North America

Day 1 : Arrive Vancouver

Welcome to beautiful Vancouver.  Your hotel is located within easy walking distance of lively Gastown and Stanley Park. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at the welcome reception followed by dinner.

Day 2 : Vancouver

Home to an active cultural scene and abundant natural resources, Vancouver is a city steeped in pleasures. On a sightseeing tour this morning, enjoy a docent-led tour of the Bill Reid Gallery, a showcase for contemporary Aboriginal art of the Northwest Coast. One of Canada's greatest artists, Bill Reid was an acclaimed Haida master goldsmith, carver, sculptor and writer, whose work is on display here. 

Continue on to Stanley Park, a stunning green oasis in the midst of the city, and enjoy lunch on your own at your choice of Granville Island's tempting eateries. This afternoon, travel by float plane and enjoy flightseeing over the pristine Gulf Islands en route to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, for a two-night stay at a gracious landmark hotel with stunning waterfront views.

Day 3 : Butchart Gardens

Discover a little piece of England on a visit to The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, encompassing 55 acres of breathtaking floral beauty in Japanese, Italian, Rose and Sunken show gardens dating back to the early 20th century. Return to Victoria and enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress, a sweetly decadent tradition for over a century. Then Explore on your own for the rest of the day and evening.

Day 4 : Ferry to Vancouver and a rail journey

This morning board a ferry across the Strait of Georgia to the city of Vancouver, crossing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Travel to the train station and board the sleek, newly restored rail cars of VIA Rail's The Canadian, and celebrate the start of your overnight journey to the Canadian Rockies with a champagne toast. Spend the night on the train while speeding across some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America.

Day 5 : Rafting and more - Jasper National Park

The vistas are nothing short of spectacular from Tauck's private domed observation car - reserved for Tauck guests only - aboard The Canadian, as your western Canada tour continues across British Columbia, where towering peaks and glaciers highlight the route. Cross the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta; arrive in Jasper National Park for a two-night stay at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on the shores of Lac Beauvert.

Day 6 : Jasper National Park

The day is yours to spend just as you wish among the carefully protected ecosystems - and photographer's paradise of Jasper National Park, where optional choices at your resort (at additional cost) include horseback riding or tennis. Rent a canoe or paddleboat on Lake Beauvert; go on a trail ride or a guided nature walk; play a round of golf on a top-rated course; or visit the historic town of Jasper on your own. This evening, a presentation by a Parks Canada official precedes dinner at your choice of restaurants at the lodge.

Day 7 : Icefields Parkway

Drive the Icefields Parkway, featuring jaw-dropping views of mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and snowfields around every turn. Watch for bears, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats, especially in the spring and fall. View Athabasca Glacier flowing from the Columbia Icefield, and take a memorable climb across the glacier's surface on an Ice Explorer, a specially designed vehicle. Arrive at your chateau-style hotel on the edge of Lake Louise overlooking Victoria Glacier, for a night in a Lake View room.

Day 8 : Lake Louise

Spend the morning at leisure exploring your Lake Louise resort as you please.  This afternoon, enjoy a change of scenery and resorts when you settle into your resort in Banff National Park. It was the discovery by Canadian Pacific Railway workers of wonders like the Cave and Hot Spring Basin that led to this park’s establishment in the early 1880s – and of your castle-like hotel in the park in 1888, when the railway first opened tourism to the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy dinner this evening at leisure at The Fairmont Banff Springs.

Day 9 : Banff National Park

Embark on a float trip along the Bow River, then spend the rest of the day at leisure at your grand hotel, built more than a century ago to resemble a Scottish baronial castle. There's a full range of optional activities (available at additional cost) to try. Perhaps take a guided nature walk; book a treatment at the renowned Willow Stream Spa; ride the scenic Banff Gondola; or enjoy horseback riding, a round of golf, or the museums in the town of Banff. Join us this evening for our farewell dinner.

Day 10 : Journey Home

Enjoy a final breakfast then travel from Banff National Park to Calgary for your flight home.  

Your trip doesn't have to end here though!  All Bon Voyage holidays are tailor-made and your consultant will be able to suggest many add-ons to this itinerary.  

Call our friendly experts to discuss your Grand Canadian Rockies adventure.