Western Journey: Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver & More
- Duration
- 7 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,358
MODERATE | ESCORTED COACH TOUR: From the Rockies to the Pacific, traversing some of Canada’s most breathtaking landscapes, is a fantastic experience. And it can be done in a week. Sandwiched between the big city flair of Calgary and Vancouver, this trip dishes up scenic highlights every day. The majestic beauty of Banff National Park, the turquoise waters of Lake Louise and Glacier National Park are names to remember but there’s dramatic volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and gorgeous meadows everywhere.
WESTERN JOURNEY - WH
Overview
This moderate 7-day escorted coach tour takes you from the Rockies to the Pacific, all in one experience-filled week. Nature is the star of this trip, naturally, but you will also have enough big-city experiences to satisfy any culinary and culture cravings. Travelling from the prairies of Calgary, Alberta, to the coastal beauty of Vancouver, British Columbia, expect scenic highlights every day: heritage and history, mountainous beauty, glacial ice fields, deep canyons, dense forests, and emerald-green lakes. Explore the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier Board aboard a giant Ice Explorer, enjoy scenic float plane sightseeing tour over Garibaldi Park, stroll the winding streets of Whistler Resort, and discover Vancouver, a coastal gem known for its multicultural cuisine and its pioneering history.
Depending on your time of arrival, the first day in Calgary is at leisure. Visit Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada’s largest living history museum, or soar up to the Calgary Tower’s observation deck, browse the boutique shops, and end with an Alberta beef dinner at a downtown, award-winning steakhouse.
Set out early the next morning to tour the sights of Calgary, viewing modern and historic landmarks such as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary, and the commercial district. Set your sights on the distant Rocky Mountains, your next destination. Travel through the foothills and enter Banff National Park, with its snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers, and abundant wildlife. Tour the area, seeing landmarks like the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Overnight in Canmore, Alberta, a tiny town with outsized views of no less than five different, stunningly-beautiful mountain ranges.
Spend the next day at leisure in Banff, or join the optional full-day tour to the Columbia Icefield, travelling along the scenic, world-famous Icefields Parkway. Board a giant Ice Explorer for the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. Bring your sunglasses: the snowy glacier surface can be very bright! If time permits, experience the icefield Skywalk, an exciting one-kilometre walkway leading to a stunning viewing platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot drop.
Leave Canmore and travel onward to the central British Columbia city of Kamloops. Cross Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park, en route to Glacier National Park, and through the Monashee and Selkirk Mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops, where you will spend the night. Expect a gradual scenery change today with Douglas firs gradually giving way to grasslands and cattle country.
Dramatic scenery changes abound the next day when your group leaves the ranch lands and heads for the coastal mountains. In the resort town of Whistler, an optional float plane sightseeing tour over Garibaldi Park makes for some wonderful photos of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and meadows. Overnight in pretty Whistler Village, nestled at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, and enjoy the endless array of shops, cafés and bars, restaurants, and legendary aprés-ski nightlife options.
The next day, your group heads south along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. The cosmopolitan city of Vancouver is your final destination, and offers a myriad of cultural, culinary, and natural attractions and experiences.
First, explore the metropolis on a sightseeing tour, with highlights including Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown and tiny Chinatown. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stunning coastal city further on your own. Don’t worry about dinner plans: Vancouver is home to hundreds of fantastic downtown area restaurants, brew pubs, and outdoor dining patios.
On Day 7, make your way to Vancouver’s international airport for your return flight (unless you plan to extend your memorable stay).
- Duration
- 7 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,358
Itinerary View Trip Map
Arrival in Calgary (Saturday)
Arrive at Calgary’s International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of your day is at leisure, and you might visit Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada’s largest living history museum or go up the Calgary Tower’s observation deck which offers a spectacular 360° view across the bustling city, the majestic Rocky Mountains, rolling foothills, and expansive prairie landscape. Alternatively, you can always browse the boutique shops and other attractions of the downtown area. Overnight Calgary.
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Calgary to Banff National Park/Canmore (Sunday)
You set out early this morning to tour the sights of Calgary, admiring such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary, and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind you can set your sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as you first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff National Park. Touring the region around Banff amidst its snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes is a fantastic experience, as are landmarks like the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Canadian breakfast included. Overnight Canmore
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 Nights |
Canmore/Banff National Park (Monday)
The entire day is at leisure to tour the Banff area or browse through the many boutiques and specialty shops along Banff Avenue. An optional full-day tour is offered to the Columbia Icefield. The tour starts with a visit to the turquoise waters and spectacular glacier of Lake Louise, the jewel of the Rockies. From the unsurpassed beauty of Lake Louise, you enter a rugged wilderness as you travel up the world-famous Icefields Parkway. At the spectacular Columbia Icefield, you board an Ice Explorer that takes you onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier, returning late in the afternoon. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Canmore
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|
Canmore to Kamloops (Tuesday)
Today’s drive is on the famed Trans-Canada Highway, following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid-1800s. The tour of the Canadian parks system continues as you cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. From the highway, you are treated to a dazzling display of vast icefields, deep canyons, dense forests, and glacier-fed streams. One awe-inspiring landscape follows another en route to Glacier National Park as you continue through the Monashee and Selkirk Mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Kamloops.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 Night |
Kamloops to Whistler (Wednesday)
You can expect a day of dramatic changes of scenery when you drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. An optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over Garibaldi Park gives you an inspiring view of a natural preserve of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and meadows. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Whistler.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 Night |
Whistler to Vancouver (Thursday)
Driving south along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway takes you through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. Arriving in Vancouver, the countryside is left behind to explore the metropolis of Vancouver on a sightseeing tour. Highlights include Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown and bustling Chinatown. The afternoon is free to discover more of this coastal gem on your own. Continental breakfast included. Overnight Vancouver.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 Night |
Vancouver (Friday)
Make your way to Vancouver’s International Airport in time to check in for your return flight unless you plan to extend your stay. Canadian breakfast included.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|
Other Information
DEPARTURES:
2024 Saturday departures
May 18
June 1, 15
July 6, 20
August 3, 24, 31
September 7, 14
PRICE INCLUDES:
- Transportation by modern tour coach
- Experienced tour driver
- Tour director throughout
- 6 nights moderate hotel accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Shared Banff sightseeing tour
- Shared Calgary sightseeing tour
- Shared Vancouver sightseeing tour
- Baggage handling (1 piece per person)
- Provincial Taxes and Federal GST
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
- Entrances fees to sites not explicitly listed as included
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa fees if applicable
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request - please inquire.
14 Sep 2024
