Itinerary Details
Grand Western Canada Vacation
Day 1 ARRIVE IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Welcome to Vancouver! At 6 pm, meet your travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
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Day 2 VANCOUVER–KELOWNA Bountiful Beauty Depart Vancouver and travel into the agricultural region of the Okanagan Valley to the thriving lakefront resort community of Kelowna. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D)
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Day 3 KELOWNA–GLACIER NATIONAL PARK–BANFF, ALBERTABreathtaking Banff Drive east and enjoy the panoramic vistas of peaks exceeding 10,000 feet on Rogers Pass at the summit in Canada’s Glacier National Park. Continue over the Continental Divide into Alberta before descending Kicking Horse Pass into Banff National Park. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Get ready for a spectacular adventure to explore the beauty of Rocky Mountain peaks and turquoise glacial lakes in Banff National Park - Canada’s first national park. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, where soaring peaks and sapphire lakes meet the heavens for a breathtaking experience like no other on Earth!
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Day 4 BANFFHeavenly Heights Breakfast this morning is served on top of Sulphur Mountain. Take a scenic ride on the [LF] Banff Gondola to the top of the mountain and enjoy spectacular views of the valley below as you savor a flavorful meal. Additional sightseeing in Banff includes a visit to Bow Falls. The balance of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional helicopter flightseeing trip for a bird’s-eye view of the Rockies. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE Soar to the top of the world on the Banff Gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. Enjoy breakfast and be in awe of the magnificent, natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies with breathtaking views you’ll never forget.
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Day 5 BANFF–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD –JASPERFire & Ice Visit Lake Louise, whose blue-green waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria. Experience the awe-inspiring Icefields Parkway past towering peaks and immense hanging glaciers to the Columbia Icefield for a thrilling ride on the Ice Explorer. Discover the power of nature as you drive on the Athabasca Glacier. Continue along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. Tonight, enjoy a special fireside chat with drumming, singing, and indigenous stories shared by the legendary [LF] Warrior Women. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITIONS “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” So goes the powerful heartbeat of Mother Earth relayed in the stories and songs of Jasper’s Warrior Women. Gather ‘round the fire to hear unforgettable indigenous stories and moving music performed with a passion for sharing tradition and culture.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Be moved by an expedition across the Athabasca Glacier. Traverse this massive glacier aboard the all-terrain Columbia Ice Explorer and walk on the surface where the Earth’s geology is changing beneath your feet. Feel the force of nature’s strength on an ancient glacier that still carves the face of the Rocky Mountains today.
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Day 6 JASPER. EXCURSION TO MALIGNE LAKESpectacular Jasper Enjoy a brief orientation tour to see Jasper’s unspoiled beauty, followed by an excursion to glacial Maligne Lake for a narrated cruise to Spirit Island. Cruise on clear azure waters amid lofty snow-capped peaks and learn the history of Spirit Island. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own. Perhaps take an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River, where your experienced rafting guide will navigate as you absorb the splendor of Jasper National Park. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Spanning nearly 4,250 square miles of spectacular natural beauty, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic sights lie below an incredible Dark Sky to thrill stargazers as well. A cruise to Spirit Island on the turquoise waters of Maligne Lake is a spectacular sight to behold as one of the most photographed locations in the world for its jaw-dropping beauty.
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Day 7 JASPER–KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA Historic British Columbia Scenic drive on Yellowhead Highway past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, en route to Kamloops. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Kamloops with a stroll through downtown to find a wealth of shops, cafes, and eateries amid a vibrant local art and cultural scene in this outdoor mecca for hikers, skiers, and nature lovers. Take a walk through picturesque Riverside Park along the Thompson River for a touch of natural beauty in the heart of this modern city with roots in 10,000 years of its Native People and early 19th-century fur traders and gold prospectors. Check with your Tour Director for the best way to explore Kamloops or get the maps and tips you need on your handy GlobusGO mobile app!
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Day 8 KAMLOOPS–WHISTLER Alpine Adventures Travel to the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains, for a 2-night stay at the luxury basecamp, the Fairmont Chateau. The evening is free with time to explore. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT The luxurious Fairmont Chateau Whistler resort has a spectacular mountain setting with stunning architecture that blends with the natural alpine views. Relax in the spa or by the pool, play pickleball, kayak or unwind with a stroll through Whistler Village. Your Tour Director and GlobusGO mobile app have plenty of expert tips, maps, and more.
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Day 9 WHISTLER Peak Perfection Full free day to explore all that Whistler has to offer. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Whistler. You might enjoy a trip on Whistler’s Peak2Peak Gondola, connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Enjoy marvelous scenery and incredible photo opportunities as you travel via the longest unsupported gondola span in the world. Other options include a guided canopy walk in the treetops on suspensions bridges and trails, floatplane sightseeing tour, zipline excursion, shopping in the village, or just relaxing at your resort.
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Day 10 WHISTLER–VICTORIA Ancient Traditions Enjoy a visit and private breakfast at the [LF] Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, dedicated to the history and traditions of indigenous cultures. Then travel west to catch a BC Ferry to Vancouver Island for Victoria, Canada’s most British city. See major attractions on your city tour, including the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEMS Visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre before opening hours where you will be greeted with a First Nations welcome followed by breakfast. The centre is a spectacular setting, which brings to life the history of Native people whose traditions and beautiful culture still resonate today.
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Day 11 VICTORIA The Grandest of Gardens This morning and afternoon are free to explore on your own; your Tour Director can recommend an optional wildlife and whale-watching trip, point you in the direction of Canada’s oldest Chinatown, walking trails or suggest museums to visit. For shoppers, Government Street’s elegant shops and Market Square’s collection of specialty stores are good places to start. Later, visit world-famous [LF] Butchart Gardens, followed by a special dinner in the former greenhouse, renovated to the Blue Poppy Restaurant. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
PICTURE PERFECT Butchart Gardens, named for the woman who founded this botanical oasis of blooming shades and horticultural design, is a National Historic site for its legacy and lush treasure of millions of flowering beds and over 900 varieties of plants in exquisitely landscaped gardens bringing fairytales to life.
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Day 12 VICTORIA–VANCOUVER British Columbia Treasures Board a BC Ferry and cross the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Enjoy a guided tour of Vancouver’s cultural and natural sites. In the evening, join your Tour Director and fellow travel companions for a festive farewell dinner. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Explore the captivating city of Vancouver on a guided tour, including the waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park with its old-growth evergreen forests and totem poles.
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Day 13 VANCOUVERSafe travels until we meet again! The tour ends with breakfast today. (B)
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