Elegant resorts set amidst breathtaking panoramic views await you on this Collette Vacations tour of the Canadian Rockies, where you'll tour the beautiful province of Alberta, home to such legendary spots as Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary, as well as the province of British Columbia, where you will enjoy stays in Sun Peaks and Vancouver. This tour combines the best of the prairies and the majesty of the Canadian Rockies with a stay in some of Canada's most impressive resort hotels. Keep your camera ready for spectacular photo opportunities at every bend in the road…you won't want to miss sites like Maligne Lake and Butchart Gardens.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive Vancouver, British Columbia - Tour Begins - Join us as you explore the beautiful resorts and spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies.
Day #2 Vancouver - Victoria - This morning experience the city of Vancouver with a sightseeing tour. Visit Chinatown, one of North America’s largest, the vibrant waterfront area and Gastown, Vancouver’s turn-of-the-century pedestrian mall and home of the world-famous steam-powered clock. Next, visit Stanley Park before boarding a ferry to Vancouver Island. Upon arrival enjoy a visit to Chemanius, a little town nestled between the mountains and the ocean, to see first hand its world-famous giant wall murals. Later, arrive in the “City Of Gardens,” Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, where you’ll enjoy a two night stay in the breathtaking Fairmont Empress Hotel on the Inner Harbor.
Day #3 Victoria - Experience breakfast at Butchart Gardens, in the former original residence of the Butchart family. Afterwards, stroll through their 55-acre display of colorful gardens. Next, enjoy a visit to Sea Cider to learn about the agriculture on the island and enjoy a tour as well as a tasting. Returning to Victoria, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Old English-styled Victoria.
Day #4 Victoria - Kelowna - This morning board BC Ferry for a spectacular cruise through the Gulf Islands with their dramatic coastlines. Once back on the mainland, travel through the lush landscape of British Columbia to the city of Kelowna in the rich and fertile Okanagan Valley.
Day #5 Kelowna - Discover the wealth and bounty of the Okanagan Valley. Embark on a morning tour of Summerhill Winery to learn their unique techniques and enjoy a tasting. Visit the Kelowna Farmers Market and discover the bounty of the region. Wander the booths filled with produce, crafts and meats. Perhaps indulge in a local café or bakery and explore the local treats. Visit a jammery filled with delicious jam crafted from berries, fruit and even peppers. Then, discover fields of echinacea flowers gently swaying in the breeze when visiting Falcon Ridge, an organic echinacea farm, and learn about the many uses and benefits of this herb.
Day #6 Kelowna - Jasper, Alberta - Depart the Okanagan Valley along the shores of Lake Okanagan as you travel along the Thompson River. Watch for the first sighting of the majestic Canadian Rockies when you pass Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies. Then, arrive at the gateway to the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, and settle into the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for a relaxing two night stay.
Day #7 Jasper - Begin your day with a visit to Maligne Lake, one of the prettiest bodies of water in the Canadian Rockies. The remainder of your day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the amenities of your hotel or explore the quaint town of Jasper.
Day #8 Jasper - Icefields Parkway - Lake Louise - Enjoy a journey along the unforgettable Icefields Parkway: behold lovely waterfalls, rushing rivers, glacial peaks, imposing cliffs and snowcapped mountain ranges. Stop at powerful Athabasca Falls, whose waters have carved interesting features into stone. Then, at the Columbia Icefields, ride (weather permitting) across this mass of glacial ice which is over 1,000 feet thick and represents the largest accumulation of ice south of the Arctic Circle. Then, travel to spectacular Lake Louise, showcasing incredible views of its emerald waters and the imposing Victoria Glacier, and overnight at the incomparable Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Day #9 Lake Louise - Banff - This morning depart for Banff and Bow Falls. Later, enjoy a visit to a local ammonite specialist where you will learn about this rare gemstone that is found only in Alberta. Your home this evening is the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs, known as the “Castle in the Mountains.”
Day #10 Banff - Calgary - Enjoy a visit to spectacular Moraine Lake and view the incredible Valley of the Ten Peaks from which you will view the unusual “saw-toothed” Ten Peaks. Then, head to the cosmopolitan city of Calgary for the final stop on your scenic adventure. Tonight, join your new friends for a special farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Day #11 Calgary - Tour Ends -
