Canadian Rockies & Vancouver

You will stay in hotels such as the Rundlestone Lodge in Banff, Amethyst Lodge in Jasper, the Hotel Five Forty in Kamloops and the Empire Landmark Hotel in Vancouver. Hotel standards are extremely high in Canada. All rooms feature private facilities, TV, telephone and coffee-making facilities. There is a restaurant and/or bar in each hotel. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Day 1: UK/Banff

Depart on your scheduled flight to Calgary and transfer to Banff for a three-night stay, a natural starting point for your Rockies adventure.

Day 2: Banff

This morning you will be taken on an included sightseeing tour of Banff. This takes you to Surprise Corner, the Hoodoos and the Bow River.

During your stay enjoy an interesting programme of optional excursions to see as much as possible of the spectacular Rockies scenery.

Day 3: Lake Louise

Full day optional excursion to Lake Louise, described by many writers as the most beautiful place in Canada - a glacial, jade-green lake, high in the mountains surrounded on all sides by towering peaks.

Day 4: Jasper

We head north along one of North America’s most majestic highways. At times, the Banff-Jasper Highway reaches nearly 7,000ft above sea level, whilst the great mountain ranges flanking both sides of the highway soar to more than 11,000ft. A stop will be made at the Great Columbia Icefield for the opportunity to take an Ice Explorer ride across the Athabasca Glacier. Early evening arrival in Jasper for a two night stay.

Day 5: Jasper

Free in Jasper, a former railroad town and now the focal point of its own breathtakingly beautiful national park. Optional excursions include a tour of Jasper, a visit to the spectacular Maligne Lake, and a nature walk in Jasper with experienced guides. The more adventurous can join the unique Athabasca River Raft Tour, shooting the rapids on a two-hour adventure down the glacial river (subject to season) - don’t worry, it’s not as dangerous as it sounds!

Day 6: Kamloops

We travel over the Yellow Head Pass and around Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, before rejoining the Trans-Canada highway for the town of Kamloops and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Vancouver

Continue across British Columbia to Vancouver. Drive through the rugged Fraser Canyon, which for many years could only be negotiated by wagon trains and mules, but is now served by a fast, smooth highway. From Hope, we gradually descend through rich green valleys to Vancouver for a three night stay.

Day 8: Vancouver

Surrounded by mountains, forests and beautiful islands, Vancouver has one of the most beautiful settings of any city in the world. As Canada’s third largest city, it is a busy seaport and important centre for the fishing and timber industries. An introductory half-day tour of the city takes us to visit Chinatown, Gas Town, the remarkable 1,000 acre Stanley Park with its famous totem poles and the magnificent harbour.

There is certainly plenty to see and do in Vancouver. Enjoy an optional half-day excursion to Vancouver’s Northshore featuring the spectacular Capilano suspension bridge and a cable car ride up Grouse Mountain for breathtaking views of the city and the snow-capped mountains of Washington State (America) and Vancouver Island.

Day 9: Vancouver

Perhaps the most popular excursion is to Victoria, capital of British Columbia, where much of its British Victorian heritage is still preserved. The full-day optional trip includes a ferry across to the island, and visits the marvellous Butchart Gardens, Parliament Building and the fabled Empress Hotel. What’s more, for those of you with friends or relations in the area, our stay in Vancouver allows plenty of time to stop by and say hello.

Days 10 - 11: Vancouver/UK

Free in Vancouver, until your afternoon flight on day 10, arriving in the UK the next day.