Grand Journey on Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer & Alaskan Cruise

Grand Journey on Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer & Alaskan Cruise

The magnificent Rocky Mountains are Canada’s crowning glory - home to majestic elk, and bears, with vast forests and opaque lakes of stunning turquoise reflecting the magnificent scenery like no other place on earth. Carpets of wildflowers adorn the green meadows spread beneath the towering glaciers - huge expanses of white ice and snow, contrasting with the muted greys and pinks of the jagged peaks.

Our seven-night cruise to Alaska is available as an extension on all departures. Spend two days at sea sailing the calm, sheltered waters of the famed Inside Passage, and in Alaska, cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, traveling through a landscape that was completely covered by a 20-mile-wide glacier just 200 years ago, with visits to the historic ports of Skagway and Ketchikan.

Truly awesome scenery, with enchanting wildlife, is what you can expect on this thrilling tour- you are sure to return with some amazing lifelong memories.

What's Included:

• 7 nights on Koningsdam
• Return flights & transfers
• 5 included experiences
• Rocky Mountaineer train (2 days, incl selected drinks & staff gratuities)
• 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches, plus full board on Koningsdam
• Expert Tour Manager
• Checked luggage
• 7 nights in in three to four-star accommodation

Highlights:

• Experience the drama of the magnificent Rocky Mountains in unrivaled luxury on the Rocky Mountaineer train. Enjoy impeccable SilverLeaf service for two days on board, including two breakfasts and two lunches.
• Embark on guided visits to Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, and the Athabasca Glacier plus ride on the Snocoach and a tour of Vancouver.
• Travel on the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic highways, and walk on the 300-metre-thick Athabasca glacier.
• Book from a huge selection of shore excursions, such as glacier helicopter flights, bear and whale watching, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and even dog-sledding.
• Visit the awe-inspiring Glacier Bay National Park, a World Heritage Site home to actively calving glaciers and humpback whales, and enjoy a 7-night, full-board Alaskan cruise with Holland America Line.

Day 1: Arrival in Calgary

Begin your journey to Calgary.

Day 2: Calgary

Today you start off your spectacular journey from Calgary across the gently rolling prairies of Alberta and soon the amazing slate-grey, snow-capped peaks of the Rockies come into view. On arrival in Banff, we'll check into our hotel for the next three nights and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 3: Banff

In the morning our breathtaking journey is along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular roads in the world, with stunning mountain vistas.Your first stop is famous Lake Louise, completely encircled by high peaks, perhaps the most photographed view in the Rockies. We then take in Peyto Lake, one of the world’s most beautiful azure-blue glacial waters.

Finally, we see the Columbia Icefield, the largest in the Rockies, covering an area of over 200 square miles with depths of over 1,000 feet. Ride on a giant ‘Snocoach’ (weather permitting) across the Athabasca Glacier for a closer inspection of the massive crevasses before returning to Banff.

Day 4: Free Day

Today we have a free day. Why not take a leisurely ‘float’ trip on the Bow River or a dip in Banff’s relaxing hot springs. There are also helicopter trips on offer, or perhaps a ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain at 7,500 feet on the Banff gondola. Several walks commence from the peak and there’s also a restaurant with an open-air terrace. Also very popular is afternoon tea at the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, built in the style of a massive Scottish baronial castle.

Day 5: Rocky Mountaineer

In the morning you will set off on what is one of the world’s greatest train journeys! Crossing high passes, deep ravines and innumerable spectacular bridges, places that can only be seen by rail, the Rocky Mountaineer is acknowledged as the ultimate way to travel through the beautifully rugged terrain of Alberta and British Columbia.

Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer you’ll be led to your assigned comfortable reclining seats, with plenty of legroom and large panoramic windows. The train begins its spectacular two day 585-mile journey following the wide Bow River valley before crossing the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass.

Next come the famed spiral tunnels, an engineering marvel built 100 years ago, and as we follow the Columbia River we cross the dramatic 500-foot steel span of Stoney Creek bridge. The excellent on-board commentary highlights the intriguing history of the towns en route and the building of the railway itself.

Meals in SilverLeaf Class include excellent hot meals served at your seat on each day including complimentary snacks, tea and coffee, non-alcoholic drinks, plus beer and house wine with lunch, all served at your seat (bar service at extra cost). Upgrade to the excellent GoldLeaf Services and their impressive Dome carriages.

