SOUTHBOUND
Day 1 – Sail from Juneau
Today you will be met at the airport followed by a City & Glacier Tour of Juneau, capital city of Alaska. Later in the afternoon board your yacht the Safari Escape for a champagne greeting from you crew.
The 12-guest Safari Escape embodies an ambience of luxury and rejuvenation. The sleek and nimble yacht allows easy access to the most intricate and remote passages. You'll be free to wander into unnamed coves, unsung vistas, and passages less traveled. An air of elegance meets and complements your expectations when you step onboard. The yacht provides a unique, casual, personal and inclusive vacation experience. You’ll cruise to a secluded anchorage for your first night on board.
Luxury: Overnight onboard the Safari Escape Yacht – Mariner Stateroom
Day 2 & 3 - Glaciers and Whales
Your cruise takes you south through the wilderness areas along Admiralty Island and into the world famous Tracy Arm Glaciers. Come face to face with massive glaciers and floating icebergs in Alaska’s majestic Fjords. Watch for mountain goats, bears and harbor seals and make sure to join the Expedition Leader on deck as you search for whales and porpoise.
Luxury: Overnight onboard the Safari Escape Yacht – Mariner Stateroom
Days 4 & 5 - Alaska Towns and Passages
Enjoy the luxury and privacy of your intimate yacht as you sail down the famed Inside Passage. You’ll discover Alaska’s people and culture during our visits to Petersburg and Meyer’s Chuck, learning about the history and survival of the local people’s as you go. Your journey through Wrangell Narrows requires the utmost of skill as you weave your way through dozens of small passages and coves. Your Expedition Leader will guide you into the rain forest on a nature walk, and you’ll have ample opportunities for kayaking in pristine wilderness coves and passages.
Luxury: Overnight onboard the Safari Escape Yacht – Mariner Stateroom
Day 6 – Misty Fjords National Monument
Misty Fjords is a gem in the wilderness. Marvel at the 3,000-foot cliffs laced with waterfalls. This is dramatic scenery at its best, telling an ancient tale of geological and human histories. This is what small ship exploration is all about as you take the kayaks and inflatable launch and search for bears, birds and orcas along the way.
Luxury: Overnight onboard the Safari Escape Yacht – Mariner Stateroom
Days 7 & 8 - Ketchikan and Wilderness
Upon arriving in Ketchikan you’ll enjoy a very special, private tour of Saxman Village, a Tlingit Indian community, with local tribal member Joe Williams. Explore a clan house and discover the stories behind the totem poles that line the streets. Back onboard, recline on deck as you cruise among forested islands and scenic passages. You’ll anchor in a quiet cove, kayak and simply relax during the final day’s journey. Tonight you’ll relive the experiences of our journey during a festive Farewell Dinner
Luxury: Overnight onboard the Safari Escape Yacht – Mariner Stateroom
Day 9 – Arrive Prince Rupert / Prince Rupert Panorama Flight seeing Tour
You’ll arrive in this beautiful British Columbia port this morning. After breakfast you’ll be transferred to your hotel.
This afternoon enjoy a 30 minute flight that is an ideal introduction to seaplane aviation. Your flight will include a spectacular view of Prince Rupert and the wilderness beyond. Enjoy the unique sights of the Skeena River as well as the historic working docks and cannery at Port Edward. The North Pacific Cannery is the oldest cannery remaining on the B.C. coast.
Deluxe: Overnight Crest Hotel - Treat Suite
Day 10 - Prince Rupert to Prince George aboard VIA Rail Skeena
This morning board VIA Rails Skeena and take your place in the deluxe dome car and enjoy the fine service of Totem Class. The journey will cover over 900 miles from Prince Rupert to Jasper. The massive Skeena River will be our guide until we reach the interior plateau and the bustling Pulp & Paper centre of Prince George.
Deluxe: Overnight Coast Inn of the North - Superior room
Day 11 – Prince George to Jasper aboard VIA Rail Skeena
Your trip today takes you across the Fraser River Plateau of British Columbia and into the 800 mile long Rocky Mountain Trench. Soon the peaks of the Rocky Mountains appear and you’ll slow as you pass 13,790 foot Mt. Robson the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Later you pass into the province of Alberta and finish your rail journey in the beautiful resort community of Jasper.
