16 Day Canada & Alaska Small Group Tour
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
A land of rugged hills, rushing waters and undisturbed wildlife, Alaska is as big as it is wild. Whether you're watching whales splash in the Pacific Ocean, gazing up at towering ice formations like the Hubbard Glacier or journeying by train deep into the last frontier on Anchorage's Coastal Classic Railroad, Alaska is sure to quench any explorer's thirst.
✓ Incredible sightseeing including western Canada's snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes, explore Vancouver and Calgary's cosmopolitan heartbeat, board an Ice Explorer on Athabasca Glacier and cruise the breathtaking Inside Passage to Alaska
✓ Small group experience with no more than 20 travellers
✓ 2 inspiring nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the Castle in the Rockies
✓ 6 nights accommodation in central 3-star accommodation
✓ 7 nights cruising the Inside Passage and Alaska with Royal Caribbean on board the Enchantment of the Seas in an inside cabin (upgrades available) with gratuities included
✓ Breakfast daily, 6 lunches and 9 dinners
✓ English speaking Tour Director from Day 1 to 7
✓ Arrival airport transfer
✓ Dedicated transportation as outlined in the itinerary
✓ All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Canada! Upon arrival at Calgary International Airport, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel for the night.
In the morning, a highlight sightseeing tour of Calgary will take you to the downtown core, see an impressive view of the Calgary Tower, the famous Calgary Stampede Grounds, the Pengrowth Saddle Dome, the financial and shopping district
and many other points of interest. Then, we depart from Calgary and travel along the Trans-Canada Highway into the Canadian Rockies and into Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. Enjoy a tour of Banff National Park, featuring the Banff town site, Tunnel Mountain, a spectacular view of the Banff Springs Hotel, Johnston Canyon and the Hoodoos, and the Bow Valley Parkway.
This afternoon, we check in to our 'Castle in the Rockies' for the next two nights, the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. Welcoming guests for over 130 years, the Fairmont Banff Springs is a jewel in the Rockies crown, and provides the perfect place to relax. Enjoy an included dinner tonight at one of the world-class restaurants on offer.
Enjoy a day at leisure in Banff today. There is so much to do at your hotel, or you might wish to venture further afield with one of our optional tours. Tonight, enjoy another included dinner at your hotel.
A breath taking ascent to the pinnacle of Sulphur Mountain for an awe inspiring 360-degree panorama of sheer mountain majesty. Enjoy the interpretative hiking trails that lead along the ridge of the mountain. After an invigorating hike why not enjoy one of the two excellent restaurants at the summit.
An excellent introduction to the dramatic views of helicopter sightseeing, this 20 minute tour of the Spray Lakes and Spray Valley takes you over the forested slopes of Mount Buller, a favourite destination for many intermediate climbers. The tree line stops well short of the summit, offering a dramatic view of the shale patterns rocky outcroppings of the surrounding mountains of the Goat Range as they tumble into the trees of the Spray Valley. Minimum 2 passengers required.
The journey today may be the highlight of our program. We travel north along the Icefields Parkway to experience a wealth of breathtaking scenery. Crystal blue-green lakes, fresh mountain streams, deep forests, and snow-capped mountain peaks are the order of the day. After taking a sno coach ride along the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefields, we enter Jasper National Park and join the Athabasca
River as it leads us into the town of Jasper.
Today is yours at leisure to explore all that Jasper and it's surrounding wilderness has to offer. You may wish to explore independently from your centrally located hotel, or join one of our optional tours.
A guided 1.5 km walk over 3 hours where you will be visiting four restaurants and tasting four carefully handpicked dishes, each paired with an alcoholic beverage. Along the way you will learn about Jasper’s history and taking in some of the town’s best tales.
This scenic tour is operated in a glass-enclosed, heated cruise boat and is fully narrated by a Transport Canada licensed crew. Mid-way through the cruise there is a stop at Spirit Island where passengers disembark for a short walk to the lookout point - a wonderful photo opportunity not to be missed!
