Insight's First Class Services

• Airport arrival and departure transfers on the first and last day of your tour
• Escorted by a professional Tour Director (Days 1-13)
• Maximum group size of 40 people
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with extra legroom and restroom facilities
• First-class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Silver & Blue class on board The Canadian train including gratuities to onboard personnel
• All the facilities aboard Holland America’s ms Volendam*

Quality Dining

• 11 Full Breakfasts, 3 Hotel Dinners, 2 Highlight Dinners plus Dine-Around selection of restaurants at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
• 1 Continental Breakfast and 1 Dinner onboard The Canadian train
• 7 Full Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners aboard the ms Volendam*

*Exclusive to 20-Day Coach & Cruise Tour

20 DAYS ~ BRITISH COLUMBIA ~ ALBERTA ~ ALASKA

Tour Pace - Experience the majesty of the Canadian West, enjoying two-night stays in Vancouver, Victoria, Banff and Jasper. Then, after a two-day scenic rail journey from the Rockies to the Pacific, unwind on a seven-night luxury cruise through Alaska’s scenic Inside Passage.

Fellow Passengers - This tour is an excellent choice for a complete Western Canada & Alaska experience. Aside from Alberta’s stunning national parks, there is a chance to explore the remote Sunshine Coast, charming Vancouver Island and dramatic southwest Alaska.

DAY 1 – ARRIVE VANCOUVER.
Welcome to Vancouver! Your tour begins with a complimentary transfer from the airport to your hotel. After meeting with your Tour Director this afternoon, please join us at 6 p.m. for a Welcome Reception. Meet your fellow travelers and prepare yourself for an adventure like no other.
Hotel: Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside.

DAY 2 – VANCOUVER SIGHTSEEING.
Enjoy breakfast at the Vancouver Aquarium and learn about indigenous marine life. Then explore Vancouver. Visit the evergreen oasis of Stanley Park and learn of the significance of the park’s famous totem poles to the aboriginal people. Discover the eclectic community of English Bay and explore Chinatown, North America’s second largest Chinese community after San Francisco’s.Visit historic Gastown, where Vancouver was originally built in 1867. The afternoon is at leisure in Vancouver. End the day with dinner served at a local restaurant before retiring to your hotel. (B,HD)

DAY 3 – VANCOUVER – SUNSHINE COAST.
This morning stop at Cypress Mountain Lookout and marvel at stunning views ofVancouver and the surrounding region.The spectacular wilderness of the Sunshine Coast is just a ferry ride away as you cross Howe Sound. Delight in some of British Columbia’s most beautiful marine landscapes and arrive at your unique wilderness retreat situated in protected Secret Cove. This evening enjoy a delectable dinner at your oasis nestled between the majesty of the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean.
Hotel: Rockwater Secret Cove Resort (B,D)

DAY 4 – SUNSHINE COAST – VICTORIA.
Ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island and journey to the charming village of Chemainus, where antique stores, art galleries, quaint cafes and gift shops appear on every corner. Follow the yellow footprints to the world’s largest outdoor art gallery where artists from around the world painted huge heritage murals on the sides of buildings. Continue on to delightful Victoria, where an orientation tour introduces you to the Inner Harbour, the ornate Parliament Buildings and Bastion Square. Then settle into the plush and welcoming Magnolia Hotel & Spa, your home for the next two nights. As an option this evening, why not experience the magic of Old Chinatown on a guided walking tour, complete with Chinese banquet?
Hotel: The Magnolia Hotel & Spa (B)

DAY 5 – VICTORIA SIGHTSEEING.
Start the day with breakfast at the famous Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of exquisite floral displays, meandering paths and spectacular views. A horticulturist joins you and explains the garden’s history and flora. There is ample time to explore these gardens which have delighted visitors from around the world for over one hundred years. The rest of the day is yours to leisurely explore Victoria. Popular optional activities include a whale watching cruise, horse-drawn carriage ride or a tall ship cruise. Dinner tonight is served at one of Victoria’s restaurants. (B,HD)

DAY 6 – VICTORIA – KELOWNA.
After returning to the mainland, travel alongside the Coast Mountains and over the Cascade Mountain range into the OkanaganValley to Kelowna, one of Canada’s most beloved vacation spots. The lush Okanagan region is Canada’s wine capital with some 60 wineries producing world-class vintages. Visit a beautiful winery and estate situated on a hill with magnificent views of the region.Enjoy a winery tour and sample an array of outstanding local wines. Spend the night at the beautiful Grand Okanagan Resort Hotel, located on the shores of Lake Okanagan.
Hotel: Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort (B)

DAY 7 – KELOWNA – YOHO NATIONAL PARK.
Today journey through three of Canada’s most spectacular national parks: Mount Revelstoke, Glacier and Yoho. Travel from primeval forests to Ice Age glaciers, from spectacular waterfalls to soaring peaks. At Giant Cedar in Mount Revelstoke, enjoy a self- guided walk through a stand of 1,000-year-old red cedars (weather permitting). This afternoon arrive at the historic Emerald Lake Lodge, built of hand-hewn timber and featuring massive stone fireplaces. After dinner,enjoy an informative presentation by an expert on the local history of the region. Later star gaze outside and savour a liqueur and s’mores by a lakeside bonfire.
Hotel: Emerald Lake Lodge (B,D)

DAY 8 – YOHO NATIONAL PARK – BANFF NATIONAL PARK.
Visit spectacular Natural Bridge, patiently carved by the Kicking Horse River. View the famous Spiral Tunnels, constructed so freight trains (typically a mile long) can safely climb the narrow valley. Visit an icon of the Canadian Rockies - Moraine Lake (seasonal), crowned by ten notable peaks before arriving at Lake Louise. Enjoy an interpretive walk along Lake Louise, Canada’s “Diamond in the Wilderness”, and learn about the history and geography of this spectacular area. Later this afternoon arrive at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a spectacular Scottish baronial castle, for a two-night stay in the heart of Banff National Park. This evening, exemplary service and a variety of sumptuous restaurants await you for dinner. Hotel: The Fairmont Banff Springs. (B,DA)

DAY 9 – BANFF SIGHTSEEING.
Tour Banff, then enjoy some leisure time. Perhaps enjoy an optional float trip down the Bow River, a helicopter tour or a guided walk to Sunshine Meadows. This evening why not partake in a fun and entertaining dinner show? (B)

DAY 10 – BANFF NATIONAL PARK – JASPER NATIONAL PARK.
Today motor along the unforgettable Icefields Parkway and witness spectacular scenes such as Crowfoot Glacier (hanging improbably from a cliff face some 900 feet above and Columbia Icefield, North America’s largest sub- polar ice pack. AtAthabasca Glacier,one of the icefield’s six principal“toes,”climb aboard a specially- designed Ice Explorer for a once-in-a-lifetime guided tour over steep grades, snow and ice as you ascend part way up the glacier. Your home for the next two nights is in the heart of Jasper National Park, an alpine wonderland of immense forests, jeweled lakes, soaring waterfalls, soothing mineral hot springs, rugged glaciers, colourful meadows and spectacular mountains. After dinner a local wildlife expert will lead an informative presentation about some of the park’s most interesting residents which include elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, black bear, beaver and caribou.
Hotel: Sawridge Inn (B,D)

DAY 11 – JASPER NATIONAL PARK SIGHTSEEING.
Join your Tour Director for an interpretive walk at Maligne Canyon, one of the most spectacular gorges in the Canadian Rockies. Stroll along the canyon’s trail, past beautiful waterfalls, spectacular rock formations, and learn about the underground river system. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Jasper is the base for a host of optional tours and activities. You can take a gentle rafting trip down the Athabasca River, a boat cruise on Maligne Lake or join a guided nature walk at Mount Edith Cavell along the “Path of the Glacier.” The choice is entirely yours! (B)

DAY 12 – JASPER – THE CANADIAN TRAIN.
Relive the Golden Age of rail travel aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian for one of the world’s great rail journeys. It all begins with a champagne reception after climbing aboard. From the comfort of the Glass-Dome car you can admire immense forests studded with sparkling lakes. At night you’ll be rocked gently to sleep in your private compartment with private facilities that has been converted into a cosy bedroom. And all the while you are pampered by prestigious Silver & Blue service. This is truly “The Art of Touring in Style.” (B,D)

DAY 13 – ARRIVE VANCOUVER – DEPARTURE OR INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE.
Upon your return to Vancouver, head out to North Vancouver and visit the Salmon Hatchery and Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park. Make your way across this spectacular suspension bridge, 230 feet above the Capilano River, and join the award-winning Treetops Adventure, a guided nature tour along a series of elevated walkways. Sadly, we bid farewell to the13-Day Coach Tour guests, who leave the tour with a complimentary transfer to Vancouver International Airport and the Insight hotel in Vancouver. Please do not schedule flights before 5 p.m. (CB) Guests on the 20-Day Coach & Cruise Tour are transferred to Canada Place to board Holland America Line’s ms Volendam* for an unforgettable Inside Passage cruise. (D)

DAY 14 – INSIDE PASSAGE SCENIC CRUISING.
Enter a region so isolated, it can only be accessed by sea or air. Come face to face with the grandeur of the Ice Age. Slowly glide past a maze of bays, glacier-carved fjords, channels and waterways protected from the open sea by islands and other land masses. The ms Volendam is designed for Alaskan cruising with its airy lounges, teak decks and roomy verandahs, allowing for comfortable observation of the ever-changing panorama of unspoiled virgin forests and vast wilderness that stretch from British Columbia to Skagway, Alaska. (B,L,D)

DAY 15 – JUNEAU.
Juneau is a place to let your imagination run wild. Stop in rustic shops offering jade and ivory sculptures, silver jewelry, wooden masks, intricate beadwork and apparel designed by native Alaskans.Visit Gold Rush-era bars such as theAlaska Hotel with its ornateVictorian furnishings or the Red Dog Saloon showcasing Wyatt Earp’s gun. Perhaps take an optional guided tour of the State Capitol or climb aboard the MountRobertsTramway. Follow in the footsteps of the original NorthAmericans as you explore the Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields just outside the city, or trek through the lush Tongass National Forest. And don’t hurry: daylight here lasts well into the evening! (B,L,D)

DAY 16 – SKAGWAY.
Established in 1897 as a trading post for prospectors headed to the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway was once known as “hell on earth,” an untamed, violent town controlled by organized criminals. Today, of course, the town is a bit more civilized, though its colourful past is carefully preserved in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. For a truly memorable excursion, take an optional ride on the narrow gauge White Pass and Yukon Railroad, which was built in 1897 to take miners over treacherous terrain to the distant gold fields.The railway still uses vintage parlor cars, the oldest built in 1883. (B,L,D)

DAY 17 – GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK SCENIC CRUISING.
In the watery wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park, witness a landscape at its literal moment of creation. Your ship becomes a time machine as you travel thousands of years back in time, witnessing the life cycle of a new land from Sitka-spruce forests alive with grizzlies and wolves to the algae, lichens and mosses that were the beginnings of life in the region. In this isolated land the shrill noises of modern life are replaced with the deep, thunderous boom of building-size icebergs calving into the sea from a vast river of ice. It is raw, primordial... and unforgettable. (B,L,D)

