TORONTO & FIRST PASSAGE TO THE WEST independent tour
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
Day 1 Fly to Toronto with Air Canada : On arrival make your own way to your hotel . Days 2-3 Toronto : At leisure . Highlights of the city include the CN Tower , the Royal Ontario Museum , St Lawrence Market , Chinatown , Kensington Market and Baldwin Village . Don ’ t miss also the vibrant Distillery District which buzzes with unique shops and restaurants , all set in restored buildings , or the Entertainment District , which is Toronto ’ s answer to New York ’ s Broadway . Day 4 Toronto / Banff : Return to the airport and fly to Calgary . On arrival , take a shuttle transfer to Banff . Days 5-6 Banff : At leisure . Perhaps take a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain , try river rafting on Bow Lake or take a boat tour of Lake Minnewanka . Be sure also to browse the town ’ s boutiques and try out some of the delightful restaurants . Day 7 Banff / Rocky Mountaineer / Kamloops : Morning transfer by shuttle to the train station where you board the Rocky Mountaineer . Your journey takes you through everchanging 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 . Be sure to take in the views of highlights such as the Kicking Horse Canyon and Spiral Tunnels from the outdoor viewing platform . This evening , the train reaches Kamloops where you disembark and overnight in a hotel . Day 8 Kamloops / Rocky Mountaineer / Vancouver : Reboard the train and continue your journey west towards Vancouver . See further dramatic scenery changes , from the desert-like environment of the BC Interior through winding river canyons and pristine forests , to the Cascade and Coast Mountains as well as the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley . On arrival in Vancouver this evening , you will transfer by shuttle to your hotel .
Day 10 Vancouver / Cruise : Make your way to the port for a late afternoon sailing . Day 11 Scenic cruising the Inside Passage : The fabled Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes , from Misty Fjords National Monument to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve . Watch for humpback whales and orca as they ply the bountiful waters , bald eagles soaring overhead or brown bears on the shoreline . Day 12 Juneau , Alaska : This sleepy , misty city has a frontier town vibe and is a pleasant place to stroll around . The real highlight however , is tracking down some wildlife and a variety of optional excursions are available . Day 13 Skagway , Alaska : At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush , Skagway was the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields and quickly became Alaska ’ s largest settlement . At every turn , you ’ ll find yourself immersed in gold rush lore , from the Red Onion Saloon to the White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway .
Sulphur Mountain
Days 9-10 Vancouver : At leisure . If shopping is of interest , Robson Street is probably your best bet or , you could head across to Granville Island and explore the Granville Island Market . We recommend taking a stroll around Gastown , spending some time in Stanley Park or perhaps enjoy an hour or so at the Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Classical Garden . Day 11 Vancouver : All too soon , it ’ s time to make your way to the airport for your flight back to the UK . Alternatively , why not reduce your stay in Vancouver by one night and add on a 7 night Alaska cruise instead ? See itinerary below .
CRUISE EXTENSION
Why not extend your tour with a spectacular Alaskan Cruise with Holland America Line ?
Day 14 Glacier Bay : This World Heritage Site is the crown jewel of southeastern Alaska ’ s natural wonders , with more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world . Stand on deck and take in the sounds as the “ living ice ” creaks and groans before splitting off a glacier and thundering into the sea . Day 15 Ketchikan , Alaska : Clutching the shores of the Tongass Narrows , Ketchikan is an important hub for salmon fishing and also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations . Don ’ t miss historic Creek Street where you can shop for souvenirs and local art , the Tongass Historical Museum , Totem Bright State Park and Saxman Village . Day 16 Scenic cruising the Inside Passage : Another chance to soak up the mesmerising scenery . Day 17 Vancouver : Disembark and transfer to the airport for your onward journey .
10 NIGHTS from £ 2999
Includes return international flights with Air Canada , onward flight from Toronto to Calgary , shuttle transfers from Calgary to Banff , Banff hotel to Banff train station & Vancouver train station to Vancouver hotel , 3H hotels throughout , 2 days onboard Rocky Mountaineer with SilverLeaf service ( see page 6 ), and breakfast & lunch on days 7 & 8 .
Tour ref : PREM4127
CRUISE EXTENSION from £ 750
Includes 7 nights in an L grade inside stateroom on ms Nieuw Amsterdam and full board throughout the cruise .
Toronto Banff Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver
Optional Alaska cruise
Gastown
PREMIER HOLIDAYS can tailor-make your Canadian experience , visit your travel agent or www . premierholidays . co . uk 7