After breakfast today, we are heading westward to Kamloops. Our route takes along the Yellowhead Highway past Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies. From here we drive deep into the interior of British Columbia.We pass through the town of Clearwater before making stop at Wells Gray Park and Helmcken Falls.
Continue along the Thompson River, through the Shuswap Highlands to Kamloops and the rolling, dusty ranchland of the interior plateau. On arrival in Kamloops, enjoy the evening at leisure.
We leave the dusty, rolling ranch land of "cowboy country" and follow the dramatic course of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers, the road clinging to sheer canyon walls within the turbulent waters rushing below. Approaching the Pacific Coast, the canyon opens into a broad fertile valley with mountain backdrops. Our destination is Vancouver, a vibrant seaside city framed by the Coastal Mountains.
Today a morning sightseeing tour of Vancouver begins with a drive around Stanley Park, stopping at the Totem Poles. Continue on via Canada Place and the waterfront, Chinatown, North America’s second largest and finally, historic Gastown with its 19th Century buildings, cobblestone streets and hidden passageways. You will also visit Granville Island with its famous public market and many crafts and artisans shops.
The afternoon is yours at leisure to further explore Vancouver's bustling streets.
You have some time this morning for some last minute shopping before being transferred to the Vancouver Cruise Terminal to board your Alaskan Inside Passage cruise.
Once you have checked in to the cruise, begin exploring all that your ship has to offer. Note, the cruise portion of this tour will be unescorted.
Ports of call may vary cruise to cruise based on ship schedules.
Your ship offers the perfect platform for viewing British Columbia’s Inside Passage. This archipelago spans 25,000 miles from Seattle to Prince Rupert near the Alaskan border. Here you’ll ply calm waters sheltered between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. Along the way catch a glimpse of breathtakingly rugged scenery, plus staggering wildlife like salmon sharks, white spirit bears, and millions of seabirds.
Sitka truly offers the best of Alaska. Its small-town appeal stems from a unique blend of Russian, Tlingit and American history. Its snow-capped peaks and volcanic Mount Edgecumbe pose amongst the state’s most postcard-worthy scenes. And its rare wildlife astounds, from Saint Lazaria Island’s orange-beaked puffins to Alaska Maritime Refuge’s 40 million seabirds. This is off-the-beaten-track Alaska, where you can kayak Sitka Sound alongside swimming sea otters or fly-fish for the world’s biggest halibut. Whether it’s hiking along Baranof Island trails or listening to tribal stories passed down for generations, in Sitka the midnight sun never sets on adventure.
You can’t get to Juneau easily without a sprint by air or by sea. But once you arrive you’ll find majestic views and rich culture in every corner. With its snowcapped mountains, misty rainforests, massive glaciers and bounty of wildlife, Alaska’s remote state capital is the perfect place to dive into nature. Framed by Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, the city’s picturesque central area offers centuries-old bars, boutique shops and historical landmarks. For a taste of the local culture, visit the historic district and the Alaska State Museum. And for outdoor thrills, you can take your pick of activities ranging from whale watching in Auke Bay Harbour to tundra trekking over Mendenhall Glacier, and even try your hand at gold panning in Last Chance Basin.
The tiny town of Skagway still looks like it did during the Klondike Gold Rush over 100 years ago – and today it remains an outpost for thrilling Alaskan adventure. An old-time tram ride along bustling Broadway Street reveals well-preserved buildings, including the state’s oldest hotel. You can see engraved walrus tusks at the Corrington Museum, or get lost in riveting historical reenactments around town. If outdoor adventure is more your thing, there are plenty of ways to ramp up the adrenaline, from sledding with Alaskan Huskies on Laughton Glacier to rafting on Lynn Canal, the longest fjord in North America.
Tracy Arm Fjord extends over 30 miles alongside the wilderness of Tongass National Forest. Sailing through this deep and narrow passage delivers some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll find in Alaska. See active glaciers carved into 7,000-foot-tall mountain peaks and plunging waterfalls burrowed into evergreen-clad cliffs. Glimpse native wildlife and watch deep blue icebergs float past the ship.
