Majestic Rockies with Globus and Rocky Mountaineer

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Tour Vancouver, including the waterfront, Chinatown, and Stanley Park with its old-growth evergreen forests and totem poles. Catch the BC Ferry over to Vancouver Island and Victoria. See major attractions on your city orientation tour including the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. Later, visit world-famous Globus Local Favourite Butchart Gardens, followed by a special dinner in the former historic greenhouse.

The day is free to explore on your own.

Board a BC Ferry crossing the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. En route to Whistler, stop at Shannon Falls, where a boardwalk leads to a viewing platform near the base of the roaring falls. On to the alpine resort of Whistler at the base of the magnificent Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Time to explore the 2010 Winter Olympics sites, paddleboard, hike, explore Whistler Village or play pickleball. Enjoy a 2-night stay at the Hilton Whistler Resort, with mountain style elegance in the heart of Whistler Village.

Full free day to explore all that Whistler has to offer.

This morning, enjoy a visit and breakfast at the Globus Local Favorite Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, dedicated to the history and culture of the First Nations people. Then, journey north through the heart of the magnificent Cariboo region. Spectacular scenery abounds as you pass by rolling hills, deeply incised rivers, and sparkling lakes. Afternoon arrival in Sun Peaks with the balance of the day at leisure. Free time this evening.

Continue north, following Yellowhead Highway and hugging the mighty North Thompson River, into the province of Alberta. See the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson (the highest point in the Canadian Rockies) before entering Jasper National Park. Marvel at the precipitous gorges, snow-capped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens in this wild mountain wilderness. Before arriving at your hotel, you may wish to take an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River, where your experienced rafting guide will navigate as you absorb the splendour of Jasper National Park. Tonight, explore the entertainment and culinary choices downtown, then look to the skies for remarkable stargazing when night falls. Jasper was designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society in Canada and is one of the largest in the world.

Travel through Jasper’s unspoiled beauty to glacial Maligne Canyon for lunch at the Wilderness Kitchen. Continue to stunning Maligne Lake for a narrated scenic cruise to Spirit Island. Return to Jasper where the balance of the day is at leisure to explore Jasper on your own.

Head south through Jasper National Park on Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for a thrilling Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier. Climb Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and massive glaciers. Next, stop at Lake Louise, whose green-blue waters form a perfect mirror reflection of Mount Victoria. Continue into Banff for a free evening.

Breakfast this morning is served on top of Sulphur Mountain. Take a scenic ride on the Banff Gondola to the top of the mountain and enjoy spectacular views of Bow Valley and the Rocky Mountains. Additional sightseeing in Banff includes a visit to Bow Falls. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure. Consider an optional flightseeing trip for a bird’s-eye view of the Rockies. This evening, join your Tour Director for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, wave goodbye to your Tour Director and Driver in Banff before boarding your Rocky Mountaineer train to travel over the Continental Divide and along the Kicking Horse River. Continue westward to Shuswap Lake and then overnight in Kamloops. Tonight, enjoy free time in Kamloops.

Back aboard Rocky Mountaineer, enjoy your amazing journey through the fertile fields of Thompson Valley and beautiful Fraser Canyon. Late this afternoon, arrive in Vancouver and transfer to your hotel to enjoy free time this evening. Your Local Host will be available to provide suggestions for visiting the highlights in Vancouver.

Your trip ends with breakfast this morning.