Canadian Gold Rush

Day 1 - Fly UK to Vancouver

Fly from your chosen UK airport to Vancouver and transfer to your downtown hotel.

Transfer not included.

Day 2 - Explore Vancouver

Explore the coastal city of Vancouver at your leisure. To help you get around the city and its sights we have included a Hop on Hop off Sightseeing pass.

Day 3 - Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver to Whistler

Transfer to the rail station and join Rocky Mountaineer for a 3 day trip through the Rockies.

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to the resort town of Whistler, renowned for outstanding skiing and year-round outdoor activities. Following your transfer from downtown Vancouver, the Rocky Mountaineer takes you on a breathtaking rail journey through the stunning scenery of the Sea to Sky Corridor. Highlights of the trip include spectacular views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains, Brandywine Falls, Mount Garibaldi and the impressive Cheakamus Canyon. On arrival at the Whistler train station, you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Whistler.

Lunch included

Day 4 - Rocky Mountaineer Whistler to Quesnel

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer to the charming rural town of Quesnel, gateway to the North Cariboo. Enjoy breathtaking and varied scenery, from the river canyons and lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley to the desert-like conditions of the Fraser Canyon to rolling hills and vast ranchlands of the Cariboo Plateau. Highlights include the shorelines of Anderson Lake and glacial-fed Seton Lake, sweeping views of the Fraser Canyon and the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge, one of the highest railway bridges in the world. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer follows the banks of the Fraser River into Quesnel.

Overnight in Quesnel.

Breakfast and lunch included

Day 5 - Rocky Mountaineer Quesnel to Jasper

Your journey continues eastwards today to the majestic Canadian Rockies and Jasper National Park. From Quesnel the Rocky Mountaineer follows the Fraser River north to the town of Prince George, then travels east through the forests of northern British Columbia, home to plentiful wildlife, including a large population of moose. Entering the Rocky Mountain Trench you are surrounded to the north by the steeply rising Rocky Mountains and to the south by the Cariboo Mountains. Continue climbing past Mount Robson, at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet) the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and through the Yellowhead Pass into the province of Alberta. Your rail journey ends today on arrival in Jasper.  

Breakfast and lunch included today.

Day 6 - Explore Jasper

This morning you can expect to experience the best scenery in Jasper National Park on the Maligne Lake & Guided Walk tour, see details below. Alternatively we can offer in its place Jasper Tramway and Shuttle.

Duration: 5-6 hours

This amazing tour is a guided interpretive drive up the Maligne Valley. Our exploration will include a stop at Maligne Canyon for a gentle guided walk to the first two bridges above the gorge, a short stop at the "disappearing" Medicine Lake, and finally Maligne Lake. At this picturesque gem of the Canadian Rockies enjoy a guided walk along the Mary Schaffer Loop (3.2km return).

Day 7 - Explore Jasper

A day at leisure to take in the sights of Jasper, the "Jewel of the Rockies" before taking a 3 hour evening tour - Discover Jasper and its Wildlife. This tour is our best selling tour in Jasper and offers you some terrific widlife watching opportunities.  

Jasper National Park is well known for its significance as a World Heritage site due to its natural beauty and historical significance. Allow our friendly, local driver/guides to show you some of Jasper's hidden gems and share their knowledge of the history, geology, and ecology of the area.

As you travel through Jasper and the surrounding area in one of our comfortable sightseeing vehicles, not only will you be amazed at some of the beautiful scenery on this journey, you will also learn about the ways the wildlife in the area contribute to the rich diversity of the National Park. Our knowledgeable guides are trained to seek out all of the park's most iconic creatures. Big or small, Jasper National Park provides a great opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat. Have your camera ready to capture some amazing photos of the highlights of this informative and entertaining "Discovery Tour".

The Wildlife Discovery Tour is a driving tour with minimal walking. Maximum group sizes are 28 passengers. Photos of wildlife are usually taken from the inside the vehicle or on the ground at a safe distance from the animals. 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.

Kindly note that the selected route is at the discretion of your driver/guide.

Day 8 - Icefield Parkway Discovery Tour to Lake Louise

Duration: 10 hours* *Note: Not all of the regularly scheduled stops on this sightseeing tour are accessible during the Winter, so the length of this tour is shortened during this time.

Today you will depart Jasper and drive south along the Icefields Parkway, to the mountain resort town of Lake Louise. Following the spine of the Canadian Rockies, view a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged snowy peaks, and over 100 glaciers. The entire day is spent in the majesty of Canada's two most famous National Parks, Banff and Jasper. Enroute, make a stop at Athabasca Falls located just outside of the Jasper Townsite. Among the most powerful and breathtaking falls in the Rocky Mountains, the Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls have been smoothed and potholed by the sheer force of the rushing water carrying sand and rock. Our next stop is the breathtaking Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier where we will allow time to enjoy Ice Explorer ride on the Glacier & Glacier Skywalk. Next we continue to the Weeping Wall, and the Crowfoot Glacier before arriving at Lake Louise and the world-famous Chateau Lake Louise.

Highlights: - A boxed lunch is included (options will be chosen during the tour) - Glacier Adventure Package (Ice Explorer & Glacier Skywalk) admissions are included

Day 9 - Lake Louise to Banff

Check-out from your Lake Louise hotel and transfer to Banff for a final 3 nights.

Transfer included

Day 10 - Discover Banff and its Wildlife

This morning you have your Discover Banff and its Wildlife tour. 

Duration: 3 hours

Build a connection to our World Heritage Site on our trademark sightseeing tour as you visit Banff's landmarks and historic places. Hear how the 11,000 year old human history of the Bow Valley changed when three railway workers rediscovered a hidden natural hot spring. Visit the abandoned mining town of Bankhead, a relic of Banff's industrial past. All the while learn about wildlife behavior, habitat, and their winter survival adaptations as you tour around the area. Your time will be spent enjoying the sights, taking photos, and participating in short walks to view points, on the many stops of the tour.

Tour highlights: Bow Falls, Banff Springs Hotel, Bankhead (an abandoned mining town and relic of Banff's industrial past), Surprise Corner, Hoodoos & Bow Valley Viewpoint, Lake Minnewanka, refreshment and maple cookies.

Drop off is available at the Banff Gondola. Please advise your driver at time of boarding if you would like to be dropped off there.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure

Day 11 - Explore Banff

Day at leisure to enjoy Banff. Why not ask one of our Canada Experts for details of optional excursions available in this area.

Day 12 - Fly Calgary to UK

Transfer from Banff this morning to Calgary airport for your flight back to the UK.