening, consider taking a relaxing stroll along the lovely Waterfront Promenade.
Day 14: VICTORIA–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER Today we set sail across the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an area known for its Mediterranean-like climate. Arrive in Vancouver and see beautiful Stanley Park and other city highlights. This evening, perhaps venture out to explore Vancouver’s diverse culinary scene for dinner.
Day 15: VANCOUVER Enjoy a free day to explore. Consider a water taxi to lively Granville Island with its bustling Public Market, street musicians, and waterfront cafés, or visit historic Gastown with its cobblestone streets, antique shops, art galleries, and iconic Gastown Steam Clock. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions.
Day 16: VANCOUVER Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Vancouver further.