Discover the twin Sawyer Glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord. While viewing the massive face of these tidewater glaciers, spanning more than a half-mile wide, you can hear the roar and feel the rumble of huge pieces of ice calving into the water in spectacular display.
Tracy Arm Fjord is home to a spectacular array of wildlife. See pigeon guillemots, kittiwakes and arctic terns. Mountain goats graze on rocky slopes, while newborn seal pups sun on ice floes. Glimpse black bears hunting for lunch and soaring eagles— or watch for the fluke of a whale diving below.
Today is a full day to relax and enjoy the many activities, restaurants and entertainment your ship has to offer.
Welcome back to Vancouver. Your ship will arrive in port at approximately 7:00AM this morning. At the appropriate time, disembark your Alaska cruise and make your own way to the airport for your onward flight. We hope you have had an unforgettable experience in Canada.
For the ultimate Canadian experience, you may wish to upgrade to the Rocky Mountaineer between Jasper and Vancouver. To see our range of Rocky Mountaineer packages, click HERE.
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support
We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling off period.
Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7 day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply. Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to [email protected]
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Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be affected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”.
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision. For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for $5 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest $4 per person, per day. We do have an option to pre-pay the tipping for the coach portion of your itinerary at a cost of $107AUD per person, which can be added to your booking.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
The single supplement is $3,390 per person in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport Information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return to New Zealand.
CANADA - An E-Visa waiver is required.
To begin your visa application please click HERE.
Information required:
Wait for it to be approved and you will be notified via email within approximately 48 hours.
USA - An E-Visa waiver is required.
To begin your visa application please click HERE.
Information required:
Wait for it to be approved and you will be notified via email within approximately 48 hours.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
10-20 people
Trip Style - Small Group Tour
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. You will travel with only a maximum of 20 other guests. Enjoy choice features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Children
Children must be 5 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Give your routine a rest and press pause on reality, because adventure is well within reach. Whether you’re dining in one of the onboard restaurants, or soaking up the sunshine poolside at the adults-only Solarium, Enchantment of the Seas is what getaway goals are made of.
Spend your time poolside soaking up sunshine and serenity, or fill your days with new ways to play and non-stop action on every deck. On this ship, how you live it up is entirely up to you.
Stateroom Details;
Each stateroom aboard Enchantment of the Seas includes the follwing services and amenities;
Complimentary 24-hour In-Room Dining
Daily Housekeeping
Nightly turndown service
Generous Storage
Safes for your valuables
Stateroom Bedding;
INSIDE - Included
Two lower beds convertible to one Royal King bed, with seating and a desk. Each room includes a private bathroom, vanity area, hair dryer, TV and phone. (Approximately 12 square metres).
OCEAN VIEW - From an additional $369 per person, twin share (Single from an additional $803)
These staterooms include two lower beds convertible to one Royal King bed—includes seating and a desk, with a window allowing natural light into the room. Each room includes a private bathroom, vanity area, hair dryer, TV and phone. (Approximately 12 square metres).
OCEANVIEW BALCONY CABIN UPGRADE - From an additional $690 per person, twin share (Single from an additional $1,380)
Sliding glass doors open onto your private balcony from this comfortable stateroom, which includes two lower beds convertible to one Royal King bed. Each room includes a private bathroom, vanity area, hair dryer, TV and phone. — (Approximately 18 square metres with a 4sqm balcony).
Cabin Upgrades and prices are subject to availability upon booking. Please note your upgrade option as a "Special Request" when booking and our team will be in touch with a confirmed quote. If we are unable to confirm your request, we will quote alternative options.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities:
Optional tour descriptions can be found in the day by day itinerary.
All optional tours include transfers from hotel. Transfer back to hotel at conclusion of optional tours possible but not guaranteed depending on the location of the coach.
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with our reservations staff for assistance.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability. We appreciate your understanding.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving early or staying longer upon conclusion of the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post tour accommodation
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