Grand Canadian Rockies

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Vancouver. This evening meet your Tauck Tour Director and new travelling companions for a welcome reception and dinner.

Home to an active cultural scene and abundant natural resources, Vancouver is a city steeped in pleasures. This morning’s sightseeing tour includes the Bill Reid Gallery, a showcase for contemporary Aboriginal art of the Northwest Coast. Bill Reid was an acclaimed Haida master goldsmith, carver, sculptor and writer, whose work is on display here. Later, you’ll visit Stanley Park and enjoy lunch at your choice of Granville Island’s tempting eateries. This afternoon, travel by float plane and enjoy flightseeing over the pristine Gulf Islands en route to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, for a two-night stay at a gracious landmark hotel with stunning waterfront views.

Throughout your stay in Victoria, you’ll discover British influences such as double-decker buses, horse-drawn carriages and formal gardens, all surrounded by the rustic beauty of the Pacific coast. You’ll find floral beauty at The Butchart Gardens, exploring 55 magnificent acres of flowers and show gardens. Visit the Sunken Garden, the first to be planted by Jennie Butchart, and stroll through the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden. Following your return to Victoria early in the afternoon you’ll sample afternoon tea at the famed Fairmont Empress. Tonight, explore Downtown’s restaurants, shops and the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf at your leisure.

Board a ferry this morning across the Strait of Georgia to the city of Vancouver, crossing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Travel to the train station for an early afternoon send-off aboard VIA Rail’s ‘The Canadian’ and enjoy your journey to the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies. Celebrate the start of your overnight journey to the with a champagne toast while you dine aboard the train this evening.

Arrive today in Jasper National Park. Travel to The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, in the heart of the park, for breakfast. Mid-morning, take a rafting trip on the amazing Athabasca River where you’ll be awed by the region’s natural beauty as it envelops you on your journey along the river. Enjoy a BBQ lunch in the Clubhouse then travel to Maligne Canyon, which is the deepest canyon in the Rockies. Return to Jasper mid-afternoon and spend the remainder of the day as you please.

Enjoy your day at leisure among the carefully protected ecosystems and photographer’s paradise of Jasper National Park. Take a paddleboat on Lake Beauvert, go on a trail ride or a guided nature walk, play a round of golf or visit the historic town of Jasper on your own, the possibilities are endless. This evening, a presentation by a Parks Canada official precedes dinner at your choice of restaurants at the lodge.

The Icefields Parkway, linking Jasper and Lake Louise, is among North America’s most spectacular drives. Travel this roadway today as it winds through snow-domed peaks and past hanging glaciers; keep watch for wandering elk, deer, bighorn sheep or bears. At the Athabasca Glacier, board a specially designed Ice Explorer for a smooth, slow ride up this 7,200-ft.-high part of the Columbia Icefield. Your final destination today is Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, set within Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will enjoy a lake-view room and dinner.

Spend the morning at leisure indulging in the amenities and natural beauty of your Lake Louise resort. This afternoon, enjoy a change of scenery and resorts when you settle into your resort in Banff National Park. Wonders like the Cave and Hot Spring Basin, discovered by Canadian Pacific Railway workers, led to this park’s establishment in the early 1880s. Enjoy dinner this evening at leisure at The Fairmont Banff Springs.

Go on a gentle rafting float trip* down the Bow River not far from your hotel. The natural beauty of the mountains and forests envelops you along the river, and your local guide will help you spot the resident wildlife. The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish from your grand alpine resort, built more than a century ago in the style of Scottish baronial castles. You might choose to explore the town of Banff or your resort offers a full range of optional activities. Take a guided nature walk, book a treatment at the renowned Willow Stream Spa, enjoy horseback riding, play a round of golf, or explore the town of Banff.  Tonight you are invited for a farewell reception and dinner at the fabulous Fairmont Banff Springs.

This morning, following breakfast make the final journey from Banff to Calgary Airport where you check-in for your flight back to the UK.