Day 1, Sun. VANCOUVER. Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2, Mon. VANCOUVER–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–FRASER CANYON–KAMLOOPS. Follow the Fraser River through
snowcapped mountains, eventually arriving at Kamloops. The Rocky Mountaineer travels through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery. Breakfast and lunch are included. (CB,L)
Day 3, Tue. KAMLOOPS–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–YOHO NATIONAL PARK–SPIRAL TUNNEL–BANFF. Board your train this morning and witness spectacular sights such as Shuswap Lake, the Monashee Mountains, and Glacier National Park. Travel through the heart of the Selkirk Mountains before entering the spectacular domain of YOHO NATIONAL PARK. Cross the Continental Divide and enter the province of Alberta and BANFF NATIONAL PARK. (CB,L)
Day 4, Wed. BANFF. Morning sightseeing includes a visit to Sulphur Mountain for a GONDOLA RIDE, complete with panoramic views of Banff’s spectacular scenery. The balance of the day is at leisure. Your Tour Director will suggest an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies and can offer recommendations for dinner.
Day 5, Thu. BANFF–LAKE LOUISE. A day of scenic grandeur. Travel to Lake Louise and Yoho National Park. See the Natural Bridge spanning Kicking Horse River. Also visit Emerald Lake and Moraine Lake. Overnight in Lake Louise, where green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria.
Day 6, Fri. LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER. Scale Bow Pass with splendid views of Peyto Lake, then climb Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and massive glaciers. Next stop: 1,000-foot-thick COLUMBIA ICEFIELD for a thrilling Ice Explorer ride.
Day 7, Sat. JASPER–SUN PEAKS. Stand at the base of awesome, 12,970-foot Mount Robson. Travel through British Columbia’s Gold Rush and Cariboo regions, enjoying tantalizing glimpses of the soaring granite mountains of Canada’s Rockies. Watch for wildlife as you continue to the internationally renowned Sun Peaks ski resort.
Day 8, Sun. SUN PEAKS–LILLOOET–WHISTLER. Head south following the once-treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. From Lillooet – ”Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route” – your motorcoach will follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes with a mid-afternoon arrival in Whistler. There are plenty of optional activities to choose from, including flightseeing by floatplane over the lakes and glaciated peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Day 9, Mon. WHISTLER–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA. This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. In Victoria, sightseeing includes BUTCHART GARDENS, the Empress Hotel, Legislative Buildings, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park.
Day 10, Tue. VICTORIA. A day at leisure gives you the chance to stroll around the harbor, go shopping on Government Street, or have lunch in one of the many pubs. Your Tour Director will suggest
several optional excursions, including a whale-watching cruise.
Day 11, Wed. VICTORIA–VANCOUVER (EMBARKATION). Board your ferry this morning and head back to the Canadian
mainland, where you will transfer to Holland America’s luxurious MS Volendam for a 7-night voyage through the famed Inside Passage. (D)
Day 12, Thu. SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE. Spend the day cruising one of the world’s most spectacular waterways. Located along the coast of British Columbia, the Inside Passage is the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Watch the water for orcas and humpback whales. (B,L,D)
Day 13, Fri. JUNEAU. Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, Alaska’s capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Juneau is the place to let your imagination run wild. Visit the rustic shops in town – or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There’s no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. Climb aboard the Mount Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike and shoot a souvenir photo. (B,L,D)
Day 14, Sat. SKAGWAY. In winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy’s Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with
its honky tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia, featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of ‘98 Museum. (B,L,D)
Day 15, Sun. SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. How does it feel when a colossal chunk of ice splits off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The sound is like thunder. The impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. You hold your breath as you capture the moment photographically. Then you wait for it all to happen again. (B,L,D)
Day 16, Mon. KETCHIKAN. Built out over the water and up weathered stairways, Ketchikan clings to the shores of Tongass
Narrows and drapes the mountains with a hospitable air. (B,L,D)
Day 17, Tue. SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE. Cruise through the awe-inspiring scenery of the Inside Passage. Keep your cameras ready for spouting whales, soaring eagles, and other wildlife. Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner and onboard entertainment. (B,L,D)
Day 18, Wed. VANCOUVER. Disembark the ship this morning and transfer to Vancouver International Airport for your return flight home. Please schedule homebound flights after Noon. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the “Jewel of the Pacific” further with a variety of exciting optional activities. (B)
(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner
PRE PAID GRATUITIES
Pre-paid gratuities option includes gratuities for the Tour Director & Driver covering the land portion of the itinerary operated by Cosmos. Where we source other leading operators for cruising, rail or local guided elements of your holiday, the option to pre-pay your gratuities is not available.
INSURANCE
The above cancellation charges will be applied in all cases. We do urge you to take adequate travel insurance in addition to our SafetyNet Protection Policy to safeguard you against any cancellation you may make. See your Travel Agent for advice.
REVISION FEES
A fee of $30 per transaction will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. Airline penalties may also apply. A change to traveller name, tour date or tour itinerary within final payment dates will be treated as a cancellation and new reservation; standard cancellation fees apply.
CRUISE
Itineraries are provided by Holland America and are up to date at time of printing.
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
RedLeaf travellers are required to pack an overnight bag for the train journey as suitcases will need to be checked in and will be unavailable. Suitcases for SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf travellers will be delivered in Kamloops. No porterage will be available in Kamloops. Breakfast and a cold lunch will be available in RedLeaf (hot meals in SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf); snacks and non-alcoholic drinks provided free of charge.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
Airfares & airport taxes and fees; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour Director, tour driver (unless prepaid), local city guides; gratuities on ferries and cruise ships; laundry, beverages and food not on the regular table d’hôte menu (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant); optional excursions; porterage at airports; travel insurance; excess baggage fees; all other items of a personal nature. Refer to the 2012 Cosmos United States & Canada Brochure for additional terms and conditions - you your Travelsmart Agent for a copy.
GENERAL
Price includes the Tour/Cruise/Rail departing from and returning to Vancouver. Airfares from New Zealand are not included. Prices do not include Travel Agents service fees. Prices are based on cash purchase. A surcharge will apply for credit card payment. For full terms and conditions and cancellation fees please see your contact your local Travelsmart agent for more information.