16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies · 2017-02-17 · journey out on one of...

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Day 1: Vancouver Welcome to the beautiful Pacific Northwest! Please make your own way to the starting hotel. British Columbia boasts ten mountain ranges that push west from The Rockies in a crowded cluster until they fall into the Pacific. Thousand year old trees deftly divide the light, falling on an impossibly green forest floor. Glacier-fed streams pour through steep valleys to join swollen rivers. Higher up, mountain passes link whole ecosystems, and watersheds. British Columbia is a wild place. A place where Mother Nature creates the boundaries. Not man. And while she demands respect, her handiwork offers massive rewards for those wild at heart. Day 2: Vancouver—Whistler—Kamloops (B) After breakfast, we check-out of our hotel bright and early today, as an exciting journey deeper into British Columbia awaits us. Our journey will take us through Vancouver via breathtaking Howe Sound & Shannon Falls, as further traverse the Columbia Mountains towards Whistler, BC and eventually Kamloops where we rest for the night. After our quick drive-through introduction to Vancouver, we continue along the North Shore towards Whistler, BC. Highway 99, between Horseshoe Bay & Squamish, has to be one of the most beautiful roads in the area. With the ocean glimmering on the left and the mountains rising on the right, t is truly enchanting. Along the way, we pass Howe Sound: a roughly triangular sound, which is actually a network of fjords, situated immediately northwest of Vancouver. There are several islands in the sound, three of which are large and mountainous in their own right. Another sight to behold and only about 30-min drive further North from Howe Sound, is Shannon Falls. Shannon Falls is composed of a series of cliffs, rising 335 meters above Highways 99, making it the third highest falls in the province. 8 Day 5 star Alaska cruise 9 Day Rockies highlights Professional Guides Sightseeing in all major cities All national park entry fees 16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies 25 May 2017 1 June 2017 8 June 2017 15 June 2017 22 June 2017 29 June 2017 6 July 2017 27 July 2017 3 August 2017 10 August 2017 17 August 2017 24 August 2017 31 August 2017 7 September 2017 #1 Online Travel Company in Australia Webjet Approved Guides Webjet Crafted Itineraries No Fuss, Easy Booking Process (B) - Breakfast / (L) - Lunch / (D) - Dinner Flight Cruise Train

Transcript of 16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies · 2017-02-17 · journey out on one of...

Page 1: 16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies · 2017-02-17 · journey out on one of Canmore’s famed walking trails ranging from short strolls to longer hikes through the

Day 1: Vancouver

Welcome to the beautiful Pacific

Northwest! Please make your own

way to the starting hotel.

British Columbia boasts ten mountain

ranges that push west from The Rockies in

a crowded cluster until they fall into the Pacific. Thousand year old trees deftly divide

the light, falling on an impossibly green forest floor. Glacier-fed streams pour through

steep valleys to join swollen rivers. Higher up, mountain passes link whole

ecosystems, and watersheds. British Columbia is a wild place. A place where Mother

Nature creates the boundaries. Not man. And while she demands respect, her

handiwork offers massive rewards for those wild at heart.

Day 2: Vancouver—Whistler—Kamloops (B)

After breakfast, we check-out of our hotel bright and early today, as an exciting

journey deeper into British Columbia awaits us. Our journey will take us through

Vancouver via breathtaking Howe Sound & Shannon Falls, as further traverse the

Columbia Mountains towards Whistler, BC and eventually Kamloops where we rest

for the night.

After our quick drive-through introduction to Vancouver, we continue along the

North Shore towards Whistler, BC. Highway 99, between Horseshoe Bay & Squamish,

has to be one of the most beautiful roads in the area. With the ocean glimmering on

the left and the mountains rising on the right, t is truly enchanting. Along the way, we

pass Howe Sound: a roughly triangular sound, which is actually a network

of fjords, situated immediately northwest of Vancouver. There are several islands in

the sound, three of which are large and mountainous in their own right. Another sight

to behold and only about 30-min drive further North from Howe Sound, is Shannon

Falls. Shannon Falls is composed of a series of cliffs, rising 335 meters above

Highways 99, making it the third highest falls in the province.

