Rainforest to Goldrush & Calgary Stampede

Day 1 - Fly to Vancouver, transfer - Victoria

Arrive in Vancouver and transfer to Victoria (included).

Day 2 - Enjoy Victoria

Spend today at your leisure taking in Victoria, its picturesque Inner Harbour and Victorian architecture.

Day 3 - Enjoy Victoria

We have included a 3 hour Whale Watching tour for you today.

This coastal excursion is an exhilirating round trip of 50 to 80 kilometres in search of orcas, minke whales, grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals, and other marine wildlife. You will ride aboard a comfortable custom-built zodiac that offers high speed with extraordinary stability giving you an exhilirating, safe and intimate whale watching experience. Comments by a certified marine biologist and naturalist are provided. ZODIAC TOURS: The open zodiacs are for the adventurous at heart. The 12 passenger vessels are recommended for an exhilarating experience complete with sea spray! Designed for high speed these vessels are known around the world for durability, safety, seaworthiness and performance. The zodiacs are equipped with Yamaha 4-stroke engines, world renowned for their quiet operating and low emission levels. Passengers will be provided full body cruiser suits for the tour.

Day 4 - Transfer - Vancouver

This morning you will pick up your coach transfer from downtown Victoria to Vancouver, part of the journey will involve being on the ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, where you will get off your coach and go up on deck for a refreshment or stroll. The scenery on this crossing is stunning, make sure to keep your camera at hand.

Day 5 - Enjoy Vancouver

We have included a One day Hop on Hop off Sightseeing pass which will allow you to take in Vancouver at your own pace.

Explore Vancouver onboard clear-top buses and San Francisco-style Trolleys. This flexible Dual Pass combination of the CITY and PARK Routes offers all the highlights of downtown Vancouver, including major attractions, and scenic points of interest. Choose to Hop-Off at any of the 29 stops, and Hop-On again to continue the tour.

This flexible city tour offers up the highlights of downtown Vancouver, including major attractions, and scenic points of interest. Choose to Hop-Off at any of the 29 stops, and Hop-On again to continue the tour. Take an up close and personal look at Vancouver's urban oasis, Stanley Park, have lunch at Granville Island, visit the historical Gastown or the trendy Yaletown, and don't forget Robson Street to do a little shopping! Highlights of the route include English Bay, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, and the Entertainment District. Full commentary in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean & Mandarin on the clear top convertible Hop-On, Hop-Off busses. Enjoy Commentary in English onboard the San Francisco-style Trolleys. Both bus types (clear top and trolley) will be travelling on all routes. There is no designated bus type per route.

Highlights: - Commentary in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin (clear top buses only) - Convertible clear top buses for stunning views, rain or shine - San Francisco-style Trolleys with live commentary - Hop-Off at any stop in Stanley Park, Granville Island, Yaletown, Chinatown, Gastown and more - Hop-Off at any of the connecting stops on both routes at Canada Place, False Creek Ferries, Library Square, Chinatown, Sports District, and Gastown - False Creek Ferries Pass

Day 6 - Enjoy Vancouver

A day at leisure in Vancouver, make sure to use your complimentary Fly Over Canada ride today. FlyOver Canada is located on the Canada Place pier in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Arrive curbside at Canada Place, look for the Canadian trail and take a short stroll down the pier. Board the escalator and arrive at FlyOver Canada. Buckle up your seatbelt and prepare for the flight of your life! FlyOver Canada incorporates state-of-the-art technology to bring you some of Canada's most thrilling sights like you have never seen them before. Groups of up to 60 guests at a time will hang suspended, feet dangling, immersed in a huge 20m spherical screen while our film takes you on a thrilling 8 minute journey from east to west across Canada. It will be a fully immersive experience including wind, mist and even scents!

Day 7 - Vancouver to Whistler (GoldLeaf)

Beginning at the foot of the Coast Mountains, overlooking the stunning city of Vancouver, you’ll roll along the scenic fjord of Howe Sound. Prepare to be amazed as you make your way past massive cliffs, deep canyons, and stunning bridges. You’ll then arrive at world-famous Whistler, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games co-host city. There, you’ll explore the picturesque village and enjoy a relaxing stay at one of Whistler’s hotels.

