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| Grand Canadian Rockies
A 9-Day tour starting from $3,750
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This action-packed trip features a classic Canada rail tour from Vancouver into the Canadian Rockies highlighted by stunning mountain vistas from a private domed observation car. But the adventure doesn’t stop there. Enjoy a floatplane ride over the Gulf Islands, a ferry cruise to Victoria, an Ice Explorer ride across Athabasca Glacier, and a float trip down the Bow River. See Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier, Icefields Parkway, and one of Canada’s highest waterfalls. Tour Victoria’s Butchart Gardens and the city of Vancouver. Explore three national parks that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And stay at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' finest properties in Western Canada. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach, ferry and float-plane transportation, first-class overnight accommodations onboard the VIA Rail’s The Canadian and the exclusive use of the private, domed observation car, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling, and the services of local guides, drivers and the tour Director are included.
Transportation from Vancouver International Airport to The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver is not included. On the last day of the tour, Tauck will provide one group transfer in the morning from The Fairmont Banff Springs to Calgary International Airport. Please allow at least two hours for flight check-in. Hotel and Train Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and train accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended for comfort. Onboard The Canadian, doubles are accommodated in a bedroom with a window and two armchairs, which are replaced by upper and lower beds for sleeping. Amenities include a small closet, mirror, sink/vanity and private toilet. Singles are accommodated in smaller single bedrooms with a window seat that converts into a bed folding out from the wall. Triples are accommodated in one double bedroom and one single bedroom. Amenities include sink/vanity, mirror and toilet; single bedroom toilet is not accessible when bed is lowered. There are rest rooms, and a public shower, in each sleeping car; each sleeping car accommodates 20 guests and has one shower stall. Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Tour Director – Each ‘Grand Canadian Rockies’ tour is conducted by a Tour Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your tour Director is a professional, fully trained employee. Gratuities Included – All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staffs and local guides are included. No Options Sold – Your Tour Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.
1. Arrive Vancouver
Tour begins: 6:00 PM at The Fairmont Waterfront. A warm welcome awaits in Vancouver. One of the most beautifully sited cities in North America, cosmopolitan Vancouver dazzles with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, majestic mountains and a glittering skyline. We invite you to join us for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D 2. Vancouver / Stanley Park Chosen as the host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and steeped in charm, Vancouver is home to a vibrant cultural scene, rich history and abundant natural resources. View the city’s landmark attractions and sights on a guided sightseeing excursion, including historic Gastown, Chinatown, and trail-laced Stanley Park. The afternoon and evening are free to explore Vancouver as you please. Bustling with cafés and fine restaurants that serve a wide variety of cuisines, the city is renowned for its unique Pacific Northwest cooking. Meals B 3. Victoria / Flightseeing Board a ferry early this morning and cruise through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, where you’ll discover a bit of England amidst the rustic beauty of the Pacific Coast, including stately Victorian architecture and rose gardens. Visit The Butchart Gardens, home to 55 colorful acres of flowers and garden styles, then fly by floatplane over the Gulf Islands back to Vancouver. Upon arrival, it’s all aboard The Canadian for an overnight rail excursion that takes you from the Pacific coast to Canada’s awe-inspiring national parks. Dine on the train en route to the majestic alpine sanctuary known as the Canadian Rockies. Meals BD 4. Canadian Rockies by Rail As a Tauck exclusive, you can enjoy some of North America’s most spectacular alpine scenery from a private domed observation car. Enjoy a relaxing ride as the train winds along the North Thompson River and through the valleys of the mountain ranges. Towering peaks and glacial remnants line the route of this wilderness area that, until 30 years ago, was only accessible by rail. Cross the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta. Arrive in Jasper National Park for a two-night stay at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Meals BD 5. Jasper National Park Today is spent at leisure at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in the heart of Jasper National Park, pursuing what interests you most. The park’s incredible scenery is comprised of carefully protected ecosystems, and is a photographer’s paradise. There are numerous optional activities available at the lodge, including trail riding, tennis, golf, hiking, and swimming. Meals BD 6. Travel the Icefields Parkway The Icefields Parkway, linking Jasper and Lake Louise, is one of North