8 Day 5 star Alaska cruise

9 Day Rockies highlights

Professional Guides

Sightseeing in all major

cities

All national park entry

fees

16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular

Rockies

25 May 2017

1 June 2017

8 June 2017

15 June 2017

22 June 2017

29 June 2017

6 July 2017

27 July 2017

3 August 2017

10 August 2017

17 August 2017

24 August 2017

31 August 2017

7 September 2017

#1 Online Travel

Company in Australia

Webjet Approved Guides

Webjet Crafted Itineraries

No Fuss, Easy Booking

Process

(B) - Breakfast / (L) - Lunch / (D) - Dinner

Flight

Cruise

Train

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After arriving in Whistler, you will enjoy some time off to eat or stroll around this

picturesque mountain town. Whistler is only about 2 hours North of Vancouver, and

roughly about 4 hours West of Kamloops. Over two million people visit Whistler annually,

primarily for alpine skiing and snowboarding and, in Summer, mostly mountain biking. Its

pedestrian village center has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted

among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s.

Whistler’s urban landscape was specifically designed to accommodate the natural

environment. Many of Whistler's bears have learned to do things like open car doors or

hold spring-closed gates open so they can reach food. Some have even learnt to open the

newspaper bins!

After lunch, we leave Whistler behind and continue straight onwards towards Kamloops,

over the Trans-Canadian Highway. Upon arrival, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 3: Kamloops - Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho National Park - Banff - Canmore (B)

After breakfast, we embark on another day of sightseeing through the Trans-Canadian

Highway taking us through no less than 3 of Canada’s awe-inspiring National Parks.

Home to Canada's only inland cedar-hemlock rainforest, Mount Revelstoke is the only

national park in Canada where you can summit a mountain five minutes from your

vehicle. The Giant Cedars & Skunk Cabbage boardwalks invite us for a relaxing stroll, or

we can enjoy a panoramic view & the meadows of subalpine wildflowers from the summit

of Mount Revelstoke.

Glacier National Park, not be confused with its twin in Montana, USA, offers us exceptional

alpine scenery and deep valleys filled with ancient forests. It’s a year-round paradise for

nature lovers. Visitors can scale its heights following trails pioneered by legendary Swiss

mountain guides, or take a gentle stroll amid moss-draped old-growth cedars, or even hike

through alpine meadows strewn with lichen-covered boulders.

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There is truly not a bad view to be had over this scenic stretch of the Trans-Canadian

Highway, and following further West from Glacier National Park, we pass through Yoho

National Park. Cree exclamation of awe, “Yoho” applies perfectly to this park’s big peaks,

expansive glaciers, and impressive waterfalls. Add Yoho’s famous fossils and it’s easy to

see why this park in the Canadian Rockies is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Although many of its highlights are accessible by road, Yoho is also a hiker’s dream and a

railway buff’s delight.

Lastly, set in the heart of Banff National Park and snugly embraced by Alberta's Rocky

Mountains, the little town of Banff boasts a big, worldwide reputation. Its charming streets

are abuzz year round due to an annual influx of millions of visitors, and this famous

mountain resort town caters accordingly with world-class shopping & dining.

At first sight it's apparent why the world is in love with Banff. From the ever-

watchful Cascade Mountain to the picturesque Bow River, the community is blessed with a

spectacular natural setting, woven with parks, woods and trails. Our hotel is located just a

short drive South of Banff, in the small mountain town of Canmore. The rest of the evening

is at leisure.

Day 4: Canmore - Banff - Canmore (B)

Today is a free day to relax and explore this incredible alpine region. There will be an

opportunity to head into Banff to get acquainted with this picturesque town, or why not

journey out on one of Canmore’s famed walking trails ranging from short strolls to longer

hikes through the Alpine scenery.

Optional Tour: Soar to the top of Sulphur Mountain with an eight-minute journey to the summit in a modern, fully enclosed four-passenger gondola cabin. Experience a stunning bird's-eye view of six incredible mountain ranges. With breathtaking vistas in every direction, you'll understand why this is a Canadian Rockies must-see destination. Enjoy your time atop Sulphur Mountain at leisure – Must be booked prior to departure.

