Short Rockies Programme

Arrival at Calgary International Airport. Transfer to the hotel for the overnight. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Morning sightseeing tour of Calgary including the downtown financial and shopping district, outside views of the Calgary Tower and the Olympic site. Continue to Banff for an orientation tour of Banff  and area on arrival. Highlights include the Banff town site, an outside view of the Banff Springs Hotel, Vermilion Lake, Johnston Canyon, Bow Falls, and an optional gondola ride at Sulphur Mountain. Overnight in Banff.

The journey today, promises to be one of the highlights of the programme. Travelling north along the Icefields Parkway, there is a wealth of breathtaking scenery. Crystal blue-green lakes, fresh mountain streams, deep forests and snow-capped mountain peaks are the order of the day. Upon arrival at the Columbia Icefields, there is the opportunity to take a ride on a specially constructed snocoach across the Athabasca Glacier on an optional basis. Return to Banff, following the same scenic route, but with totally different views of mountains and glaciers. A stop at the spectacular Lake Louise will be made en route. Overnight in Banff

The route today will be along the Trans Canada Highway, via Yoho and Glacier National Parks, through the Kicking Horse Pass and Rogers Pass. Travel through Revelstoke National Park and the Shuswap Lakes district to Kamloops for the overnight.

Leaving Kamloops this morning, travel south along the Coquihalla Highway, through the ranchlands of interior British Columbia and the rich and fertile Fraser Valley to Vancouver. The afternoon will feature a sightseeing tour of Vancouver with such highlights as Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown, Queen Elizabeth Park and many other points of interest. Overnight in Vancouver.

The day is at leisure until transfer to Vancouver International Airport for the return flight, or, if there is an Alaska cruise extension, transfer to the Vancouver pier to board the cruise ship for the cruise.