Day 1  Saturday (Sunday and Monday cruise departures available but require modified itinerary)  Cruise Departure Our great tour begins with your arrival at one of Vancouver's two cruise ship terminals.  Board the cruise ship in the early afternoon for a 4:00 sailing departure.  We work with all the major cruise lines.  We can arrange affordable inside cabins, picturesque outside cabins and verandas and staterooms.  We do it all.  Sail north along the beautiful inside passage.  
An overnight in Vancouver may be required depending on cruise departure dates.

Day 2  Sunday Cruise the inside passage.  Towering mountains, narrow fjords and pre-historic glaciers combine to make one of the World's great sea voyages.  This is prime habitat for grizzly bears, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoise and of course several species of whales.  Ocean currents between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia are some of the fastest in the World and you can see fish farms, loggers  and coastal cities fade into wilderness as you calmly sail north.  

Day 3  Monday  Arrive at Ketchikan, Alaska and disembark.  This city is both wet and wild.  Pristine wilderness is fed by the abundant moisture.  It is here you find pristine wilderness and a high concentration of animal life.  Consider seeing the outside museum of native art and one of the largest collections of totem poles in the World.  

Day 4  Tuesday 

Day 5  Wednesday  Situated at the head of the scenic Lynn Canal, Skagway was once the gateway to the Goldrush.  Listen for the echoes of "There's Gold in them thar hills" echoing from the canyon walls and valleys.   Stroll the famous historic Gold Rush National Historic Park, Trail of '98 Museum and the White Pass and Yukon narrow-gauge Railroad.   Others may want to experience a shore excursion to the glaciers of Chilkat State Park or go dogsledding on Denver Glacier. 

Day 6  Thursday  The quaint port of Wrangell, at  the mouth of the Stikine River has much to offer.  Be sure to check out the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory or Petroglyph Beach State historic Park.   

Day 7  Friday  We cruise the inside passage southbound back into Canadian waters.  Enjoy the fabulous food and entertainment aboard the ship Pass the Alaska Panhandle.  The colors are inspiring with brilliant blue ice of glaciers, emerald green of virgin forests, diamond-bright waterfalls and fall foliage yellow and golds.     

Day 8 Saturday  Arrive in Vancouver and check into one of our downtown hotels.  Have the remainder of the day free for shopping and sightseeing this delightful city. 
 
Day 9  Sunday This morning, board the Rocky Mountaineer eastbound.  The Rocky Mountaineer is all daylight travel and is one of the most dramatic train trips in the World.   Our departure carries us through fascinating country as we emerge from the lush Delta Valley into Canada's only desert.  Dramatic scenery rolls by Hell's Gate as we parallel the mighty Thompson.  Arrive in Kamloops where we overnight in one of Rocky Mountaineer's hotels.  

Day 10  Re-board the train in the morning and continue east into Alberta.  We travel through rugged terrain, over Rogers Pass and experience the great Spiral Tunnels (where the train circles around inside a mountain and comes out over itself).  Roll on through 5 mountain ranges to the arrive in Banff in time for supper.  Transfer to one of our Banff hotels. 

Day 11  Pickup your car rental in Banff and then explore the beauty of the Rockies.  Perhaps travel the beautiful Bow Valley Expressway to JOHNSTON CANYON where you can stroll past seven waterfalls.  Drive to beautiful MORAINE LAKE to see its mystical green waters and then visit LAKE LOUISE.  Visitors come from all over the World to stand before the lake.  Return to BANFF TOWN for overnight.  What a great day!  Overnight Banff

Day 12  Drive to the edge of town and take a gondola ride up Sulfur Mountain for splendid views of the Banff Springs and the Bow Valley.  Perhaps soak in the Banff Upper Hotsprings or maybe take a cruise onto LAKE MINNEWANKA.  A short drive from Banff are the lovely VERMILION LAKES.  Overnight at one of our Banff Hotels

Day 13  Depart Banff for Jasper on paved highways along the Icefields Parkway.  This is one of the most scenic drives on earth.  Ride a Sno-Coach (weather permitting) onto the Columbia Icefield's ATHABASCA GLACIER.  The Columbia Icefields are 125 square miles in size (massive!), with no fewer than 30 glaciers where 3 river systems flow to three different oceans.   The Icefields Parkway delivers us  past BOW LAKE, PEYTO LAKE and MISTAYA LAKE  some of the most enchanting spots on earth.   Arrive in lovely Jasper and overnight in one of our hotels.

Day 14  This morning consider driving around JASPER and, above the townsite, beautiful PYRAMID LAKE.   40 minutes from Jasper you can take a cruise of magnificent MALIGNE LAKE and its incredible aquamarine waters.  The views are stunning and the water is a shade of blue found only in these mountains.   Spirit Island is a famous spot for  photographers seeking the perfect picture.  Return to Jasper via the Valley of the FIVE LAKES.  Those staying for additional nights can travel on their own a few miles to the south of  Jasper to the JASPER GONDOLA.  The views from the "Whistlers" of the valleys and peaks are outstanding.  ATHABASCA FALLS and  HORSESHOE LAKE are a very short drive from here.  Overnight at one of our Jasper Hotels

Day 15  Wednesday, Saturday, Monday  Drop off your car rental and board VIA Rail's trans-continental train at 12:20PM.  The great peaks of the Rockies give way to foothills and then rolling prairies as we cross the great prairies.   Enter the province of Saskatchewan, the breadbasket of Canada.   

Day 16  Roll through Manitoba and past thousands of lakes onto the Canadian Shield.  The railway tracks here are built on the hardest rock on earth. 

Day 17  Enjoy sumptuous meals as we continue through the cottage country of Ontario and into Toronto, Ontario.  Arrive at 8:00PM and transfer to one of our downtown Toronto hotels.

Day 18  Check out and end of services
 
Those extending their trip can add extra hotel night(s) in Toronto and an excursion to NIAGARA FALLS including an exciting "Maid of the Mist" cruise for a close up look at the falls (subject to favorable weather).   Alternatively you may choose to spend time exploring Toronto's many shopping, attractions and museums.   An optional dinner in the World's tallest free standing structure, the CN Tower is a great idea for the evening.  Overnight Toronto  

Cruise the amazing inside passage