Canadian Rockies & Grand Alaska

Day 1 - Fly to Calgary, transfer to Banff

Arrive in Calgary and you will be transferred by coach to your Banff Hotel.

Day 2 - Discover Banff & its Wildlife tour

This morning you have a 3 hour Discover Banff & its Wildlife tour included, with the option to add-on the Banff Gondola.  

Experience Banff National Park's wildlife on a guided excursion that explores the region's most active animal habitats. Your knowledgeable guide helps you spot elk, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and more while sharing stories about their behavior, seasonal routines, and conservation efforts within the park. With multiple scenic stops and plenty of time for photos, this tour offers an engaging and educational introduction to Banff's wildlife for visitors of all ages.

Highlights: Wildlife viewing, Bow Falls, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Surprise Corner Lookout, Hoodoos Viewpoint, and Lake Minnewanka (stops are subject to change due to seasonality) Remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Day 3 - Lake Louise & Moraine Lake

Spend this morning in Banff at your leisure. This afternoon we have included the Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour. You will be picked up from one of the Banff downtown pickups and dropped back off.

On this afternoon sightseeing tour you will visit the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies," Lake Louise and the world renowned Moraine Lake. Both are a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you will have time to take photos of their shorelines. Learn our mountaineering history and how a tragic accident at Lake Louise shaped Canadian Mountain Culture. Finally, walk to the viewpoint in the Valley of Ten Peaks overlooking Moraine Lake. 

Tour highlights: Bow Valley Parkway, Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Lake Louise, Chateau Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (closed early/late season), refreshment, and maple cookies.  Please note that in May when Moraine Lake is closed the tour willl be based on Lake Louise and the Bow Valley Parkway.

Day 4 - Banff to Jasper via Icefelds Parkway

Today you travel to Jasper on our "scenic transfer".

This morning you will depart Banff and drive through the "heart" of the Canadian Rockies to Jasper along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. Rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness.

The entire day is spent in the majesty of Canada's two most famous National Parks, Banff and Jasper. Stops will be made at Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, and the Weeping Wall before arriving at the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield to visit the chalet and allow time to enjoy the Ice Explorer ride on the Glacier and Glacier Skywalk.

From the Chalet the parkway descends Tangle Ridge and follows the Athabasca River, which begins as melt water from the Athabasca Glacier.

We then stop at the Athabasca Falls, where the boiling waters of the river plunge into a chasm gouged out of the valley floor.

Your exciting day ends in the quaint townsite of Jasper.

Highlights: - A boxed lunch is included - Glacier Adventure Package (Ice Explorer & Glacier Skywalk) admissions are included.

Day 5 - Maligne Valley Sightseeing with guided walk

This morning we have included a 6 hour Maligne Valley Sightseeing tour. This introduction to Jasper begins with a short tour of the town before heading across the Athabasca River to Maligne Lake. A century after Mary Schaeffer's remarkable adventure, come discover the world-renowned Maligne Lake for yourself! A short stop at the disappearing Medicine Lake, another one of Jasper's watery gems where you will learn about Karst topography of the area, and the mystery of why Medicine Lake disappears annually. Next we'll carry on to the pinnacle of our tour, breathtaking Maligne Lake! Enjoy a gentle walk along the shores of this pristine lake before heading back to Jasper.

Highlights: Medicine Lake, Scenic Stops for Wildlife Viewing, Walk Around Mary Schaffer Loop or Seasonally Moose Lake Optional Add-on : Maligne Valley Cruise, speak to your Canada Expert for more details.

Day 6 - Jasper Wildlife Discovery tour

Today you have the day at leisure before your 5pm (time varies depending on the season) Jasper Wildlife Discovery tour.  Travel through Jasper and the surrounding area in comfortable sightseeing vehicles and experience breathtaking scenery along the way. Learn how the wildlife contributes to the rich diversity of the National Park, guided by experts trained to locate the park's most iconic creatures. Big or small, Jasper National Park offers excellent opportunities to observe animals in their natural habitat. Keep a camera ready to capture unforgettable moments on this informative and entertaining "Discovery Tour." Highlights: Wildlife sighting, visit to "Gems of Jasper" locations, Jasper National Park Note: This is a driving tour with minimal walking. Photos of wildlife are usually taken from the inside of the vehicle. While the natural habitat around Jasper is conducive to animal sightings, animal viewing is not guaranteed and depends largely on the season, the time of day, and the weather.

Day 7 - Rocky Mountaineer Jasper to Kamloops

Begin your Journey Through the Clouds westbound adventure, travelling from Jasper through some of the Canadian Rockies' most awe-inspiring landscapes. Crossing the Yellowhead Pass and descending through the Continental Divide, the scenery unfolds across the sweeping river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Among the standout Journey Through the Clouds route highlights are the towering Mount Robson, the spectacular Pyramid Falls, and the long, scenic run along the North Thompson River as you approach Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops (moderate standard accommodation). Breakfast and lunch are served onboard.

