Rockies & Alaska Cruise 2012 

We depart from London for Calgary and transfer to the centrally located Sandman Inn Hotel for one night. Calgary is the fourth biggest city in Canada and the largest inland metropolis between Vancouver and Toronto. Day 2 begins with a guided tour of Calgary, taking in many of the interesting city sights and monuments including Prince's Island Park and the Stampede Grounds. This afternoon we travel by coach into the Rocky Mountains, enjoying the stunning scenery as we make our way into Banff National Park to spend two nights at the Rundlestone Lodge, in Banff.

Today we enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Banff National park, visiting Emerald Lake, renowned for its vivid colours, and continuing to the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Louise, whose emerald green waters are surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks. If time permits we may take a short walk along the shores of the lake. On Day 4 our excursion takes us along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, home to the Athabasca Glacier, part of the huge Columbia Icefield. You have the opportunity of taking an excursion on the Icefields Parkway by giant snowmobile. After lunch we head for the thundering Athabasca Falls before continuing by coach to Jasper, where we spend two nights at Amethyst Lodge.

Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park, including a visit to the spectacular Maligne Canyon, a 164 foot (50m) deep gorge of sheer limestone walls, with waterfalls and fascinating rock formations. We also visit the stunning turquoise Maligne Lake, the largest glacier-fed body of water in the region.

We embark on a daylight journey through the Rockies on the world-renowned Rocky Mountaineer. This 309 mile (497km) trip to Kamloops takes in the magnificent scenery of the 'Journey through the Clouds' route, passing through Banff National Park and across the Continental Divide. We travel in Red Leaf Class, watching the passing scenery from picture windows, enjoying breakfast and lunch served at our seats. We overnight at a hotel in Kamloops. (B,L)

Today our Rocky Mountaineer experience includes one of the most dramatic stretches of the line, travelling along the Thompson and Fraser Canyons. As you keep your eyes open for Canadian wildlife, the line descends to the Pacific Coast. On arrival in Vancouver we transfer to the Blue Horizon Hotel where we stay for two nights. (B,L)

Your day is free to spend exploring Vancouver at leisure. Your options include visits to Gastown, Chinatown and Stanley Park. You could even cross Lions Gate Bridge to North Vancouver to see the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. You have some free time to explore on Day 9 before we transfer to the port to board the Century Alaska for our incredible 7-night Alaska cruise. (Day 9-D)

Our first day on board takes us up the rugged Canadian coast, cut deeply by fjords, past dense forests and snow-capped peaks. We make our way through the famous 'Inside Passage', an area of pristine waters, snow-capped mountains, deep fjords and forested islands, famous as a haven for wildlife. Look out for whales, seals and sea lions. (B,L,D)

We spend the morning at sea. Pass the day enjoying the scenery, wildlife spotting from on the deck, or take advantage of the excellent facilities on board our ship. This afternoon we reach Icy Strait Point, located at the mouth of Glacier Bay. You can experience Tlingit culture and enjoy the many wildlife-spotting opportunities. As a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site, Glacier Bay National Park has a unique ecosystem of plants and animals. The bay also has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world - if lucky you might witness one of the majestic seracs collapsing into the sea. (B,L,D)

During our day cruising we pass Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. On Day 13 we reach Juneau and disembark to explore Alaska's capital. Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains the city has a rich gold mining heritage. Here you can visit the Alaska State Museum, home to an exquisite collection of Russian Orthodox and Gold Rush relics. (Days 12-13-B,L,D)

This afternoon we arrive in Ketchikan, the ancestral home of the Tlingit tribe and home to the world's largest collection of totem poles. Built out on stilts over the water, the town clings dramatically to the shores of Tongass Narrows. Day 15 is spent cruising the Inside Passage back towards Vancouver. (Days 14-15-B,L,D)

The Century Alaska docks in Vancouver early on Day 16. After disembarking the ship we transfer to the airport for our flight home. We arrive in London early on Day 17. (Day 16-B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday