GRAND WESTERN CANADA VACATION
13 days from Seattle to Seattle

Four national parks highlight this wonderful Canadian escorted tour. Begin your vacation in the "Emerald City" of Seattle for a sightseeing tour, before traveling to Canada and the resort city of Kelowna. Here, visit a family-owned orchard; then travel through the agricultural region to Canada's Glacier National Park and Yoho National Park. Enter Alberta and Banff National Park, the scenic heart of the Canadian Rockies. Sightseeing and free time in Banff follow, including a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain. Leisure time allows you to explore on your own and enjoy the tranquil setting of this mountain resort. Travel on the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise and Sunwapta Pass, then take an Ice Explorer ride on the Columbia Icefield before reaching Jasper National Park. Spend time discovering Jasper's unspoiled beauty on a sightseeing tour and the beautiful waters of Maligne Lake on a narrated cruise.

Head back into British Columbia via the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy leisure time in Sun Peaks and the alpine resort of Whistler. Then travel to the Pacific Coast, where you sail to Victoria for two nights and an orientation tour. After a visit to Butchart Gardens, with its 55 acres of floral displays, ferry through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver for a sightseeing tour and free time. Return to Seattle for a special farewell dinner atop the Space Needle-the perfect finale to your Western Canada escorted tour.

Day 1 Arrive in Seattle
(Sun.) Welcome to the Emerald City! At 6:30 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Day 2 Seattle-Kelowna
(Mon.) A sightseeing tour of Seattle introduces you to the highlights, including historic Pioneer Square. Next, travel through the Cascade Mountains to the resort city of Kelowna, attractively set on the shores of a lake. Upon arrival, enjoy a visit to KELOWNA LAND & ORCHARD, one of the largest family-owned orchards in Canada. Receive farm-fresh apple juice and then hop on the farm wagon for a behind-the-scenes, interactive look at the working farm. You might even have an opportunity for a hands-on experience of an orchard technique. Continue to the Grand Okanagan, the area's premier lakefront resort. (B)

Day 3 Kelowna-Glacier National Park-Yoho National Park-Banff
(Tue.) This morning, travel through the agricultural region of the Okanagan Valley to Canada's Glacier National Park. On Rogers Pass, enjoy panoramic vistas of peaks exceeding 10,000 feet, then continue on to Yoho National Park. View Natural Bridge before scaling Kicking Horse Pass. Then, enter the province of Alberta and BANFF NATIONAL PARK, the scenic heart of the Canadian Rockies. (B,D)

Day 4 Banff National Park
(Wed.) Sightseeing today includes a ride on the BANFF gondola up Sulphur Mountain and stops at the Hoodoos along the Bow River and at Bow Falls. The balance of the day is at leisure for you to enjoy the tranquil setting of this mountain resort. Maybe take an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies and, in the evening, join our optional excursion to the Oh Canada Eh? dinner show. (B)

Day 5 Banff-Lake Louise-Columbia Icefield-Jasper
(Thu.) Follow Icefields Parkway and head for JASPER NATIONAL PARK. First stop is Lake Louise, whose green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria. Scale Bow Pass with views of Peyto Lake, then climb Sunwapta Pass. Next, stop at the 1,000-foot-thick Columbia Icefield for an ICE EXPLORER ride before reaching the resort village of Jasper. Time this afternoon allows for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River, where your experienced guide will navigate as you absorb the splendor of Jasper National Park. (B,D)

Day 6 Jasper National Park. Excursion to Maligne Lake
(Fri.) A short sightseeing tour to see Jasper's unspoiled beauty. Afterward, travel to glacial Maligne Lake for a narrated CRUISE to Spirit Island. On the return journey, stop to view Maligne Canyon. Balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own. (B)

Day 7 Jasper-Mount Robson-Sun Peaks
(Sat.) Head back into British Columbia via the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson (the highest point in the Canadian Rockies). Then, descend the Yellowhead Highway hugging the mighty North Thompson River, a route pioneered by fur trappers more than a century ago. Afternoon arrival in Sun Peaks with the balance of the day at leisure. You may take advantage of an optional canoe trip on Lake McGilvary where, surrounded by beautiful scenery, you learn about Canada's fur trade. (B) Note: The operation of the canoe trip is subject to favorable weather conditions.

Day 8 Sun Peaks-Whistler
(Sun.) Journey south today through the heart of the magnificent Cariboo region. Spectacular scenery abounds as you pass by rolling hills, deeply incised rivers, and sparkling lakes. Arrive at the alpine resort of Whistler, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb Mountain. Balance of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 9 Whistler-Gulf Islands-Victoria
(Mon.) Depart Whistler for the Pacific coastline. SAIL this afternoon across the Strait of Georgia to Victoria. Sightseeing today includes Marine Drive, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. (B,D)

Day 10 Victoria
(Tue.) Full day at leisure. Maybe discover some of the city's most popular attractions, including the Royal British Columbia Museum and afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, or join one of our optional excursions highlighting marine wildlife and whale watching or a flightseeing trip over the provincial capital of Victoria. (B)

Day 11 Victoria-Vancouver
(Wed.) This morning, visit BUTCHART GARDENS, 55 acres of floral extravagance subdivided into different themes: the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the formal Italian Garden, and the showpiece Sunken Garden. Afterward, take the FERRY and sail through the Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its mediterranean-type climate. Arrive in Vancouver for a city tour including the harbor and beaches, Chinatown, historic Gastown, and Stanley Park with its towering evergreen forests and totem poles. (B)

Day 12 Vancouver-Seattle
(Thu.) Today, return to Seattle for time to explore Pike Place Market, famous for its seafood-slinging fish mongers. Later, join your Tour Director for a special farewell dinner at Seattle's famous SPACE NEEDLE, the perfect finale to your vacation. (B,D)

Day 13 Seattle
(Fri.) The vacation ends after breakfast this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (B)

Vacation Highlights:

INCLUDED FEATURES
Seattle: City sightseeing; farewell dinner at the Space Needle
Kelowna: Kelowna Land & Orchard behind-the-scenes
Banff National Park: Gondola ride up Banff's Sulphur Mountain
Columbia Icefield: Ice Explorer ride on the Columbia Icefield
Jasper National Park: Sightseeing and cruise Maligne Lake
Vancouver-Victoria: Ferry ride through Gulf Islands
Victoria: Orientation tour; Butchart Gardens
Vancouver: City sightseeing

Note: Maximum elevation on vacation: 7,705 ft.

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
American breakfast daily (B); 4 three-course dinners (D), including a special farewell dinner in Seattle's Space Needle.

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
Seattle Sheraton Seattle (D), Kelowna Delta Grand Okanagan (SF), Banff Banff Park Lodge (F), Jasper Sawridge Hotel (F), Sun Peaks Delta Sun Peaks (F), Whistler Delta Whistler Village Suites (F), Victoria Marriott Victoria Inner Harbour (SF), Vancouver Georgian Court (SF)

Dates:
April - September

Prices:
Priced from $2,799.00 US per person based on double occupancy
Departures on or within the seasons shown will determine the price