HEART OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
9 days from Calgary to Vancouver

Travel to the heart of the Canadian Rockies on this spectacular vacation. Your trip begins in Calgary with a sightseeing tour of Calgary's highlights and a visit to Fort Calgary. Then head west through the foothills of the Canadian Rockies into Banff National Park, Canada's oldest national park and gateway to the Canadian Rockies. Spend two overnights at this popular year-round resort with time to explore Banff on your own or to take an optional excursion. On the way to Jasper National Park, stop in Lake Louise and discover this world-famous location with its cold waters reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Next: a highlight of your vacation-take a thrilling ride aboard an Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle, on the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies.

Continue on to Jasper National Park, the largest national park in Canada, for an overnight and an orientation tour in Jasper. Depart Jasper, follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and overnight in Kamloops. Travel to the Pacific coast and board a ferry for Victoria, where you enjoy two overnights and a city tour plus time for optional activities, including a whale-watching cruise. Also visit world-famous Butchart Gardens with its 55 acres of showcase floral exhibits. Then sail through the spectacular Gulf Islands back to Vancouver and enjoy a sightseeing tour, including Gastown, Stanley Park, and other famous landmarks. It's a great way to wrap up your majestic Canadian Rockies vacation.

Day 1 CALGARY
Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2 CALGARY-BANFF
The discovery of oil converted this ranching town into a sophisticated city with skyscrapers and elegant shopping centers. It is also home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. Tour many of the city's attractions, including Canada Olympic Park, the Saddledome, and FORT CALGARY. Motor west through the foothills and into BANFF NATIONAL PARK, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. Join the optional excursion to Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of Banff's spectacular scenery.

Day 3 BANFF
Banff is one of Canada's favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities such as hiking, boating, and fishing. With a free day, your Tour Director will suggest an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. Tonight, take an optional excursion to the theater, featuring Canadian cuisine and dinner.

Day 4 BANFF-LAKE LOUISE-JASPER
A day of scenic grandeur. First stop is Lake Louise, whose turquoise waters create a perfect natural mirror that reflects the surroundings. Next, journey north into JASPER NATIONAL PARK, where precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the motorcoach scales two mountain passes. Another highlight on today's agenda is a stop at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice that is 1,200 feet (365 meters) thick. Later this afternoon, your Tour Director suggests an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of Jasper townsite upon arrival.

Day 5 JASPER-MOUNT ROBSON-KAMLOOPS
With a morning at leisure, join the optional trip to Maligne Lake that features a narrated cruise to much-photographed Spirit Island. Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The Yellowhead Highway continues south along the mighty Thompson River, with spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. Overnight in Kamloops. Tonight your Tour Director will have recommendations for optional activities and the best places to dine.

Day 6 KAMLOOPS-FERRY CROSSING-VICTORIA
As you travel through British Columbia's Coast Mountain Range to its majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forests. Board your afternoon ferry for the spectacular crossing to Vancouver Island. Sightseeing in Victoria includes the Inner Harbor, Bastion Square, Thunderbird Park, and world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS. In the evening, how about a stroll around the lovely waterfront? This evening, consider a stroll along the lively Waterfront Promenade.

NOTE: On some departures, the visit to Butchart Gardens will be on Day 8.

Day 7 VICTORIA
Today is a free day for independent sightseeing. Your Tour Director will have ideas to enhance your enjoyment of this most British of Canadian cities. Take an optional whale-watching cruise and seek out pods of killer whales. A suggestion for this evening is an optional historic walk followed by dinner in Chinatown.

Day 8 VICTORIA-FERRY CROSSING-VANCOUVER
Today, set SAIL across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its climate. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes STANLEY PARK, Gastown, Chinatown, and many other famous landmarks. Tonight, your Tour Director will offer dining recommendations for this vibrant city.

Day 9 VANCOUVER
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Vancouver International Airport are included.

Vacation Highlights:

INCLUDED FEATURES
In Calgary, Victoria, and Vancouver; Fort Calgary; Columbia Icefield (Ice Explorer ride); Butchart Gardens and Stanley Park. Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

NOTE: The Canadian Rockies are blessed with stunning lakes, exquisite mountain scenery, and extraordinary outdoor attractions. Visiting and participating in activities in these locations is subject to favorable weather conditions.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Mount Robson, Fraser River, Thompson River with spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains, British Columbia's Coast Mountain Range, and the Gulf Islands.

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

GUIDES
Services of a professional Tour Director.

HOTELS - (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class
Calgary Sandman Hotel Downtown Calgary (F); Banff The Homestead Inn (ST); Jasper Tonquin Inn (F); Kamloops Stockmen's Hotel (F); Victoria Queen Victoria Hotel & Suites (MF); Vancouver Park Inn & Suites Vancouver (ST)

TRANSPORTATION
Ferry crossing to/from Vancouver Island; private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.

DATES:
April - October

PRICES:
Priced from $1,249.00 US per person based on double occupancy
Departures on or within the seasons shown will determine the price