| Day | Description |
|---|
| 1 | VANCOUVERWelcome to Canada's "Jewel of the Pacific!" Vancouver is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment. Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions. |
| 2 | VANCOUVERThis morning, enjoy an included city tour showcasing STANLEY PARK, Chinatown, the harbour and beaches, and more. The remainder of the day is free for your further exploration of the city. Shoppers and browsers can take a water taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafes. Or, visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, art galleries, and street vendors. |
| 3 | VANCOUVER-KELOWNAThis morning our journey begins in British Columbia's fertile valleys and continues through its rich mountain forests to Lake Okanagan. Travel along the lake to the resort city of Kelowna, attractively set on the lake shore and surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Sample the local wines on the included WINERY tour this afternoon. |
| 4 | KELOWNA-FOUR NATIONAL PARKS-KICKING HORSE PASS-BANFFMotor north through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its peaches and vineyards. Then, begin the journey through four of Canada's most spectacular national parks: MOUNT REVELSTOKE, GLACIER, YOHO, and BANFF. Take a moment at Rogers Pass, a perfect spot for photos of the impressively rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Travel from primeval forests to Ice Age glaciers, from spectacular waterfalls to soaring peaks. At Kicking Horse Pass, cross the Continental Divide, where all of North America's rivers are diverted to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. By early evening, reach Banff, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. |
| 5 | BANFFBanff is one of Canada's favourite year-round resorts, with activities ranging from skiing in the winter to hiking, boating, and fishing in the summer. With a free day, your Tour Director will suggest an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. Tonight, consider an optional dinner theatre highlighting Canadian cuisine and lively musical entertainment. |
| 6 | BANFF-LAKE LOUISE-COLUMBIA ICEFIELD-JASPERA day of scenic grandeur. Travel to Lake Louise, its cold turquoise waters a perfect natural mirror reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the motorcoach scales two mountain passes on the journey northward into JASPER NATIONAL PARK. Another highlight today is a stop at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD to board the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice that is 365 metres (1,200 feet) thick. Late this afternoon, your Tour Director suggests an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of Jasper townsite upon arrival. |
| 7 | JASPERToday, join our optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, where you embark on a narrated cruise of the lake. The rest of the day is free to join one of our guided hikes, to shop, or canoe. Enjoy your free time this evening! |
| 8 | JASPER-MOUNT ROBSON-SUN PEAKSLeave Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, peaking at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet). Follow the Yellowhead Highway south along the North Thompson River, a route pioneered by fur trappers a century ago. Overnight at the mountain resort of Sun Peaks. |
| 9 | SUN PEAKS-LILLOOET-WHISTLERHead south following the once-treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. Via Lillooet - "Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route" - your motorcoach will follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes with a mid-afternoon arrival in Whistler. There are plenty of optional activities to choose from, including flightseeing by floatplane over the lakes and glaciated peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Tonight, wander the many alpine trails or enjoy the shopping and great selection of restaurants and nightlife. |
| 10 | WHISTLER-FERRY CROSSING-VICTORIAThis afternoon, sail across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Afternoon arrival in Victoria. Sightseeing today includes Marine Drive, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. Tonight, stroll along the lovely waterfront. |
| 11 | VICTORIAThis morning, visit world-famous Butchart Gardens, one of Victoria's most celebrated sites and rated among the most beautiful gardens in the world. Once there, stroll through the colourful arrangements of the Sunken Garden, the Japanese and Italian Gardens. This afternoon is at leisure to discover some of the attractions of this splendid city, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel, the IMAX presentation at the National Geographic Theatre, whale watching on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street. Suggestion for this evening: an optional outing that includes a harbour cruise and dinner at one of Victoria's waterfront restaurants. |
| 12 | VICTORIA-FERRY CROSSING-VANCOUVEREarly this morning, board the ferry for a scenic crossing to the mainland for a mid-morning arrival. The afternoon is free to explore Robson Street and experience British Columbia's premier shopping and entertainment location. |
| 13 | VANCOUVER (EMBARKATION)Today, transfer to Canada Place to board Holland America's MS Zuiderdam for an unforgettable Inside Passage cruise. (D) |
| 14 | SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGESpend the day cruising one of the world's most spectacular waterways. Located along the coast of British Columbia, the Inside Passage is the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Be sure to watch the water for orcas and humpback whales. (B,L,D) |
| 15 | JUNEAUAn afternoon arrival in Juneau, Alaska's capital. The city has a Gold Rush story to rival that of the Klondike, and is only accessible by seaplane or boat. An optional wildlife cruise and salmon fishing are normally available, and you'll also have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier. This impressive river of blue ice is about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) wide and over 19 kilometres (12 miles) long! (B,L,D) |
| 16 | SKAGWAYIn winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy's Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia, featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of '98 Museum. (B,L,D) |
| 17 | SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAYGlacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. How does it feel when a colossal chunk of ice splits off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The sound is like thunder. The impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. You hold your breath as you capture the moment photographically. Then you wait for it all to happen again. (B,L,D) |
| 18 | KETCHIKANBuilt out over the water and up weathered stairways, Ketchikan clings to the shores of Tongass Narrows and drapes the mountains with a hospitable air. (B,L,D) |
| 19 | SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGEReturn to the Inside Passage and cruise through more of this awe-inspiring scenery. Keep your cameras ready for spouting whales, soaring eagles, and other wildlife. Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner and onboard entertainment. (B,L,D) |
| 20 | VANCOUVERDisembark the ship this morning and transfer to Vancouver International Airport for your return flight home. Please schedule homebound after Noon. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the "Jewel of the Pacific" further with a variety of exciting optional activities. (B) |