Day 8 - Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver

Journey through the farmlands of the Fraser Valley. From fertile greenery, the landscape transforms to the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains. You’ll see the mighty Fraser River and the raging white waters of Hell’s Gate. The train will slow to fully appreciate this narrow canyon where the volume of water rushing through is about three times greater than Niagara Falls. Then, the landscape undergoes another transformation and you’ll find yourself amid scrub brush and desert.

Day 9 - Embark Princess Cruise

This morning you have a Vancouver City Highlights tour included, this tour will drop you off at Canada Place for your Alaska Cruise.  

Explore the beauty, culture, and character of Vancouver on a guided city tour that connects the city's rich past with its modern charm. Drive through the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown, the vibrant community of Chinatown, and the creative atmosphere of Granville Island. Admire the coastal scenery and towering trees of Stanley Park, one of North America's greatest urban green spaces. With stunning views, local insights, and opportunities to discover hidden gems, this tour offers an authentic and memorable introduction to Vancouver. Landsea Tours will handle the details from pick-up to drop-off. By taking the pre cruise tours, they help bridge the gap in your day while taking care of your luggage.

Highlights: Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island, Stanley Park, City Landmarks, Local Culture

Day 10 - Cruise the Inside Passage

Acquaint yourself with the ship and take advantage of some of the many facilties on offer. Make sure you pop up on deck to take in some of the spectacular scenery as you sail up the Inside Passage.

Day 11 - Juneau, Alaska

In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets "as large as beans."

From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than $150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government.

Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneau's 3,248 square miles.

Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.

Day 12 - Skagway, Alaska

Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest.

Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail.

The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome.

Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.

Day 13 - Glacier Bay

Princess is one of a select few cruise lines permitted to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, the highlight of our 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. Just west of Juneau, this breathtaking national park and preserve boasts some of the world's most spectacular tidewater glaciers, such as Margerie Glacier, which often drops colossal chunks of ice into the sea. Not surprisingly, Glacier Bay National Park and its epic ice giants are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising Alaska's magnificent park system.

During your scenic cruise, friendly Park Rangers will join the ship to share their knowledge of this amazing place and host a fun Junior Ranger program for kids. They may even be able to help you identify Glacier Bay's abundant wildlife, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles and large colonies of seabirds.

Take in the awe-inspiring scenery as you enjoy an unforgettable day of sailing through this dazzling park, where you'll glide along emerald waters and past calving icebergs, and can breathe in the crisp, fresh air to your heart's content.

Day 14 - Ketchikan

Today you will dock at Ketchikan, also known as Alaska's "First City" because it's the first major community travellers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means "eagle with spread-out wings," a reference to a waterfall near town. In the early 1900s, when gold was Alaska's claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established in Ketchikan. The growth of these industries helped make this Inside Passage port Alaska's fourth-largest city. Visitors to Ketchikan will be intrigued by its rich Native heritage, which includes the world's oldest collection of totem poles at Totem Heritage Center. The Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian are all a part of the city's colorful history. Ketchikan, with its abundance of salmon, is also a sport-fishing paradise. Sightseers will be impressed with both the scenic town and its surroundings, especially Misty Fjords National Monument.

Day 15 - At Sea

Day at Sea. Enjoy the facilities and amenities on offer before your disembark your cruise tomorrow morning.

Day 16 - Vancouver to Whistler

Disembark the ship in Vancouver this morning and join you coach transfer up the scenic Sea to Sky highway to Whistler. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to get your bearings around this pretty pedestrianised village which offers something for everyone.

Day 17 - Explore Whistler

Explore Whistler at your leisure today. When in season and running we will included admission to the famous Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Stretching between Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, it holds world records for both the longest unsupported span and one of the highest lifts of its kind, gliding effortlessly high above the valley floor. In summer, the views are simply spectacular — think endless mountain ranges, deep green forests, alpine lakes and, on a clear day, snow-capped peaks stretching as far as the eye can see.

As you float across, you’ll climb to over 400 metres above the ground at the highest point, which gives you a true bird’s-eye perspective of Whistler’s wilderness. For an extra thrill, try one of the glass-bottom gondolas, where you can look straight down into the forest below — not for the faint-hearted, but unforgettable if you’re feeling brave. For the more adventurous enjoy one of the many walking/hiking trails, add-on a kayaking tour, ziptrek or a sensational helicopter ride. Alternatively relax in Whistler village or one of the many spa's in the area.

Day 18 - Transfer Whistler to Vancouver, Fly home

Transfer from Whistler to Vancouver Airport is included, prior to your overnight flight home.