Rocky Mountain Discovery

Welcome to Denver. With the impressive Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver effortlessly blends the city’s Old West heritage with today’s modern skyscrapers and urban energy. Upon arrival at Denver International Airport, transfer independently to your hotel where you will you will meet your Tour Director.

Today’s city tour introduces you to the “Mile High City.” Your Tour Director will be on hand to assist with making plans for the afternoon.

A short distance from Denver you’ll enter Rocky Mountain National Park where you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world. Here, 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Continue through Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital city and the nation’s railroad capital, to Casper whose landscapes are a painter’s dream come true. Casper has a rich and vibrant history as an important outpost of the Old West. The area is steeped in western history, Old West culture and the legacy of pioneers who forged their way through the mountains and plains on their way to Oregon and California.

Today, take an unforgettable journey into America’s first national park and nature’s wonderland - Yellowstone. Here, the Earth is in action with geysers, mountain ranges and rivers, waterfalls, and ancient volcanoes. The iconic spots – Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone Canyon – will be familiar from photographs, but seeing them in person is a humbling experience. They’re not just as good as you’ve heard – they’re better. In addition to superb scenery, the park is one of the world’s principal wildlife preserves. Home to eagles, grizzly and black bears, buffalo, elk and much more, you’re bound to see wildlife wherever you go.

Spend the day experiencing more of Yellowstone’s natural wonders. Marvel at a volcano’s hidden power rising up in colorful hot springs, mudpots, and geysers. Explore mountains, forests, and lakes to watch wildlife and witness the drama of the natural world unfold, and get active by hiking along park trails or boardwalks.

Crossing the Continental Divide, you’ll leave the wonder of Yellowstone behind as you make your way alongside the impressive Mission Mountain Range and beautiful shore of Flathead Lake to Kalispell. Centrally located in the Flathead Valley, Kalispell is surrounded by more than 2.3 million acres of national forests and wilderness, offering visitors the perfect blend of natural beauty and rugged Montana spirit. Attracting more than 2,000 artists and craftspeople, the arts and culture flourish here. Be sure to look for the Made in Montana logo when browsing through Kalispell’s unique galleries and boutiques.

This morning, visit the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park, whose pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, spectacular lakes, and big, open landscapes will stretch your soul. Travel along the famed 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, a National Historic Landmark and one of the most epic engineering feats in the World, before crossing the U.S./Canada border into Calgary. Set dramatically between prairies and peaks, Calgary is surrounded by incomparable natural grandeur and offers an unparalleled urban experience. You may want to get a bird’s eye view of the city from atop the Calgary Tower, ride the luge at Canada Olympic Park, or step back in time with a visit to Heritage Park Historical Village.

Today, it’s on to Banff, Canada’s first national park and one of the world’s premier destinations. Nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies, Banff features snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers, forests, meadows, rivers, and sweeping vistas. From its humble beginnings as a hot springs reserve, Banff now consists of 6,641 square kilometers of unparalleled mountain scenery. Spend the day exploring this magnificent area before heading to Canmore for the night.

Today begins with a visit to Canada’s “Diamond in the Wilderness,” Lake Louise. Set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, the emerald colors and grandiose setting of Lake Louise render it Canada’s most famous lake, and probably the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies. Continue along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most stunning roadways, to Banff’s northern counterpart, Jasper National Park. Considered the gentle giant of the Rockies, Jasper offers visitors a more laid-back experience with equal options for adventure, discovery and relaxation. And with wildlife beyond measure, this is the place to reconnect with nature.

This morning’s drive along the Yellowhead Highway allows you to enjoy British Columbia’s stunning scenery the moment you cross the provincial border and enter Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson is the second oldest park in British Columbia’s park system and the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Continue to Kamloops and the stunning paradise of Sun Peaks.

Wind your way through Fraser Canyon following the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. Follow the trails used by early gold seekers and relive their journey through steep canyons, raging rivers, high mountain passes, and scenery as rugged as ever. Continue through the lower Fraser Valley to the port city of Vancouver. Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, Vancouver offers visitors an exciting cityscape set within a landscape of stunning, rugged beauty. Upon arrival, a city tour highlights many of Vancouver’s famous sights, including Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, English Bay, Stanley Park, and Vancouver Harbour.

A full day at leisure provides ample time to take in more of Vancouver’s sights and attractions, or to take a ferry across the island-dotted Strait of Georgia to Victoria Island. The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria is a unique blend of old world charm and new world experiences, offering visitors an escape from the hurried world. Be charmed by Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Explore Old Town where eclectic shops fill century-old storefronts. Let your imagination bloom at The Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s premier floral show gardens, or celebrate Victoria’s colorful British heritage with traditional afternoon tea. Combined with the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and rainforests set against a backdrop of the Olympic Mountains, a visit to Victoria makes for the perfect day trip

Transfer independently to the airport for your departure flight.