Rockies Panorama (RedLeaf)
11 day tour

Take a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Jasper and marvel throughout the Fraser River valley and alongside the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains. View the Illecillewaet Glacier and cruise across the picturesque Start of Georgia to Victoria where you'll visit the famous Buchart Gardens.

Highlights: Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer Train, Jasper, Icefields Parkway, Banff, Glacier National Park, Strait of Georgia, Victoria, Butchart Gardens

Day 1 - Arrive Vancouver (2 nights)
Welcome to cosmopolitan Vancouver! A complimentary transfer is provided to the tour hotel. Your Tour Director is at the hotel this afternoon to welcome you and answer your questions. Join us at 6:00pm for a Welcome Drink at the hotel.

Hotel: Marriott Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown

Day 2 - Vancouver sightseeing & at leisure
Our sightseeing tour starts with Chinatown, North America's second largest Chinatown after San Francisco's. Next is Gastown, with its charming cobblestone streets, historic buildings, courtyards and mews, followed by Stanley Park, where we view the park's famous totem poles and learn about their signifi cance to the aboriginal community. Our last stop is at Robert Held Art Glass, Canada's largest hot glass studio and gallery, where we watch a glass-blowing demonstration and learn about this ancient art form that still amazes today. This afternoon is at leisure for you to pursue your own interests. In the evening, join us for a Highlight Dinner at one of Stanley Park's fine restaurants. (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)

Day 3 - Vancouver - Rocky Mountaineer - Kamloops
All aboard! The next two days are spent onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train for an unforgettable daylight rail journey through British Columbia and Alberta. We travel through the fertile fields of the Fraser River Valley and alongside the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains before entering Fraser Canyon. Following the Thompson River, we arrive at historic Kamloops for our overnight stay. (Continental breakfast / Lunch)

Hotel: Assigned by Rocky Mountaineer

Day 4 - Kamloops - Rocky Mountaineer - Jasper (2 nights)
Back onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train, we continue through rolling hills and plateaus into the snowy peaks of the Monashee Mountains. Highlights of today's journey include Pyramid Falls, the expansive glaciers of the Albreda Icefield and Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. In the afternoon, we arrive at the delightful alpine town of Jasper for a two-night stay. After dinner we enjoy a fun and informative lecture by a local expert on the area's abundant wildlife. (Continental breakfast / Lunch / Buffet dinner)

Hotel: Chateau Jasper

Day 5 - Jasper National Park sightseeing & at leisure
We start the day with a narrated walk along Maligne Canyon, one of the Canadian Rockies' most beautiful gorges. Marvel at the spectacular rock formations and waterfalls, and learn about one of Canada's longest underground river systems. The rest of the day is at leisure in Jasper to enjoy the superb vistas, stroll the quaint streets, or join one of our optional activities including a lake cruise, a gentle river float trip, or a guided alpine walk. Your Tour Director will be happy to help you planyour day. (Full breakfast)

Day 6 - Jasper - Columbia Icefield - Banff (2 nights)
Another day of breathtaking scenery awaits as we travel along the renowned Icefields Parkway, hailed as one of the world's most scenic drives. We stop at the Columbia Icefield and board an Ice Explorer for an exciting expedition on the massive Athabasca Glacier. Next, we climb up the Sunwapta Pass where more glorious vistas await us. We stop at Bow Lake for stunning glacial scenery before arriving at the quintessential alpine resort of Banff inside Banff National Park, our home for the next two nights. (Full breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Banff Park Lodge

Day 7 - Banff sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning tour introduces us to the highlights of Banff, including Bow Falls, the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner along Tunnel Mountain Drive and the windshaped hoodoos overlooking Bow Valley. We then board the Banff Gondola for a thrilling ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain where we experience a bird's eye view of six mountain ranges from the upper gondola terminal. The afternoonand evening are at leisure, so perhaps take an optional scenic helicopter flight over Mount Assiniboine, or a float trip down the Bow River. (Full breakfast)