America’s most spectacular drives. Travel the road as it winds between snow-domed peaks and immense hanging glaciers; you may see elk, deer, bighorn sheep or bears. A specially designed Ice Explorer takes you for a ride on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield. One of the largest ice masses outside of the Arctic Circle, its meltwaters flow into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Arrive late afternoon for an overnight stay at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, overlooking Victoria Glacier and Lake Louise. In the spring there can be snow, framing the lake and glacier with snowbound peaks. Meals BLD 7. Yoho National Park and Banff Travel through Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park to see the Natural Bridge, the Spiral Tunnels and the Continental Divide. Spend the afternoon enjoying the spectacular scenery of Lake Louise and Banff National Park before continuing on your journey to The Fairmont Banff Springs. In the early 1880s, the accidental discovery of the Cave and Basin Hot Springs by several Canadian Pacific Railway workers led to the establishment of Banff National Park, the first in Canada’s history. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs was built in 1888 as Canadian Pacific opened tourism to the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight at this fabulous alpine resort. Meals BLD 8. Bow River Valley Rafting Take a raft trip along the Bow River this morning before spending the remainder of the day as you wish. One of the world’s major recreation destinations, Banff National Park encompasses over 2,500 square miles of valleys, mountains, glaciers, meadows and forests. Take advantage of your resort’s many amenities; a wide range of optional activities, from golf, tennis and horseback riding to guided hikes along some of the park’s more than 1,000 miles of nature trails, is available at an additional charge. Join us this evening for a farewell dinner. Meals BD 9. Journey Home Travel to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles) for your journey home. Tour ends: Calgary Airport, Alberta at 10:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in; direct flights to the United States will clear U.S. customs in Calgary. Meals B
Flightsee over the Gulf Islands
Experience a scenic excursion by floatplane over the picturesque Gulf Islands from Victoria to Vancouver. British Columbia’s Waterfront Gems Discover the gracious charms of Vancouver and Victoria during at two-night stay at a waterfront hotel. Vancouver to the Rockies by Train A Tauck Exclusive! Travel mostly during daylight hours on a nostalgic train journey aboard The Canadian, complete with private domed car. Journey across British Columbia during daylight hours for incomparable mountain views!
Tauck World Discovery is the only company offering a private domed Skyline observation car, exclusively for the use of Tauck’s guests, on the train journey aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian, traveling between Vancouver and the magnificent national parks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Enjoy unparalleled views amidst the relaxing atmosphere of a private lounge. The Canadian, refurbished to its stainless steel exterior and art deco style of the 1950s, offers a nostalgic travel experience. From the vantage point of the private domed Skyline observation car, your enjoyment of the scenery along your travels is truly enhanced. Doubles are accommodated in bedrooms with a window and two armchairs, which are replaced by upper and lower beds for sleeping. Amenities include a small closet, mirror, sink/vanity and private toilet. Singles are accommodated in smaller single bedrooms with a window seat that converts to a bed folding out from the wall. Triples are accommodated in one double bedroom and one single bedroom. Amenities include sink/vanity, mirror and toilet; single bedroom toilet is not accessible when bed is lowered. There are rest rooms, and a public shower, in each sleeping car. The Canadian is owned and operated by VIA Rail Canada, a Canadian Federal Crown Corporation. Schedule: Eastbound tours: The train departs Vancouver at 5:30 PM on Day 3 and arrives in Jasper at 11:00 AM on Day 4; dinner and breakfast are included. Westbound tours: The train departs Jasper on Day 6 at 3:30 PM and arrives in Vancouver at 7:50 AM on Day 7; dinner and breakfast are included. These schedules are current as of 10/11/07 and are subject to local rail and traffic conditions. Itineraries are designed to minimize missed sightseeing should delays occur. Begins Vancouver or Calgary Single rates from $4,630 to $5,644. Triple rates from $3,590 to $4,023 pp Fine Hotels / Great Locations The Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver, BC Nights 1,2 East or 7,8 West Aboard the Canadian Train: Night 3 East or Night 6 West The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Night 6 East or Night 3 West The Fairmont Banff Springs Night 7,8 East or Night 1,2 West Airfare is additional: Please ask for a quote from all major US cities. Additional hotel nights are available before or after your tour. Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 p.m. at The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, Canada, on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when the group transfer from The Fairmont Banff Springs arrives at Calgary International. Airport on the morning of the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least two hours for flight check-in. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||