Canadian Rockies With Rocky Mountaineer & More

DAY 1

Today, Wolf's will provide transportation to the airport to begin your journey to our northern neighbor Canada. Upon arrival in Vancouver, British Columbia you will board an airport shuttle to take you to your host hotel for the next three nights, the Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown (+1-604-684-2151). Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, on-site restaurant lounge and self-laundry service. Guest rooms feature a coffeemaker, hairdryer, bath amenities and Wi-Fi. After a brief time to freshen up, you will be whisked away to a local restaurant where a welcome dinner is included to get acquainted with your fellow passengers. Afterwards, you will return to the hotel.

DAY 2

Wake to breakfast included at the hotel before you join your Tour Guide and board a ferry for a spectacular 90-minute cruise through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Vancouver is a multi-cultural city where the ocean, forest and mountains converge to make it an awe-inspiring destination. Drink in the beauty of the landscape as you cruise through the Gulf Islands and make your way to Vancouver Island. Located on Canada's West Coast, Vancouver Island is known for its mild climate and relaxed way of life and the region is defined by its ancient rainforests, rugged coastlines and cool waters of the Pacific Ocean. Your first stop on Vancouver Island is for a self-guided experience at the 121-year-old internationally renowned Butchart Gardens. Admission is included to stroll through 55-acres of breathtaking greenery and floral displays on meandering pathways through the Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and more. Butchart Gardens was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004 for its 100th birthday. Afterwards, you will travel a short distance to the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, during which time your tour guide will provide narration about this charming city. You will also have time for lunch on your own at your expense and to browse the shops and galleries located along the streets reminiscent of "Old England" as time permits. Late afternoon, you board your ferry for return to Vancouver and enjoy dinner on your own as you gaze out over the waters and scenic backdrop. Once on land, you return to the hotel for the night.

DAY 3

Breakfast is included at the hotel before you board the motorcoach for a narrated city tour of Vancouver viewing landmarks like the University of British Columbia, Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park and Canada Place. Vancouver is the most populous city in British Columbia and is a melting pot of cultures, races and religions. Each culture brings its own unique flavor to the city with its landmarks and districts as you will witness during your drive-through. You will make a stop at Canada Place, a national landmark located in the heart of Vancouver's waterfront. While at Canada Place, admission is included for an exhilarating journey over the world's most spectacular scenery on FlyOver Canada. Sit back and enjoy thrilling, authentic footage of real locations in North America combined with special effects including wind, mist, scents and the motion of the seats creating an unforgettable experience. Afterwards, you will have free time for lunch on your own and at your expense. Then, prepare for a walk on the wild side, with a stunning, bird's-eye view of from the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Originally built in 1889 using hemp ropes, the 450-foot long, 230-feet high bridge traverses the glorious Capilano River below. No fear, the bridge can hold up to a fully loaded 747 airliner or 96 full-grown elephants. Following your memorable experience, you return to the hotel to relax and unwind after a busy, but thrilling day of touring. Dinner is on your own and at your expense.

DAY 4

Breakfast is included today before you check out, bid farewell to Vancouver and board the Rocky Mountaineer Rail for an extraordinary 2-day journey in "GoldLeaf Class" where Five-Star comfort meets Five-Star Views from Vancouver to Banff. Indulge yourself with this legendary rail route that winds through mountain passes and dramatic canyons, along glistening waterways and colorful landscapes as you take in the view from the comfort of your own spacious reclining seat through panoramic domed windows. You may also wish to step out and enjoy the fresh smell of your beautiful surroundings on the exclusive outdoor viewing platform. Your "GoldLeaf" experience also includes a private dining room on the lower level, gourmet meals and snacks prepared by the culinary team, complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and entertaining and enlightening storytelling throughout the journey. Today, your journey takes you along the rugged cliffs of the Fraser River where you will witness the whitewater of Hell's Gate and from fertile greenery, the landscape transforms to the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains. A gourmet lunch is included and accompanied by stories about the region. Later in the day your rail journey continues along the tracks amid the Thompson River system and climbs to the British Columbia's interior plateau. Your first day's adventure concludes in the charming town of Kamloops where you disembark for an overnight stay at the hotel (TBA) assigned by Rocky Mountaineer Rail and dinner on your own at your expense.

DAY 5

Awake this morning and depart the hotel to board the Rocky Mountaineer for breakfast included as you set out on the second day of your awe-inspiring rail journey that takes you along the shores of the Shuswap Lakes, amid the Purcell Mountains which form the rugged heart of a dramatic landscape bound on two sides by the majestic Columbia River. You cross over the Columbia River and tunnel under Rogers Pass and into Yoho National Park which lies on the western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and its vertical rock walls, waterfalls and dizzying peaks are a highlight of the region. Lunch is once again included during your excursion along with entertaining narrative by your hosts. You continue traveling through the famous Spiral Tunnels and then enter the province of Alberta and Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your breathtaking, memorable rail journey comes to an end as you arrive at the Fairmont Rimrock Resort Hotel (+1-403-762-3356) for a three-night stay. Tucked in Banff's peaceful wilderness, the Rimrock welcomes guests for a break away from the ordinary and enjoy this glorious mountain retreat. Your delightful guest room features a coffeemaker, mini refrigerator, bath amenities, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests are welcome to enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub, use of the fitness room, relax with fellow passengers in the cocktail lounge, or retire for the night after having dinner or your own and at your expense in the onsite restaurant.

DAY 6

Your day begins with breakfast included at the resort before you board the motorcoach for a day of exploring the highlights of Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Traveling on a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway you will visit magnificent Castle Mountain offering 360 degrees of uninterrupted beauty, Lake Louise well-known for its striking turquois-colored lakes and soaring mountainous backdrop, and the famous Fairmont Chateau that sits on the shores of Lake Louise and reminds you of a fairy tale castle at the edge of the wilderness. Today's scenic adventure also includes Banff National Park with stops made at the thundering Bow Falls, the mysterious "Hoodoos", and the "Castle in the Rockies", Banff Springs Hotel. You will have some free time to do a little shopping in the heart of Banff along with lunch on your own. Your last stop of the day is one of jaw-dropping style on the Banff Gondola featuring an exceptional panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains, as you climb to the top of 7500-foot Sulphur Mountain. Dinner is included tonight before you return to the hotel for the night.

DAY 7

Your day begins with breakfast included at the resort before you board the motorcoach for your final day of touring. Your travels take you on one of the most scenic highways in the world, the Icefields Parkway. Unlike any other, this stretch of road is dotted with ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires and emerald lakes set in sweeping valleys of thick pine. You will venture through majestic mountain passes, as well as Banff and Jasper National Parks enroute to one of the largest glacier masses in North America, the Columbia Icefields. A once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits as you climb aboard an Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle to ride on the Athabasca Glacier, a 10,000-year-old sheet of ice, where you can walk on, feel and learn about the fascinating geological history of this ever-evolving, ancient area. During your return to the Rimrock Resort, you will witness the captivating azure-blue, glacier-fed Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, as well as the aquamarine waters of Bow Lake that is fed by meltwater from the Bow Glacier and reflects a glorious mirror image of Bow Summit on a calm day. Additionally, you will see the intriguing Crowfoot Glacier that is situated on the northeast flank of Crowfoot Mountain. Once back at the resort, a farewell dinner is included to reflect upon your "cool" day's adventure and your unforgettable experience in Canada.

DAY 8

Breakfast is included at the resort before you check out and depart for the airport and return to the states with a lifetime of memories from your spectacular journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Rail and legendary landscapes throughout the Canadian Rockies that will forever be etched in your mind.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner