Itinerary Details
Insight Vacations: Canadian Rockies & Pacific Coast
Day 1 - Welcome to Vancouver
Arrive in Vancouver, a haven for sports enthusiasts and keen history buffs alike. This unique city offers something for everyone. From its striking mountains to the bustle of the city’s art and music scene, this British Columbia seaport does not disappoint. Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner and an opportunity to mingle with fellow guests over wine.
Accommodations: The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver.
Meals: Dinner with Wine
Day 2 - Cruise the Gulf Islands to Victoria
This morning, enjoy a visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park - home to Vancouver's first visitor attraction, the original suspension bridge built in 1889. Today, the park also includes Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walking clinging to the granite cliff and Treetops Adventure, seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100ft above the forest floor. After your visit, head out on an orientation tour of Vancouver, including Gastown, Canada Place and Stanley Park, home to a collection of First Nations totem poles. You’ll have free time to have lunch on your own, with many great eateries to choose from. This afternoon board a ferry and sail through the beautiful Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island, and idyllic place known for its fishing and art communities. You’ll end your day here in British Columbia’s stunning capital city, Victoria.
Accommodations: Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Butchart Gardens
Start your day wandering through world renowned Butchart Gardens, a beautiful natural historical site of Canada featuring beautiful floral displays. After Butchart Gardens, enjoy an orientation tour covering Mount Tolmie, the Inner Harbour and its Parliament Buildings, Canada's oldest Chinatown and view the last remnants of Fort Victoria. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure - perhaps you'll want to book onto an optional Whale Watching Excursion. The three-hour expedition boards in the waters of Victoria and while it can't be guaranteed in advance which of the abundant marine wildlife you'll see on your journey, chances are you'll also spot magnificent bald eagles, porpoises or seals. At night choose from a selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening, where you’ll sit down for a hearty meal with striking views.
Accommodations: Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4 - Victoria to Chase, British Columbia
This morning cruise back to the mainland and continue your scenic journey through British Columbia through the Secwepemc territory at Little Shuswap Lake close to Chase. Upon arrival you will MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® as you witness and partake in a smudging ceremony, a traditional spiritual ritual, conducted by a member of the local Indigenous community. You'll have a first-hand experience with the intimate practice which is the Indigenous way to "stay on a good path and invite only good things." The experience helps to share the communities’ culture & knowledge, preserves local traditions and promotes cultural vibrancy.
Accommodations: Quaaout Lodge and Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort, Chase.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 5 - The Alpine Wonderland of Jasper National Park
After breakfast, your journey takes you along the legendary Yellowhead Highway towards Jasper National Park, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enroute, a stop will be made at the Mount Robson Visitor Center in Mount Robson Provincial Park, the second oldest park in British Columbias’ park system and truly one of the world’s crown jewels. Enjoy the best views of Mount Robson, which at 12,972 ft (3,954 meters) is the most prominent mountain in North America's Rocky Mountain range and the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Arrive in the wonderland of Jasper National Park with its soothing mineral hot springs, rugged glaciers, colourful meadows, and majestic mountain. After a brief orientation tour through town, you'll have the option to explore on our own or book onto an optional Float Trip, or for those looking for more adrenaline a Class II Rapids Trip.
Accommodations: The Crimson Jasper.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Exploring Jasper and the Columbia Icefield
Start the day with an informative walk on the trails of Maligne Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in the Canadian Rockies. Then, embark on a narrated cruise across the serene waters of iconic Maligne Lake, one of the jewels of the Canadian Rockies (please note that this activity is seasonal and subject to closure as the lake may be frozen). Stop at Spirit Island, one of the most photographed sites in the Canadian Rockies. Start your journey along the majestic Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most stunning mountain drives. Travel along the majestic Icefields Parkway and arrive at the Columbia Icefield for your stay at the just opened Glacier View Lodge, the first and only glacier-view resort in Canada. After a welcome reception in the Moraine Lounge,venture onto the amazing Glacier Skywalk where you will be treated to an after-hours, private guided tour of the cliff-edged, glass-floored walkway.After enjoying a gourmet dinner with wine, you can step out onto the Viewing Deck, stargaze marveling at the dark night sky, relax with a drink in the library, or hang out inside the Moraine Lounge with games and live entertainment.
