Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise

We fly from London Heathrow to Calgary from where we transfer by coach to Banff, a scenic town set in Canada's oldest national park.

Day 2 begins with an excursion to crystal-clear Lake Louise, one of the most photographed and iconic sights in the Canadian Rockies. Later, we continue to Emerald Lake, the largest of Yoho National Park's lakes. This evening we are introduced to a Mountie, who gives us a fascinating talk.

We depart by coach along the famous Icefields Parkway, a 144-mile road that links Jasper with Lake Louise and passes through incredible scenery. We travel past many of the highest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies, pausing for a photo opportunity above the turquoise waters of Peyto Lake, before making our way to the Icefields Centre at the foot of the Columbia Icefields. Here we stop to marvel at the Athabasca Glacier, and you have the option to enjoy a ride over the ice field by giant Snocoach (payable locally). Afterwards, we continue to Athabasca Falls, where thundering waters carve their way through the peaceful mountain scenery. We spend the night in Jasper.

Please Note: For departure RPO2004 you will stay in Banff for a extra night.

Today we board the Rocky Mountaineer for a superb daylight journey through some of Canada's best-loved scenery. Our 309-mile trip to Kamloops takes in the scenery of the 'Journey Through the Clouds' route, passing through Banff National Park and across the Continental Divide. We stay overnight at a hotel in Kamloops.

On Day 5, our Rocky Mountaineer experience continues, travelling along the Thompson and Fraser Canyons. As we keep our eyes open for Canadian wildlife, the line begins its descent towards the Pacific Coast, reaching Vancouver.

Today we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Vancouver, one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world and one that ranks consistently among the planet's top 3 most desirable places to live in. We see the old Gastown Quarter - an area of coffee shops, native art stores, and home to the famous Gastown Steam Clock. We continue to Chinatown with its colourful traditional architecture, and beautiful Stanley Park, home to a set of unique totem poles.

Late this morning, we say goodbye to mainland Canada, as we board the MS Volendam for our incredible 7-night Alaskan cruise. After settling in, we enjoy our first dinner on board this evening. Day 8 takes us on our first step of our journey through the famous 'Inside Passage' to Alaska, an area of pristine waters, snow-capped mountains, and deep fjords, famous as a haven for wildlife.

This morning, our ship arrives at Tracy Arm, a fjord surrounded by high-rock cliffs and plunging waterfalls, known as the home of the ice-blue Sawyer Glaciers. As the ship sails through the Tracy Arm Inlet, we enjoy lunch on board, before we arrive into the Alaskan state capital, Juneau, this afternoon. Completely inaccessible by road, this former Gold Rush city is set against a backdrop of crisp mountains, which you are free to explore.

On Day 10 we call at Skagway, famed for its association with Jack London's 1903 novel, 'The Call of the Wild.' With time at leisure here, you may wish to take a stroll along the town's historic boardwalk.

Today is spent on board as we cruise through some of the most amazing scenery in Alaska. The ice formations of Glacier Bay are thought to be 4,000 years old and are protected by UNESCO as part of the 3.3 million acres of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

On Day 12, we dock at Ketchikan, where you have the option to disembark and explore the native culture and art. Totem poles, dances, and tribal houses are all accessible via the town, most a short walk or taxi ride.

Our ship begins its journey back to Vancouver today, as we cruise back along the Inside Passage to Vancouver. After breakfast in Day 14, we disembark in Vancouver, where you have some free time. Vancouver combines its breathtaking setting with beautiful architecture and a perfectly-pitched way of life; perhaps use your time here to sample world-class cuisine, or return to areas of interest from our previous tour. Later this afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our flight home, arriving in London on Day 15.