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Rockies Rail Round Trip - Calgary - Vancouver - Calgary - 14 Days
offered by supplier M18385 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 14
day(s)
Group Size: 40
- 66
people
Destination(s):
British Columbia
Specialty Categories:
Railway Trips
Sightseeing
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 7800 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 11400 US Dollar (USD)
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Calgary. Guests check into the centrally located five star Fairmont Palliser Hotel for a one night stay. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner and get to know fellow passengers with whom we will enjoy this exciting 6 night journey through the Rocky Mountains. Includes: (D).
Day 2: Calgary–Banff- Lake Louise. The Prairies. This morning we board our train and depart from the Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion. Heading through the suburbs of Calgary we travel towards Banff, where we stop around lunchtime. This afternoon we are treated to a tour of the outstanding beauty that surrounds us, from quiet meadows to thundering waterfalls, and towering peaks to misty cannons. We also visit the stunning Chateau Lake Louise, situated at the head of Lake Louise, facing the 11,250ft Mount Victoria. From here the noise of cracking glaciers can often be heard as huge chunks of ice crash into the lake. We spend two nights in this fabulous area, at the Relais and Chateaux Post Hotel and Spa. Includes: (B),(L).
Day 3: Lake Louise. Ice fields Parkway. Today we take the Ice fields Parkway, considered one of the most scenic highways in the world, which offers ever-changing views of waterfalls, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks. At the boundary of the Banff and Jasper National Parks lies the Columbia Ice field. One of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, it covers an area of nearly 325 square kilometers. It has eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome, and Stutfield Glaciers, all visible from the Ice fields Parkway. We will take Brewster's Ice Age Adventure, a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier before returning to Lake Louse late in the afternoon. Includes: (B),(L).
Day 4: Lake Louise – Revelstoke The Rockies. On leaving Lake Louise we start the steepest part of our climb through the Rockies. On reaching the Continental Divide, we pass from Alberta into British Columbia and change to Pacific Time. From here we descend past Lake Wapata into two spiral tunnels down to Kicking Horse Pass, continuing over Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. We arrive in Revelstoke, where we visit the Railway Museum, and stay overnight.
Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: Revelstoke – Kamloops The Lakes. An early run down to Kamloops, passing Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven to complete the Trans-Continental rail link on the 7th of November, 1885. We have a short excursion on the ‘Spirit of Kamloops’ heritage train before returning to Kamloops for an overnight stay. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 6: Kamloops – Vancouver. The Canyons. Early morning we depart for Vancouver, some 250 miles away, and travel along the Thompson River and Fraser River canyons. Exiting the lower Fraser River valley we run along Burrard Inlet into Vancouver’s Waterfront Station, beneath the original Canadian Pacific Terminal. (Note: operational constraints may require that the train terminates at Coquitlam in Vancouver’s suburbs). We then transfer to the five star Fairmont Waterfront Hotel (or similar) for a one night stay and our farewell dinner. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Days 7-8: Vancouver. Today we can explore this cosmopolitan city. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, nestled in and around the slopes of the impressive Coast Mountains, Vancouver was voted one of the top three most livable cities in the world in 2007. Soak up the atmosphere by taking a walk along the Stanley Park Seawall, visit the Vancouver art gallery or just enjoy the ambiance by relaxing at a street café. Includes: (B).
A free day for more exploration of this fabulous city. Includes: (D).
Day 9: Vancouver – Kamloops - The Canyons. Early morning we depart Vancouver’s Granville Street Station, beneath the original Canadian Pacific Terminal, for Kamloops, some 250 miles away (Note: operational constraints may dictate that we depart from Coquitlam in Vancouver’s suburbs). We follow Burrard Inlet then enter the awesome Lower Fraser River and later Thompson River Canyons before our evening arrival in Kamloops. Throughout the day we will experience the changing scenery of lush greenery, shady maples and alder trees, rugged mountains and barren lands. This evening we stay in the Executive Inn. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10: Kamloops – Golden – The Lakes. After breakfast we join the Spirit of Kamloops Heritage train for a short journey. On returning to Kamloops we rejoin our private train and continue our journey into the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, passing Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven to complete the Trans-Continental rail link on the 7th of November, 1885. We have a private visit to the Railway Museum in Revelstoke before ending our day at the important junction of Golden, which is nestled in the stunning Columbia Valley, and is surrounded by three different mountain ranges and five National Parks where we have dinner and stay overnight. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 11: Golden – Fort Steele. - Columbia River Valley. From Golden the train diverges from the CPR main line and takes the former Kootenay Railway, south along the Columbia River Valley towards the US border. Overnight in Cranbrook. Dinner and period entertainment in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, the fabulous original dining room from the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel in Winnipeg. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 12: Cranbrook – Crowsnest Pass – Lethbridge - The Rockies. In the morning we have a private visit to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel before taking the spectacular line through the Crowsnest Pass, where we cross the continental divide. There is an optional visit (at additional cost) to the excellent Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, it celebrates Native American culture and customs and has been used continuously for more than 5,500 years. One of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps known to exist, it is a remarkable testimony of prehistoric life. We spend the night in Lethbridge. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 13: Lethbridge – Calgary. - The Prairies. This morning we have the opportunity to photograph our train on the spectacular 1 mile long and 314 feet high Lethbridge Trestle. The largest in North America, this amazing steel structure was completed in 1909 to replace the original wooden bridge. We then continue our journey north through the Prairies to Calgary, arriving mid afternoon into the Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion. The Pavilion is attached to the five-star Fairmont Palliser Hotel, where we will stay overnight. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 14: Calgary. Our tour ends with breakfast in the Hotel’s Rimrock Room. Before flying out you may have time to explore this lively city. Although very modern, Calgary still retains much of its traditional culture of saloons and western bars and is known by many as the “Nashville of the North”. A drink in one of these bars is a great way to soak up the atmosphere. Some of the many other attractions not to be missed include the Calgary Tower with its glass observation deck, which provides terrific views of the city skyline; Devonian Gardens, one of the largest urban indoor gardens in the world; and Calgary’s Heritage Park, which recreates nineteenth century life. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Railway Trips
Sightseeing
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