Canadian Rockies Rail Adventure & the Inside Passage

Day One

Fly to Vancouver for a two-night stay. Meet your Tour Manager and transfer to the hotel, and relax in this wonderful metropolis.

Day Two

Join today's optional guided city tour, highlights of which will include restored Gastown, hectic, colourful Chinatown, and the wonders of the Burrard Inlet waterfront. You'll also cross into the leafy suburbs of 'North Van' for the chance to brave the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge - the world's longest pedestrian span.

Day Three

Journey to the ferry and cross the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island, before heading on to unashamedly 'British' Victoria, capital of British Columbia and home to the Royal BC Museum and vast Parliament Buildings.

Day Four

Enjoy a free day in Victoria, or join this morning's optional excursion to world-famous Butchart Gardens, where over a million plants and several hundred floral species are displayed. This afternoon, join the optional Whale Watch cruise, for the chance perhaps to spot orca, killer, humpback and grey whales in their natural environment.

Day Five

Bid farewell to Victoria and journey north into one of the country's great natural wonderlands.
Journeying up the island's east coast, you'll pass 'City of Totems' Duncan, see the famous painted murals in former logging town Chemainus, and make a stop at the quirky Old Country Market at nearby Coombs, celebrated for the 'goats on the roof' - one of the more unusual sights of the day. Heading west, you'll enter a pristine land of lakes and mountains that leads into the Pacific Rim National Park, and to Tofino, your base for the next two nights.

Day Six

Enjoy the spectacular surroundings of the national park, perhaps joining the optional bear-watching cruise to see tidal black bears foraging in the surf for crab and other sea fish at low tide. Take a stroll along Pacific-side Long Beach and take in Meares Island and its ancient rainforest.

Day Seven

Heading east once more, you'll pause to make the short walk to Cathedral Grove's famous stand of Douglas firs, before arriving this afternoon in Campbell River, the 'Salmon Capital of the World'.

Day Eight

After a morning at leisure, re-board the coach for this afternoon's journey, north towards Port Hardy, where an overnight stay heralds tomorrow's great adventure.

Day Nine

On what is justifiably dubbed 'one of Canada's great trips', very early this morning board the BC Ferries ship for the unforgettable journey through the island-dotted, mountain-fringed pristine coastal wilderness of the fabled Inside Passage, refuge of whales, sea lions and rare eagles. Enjoy the on-board facilities, which include a restaurant, lounges and plenty of deck space in which to take in the staggering vistas.

Days 10 and 11

Board VIA Rail's famous Skeena Train for the two-day, scenic journey east, towards the Rockies. Don't miss the stunning vistas as the train rolls through the spectacular coastal ranges, then settle back in your comfortable seat, or head to the Panorama Car, as the train makes its way through a forested landscape, once the hunting ground of native peoples and fur-trappers, passing remote settlements fringed by spectacular peaks. Enjoy breakfast, a cold lunch and hot dinner served 'airline style' by the friendly on-board staff, and stay overnight in the Fraser River, frontier town of Prince George.

A second day aboard the train sees you head over the Yellowhead Pass, past towering Mount Robson and finally, by early evening, to the historic railroad town of Jasper, at the gateway to the stunning Jasper National Park.

Day 12

Discover Jasper at your leisure, or perhaps join one of today's optional excursions, which will include a ride on the historic Jasper Tramway - Canada's longest cable car - to the heights above, a journey to Maligne Lake, or a ride on the back of (or in a sidecar beside) a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Day 13

Today you'll travel by coach along the renowned Icefields Parkway, one of North America's most scenic routes, calling briefly at beautiful Lake Louise. You'll continue on to Banff, for a final two-night stay.

Day 14

Explore the delightful, bustling Rockies' capital, and take the opportunity to join a choice of optional excursions, which include a cable-car ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, a trip to the scenic Surprise Corner viewpoint overlooking the famous Banff Springs Hotel, and an unforgettable Helicopter Ride.

Day 15

Board the coach to Calgary, for the overnight return flight to the UK.

Day 16

Arrive back in the UK.