Optional Tour: Enjoy the serenity of the Bow River and marvel at the surroundings whilst on the

90-min canoe adventure. As you journey upstream, your guide will entertain you with stories of

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the past, history of canoeing and interesting local facts. It’s a fun and interactive way to explore the

waterways of Banff National Park during this two hour 30 minute tour - Must be booked prior to

departure.

Day 5: Canmore - Columbia Icefields - Lake Louise - Golden (B)

After breakfast, we start by heading north on the “Icefields Parkway”, an exciting

excursion atop the Athabasca Glacier. To travel the Icefields Parkway is to experience one

of Canada's national treasures. Stretching 232km (144mi.) through the heart of the

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, this world-class journey offers

access to a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping

valleys. Our destination on this parkway, is the “Columbia Icefield”, the largest icefield in

the Rocky Mountains of North America.

The ice field lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff National Park and partly in the

southern end of Jasper National Park. It is precisely here, atop the glacier itself, that we

offer you the opportunity to explore the icefield by ‘snow coach’ as an optional tour

excursion (on own account).

Optional Tour: This tour takes visitors onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier by Ice Explorer; a

massive vehicle specially designed for glacial travel. An experienced driver-guide shares a wealth of

fascinating information about glaciers, icefields and their impact on our environment during this

one hour and 20 minute journey—Must be booked prior to departure.

We leave the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center shortly after lunch, and head back South

over the parkway towards Lake Louise, about a 2-hour drive. Lake Louise is often referred

to as the ‘Diamond in the Wilderness’, and it is easy to see why. The region abounds with

luxury ski resorts, shopping, fine dining and spectacular scenery, from glaciers to

waterfalls. The emerald color of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by

melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. Lake Louise is named after the Princess

Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of

the Marquis of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.

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In the afternoon, we leave Lake Louise behind us and head for our final destination, Gold-

en. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Day 6: Golden—Kelowna (B)

After breakfast, our journey gives us an opportunity to explore Glacier and/or Revelstoke

national parks in more depth if we missed them earlier… or if we’d simply like to take a

final peek at these natural wonders. We then head back East over the Trans-Canadian

Highway, before crossing into the Okanagan Valley and Kelowna.

“The Okanagan”, also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan

Country, is a region located in British Columbia, defined by the basin of Okanagan

Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part of the Okanagan Country,

extending into the United States as Okanogan Country. The region’s main hub is Kelowna,

our resting place for tonight. The Okanagan Country is known for its dry & sunny climate,

dry landscapes and lakeshore communities, and particular lifestyle. The economy is retire-

ment- and commercial-recreation based, with outdoor activities such as boating and water

sports, snow skiing and hiking. Agriculture has been focused primarily on fruit orchards,

with a recent shift in focus to vineyards and wine.

As the largest city located on stunning Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is a recreational lakeside

paradise with miles of beautiful parkland and several sandy beaches that provide wonder-

ful opportunities for swimming, boating, waterskiing, windsurfing and fishing. Even Ke-

lowna's main street ends at a beach. Soak it all in on one of many outdoor patios, or stroll

along the lakefront boardwalk and explore the local treasures being sold by the artisans.

Day 7: Kelowna—Vancouver (B)

Coming to the end of our breathtaking journey through the Canadian Rocky Mountains,

our sights are firmly set on Vancouver today. After breakfast, we leave Kelowna first thing

in the morning, and continue East, arriving in to Vancouver around lunch time.

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Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range, Vancouver is a cosmo-

politan city perched on nature's edge. A city of unparalleled beauty, from the 1000-acre

lush jewel known as Stanley Park, the largest city park in North America, to the hustle and

bustle of fashionable Robson Street, Vancouver has it all. A vibrant city, the pedestrian-

friendly streets are filled with individuals from varied ethnic backgrounds and walks of life

- professional people-watchers and shoppers, business people, university students and, of

course, visitors alike. The afternoon is free to explore this vibrant city.

After an afternoon of exploring Vancouver, we drive a short distance to the hotel, where

the evening is at leisure.

Day 8: Vancouver (B)

Today is a free day to rest after your alpine adventure. If you want a day chock-full of

shopping, strolling, dining and people watching, head to Robson Street. Or meander

through historic Gastown, Vancouver's oldest area, with its cobblestone streets, European-

style street lamps and local boutiques.

Optional Tour: Whale watching tours set off from the historic village of Steveston, in state-of-the-

art boats that are Coast Guard certified and even include washroom facilities. They are offered from

April to October, when whales are migrating through the waters just off of British Columbia's coast-

line. Professional guides are on board each trip to provide passengers with knowledge about local

marine life during this 5 -7 hour tour—Must be booked prior to departure.

Day 9: Vancouver - Seattle (B,D)

It’s time to leave beautiful Western Canada behind us today, and head back South into the

USA. Your private motor coach will transport you from the hotel to the Seattle cruise port,

to join your luxury 5 star Celebrity Cruise of the inside passage. Ranked in the Top 20 large

cruise ships in the world, the Celebrity Solstice has it all!

Upon arrival at the cruise port in Seattle, you will check-in with your cruise ship and enjoy

a wonderful cruise through the natural wonders of Alaska.

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Day 10: At Sea (B,L,D)

Enjoy the day at sea on your luxury ship as it makes its way towards the beautiful inside

passage.

Day 11: Ketchikan (B,L,D)

You've never tasted salmon so fresh. Known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World',

Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world's

largest collection of totem poles. If you're up for an adventure, take a canoe and nature trail

excursion through the rain forest or a wilderness exploration followed by a sumptuous

crab feast you can't resist

Day 12: Tracy Arm Fjord—Juneau (B,L,D)

Tracy Arm Fjord is book-ended by two of Alaska's most dramatic glaciers, the North and

South Sawyer Glacier, and surrounded by granite walls that rise 3,000 feet from the

emerald colored seas, this area has everything you've come to Alaska to experience.

In Juneau, Here's your chance to take a glacial dogsled adventure via helicopter in Alaska's

capital (on own account). A city that gracefully balances frontier ruggedness with

cosmopolitan flair. Mendenhall Glacier, a river of ice measuring 1.5 miles in width and

over 6 miles in length, is part of Juneau's Icefield, 1500 square miles of ice that feeds 38

glaciers and ready for you to take a float trip on it.

Day 13: Skagway—Inside Passage (B,L,D)

In 1897, gold stampeders from all over the world arrived in Skagway by steamship, bound

for the Dawson Gold Fields in Canada's Yukon Territory. It wasn't long before the rough-

and-tumble tent town was festooned with boardwalks, dance halls, inns and saloons. More

than 100 years later, Skagway still retains the feel of those Gold Rush days, though most

travelers now arrive by cruise.

Enjoy the day at sea on your luxury ship as it makes its way through the beautiful inside

passage.

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Day 14: At Sea (B,L,D)

Enjoy the day at sea on your luxury ship as it makes its way from the beautiful inside

passage.

Day 15: Victoria (B,L,D)

The capital of British Columbia is also its largest island. This one-time British colony has

retained much of its colonial splendor. Victoria is a seaside enclave that enjoys a temperate

climate. Which is great, because you'll want to explore all the museums, parks and golf

courses Victoria has to offer.

Day 16: Seattle (B)

This morning, disembark from your Luxury cruise ship. We will embark on a city tour of

Seattle. Seattle, also known as “Emerald City,” lies between the Puget Sound and Lake

Washington, framed by the Olympic Mountains and the Cascades.

You will be able to see the famous Space Needle from several spots throughout the city

tour. Some of the additional highlights include Pioneer Square, the elegant houses at Lake

Washington and the peninsula Magnolia. You may pass by where Bill Gates, the richest

person on earth, lives. A second lake, Lake Union, also offers a great picture opportunity

with the Seattle Skyline in the background. Depending on your interest and if time allows,

finish off with a walk around the farmers market of Seattle. Flights must depart after

16:00PM