Day 6: Vancouver

Continue your journey to Vancouver. Following the Fraser and Thomson River canyons, passing the Jaws of Death Gorge, Avalanche Alley and Hell’s Gate Canyon, we criss-cross the river many times as we travel through some of British Columbia’s most scenic country.

You will finally reach Vancouver during the afternoon after a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Day 7: Vancouver

Vancouver regularly features as one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities: the blue of the Pacific Ocean with its picturesque harbour, the glass skyscrapers reflecting the sunlight and the lush coastal mountains form a stunning backdrop. In the morning, tour the city stopping at Stanley Park, with its famous collection of totem poles and Prospect Point, which offers lovely views.

The afternoon is at leisure - there’s plenty to see and do in this sophisticated city. A popular, easy walk starts from Vancouver’s waterfront pedestrian promenade to the huge expanse of Stanley Park. The path continues along the seashore and offers stunning vistas across the bay until you reach English Bay’s sandy beach, a lovely spot to watch the sunset.

Day 8: Embark Koningsdam

For all those continuing on to our Holland America Line Inside Passage cruise, embarkation on the Koningsdam begins at 11.30am and cabins are normally available from around 1pm. You will be hosted by the ship's crew and staff for your 7 night cruise. Our ship sails at 5pm, passing below Vancouver’s spectacular Lion’s Gate suspension bridge.

Day 9: At Sea

Your first full day at sea and there’s plenty of time to ease into shipboard life and take in the amazing scenery of the Inside Passage. For anyone who prefers a little more activity, there are a huge variety of onboard talks and activities available.

This evening is the first formal night of the cruise.

Day 10: Juneau

Spend the morning cruising to the Tracy Arm Inlet, from here its possible to take an excursion into the Fjord to see the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Hemmed in by near vertical icescoured granite mountainsides, the glaciers are surrounded by a wild and barren landscape – reminiscent of the last Ice Age! Look out for harbour seals basking on the many ice floes in the bay.

After lunch you'll arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. From here there’s a widely varying selection of shore excursions on offer, ranging from flying to a glacier by helicopter and dogsledding with teams of huskies, to whale-watching, kayaking, a typical Alaskan salmon bake, fly fishing by sea plane and a variety of hikes in the surrounding area.

Day 11: Skagway

An early start today as we arrive in Skagway at 7am. Your ship remains here all day allowing plenty of time to explore this historic gateway to the Klondike, originally a lawless tented city during its gold rush days.

The shore excursions include a number of helicopter glacier sightseeing opportunities, but what makes Skagway unique is that it’s the start of the White Pass and Yukon railroad and there are a number of excursions that include a fascinating ride on the restored carriages of this 100-year-old route through the Alaskan wilderness.

The most striking feature of Alaska is the sheer sense of isolation and tranquil beauty. People are a rarity, settlements more so; the land is not farmed or used by man in any way and the forests, seemingly, unmanaged! There’s wildlife galore, safe in the sanctuary of this pristine wilderness - there are few places like this left on the planet.

Day 12: Glacier Bay

Today is yet another tour highlight as your cruise-ship slowly enters the magnificent Glacier Bay National Park, with eight actively calving glaciers, more than anywhere else on Earth, access to this amazing spectacle is strictly controlled by the US Parks Service. Surrounded by snow-clad 10,000-foot peaks of the Fairweather Range, the nutrient-rich waters teem with salmon and humpback whales. On-shore it’s also home to black bears, moose and wolves.

Your ship will spend the day cruising this huge area comprising 900 square miles of marine waters and although we do not actually dock anywhere, National Park Service rangers will come on board to provide specialist commentary and answer any questions.

Day 13: Ketchikan

After a morning’s cruising, you will arrive at the small town of Ketchikan after lunch, where a number of breath-taking trips are available, via seaplane, into the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument or the remote Tongass National Forest – a perfect environment, only accessible by air, where bears can be spotted fishing for salmon.

Amongst the many other activities available, there’s salmon fishing, a crab feast, sea kayaking, and for the really adventurous, a ‘zip-line’ descent through the forest canopy!

Day 14: At Sea

Our last full day is spent at sea returning through the Inside Passage.

Day 15: Return home

Arrive back in Vancouver in the morning before saying goodbye and starting the journey home.

Day 16: Arrive home

You arrive back home, with some wonderful memories.