Day 8 - Whistler to Quesnel (GoldLeaf)

The next day, you’ll depart from the wonderful Whistler and travel up the Pemberton Valley, as you glide beside gorgeous Anderson and Seton Lakes. Turning north and west, the landscape becomes more rugged. More wild. Sheer cliffs on one side, milky-green lakes on the other. You’ll emerge into the arid ranchland near Quesnel, Canada’s gold rush capital. The gold rush may be over, but there are still many treasures to be found in this historic region.

Day 9 - Quesnel - Jasper GoldLeaf)

After an overnight hotel stay in Quesnel, you’ll head north again. Wide-eyed, you’ll experience mountainous terrain, untouched lakes, and incredible waterfalls. You’ll gradually gain altitude and enter the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The awesome sight of Mount Robson, the range’s highest peak, will greet you as you wind your way to the alluring alpine town of Jasper. Every step of the way, your emotions will follow the extremes of the journey, from silent awe to uncontained elation. This route offers the best kind of drama—the nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat kind!

Day 10 - Jasper

Day at leisure to explore Jasper. Why not ask one of our Canada experts for some pre-bookable optional excursions.

Day 11 - Jasper

Spend today at your leisure in Jasper. In the evening we have included a Wildlife Discovery excursion for you.

If you want to see wildlife when visiting the Rockies your best opportunity is in Jasper! The area the town occupies is the largest inhabitable valley in the Canadian Rockies, which means more food for "All Creatures Great and Small". Put on your safari hat as you set out into the Park with your own Wildlife Interpreter in search of all of the park's most iconic creatures. Big or small, there are lots of animals to see in Jasper! Elk, bear, deer, big horned sheep, mountain goats, foxes, coyotes, wolves, and moose, are just a sample of Jasper's many wild mountain animals. This tour is the perfect chance to enjoy spectacular scenery and learn more about Jasper's original inhabitants. The SunDog guides are well versed in the history, geology, and ecology of the area, they are happy to answer any questions you may have and may lead you on short, interpretive walks during the tour. As you travel through the Athabasca Valley you will see some of the park?s most beautiful scenery, so have your camera ready to capture some amazing photos of the highlights of your visit! Photos are usually taken from the inside the vehicle or on the ground at a safe distance from the animals. Jasper National Park is not a zoo but a wild, protected area.

While Jasper is one of the premier year-round wildlife viewing destinations in all of Western Canada, our most successful summer viewing months are May, June, September and October. The larger animals in the park can be more elusive during July and August but stunning photo opportunities abound!

Kindly note that the selected route is at the discretion of your guide and is dependent on the location of the animals and the unpredictable weather conditions in the Rockies .

Day 12 - Icefield Parkway tour to Banff

Icefield Parkway Tour/Transfer from Jasper to Banff - this will be one of the main highlights of your trip! 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.

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 a Ice Explorer ride (admission not included) on the Glacier & Glacier Skywalk (admission not included). Next we continue to the Weeping Wall, Peyto Lake and the Crowfoot Glacier before joining the Trans Canada Highway near Lake Louise where a stop will be made to view the lake and famous Chateau, then continue on the Trans Canada Highway, passing fortress formations of Castle and Protection Mountains to arrive in to Banff late afternoon.

Highlights: A hearty picnic lunch is included and will be enjoyed at a secluded location along the Icefields Parkway.

Day 13 - Discover Banff & its Wildlife

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 hotspring. 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.

Day 14 - Enjoy Banff

Spend today at your leisure in Banff.

Day 15 - Banff - Calgary

This morning you will be transferred from Banff to Calgary, where you will have the afternoon at your leisure.

Day 16 - Enjoy Calgary Stampde

You’re invited to attend the largest outdoor rodeo in the world!! Professional cowboys compete in a myriad of rodeo events, which includes bull riding, roping, chuckwagon racing, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Don your western duds, saddle up and join us for Stampede breakfasts galore, square dancing, parades, the fun of the midway, great exhibits, a spectacular Grandstand show, fireworks and of course, heaping helpings of Western hospitality. Today you have access to Stampede Park and have reserved seating at this afternoon's Rodeo event.

Day 17 - Enjoy Calgary Stampede

Today you have access to Stampede Park and have reserved seating for tonights Chuckwagon Races & Grandstand show.

Day 18 - Fly Calgary to UK

Today we have included a transfer from your hotel to Calgary airport for your flight back to the UK.