16 Day Inspiring Canada & Alaska With Rocky Mountaineer

Welcome to Calgary! Make your own way to your downtown hotel where upon checking-in, you have the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Calgary International Airport (YYC) is located approximately 20km from downtown Calgary. There are a range of transportation options available. You can purchase a private airport transfer when completing your booking, or taxis are available for approximately CAD$45-55 per vehicle.

This morning we set out to meet fellow travellers at breakfast before we tour the sights of Calgary. We admire such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind we set our sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as we first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff 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, the Hoodoos, the Bow Valley Parkway, and the world-famous Lake Louise. 

Today is yours at leisure to further explore Canmore and Banff National Park. You may wish to take part in an optional tour to the Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield.

 Note: If you do not select the Columbia Icefield optional tour, you may still travel with the coach to the icefield for time at leisure while the other travellers are riding the Ice Explorer.

Our drive today is on the famed TransCanada Highway, following a route chartered by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid 1800's.

Kicking Horse Pass leads us from the Rockies into the Columbia River Valley before we climb through Rogers Pass in Glacier National park. The Selkirk Mountains receive massive amounts of winter snow and are home to over one hundred active avalanche zones.

We continue through the Monashee Mountain Range to the rugged interior town of Vernon.

Today, we leave the Okanagan Valley and mountains behind, passing through the lower mainland. Few roads in Canada pass through a greater variety of vegetation within such a short distance, than Highway 3 between Osoyoos and Tashme. At the western end there are dense rain forests; to the east is a desert where prickly pear cactus thrives.

We drive the Coquihalla Highway and then enter Vancouver.

Upon arrival, we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vancouver featuring highlights as Stanley Park to see the collection of totem poles, English Bay, trendy Robson Street, Gastown, Chinatown, Canada Place and the Cruise Ship Pier.

You have some time this morning for some last minute shopping before being transferred to the Vancouver Cruise Terminal for your journey to Alaska. Your included transfer to the cruise port departs at approximately 1pm.

Once you have checked in to the cruise, begin exploring all that your ship has to offer. 

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.

Upon arrival at Vancouver’s Canada Place Cruise Terminal met by our guide. Your transfer will depart at approx 9am, please plan your cruise disembarkation accordingly. Your included coach transfer will take you to your downtown hotel where you can drop off your luggage (check in will be after 4pm). The rest of the day at leisure.

Early this morning, transfer from the hotel to North Vancouver to Rocky Mountaineer Train Station to start your rail journey of a lifetime.

On today's journey, you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the B.C. Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Cascade and Coast Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Kamloops this evening. 

Your journey takes you through ever-changing scenery as you travel between the iconic glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the interior. Today's highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven.

On arrival in Banff, join your included transfer to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

At the appropriate time today, join your included transfer to Calgary Airport for your onward journey.