Accommodations: Glacier View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 7 - Icefields, Glaciers and Lakes to Banff National Park Relaxed Start
Following a hearty breakfast, your Local Expert will escort you to a special before-hours glacier tour. Venture out onto Athabasca Glacier in a massive Ice Explorer. Then, join your guide for a stroll atop the ice and discover the beauty and immensity of the glacier. Learn about the history and geology of the region and enjoy a warm beverage out on the glacier itself. After this morning's icy adventure, continue south to Lake Louise and admire its blue waters and Victoria Glacier. You'll have the opportunity to feel truly immersed in nature as you spend a portion of your afternoon here. Journey on to the resort town of Banff, your home for the next two nights. This evening, dine in town and unwind in your stunning natural surroundings.
Accommodations: Fairmont Banff Springs.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 8 - The Unspoiled Wilderness of Banff National Park Relaxed Start
Today is yours to spend exploring the rugged charms of the park. Choose from several optional experiences, including a once in a lifetime helicopter flight over the magnificent Canadian Rockies, or a ride onboard the Banff Gondola, a scenic cableway that can take you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, or journey through a land sculpted by fire and ice in Kootenay National Park on a guided hike. If you'd rather spend the day on your own, join your Travel Director on a Banff Orientation Tour covering Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and a few other local sights.
Accommodations: Fairmont Banff Springs.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Buffalo Jump and Glacier National Park
Prepare for a day of culture and history as you depart for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head- Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, one of the world’s oldest and largest buffalo jumps. Once here you’ll discover how the indigenous people used this 36-foot-high (11 metres) cliff to hunt stampeding herds of bison on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. You’ll also get a unique chance to join a local Blackfoot elder and hear fascinating stories about the Plains people of today and long ago. The experience contributes to reducing inequalities by hiring members of the community as storytellers and promotes cultural vibrancy by sharing the communities’ history. From craggy plains to mountainous landscapes, you’ll cross the U.S. border into Montana and end your day at Many Glacier Hotel, a charming property situated in the heart of Glacier National park.
Accommodations: Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Going-to-the-Sun and Glacier National Park
Today board a private Red Jammer bus to cruise along the Going-To-The-Sun Road in style. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only road that traverses through Glacier National Park and the first to have been registered in all the following categories: National Historic Place, National Historic Landmark, and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. During your narrated trip you'll witness stunning views from Logan Pass and the marvels of the park's wild interior. Disembark and end your day at Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacier National Park. Rest up in a classic Swiss-chalet-style lodge with spectacular mountain views.
Accommodations: Lake McDonald Lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Lake Coeur d'Alene and Spokane
Today you'll continue on to the beautiful shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene, one of America's most beautiful lakes, and arrive in Spokane to stay at The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection hotel. This is Washington State's grandest hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has welcomed a number of famous faces including Amelia Earhart and Clark Gable.
Accommodations: The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection, Spokane.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 - Wonderful Wines en route to Seattle
Wine connoisseurs rejoice. Today, you'll head through the wide, endless horizons of the wine-producing area of Washington State. Visit Sage Cliffe Resort & Spa, an award-winning boutique winery and local favorite. You'll explore the nuances of their fine wine selection with some tastings. A setting that allows you to "B" inspired through delicious wine, friendly staff and beautiful views. You'll also enjoy a Highlight Lunch here, focusing on fresh, local and artisanal ingredients. Then it's on to Seattle for an evening of leisure at your hotel.
Accommodations: The Charter Hotel Seattle.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Day 13 - The Soaring Sights of Seattle Relaxed Start
This morning head out on a Seattle Orientation tour where you'll see Puget Sound, Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market, where you should watch out for flying fish! The afternoon brings you an Insight Choice. Either head to the Space Needle, with its jaw-dropping panoramic views of the unique skyline or the Chihuly Gardens and Glass exhibit, where the work of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly is housed. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a Celebration Dinner with wine at Ivar's Acres of Clams. Here you'll find the Northwest's best dining, as you take in the views on Seattle's waterfront.
Accommodations: The Charter Hotel Seattle.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 14 - Depart Seattle
It’s time to say goodbye to the Emerald City as your trip comes to an end. Departure to the Seattle SeaTac International Airport will be at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast