Canadian Rockies Self Drive Plus Alaska Cruise

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Itinerary Highlights

Drive along the Icefields Parkway through the majestic Canadian Rockies and take the Ice Explorer on to Athabasca Glacier
Board the luxurious SilverSea Silver Muse and navigate through the Inside Passage to Alaska's breathtaking natural scenery.
Enjoy a fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities in Ketchikan home to grizzly and black bears as well as whales and seals.
Embark on a remarkable adventure in the glacier country of Juneau with an opportunity to visit the majestic Mendenhall Glacier.

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Car Hire
GPS Device
International Flights

18 nights from £8,739 per person

Best time to travel MAY - SEPT

01244 435 806

All of our holidays are tailor-made to your requirements by an expert Travel Specialist

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From the Canadian Rockies to the Glaciers and wilderness of Alaska, this combination of luxury self-drive and luxury cruising is the ultimate Canadian adventure. Enjoy the freedom of driving through some of the world's most outstanding mountain scenery, stopping at iconic locations such as Banff National Park and Lake Louise. Take the Ice Explorer up on to the Athabasca Glacier or a cruise on Lake Minnewanka. Follow the Thompson River through the snowy peaks of Monashee and Caribou Mountains before taking the Sea-toSky Highway from Jasper to Vancouver.

Then you can let someone take control of travelling after boarding the luxurioius SilverSea Silver Shadow on a breathtaking voyage through the Inside Passage and along the British Columbia and Alaskan Coastline, stopping for adventures in the wilderness, hiking, sea kayaking, whale watching, floatplane adventures or salmon fishing.

Itinerary

Day 1 Travel to Calgary

Take your daytime flight from the UK to Calgary. On arrival transfer to your downtown hotel for the night and explore Calgary's restaurant scene and nightlife.

Day 2 Calgary - Banff (72 miles)

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Calgary before heading east towards Banff, we recommend a stop at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, created to care for and rehabilitate displaced Wolfdogs. On arrival at Banff check in to your selected hotel and enjoy an afternoon exploring the town. For something a little unique we recommend the Evening Wildlife Safari which takes you through various landscapes to observe animals in their natural habitat.

Staying at

exterior of fairmont banff springs alberta

Mountain View Guest Room at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta

Lobby at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta

Deluxe Room at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta

Day 3 Banff

Today you have a full day to explore the area of Banff National Park. Take the Banff Gondola tour to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of the mountains and valley or spend the day out with specialist guides on a signature hiking tour such as Stanley Glacier, Larch Valley or Ha Ling Summit.. Return to Banff for a soak at the Upper Hot Springs (included)

Staying at

Day 4 Banff - Lake Louise (38 miles)

Follow the Bow Valley Parkway, a scenic drive connecting Banff with Lake Louise. Make sure you stop along the way at some of the scenic lookouts, today's drive is short so there is no rush. On arrival at Lake Louise you can enjoy a number of activities such as kayaking or take a guided hike around the lake shore.

Staying at

Exterior of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

Bar at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

Bedroom Interior at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

Lobby at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

Day 5 Lake Louise - Jasper (129 miles)

Drive along the spine of the Canadian Rockies on the scenic Icefields Parkway, a route connecting Lake Louise with Jasper. The drive is one of the most scenic in the Canadian Rocky Mountains with spectacular scenery, wildlife and incredible blue lakes. Stop off at the Columbia Icefield for a ride on to the Athabasca Glacier on board an Ice Explorer (included). Continue your journey to Jasper where you will spend two nights.

Staying at

Day 6 Jasper

Jasper is a charming mountain village close to many terrific highlights. We recommend you start with a a visit to the beautiful Maligne Lake, here you can take a 90-minute cruise on one of the worlds most photographed lakes. There are many more attractions and experiences on offer in Jasper including chauffeured motorbike and sidecar tours, gentle rafting on the Athabasca River or simple pack a picnic and enjoy a peaceful lunch on the shores of one of the picturesque lakes.

Staying at

aerial view of fairmont jasper park lodge

summer outdoor pool at fairmont jasper park lodge

Junior Suite Lake View at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Day 7 Jasper - Sun Peaks (277 miles)

Leaving Jasper National Park, drive along the 'Yellowhead' Route with takes you past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Follow the Thompson River and take in the views of snowy peaks of the Monashee and Caribou Mountains. you will overnight in the resort village of Sun Peaks.

Day 8 Sun Peaks - Vancouver (203 miles)

Follow the Logan Route to the historic gold rush town of Cache Creek where you will stop for a visit of Hat Creek Ranch. Here you will be transported back to the days of the Gold Rush. You will continue through more historic gold rush areas such as Lillooet and the Old Caribou Wagon Trail. Enjoy breathtaking views of Joffre Glacier on the way to Whistler and then take the Sea-to Sky Highway past the cascading Shannon Falls and take the Sea-to-Sky Gondola for stunning panoramic views.

Staying at

Swimming Pool at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver

Botanist Restaurant at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver

Bedroom at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver

Day 9 Vancouver

Optional Floatplane Flight Over Vancouver

A full day at leisure in Vancouver for you to explore this cosmopolitan city. One of the main highlights is a visit to Stanley Park or maybe take a floatplane flight out over the Inner Harbour and Gulf Islands.

Day 10 Depart Vancouver On SilverSea Silver Muse

Board the luxurious SilverSea Silver Muse for your cruise from Vancouver through the Inside Passage to Alaska's spectacular coastal scenery and glaciers.

Day 11 Cruise The Inside Passage

Today you will cruise through Canada's section of the Inside Passage, a route used by sea vessels due to the protection the Strait of Georgia offers with Vancouver to one side and the dramatic coastline of mainland British Columbia the other side.

Day 12 Ketchikan, Alaska

You are scheduled to arrive in to Ketchikan at 08:00. Famous for its Totem Poles and streets that are as steep as though in San Francisco, this town is home to a population of just 13,500. Floatplanes depart here for Misty Fiords National Park and salmon laden motor boats sail through the Tongass Narrows. You have until 14:00 to explore the area and there are a number of optional shore excursions you can purchase including a private crabbing and fishing trip and scenic floatplane flights.

Day 13 Juneau, Alaska

The overnight sail brings you to Juneau, Alaska's capital city and third-largest city, cannot be reached by road. You will enjoy a full day here to explore and take advantage of some of the optional shore excursions that include a visit to Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching cruises, seaplane flights over passes and glaciers, sea kayaking and fly out fly fishing adventures.

Day 14 Skagway, Alaska

Skagway, Chilkat Inlet and the Sinclair Mountain in the background

This morning you will awake in the destination of Skagway, the northern terminus of the Inside Passage. Skagway is in a remote location, easily reached by ferry from Haines but more difficult to reach by road. The town is an amazingly preserved example of North America's biggest and most storied gold rush. There are numerous optional shore excursions on offer in Skagway including a tour with a professional photographer who will give you tips for taking the best pictures of the area.

Day 15 Sitka, Alaska

Enjoy a full day in Sitka, a coastal town with an eclectic mix of Alaska Native, Russian and American History. A fascinating town best explored on foot with highlights such as St Michael's Cathedral and Sitka National Historic park. Shore excursions available in Sitka include a flu-in hike where you take a panoramic flight-seeing tour to a remote bay on Kruzkoff Island for a guided hike. Wildlife tours, dry suit snorkelling and salmon fishing are also optional activities you can enjoy.

Day 16 Cruise Hubbard Glacier

Arrive early in the morning at Hubbard Glacier, the largest glacier in North America at a calving front of more than six miles long. The main source of the glacier begins 76 miles inland. After plenty of photo opportunities you will depart at midday for Seward.

Day 17 Seward (Anchorage), Alaska

Surrounded by the Kenai Fjords National Park, Chugach National Forest and Ressurection Bay, Seward is an area of outstanding natural beauty. This small railroad town offers jaw dropping scenery and is the launching point for excursions around the Fjord. You will disembark from the cruise here and take the 4.5hr rail transfer to Anchorage, arriving early afternoon. You will check in to the Hilton Anchorage for one night.

Day 18 Travel Home