Day 8 - Banff - Lake Louise - Chase
Today our Tour Director reveals a Hidden Treasure! Our first stop this morning is at stunning Lake Louise where we join a narrated walk along the lakeshore, and learn about the geography and history of the area. We then head west, over Kicking Horse Pass, and enter the Columbia Mountains and Glacier National Park. Journeying through the temperate rainforest of Mount Revelstoke National Park, we arrive at our lodge, located on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake. We are greeted by a Native Elder of the Little Shuswap Indian Band and enjoy an interpretive walk, viewing the resort's native artifacts, beautiful wood carvings and a kekuli pit house, the traditional Shuswap winter home. Enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner while stories and legends are presented by a Native Storyteller. (Full breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Talking Rock Resort

Day 9 - Chase - Victoria (2 nights)
Today we travel over the majestic Cascade Range and follow the Fraser River to the Pacific where we cross the Strait of Georgia by ferry, cruising through the Gulf Islands to beautiful Vancouver Island. We then drive on to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, for a two-night stay. Our city orientation tour introduces us to the beautiful Inner Harbour, the ornate Parliament Buildings and Bastion Square. As an option this evening, why not join us on a unique cultural experience through Canada's oldest Chinatown, complete with a great Chinese banquet? (Full breakfast)

Hotel: Inn at Laurel Point

Day 10 - Victoria sightseeing & at leisure
We start the day with breakfast in the flower-filled conservatory of the Blue Poppy Restaurant at the world-famous Butchart Gardens. We learn about the Butchart Family and the history of these gardens before we explore this 55-acre showcase of wonderful floral displays. The rest of the day is free in Victoria to explore this quaint city. Stroll through the flower-filled streets and browse the shops for souvenirs or perhaps partake in one of our optional activities, including a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride and an exciting whale watching excursion! This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner with newfound friends. (Full breakfast / Farewell dinner)

Day 11 - Victoria - Depart Vancouver
We head back to the mainland where a complimentary transfer is provided to Vancouver International Airport and the tour hotel in Vancouver for passengers extending their stay. (Full breakfast)

Note: Please do not schedule any flights before 3:30pm

Rockies Panorama (RedLeaf) 2010 What's Included:

Sightseeing Highlights:
Vancouver - Discover Vancouver's main attractions on a city tour.
Rocky Mountaineer Train - Enjoy a 2-day scenic rail journey, Vancouver to Jasper.
Jasper - Walk along beautiful Maligne Canyon; learn about local wildlife.
Columbia Icefield - Drive on Athabasca Glacier aboard an Ice Explorer.
Banff - See Banff's main sights; take a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain.
Lake Louise - Walk along the lake and learn about the area's history.
Victoria - Explore this charming city's main sights on an orientation tour.
Butchart Gardens - Enjoy breakfast; learn about the gardens and explore.

Dining Highlights:
8 full breakfasts
2 continental breakfasts onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
2 lunches onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
2 three-course dinners.
1 buffet dinner.
Local highlight restaurant dinner in Vancouver.
Farewell Dinner with wine in Victoria.
17 included meals in total (see day by day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights:
First Class accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
The services of top professional Tour Directors.
Rocky Mountaineer train (RedLeaf Service) from Vancouver to Jasper. Assigned seating with extended legroom in standard car. Large picture windows. Live onboard commentary. 2 continental breakfasts and 2 deli-style lunches served at your seat.
Complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic beverages. Tourist Class hotel in Kamloops. All transfers in Kamloops. Tips to train personnel included
A stylish wallet, travel documents and Welcome on Tour book with map.
Ferry across the Strait of Georgia from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and back to Tsawwassen.
Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 11.

DEPARTURE DATES
April - September

PRICES
From approx $2,799 US per person based on double occupancy
Departures on or within the seasons shown will determine the price