Rocky Mountaineer Vacations

Testimonials

Mountain Tracks to the Sea

Vancouver

Volendam

Rocky Mountaineer

13 Days/ 12 Nights

Package starts on select Fridays

Imagine, being able to experience the Canadian Rockies by staying in Banff, taking a full 2 day scenic rail trip through the Rockies enroute to Vancouver, and to top it all off, a 7 night Holland America Alaska cruise aboard Holland America’s Volendam!

• Arrival transfer from Calgary to Banff

• 2 Nights Rimrock Resort Hotel

• Discover Banff and Lake Louise Tour

• Sulphur Mt. Gondola

• 2 Full days of scenic rail travel from Banff to Vancouver aboard Rocky Mountaineer in RedLeaf service.  Breakfast and lunch will be served at your seat each day of the trip.

• 1 Night accommodation in Kamloops.  (Upgrade to GoldLeaf service for dome car seating and gourmet meals served in the diner with dinner at your hotel in Kamloops.)

• 2 Nights Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel

• Hop on/off trolley tour of Vancouver

• Holland America - Volendam

• 7 Nights roundtrip from Vancouver

• Ports of call include:  Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, as well as cruising Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay.

• Transportation from the Vancouver Pier to the Vancouver Airport

• Hotel taxes and GST on applicable items

 Day 1 – Calgary/Banff

Your package includes transportation from the Calgary Airport to the Rimrock Resort Hotel. 

Banff  has an alpine setting with meadows, forests, and jagged mountain peaks.  The town has dozens of shops and restaurants to keep you occupied during your stay.

Overnight – Rimrock Resort Hotel

Day 2 – Banff

This morning the “Discover Banff” tour takes you along Tunnel Mountain and Rundle Mountain for stunning view of Banff.  The tour also includes the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the Hoodoos,, and an eight minute gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular 360 degree views of Bow Valley.  Your driver guide will narrate the history and growth of Banff and point out any wildlife sightings.  This afternoon enjoy the “Discover Lake Louise” tour that takes you past Vermillion Lake and Castle Mountain for spectacular photo opportunities.  Continuing to Lake Louise you will make a brief stop at Johnston Canyon for a short hike to view the lower falls.  The next stop is Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.  Here, you will have time to walk along the shores of Lake Louise with the Victoria Glacier in the back ground and stroll the lovely grounds and facilities of the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This is a place you have to “See it to believe it”!  Prior to returning to Banff a stop at Moraine Lake is included.

Overnight – Rimrock Resort Hotel

Day 3 – Banff/Kamloops (B,L,D)

Today you board the Rocky Mountaineer.  You will soon understand why this rail trip is billed as “The Most Spectacular Train Trip(s) in the World”.  Your journey takes you over the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, and the Kicking Horse Pass.  You will travel through Roger’s Pass through tunnels, snow-sheds, and past glistening glaciers.  Continue along Shuswap Lake, the South Thompson River and the ranchlands leading to Kamloops.  Upon arrival in Kamloops, the Rocky Mountaineer staff will meet and transfer you to your hotel.  Breakfast and lunch are served aboard the train.  Tonight we have included a wonderful treat.  The NEW dinner show “Maple Leaf Musical” which is certain to draw you into the Canadian culture, eh!?

Overnight – Kamloops

Day 4 – Kamloops/Vancouver

You return to your train to set off for another day of scenic wonders as you travel through the fertile fields of the Fraser River valley and the towering peaks of the Coastal Mountains on your way to Vancouver.  Once again Rocky Mountaineer will be on hand to serve you breakfast, lunch and snack service at your seat.   The rail station in Vancouver is a short taxi ride to the Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel.  The fare will be about $15 Canadian.  The city is gearing for the 2010 winter games!  Visit Gastown, a lovely 19^th century restoration offering a selection of excellent restaurants and shops.

Overnight – Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel

Day 5 – Vancouver

You have a full day to explore Vancouver with the hop on/off trolley tour.  The entire “loop” takes about 2 hours with trolleys running at about 20 minute intervals. There are 24 stops, some of which include: Gastown, Canada Place, Granville Island, Chinatown, Yaletown, Stanley Park (multiple stops throughout), and more including a great lunch location stop at the Sequoia Grill at the Teahouse.

Overnight – Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel

Day 6 – Holland America Cruise/Inside Passage

You have the morning to relax prior to boarding the ship.  The Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel is a short taxi ride to the pier.  Welcome aboard Holland America’s Volendam, your home for the next week while cruising the inside passage of Alaska. You will feel like a welcomed guest the moment you board the ship.  Lunch will be available to boarding guests.

Overnights – All overnights will be aboard Holland America’s Volendam

Day 7 – Cruising the Inside Passage

Relax and enjoy the passing scenery, as well as the many activities offered during your cruise.

Day 8 – Cruising Tracy Arm/Juneau

Tracy Arm is a narrow, 26 mile-long fjord with dramatic glaciers settings.  Lush rain forests recede to reveal bare canyon rock, and waterfalls everywhere.  Icebergs of every size and shape are making their way to the sea.  At the end of the waterway are two reminders of the Ice Age – The twin Sawyer Glaciers.  Mountain goats and seals are common sights with the sighting possibility of bears or whales.

This afternoon you will arrive in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.  Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, the town of Juneau has the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Ice fields at its back door.  Juneau is the place to let your imagination run wild.  Explore the lush Tongass National Forest, visit the rustic shops in town or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hide, whale watch, “Flightseeing” or fish.  There’s no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours.  Climb aboard the Mt. Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike and take a dramatic souvenir photo.  Don’t forget to visit the world famous Red Dog Saloon in town!

Day 9 - Skagway

Skagway is everyone’s picture of what Alaska must have been like during the Gold Rush.  It is also famous for being the home to The White Pass and Yukon Railroad.  It is a very memorable trip.  There are also many other shore excursions to choose from.  Visions of the Klondike days are plentiful with old time saloons, shops, memorabilia, and costumed people throughout town.

Day 10 – Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising

The trip to Glacier Bay takes you through scenery that is breathtakingly beautiful.  You travel through passages that bring you close to the rock walls and under high cliffs.  The highlight is seeing “calving”; you hear a loud crash and then see a huge chunk of the ice break off into the water.  A stunning event you will never forget.

Day 11 - Ketchikan

Native heritage plays a large role in Ketchikan culture.  For example, the largest collection of totem poles in the world is found in Ketchikan at Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village and the Totem Heritage Center Museum.

Day 12 – Cruising the Inside Passage

The ship’s fun-loving crew will keep you busy and entertained throughout your cruise.

Day 13- Vancouver/Home

Enclosed with your travel documents is a transfer voucher from the pier to the airport.  The pickup point is just outside the Pan Pacific hotel.  We hope you enjoyed your visit to Canada, and that it will be one of many return trips.

Selected 2009 Departures

Rates are in US Dollars, per person, double occupancy

Single and triple rates available on request