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Junior Suite Lake view
Day 12 – Jasper to Lake Louise Tour
Enjoy a narrated tour from Jasper through the heart of the Canadian Rockies to Lake Louise along the Icefields Parkway. You will be inspired by rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness. This tour along the Icefields Parkway takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks, stopping at the Columbia Icefield. Included in your package is the Ice Age Adventure, a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will travel in a specially designed Ice Explorer to the middle of the glacier, on a 5-kilometre round- trip journey. Your driver-guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in comfort and safety. The trip affords many opportunities to see mountain wildlife and photograph the spectacular views. Late afternoon you will arrive in Lake Louise.
Note: Ice Age Adventure operates from April 15 - October 15, weather permitting. When the Snocoach is not running, the tour will be reduced by approximately 1 1/2 hours
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – Fairmont Gold Lake view (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 13 – Lake Louise Exploring / Transfer to Banff
This morning is at leisure to explore Lake Louise on your own. In the early afternoon, you will depart Lake Louise and transfer by express bus to the mountain resort town of Banff. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Enjoy the shops and galleries of Banff or take advantage of the spectacular spa in your castle like Banff Springs Hotel.
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Junior Suite
Day 14 – Rocky Mountaineer® - Banff to Kamloops / Evening Dinner Show
Early today, a private sedan will transfer you from your hotel to the Banff train station. For the next two days, you will be experiencing the "Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World"® aboard Rocky Mountaineer®. Travel aboard the train that puts you in the middle of the awe-inspiring scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Upon arrival in Kamloops, transfer to your hotel. With service and interpretive commentary provided by your Onboard Attendants, you will realize that with Rocky Mountaineer®, you are experiencing one of the world's most unforgettable rail adventures.
Choice of Kamloops Evening Entertainment
A choice of evening entertainment will be offered in the new River Roundhouse venue featuring two dinner theatre. Select between two entertainment choices during your overnight stay in Kamloops:
Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue (Begins late April) - A classic dinner and musical revue offering a fun-filled look at Canadian rail history. Enjoy the historic tale of infamous bandit Billy Miner's botched train robbery. Watch the fun as local reporter Mary Spencer tries to capture this exciting story, only to find instead that Billy has captured her heart. The minute the show starts, you will sing along to old favourites and laugh at "Tales from the Rails" woven around the notorious train robber, Billy Miner.
The Great Canadian Lumberjack Show (Begins Early May) - A wild and entertaining evening show featuring an icon of Canada's West-the lumberjack. This comedic story features two world class lumberjacks competing to be the best in town. Recreating the historic world of a logging camp, the local lumberjacks will dazzle and amaze the audience with their skills, tricks and showmanship. Among the challenges are a 50-foot tree climb, an axe-throwing competition, and an entertaining log-rolling competition.
Deluxe: GoldLeaf Service® Overnight in Kamloops (Hotel to be advised)
Day 15 – Rocky Mountaineer® - Kamloops to Vancouver
The morning starts with fresh coffee, hot rolls and fresh juice as the train leaves Kamloops and winds slowly along the shores of shimmering Kamloops Lake. Continue your journey westwards from Kamloops and travel along the Thompson River to the Fraser Canyon. At Hell's Gate watch water torrent past the canyon walls at its narrowest point, a true highlight of the canyon. Upon leaving this region, the train will journey through the fertile Fraser Valley to the coastal city of Vancouver. Upon arrival at the Vancouver Train Station, you will be transferred by private sedan to your downtown hotel.
Deluxe: Overnight Fairmont Waterfront Centre - Fairmont Gold Harbour view (includes deluxe continental breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres)
Day 16 – Depart Vancouver
Today you will transfer by private sedan from your hotel to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 7 nights accommodation, any mandatory service charges and room tax
- 8 night Pacific Northwest Yacht cruise aboard the Safari Escape including all taxes, port charges and fees, all meals onboard the ship, premium wine, beer & liquor, exclusive shore excursions, kayaking and small boat exploration, transfers and onboard Expedition Leader
- VIA Rail Skeena rail tour including 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, & 2 dinners (Totem Deluxe Class)
- Rocky Mountaineer® 2 day rail tour in GoldLeaf Service® including 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches & snacks
- Choice of Kamloops Evening Entertainment: Two River Junction Dinner & Musical Review OR Great Canadian Lumberjack Show
- Prince Rupert Panorama Flight seeing
- Banff to Jasper Tour including Columbia Icefields Explorer ride
- Regular Scheduled bus transfer from Lake Louise to Banff
- Transfer by private sedan between Banff hotel & train station and Vancouver hotel & Vancouver Airport including gratuities
- National Park Entrance Fee
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Meals not listed as included
- Activities not listed as included
- Gratuities not listed as included
- Alcoholic Beverages not listed as included
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)