DAY 18 – KETCHIKAN.
Welcome to the salmon capital of the world! Part of the town is built along a steep hillside, part is built on pilings over the water where bald eagles watch from waterside perches. An outstanding collection of totem poles makes the town an essential stop for anyone interested in native art. To make the most of your time ashore, consider taking an optional guided tour through town, a harbor cruise or a float plane “flightseeing” trip. If you prefer a more hands-on experience, you can take a sport fishing charter, kayak expedition, jeep ride or mountain excursion on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The adventure never stops. (B,L,D)

DAY 19 – AT SEA.
Today is a day of relaxation as your cruise returns to Vancouver. Take advantage of the ship’s many outstanding facilities, or simply relax on deck with a drink and watch unmatched scenery glide by your floating palace. (B,L,D)

DAY 20 – DEPART VANCOUVER.
After disembarking, a complimentary transfer takes you to Vancouver International Airport and the Insight hotel in Vancouver for guests extending their stay. Please do not schedule flights before 12 p.m. (B)

*Note: Cruise Ship change. Passengers on the April 27th departure will be on the ms Zuiderdam instead of the ms Volendam.

Highlights - Visitors will be spoilt for choice. Admire the immense glaciers and dramatic peaks along the Icefields Parkway; cruise the rugged Sunshine Coast by ferry; take a scenic rail journey across Western Canada; relax for seven nights on board a luxury cruise ship.

Hotels - Contrast the modern comforts of The Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria with the spectacular lake-front Emerald Lake Lodge at Yoho. Stay in the heart of the national parks in Banff and Jasper, while the Holland America Line cruise is the ultimate floating resort.

Enjoy Your Included Tour Features

Premium Highlights

• Enjoy breakfast at the Vancouver Aquarium and learn about indigenous marine life
• Enjoy breakfast at Butchart Gardens and explore the spectacular floral displays
• Tour a renowned winery and taste local vintages in the scenic Okanagan Valley
• Gather around a bonfire overlooking Emerald Lake to roast s’mores and enjoy a liqueur
• Climb aboard a specially-designed Ice Explorer to ascend part way up Athabasca Glacier
• Relive the golden age of rail travel aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian for one of the world’s great rail journeys
• Visit the Salmon Hatchery, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park and join the Treetops Adventure

Personal Insights

• Join an informative talk with a horticulturist at Butchart Gardens
• Learn of the history and early explorers of the area from a local expert at Emerald Lake Lodge
• Stroll along Lake Louise with your Tour Director and enjoy an informative talk
• Enjoy Jasper National Park’s wildlife from a unique perspective at a fun get together with a local expert
• Learn about the underground river system at beautiful Maligne Canyon

Additional Excursions & Sights

• See English Bay, Chinatown, Gastown and the totem poles of Vancouver’s Stanley Park
• Enjoy views over Vancouver from Cyprus Mountain Lookout
• Cruise by ferry along British Columbia’s spectacular Sunshine Coast
• Visit the charming village of Chemainus, renowned for its huge murals
• See the Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings and Bastion Square in Victoria
• Visit five national parks: Mt. Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, Banff and Jasper
• Enjoy a self-guided walk through 1,000-year-old red cedars (weather-permitting)
• See Moraine Lake, the Spiral Tunnels and Natural Bridge in the Rocky Mountains
• Journey along the magnificent Icefields Parkway
• Soak up the beauty of Alaska on a 7-night cruise on the ms Volendam*

Insight's First Class Services

• Airport arrival and departure transfers on the first and last day of your tour
• Escorted by a professional Tour Director (Days 1-13)
• Maximum group size of 40 people
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with extra legroom and restroom facilities
• First-class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Silver & Blue class on board The Canadian train including gratuities to onboard personnel
• All the facilities aboard Holland America’s ms Volendam*

Quality Dining

• 11 Full Breakfasts, 3 Hotel Dinners, 2 Highlight Dinners plus Dine-Around selection of restaurants at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
• 1 Continental Breakfast and 1 Dinner onboard The Canadian train
• 7 Full Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners aboard the ms Volendam*

*Exclusive to 20-Day Coach & Cruise Tour