Western Canada by Rail with Calgary Stampede & Alaska Cruise

CALGARY

Welcome to Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.

CALGARY

Welcome to the Calgary Stampede, “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” Your hotel is conveniently located on the train line to Stampede Park, allowing you to come and go as you please. Dust off your cowboy boots and head through the gates of Stampede Park into a world of wonder and “Wild West” ropin’-n’-ridin’ with your included admission. Experience the traditions and culture of Canadian First Nations at Elbow River Camp or sample Western fare at the Midway. Enjoy live entertainment on the many performance stages, then explore international exhibits and displays of Western art.

This evening, watch the heart-stopping Chuckwagon Races as drivers and their teams race for the finish line in one of the Stampede’s signature events. Afterward, enjoy the outdoor Grandstand Show featuring hundreds of singers, dancers, and musicians in a spectacular musical production.

CALGARY

Saddle up for another day exploring the Calgary Stampede grounds and grandstands for the famous Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Fuel up for the day with a pancake breakfast at Fluor Rope Square at Stephen Avenue Mall. Return to the Stampede grounds this morning to catch anything you may have missed the day before. Complete your western look with a cowboy hat, shirt, or boots from one of the many vendors before taking your seat in the grandstands for the Calgary Stampede Rodeo this afternoon.

Watch the top riders and ropers compete in classic rodeo events, including the crowd-favorite bull riding competition. Outside the stadium, enjoy square dancing, country bands, livestock displays, shops, and local food.

CALGARY–BANFF NATIONAL PARK

The discovery of oil transformed Calgary from a cattle-ranching town into a thriving, modern city. Sightseeing highlights downtown Calgary, The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary), Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. Next, drive west through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains into Banff National Park. Enjoy an orientation tour upon arrival. The evening is at leisure.

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy the day exploring Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. Hike the many trails, stroll through Banff townsite, or relax at the hot springs. Banff National Park is also an excellent place for wildlife viewing, with opportunities to spot deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. For a different perspective, choose an optional helicopter ride for breathtaking aerial views of the Canadian Rockies. If you prefer to stay on the ground, join the Panoramas & Peaks* optional excursion to visit gorgeous Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

*This optional excursion begins operating in early June.

BANFF NATIONAL PARK–LAKE LOUISE–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–JASPER NATIONAL PARK

First stop is stunning Lake Louise, the crown jewel of Banff National Park, where turquoise waters reflect the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Then travel the Icefields Parkway, crossing three mountain passes as gorges, snowcapped peaks, and glacier-fed lakes come into view. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for a tour highlight – a ride aboard the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier. Late this afternoon, consider an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Upon arrival in Jasper National Park, enjoy an orientation tour of the townsites.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Immerse yourself on a memorable optional narrated cruise on the glacial waters of Maligne Lake to legendary Spirit Island*. Along the way, see Medicine Lake and Maligne Canyon while keeping an eye out for wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, and elk. Then perhaps hike one of the park’s trails or browse the shops in the Jasper townsite.

*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–MOUNT ROBSON–KAMLOOPS

Board the Rocky Mountaineer for a two-day, all-daylight rail journey from the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific Coast. Along the way, pass Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and follow the North Thompson River with views of the Monashee Mountains. Enjoy free time in Kamloops this evening.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

KAMLOOPS–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–VANCOUVER

This morning, continue your Rocky Mountaineer rail journey through the ranchlands along the Thompson River. Travel through the Fraser Canyon and see the powerful whitewater of Hell’s Gate on the Fraser River. Arrive in Vancouver this evening and transfer to your hotel.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

VANCOUVER–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA

Morning sightseeing highlights Stanley Park and other Vancouver landmarks. Afterward, sail through the Gulf Islands, to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. Visit Butchart Gardens and its 55-acres of floral displays, then continue sightseeing in Victoria, including Bastion Square, the Parliament Buildings, and Thunderbird Park home to an impressive collection of totem poles. This evening, perhaps enjoy a stroll along Victoria’s Inner Harbour and dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants.

VICTORIA–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER (EMBARKATION)

Sail via ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver this morning. After arriving, transfer to Canada Place and bid farewell to your Tour Director and board your Holland America cruise ship for a 7-night voyage through the Inside Passage. Your package price includes Holland America’s ‘Have It All Premium Cruise Package.'

• Meals Included:
• Dinner

SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE

Spend the day cruising the Inside Passage, one of the world’s most scenic coastal waterways. Located along the coast of British Columbia, the Inside Passage is the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Watch the water for marine life, including orcas and humpback whales.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

JUNEAU

Located at the foot of mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska’s capital city of Juneau is home to Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield. Browse the shops in town—or get out and kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. With long daylight hours, you'll have even more time to enjoy Juneau’s outdoor adventures.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

SKAGWAY

Skagway is known as the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, when thousands of prospectors passed through town on their way to the Yukon Territory. Visit the Trail of ’98 Museum or the historic Red Onion Saloon to learn more about Skagway’s Gold Rush history, including stories of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other colorful characters. Or stroll the wooden boardwalks and browse the shops of this historic frontier town.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY

Cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, where snow-capped mountains, forests, and tidewater glaciers create one of Alaska’s most spectacular landscapes. Keep your binoculars and camera ready as you sail to Margerie Glacier, where you may have the chance to witness the dramatic spectacle of ice calving. Watch for wildlife along the shoreline and in the water, including humpback whales, grizzly bears, and other native species.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

KETCHIKAN

Named Alaska’s “First City” as the first major port of call for many cruises sailing the Inside Passage, Ketchikan sits along the Tongass Narrows and is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. Known for its salmon fishing and Native Alaska heritage, Ketchikan offers opportunities to try your luck on an optional sport-fishing excursion, savor fresh local seafood, or learn about the traditions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE

Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orca plying the bountiful waters, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

VANCOUVER (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends this morning. Please schedule flights after noon.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast