16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies · 2017-02-17 · journey out on one of...
Transcript of 16 Day Luxury Alaska Cruise & the Spectacular Rockies · 2017-02-17 · journey out on one of...
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
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Process
(B) - Breakfast / (L) - Lunch / (D) - Dinner
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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