Elements of the Rockies
Rail, Coach & Cruise Tour
BANFF | ROCKY MOUNTAINEER | VANCOUVER | ALASKAN CRUISE
Experience the beauty of Western Canada on this incredible tour. Explore Banff before boarding the iconic Rocky Mountaineer on a spectacular two-day rail journey through the majestic Canadian Rockies. Arrive in Vancouver, Western Canada's cosmopolitan waterfront before experience the wonder of a 7 night Alaskan Cruise.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Two days onboard the incredible Rocky Mountaineer
- Explore Vancouver, the most liveable city in Canada
- Cruise in style onboard Holland America Line
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Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2-3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14
Day 1 : UK- Banff
Arrive in Banff and check in to your hotel for 3 nights, Banff Caribou. This stunning alpine resort town is filled with boutique shops and restaurants and surrounded by stunning mountain scenery.
Day 2-3 : Banff
The town of Banff is a spirited place, alive with adventure and wonder. In all directions, you’re surrounded by strikingly beautiful and rugged mountains that seem to burst straight out of the ground. The lively streets of downtown are lined with top class restaurants, bars and shops, as well as a vibrant range of art galleries and museums. The locals are warm, open and genuinely connected to the inspiring environment in which they live.
Day 4 : Rocky Mountaineer
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain town of Banff to Kamloops. Your journey takes you through a spectacular array of scenery as you travel between the 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. Overnight in Kamloops moderate hotel.
Day 5 : Rocky Mountaineer - Vancouver
Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On today’s journey you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade 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 Vancouver this evening.
Day 6 : Embark Cruise
Spend this morning taking in the sights of Vancouver before boarding your Holland America Line Cruise this evening.
Day 7 : Cruising the Inside Passage
Today will be spent cruising the Inside Passage. This beautiful scenic waterway reaches 1000 miles from British Columbia to historic Skagway. Through a maze of bays, straits, arms and fjords, you’ll cruise past an ever-changing panorama of unspoiled beauty; cascading waterfalls, virgin forests and majestic glacier-carved fjords.
Day 8 : Juneau
Juneau, Alaska may well be the most remote, most beautiful and strangest state capital in the United States. Surrounded by water, forest and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do in Juneau indoors and outdoors can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio and tour a grand capitol building all in one day. The city itself is pleasant, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay—bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. If you prefer land mammals, catch a floatplane to a nearby wildlife reserve such as Chichagof or Admiralty Island to spy some bears lolling around.
Day 9 : Skagway
At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields, and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history, pristine wildlife and unrivaled natural beauty.
Day 10 : Glacier Bay
Frosted crags descend into mossy forests and a 457-meter-deep (1,500-foot-deep) fjord at this World Heritage Site, which is also one of the planet’s largest biosphere reserves. Stone, ice and water continue to collide, sculpting a dramatic landscape that is the crown jewel of southeastern Alaska’s natural wonders.
Day 11 : Ketchikan
Alaska’s “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it’s the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. Ketchikan has long been an important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries—visitors can try their luck on a sportfishing excursion or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. It is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. You can see intricately carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Park, while the attractions of Saxman Village just outside of Ketchikan offers the chance to see Tlingit culture in action, with working carvers and a dance show in the clan house. And leave time to explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the Ketchikan Creek, where you can shop for souvenirs, smoked salmon and local art, while exploring gold rush–era tourist attractions like Dolly’s House Museum.
Day 12 : Cruising the Inside Passage
Alaska’s Inside Passage is a protected network of waterways that wind through glacier-cut fjords and lush temperate rain forests along the rugged coast of Southeast Alaska. Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.
Day 13 : Arrive Vancovuer
Arrive back in Vancouver at 7am. Disembark after breakfast and today is free to explore Vancouver. Boasting a glorious waterfront setting, Vancouver is consistently voted the best place to live in Canada, and once you’ve visited you’ll see why. Walkable neighbourhoods, fabulous outdoor activities, and an amazing foodie culture makes Vancouver a must-visit destination. Explore this cosmopolitan city and discover its many attractions. Visit Stanley Park, an evergreen oasis just steps away from downtown Vancouver; Granville Island, the bustling heart of Vancouver’s cultural scene, and enjoy panoramic views of picturesque English Bay.
Day 14 : Vancouver - UK
Your holiday ends today when you check out of your hotel and make your way to the airport to board your flight back to the UK.
