Banff, Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Voyage

Day 1 - Calgary to Banff

Arrive at Calgary Airport and transfer to Banff for your 3-night stay.

Day 2 - Discover Banff, Wildlife & Gondola

Today we have included a fanastic tour of Banff with the Gondola!

This small group tour is the perfect introduction to Banff and includes some of Banff's most scenic and historically significant highlights such as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, and Banff's largest lake, Lake Minnewanka. Plus, enjoy hot chocolate or fresh water (depending on the time of year) and maple cookies at one of the scenic stops.

You'll then be transported to the base of Sulphur Mountain and ride the Banff Gondola to the top at 7,486 feet. At the summit, marvel at the unsurpassed view of Banff, the Bow Valley and a 360-degree view of six scenic mountain ranges. You'll feel like you're on top of the world when you are standing on the spacious main level observation deck. After your download on the Banff Gondola, the guide will transport you back to your Banff hotel.

It's a great tour for seeing wildlife, so don't forget your camera!

Day 3 - Icefields Parkway

Experience the power of glaciers up-close on this exciting tour that highlights the most unique attraction in the Canadian Rockies; the Columbia Icefield Adventure. Travel on a massive Ice Explorer onto an ancient glacier and step out onto ice that is deep enough to bury the Eiffel Tower. Stand in the sky at the Glacier Skywalk, a curved glass walkway that stretches 30 metres from the sheer face of a cliff and hangs mid-air. This tour is filled with exciting experiences, spectacular sights, intriguing stories and the best photo opportunities.

Highlights: Lake Louise (except departures from Lake Louise), Icefields Parkway, Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield. Admissions to Columbia Icefield Adventure & Columbia Icefield Skywalk. A hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Dedicated on-board Host. Light snacks & refreshments.

Day 4 - Banff to Kamloops - Rocky Mountaineer

All aboard! Today you join Rocky Mountaineer for a classic rail journey through the Rockies!

Travel on board the Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia’s interior.  As you journey west and south you will be surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Continental Divide and by the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo mountains.  Today’s highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass, and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. Overnight in Kamloops

Day 5 - Kamloops to Vancouver - Rocky Mountaineer

Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On today’s journey you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley.  Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. 

Your rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening.

Day 6 - Vancouver City Highlights Tour

This morning we have included a 3.5 hour Vancouver City Highlights tour. Prepare to experience the unique history and unfolding splendour as you tour through the modern streets of Vancouver. Drive by the most renowned sights and learn how Vancouver became the city it is today. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and framed by British Columbia's imposing mountains, it's easy to fall in love with this astonishing city. Drive through historic neighbourhoods such as Gastown, Chinatown, scenic English Bay and the picturesque Vancouver Harbour. Stops in Stanley Park feature Indigenous Peoples' Totem Poles, spectacular views of the mountains and the Lions Gate Bridge. Also includes the opportunity to wander through the charming farmer's market at Granville Island. Reminder of the afternoon at your leisure.

Day 7 - Whistler and Sea To Sky Gondola Tour

Enjoy a day visit to Whistler!

This escape from the city is an ideal way to experience the natural wonders surrounding Vancouver and Whistler. Gaze out over ever-changing landscapes surrounding the Sea to Sky Highway, with scenic stops at the 335 meter Shannon Falls and ride up the awe-inspiring Sea to Sky Gondola with views of spectacular Howe Sound. Continuing the journey to Whistler, this world famous ski resort also hosted many 2010 Olympic outdoor sporting events. Spend an afternoon exploring eclectic downtown shops and cafes, hiking along nature trails, or relaxing and breathing in the fresh mountain air.

Day 8 - Vancouver to Seattle

Today take the coach transfer from Canada Place to Downtown Seattle spending the rest of your day at lesuire to explore Seattle. 

Day 9 - Board Cunard Cruise

Today transfer to the cruise pier for your 10-night Alaska Cruise with Cunard onboard Queen Elizabeth. 

Day 10 - At Sea

Today enjoy the facilities onboard your Cunard Cruise. 

Day 11 - Endicott Arm

This pristine fjord is located in Alaska’s south-eastern strip, a region sometimes referred to as The Panhandle, and certainly known for its photogenic landscape.

During this part of your voyage, every view has to be seen to be believed. As you make your way down the fjord, you’ll soon be face to face with sheer granite cliffs, picturesque waterfalls, and impressive icebergs. At the end of the waterway, you’ll reach Dawes Glacier. Upon approach, gaze in awe at the otherworldly scene that brings visions of bright blues and ice whites against a backdrop of looming mountains.

Aside from the postcard-worthy scenery, the wildlife at Endicott Arm brings yet more memorable sights to savour. Cast your eyes shoreside, and to icebergs, to spot lounging harbour seals. Watch the bravest of mountain goats as they scale the cliff side without a shred of doubt. Further in land, you could be lucky enough to see brown bears, wolves, deer, and moose, and overhead, keep an eye out for soaring bald eagles. Then, of course, there’s the wildlife that calls these waters home – perhaps you’ll be treated to a view of a humpback whale or two?

Day 12 - Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point is a grand idea brought to life in a brilliant hub of Alaskan action and adventure. Look out for whales in the picturesque wilderness or enjoy warm hospitality and hearty food ashore. Picture Alaska and you’ve more or less conjured Icy Strait Point. This natively owned cruise port on Chichagof Island offers the best of what makes this region unique; piercing blue waters, emerald green forest and myriad ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Day 13 - Juneau, Alaska

Beneath an ice field that never melts, on a waterway that never freezes, Juneau is the unusual and disarmingly beautiful capital of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is the not-to-be-missed attraction.

Despite its status as Alaska’s capital, Juneau’s urban area spans just 14 square miles but its appeal far exceeds its city limits. Frequently cited as Alaska’s most scenic city, Juneau is nature’s playground, and what a playground it is. Waters abound with Humpbacks and orcas, forested trails leading to snow-ensconced mountains, and the ever-present majestic eagles circling overhead.

The town that kick-started Alaska’s gold rush is rich with treasures of all varieties, from native Tlingit history and excellent seafood to an abundance of outdoor pursuits. It’s little wonder that most of Juneau’s residents arrived for a short stay and decided never to leave.

Day 14 - Skagway, Alaska

Gateway to the Klondike, with highlights including White Summit Pass and the cable Yukon Suspension Bridge. The gold rush coastal town of Skagway, Alaska, was previously a lawless Wild West outpost.

Skagway is Alaska’s gateway to the Klondike where in the late 1890s more than 100,000 prospectors arrived in search of gold. Even today, frontier-style saloon-style buildings still line the town’s streets, an enduring reminder of this key period in Alaska’s gold rush history. While feeling as though you’ve somehow fallen through time and into the Wild West is undoubtedly part of Skagway’s appeal, there’s so much more to admire, discover and experience on a port call to this southerly part of the Great Land. John Wayne’s classic motion picture “Into Alaska” was filmed nearby and the area has inspired several novels.

Then there’s the scenery.

Skagway’s surroundings are nothing short of magnificent. The piercing waters hugging its shores outdone only by the frosted peaks painted on the horizon. It’s a vista best savoured from a vintage passenger car on the area’s famous White Pass and Yukon Route railway.  

Day 15 - Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Cruising)

With snow-capped peaks, abundant wildlife and shimmering glaciers, it’s no wonder Glacier Bay National Park is the crowning jewel of Alaska’s Inside Passage.  Glacier Bay National Park Port Guide.

Spanning 3.3 million acres, as part of a 25-million-acre World Heritage Site, a Glacier Bay National Park cruise reveals some of the planet’s most remarkable tidewater glaciers.

Day 16 - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tiny Ketchikan is just three miles long and three blocks wide, but here you can be sure to find Alaska’s busiest waterfront buzzing with boat planes, fishing boats, pleasure craft, and busy fishermen. Once colonised by Tlingit and Haida tribes, Ketchikan is a thriving fishing town with colourful stilted houses, a rich Alaskan culture and a throng of trawlers hauling in fresh crab and salmon.

Arts thrive here and museums celebrating the town’s history are abundant. Some of the best seafood you’ll sample in the Great Land will have been plucked directly from Ketchikan’s waters and served in its restaurants just hours later. A detail that only magnifies the appeal of this enchanting port call on your Alaska cruise. While other towns have their origins firmly rooted in the region’s gold rush years, Ketchikan’s connection with its native population is still at the heart of its community. You’ll find Alaska’s largest collection of totem poles among its many welcoming attractions, along with heritage experiences expanding on the beliefs, customs and pastimes of Alaska’s earliest settlers.

Day 17 - At Sea

A day at sea to enjoy the facilities onboard your Cunard Cruise. 

Day 18 - Victoria, BC Canada

The capital of British Columbia, Victoria, possesses a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary charisma. It offers a wide variety of exquisite sights that draw visitors from around the world. Victoria port guide.

Nestled on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria, is an intoxicating blend of historic streets, Victorian architecture and dramatic craggy coastlines. Here you’ll find a perfect balancing act between old and new, where the legacies left by indigenous populations are imprinted alongside fairy-tale castles and gardens that stay in bloom year-round.

Hop in a seaplane and take in the breathtaking scenery from up high, step back through time at the Royal BC museum or simply absorb the magic of meandering streets and atmospheric squares. Victoria’s character and history is sure to enchant you, while its burgeoning culinary scene offers everything from farm-to-table bistros and vegan-friendly cafés, to traditional teahouses and colourful microbreweries.

Day 19 - Disembark in Seattle

Today marks the end of you Alaska Cruise, disembark the ship in Seattle and transfer to the airport for your onward flight home. 

Alternatively speak to our experts about extending your stay in Seattle or other USA cities.