MS Statendam
7 nights full board. Holland America Line’s Statendam is an elegant ship offering first-class service. There’s a choice of restaurants, including the two-tier Rotterdam Dining Room and the Pinnacle Grill. You can even watch demonstrations and join cookery classes at the Culinary Arts Centre. The Greenhouse Spa and Salon is a great place to relax and in the evenings make the most of the sparkling entertainment in the show lounge.
Your Hotels
BANFF
Rundlestone Lodge (4-star), 3 nights' room only.
This wonderful mountain lodge is just a short distance from town and offers a restaurant, swimming pool, health club and whirlpool, as well as spacious rooms with TV and coffee maker.
LAKE LOUISE
Lake Louise Inn (3-star), 1 night room only.
This modern mountain resort enjoys a lovely setting among pine trees bordering the Pipestone River. Facilities include 2 restaurants, a bar, swimming pool, Jacuzzis and steam room. Comfortable guest rooms all have cable TV and a coffee maker.
KELOWNA
Best Western Inn (3-star) or similar, 1 night room only.
Just minutes from the attractions of Kelowna, the hotel has a restaurant and bar, an indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, steam room and fitness centre. Guest rooms are equipped with cable TV, coffee maker, minbar, robes and slippers, hairdryer, iron and ironing board.
VANCOUVER
Hotel Blue Horizon (3-star) or similar, 3 nights' room only.
Located right in the heart of Vancouver on famous Robson Street, this contemporary hotel offers great views of English Bay and the city. Facilities include a restaurant, café, pool and fitness centre. Guest rooms have TV, coffee maker and hairdryer.
DAY 1 UK-Banff
We fly to Calgary and transfer with our Tour Guide to Banff for the first three nights.
DAY 2 Banff National Park
Jagged snow-capped mountains, rushing rivers, dense forests and hot mineral springs are all waiting to be discovered in Canada’s oldest national park. We include a tour taking in the lovely Bow Falls, the Cave and Basin, and Sulphur Mountain, where it’s possible to take a thrilling gondola ride to the summit for spectacular views over the town.
DAY 3 Banff
Enjoy a free day to explore the town of Banff. Surrounded by mountains and wonderful scenery, the town offers fine restaurants and a tempting array of shops selling Chinook Indian handicrafts – moccasins, beaded jewellery, knitwear and wood carvings. It also boasts the famous Banff Springs Hotel, beneath whose extraordinary Gothic façade races the Bow River. During your stay in Banff a plunge into the hot springs that brought the town to fame is a must.
DAY 4 Lake Louise
Leaving Banff this morning, we drive to the incomparably beautiful Lake Louise for one night’s accommodation. Set in a small glacial valley, its sapphire waters reflect the surrounding forests and mountains, creating one of the Rockies’ most magical vistas.
DAY 5 Okanagan Valley & Kelowna
Our journey through the Rockies continues as we drive through the Okanagan Valley, an area of vine and orchardcovered hills and warm water lakes. We spend one night in the resort of Kelowna.
DAY 6 Vancouver
Today we follow the meandering Thompson River to Fraser Canyon and on to the coastal mountains. We continue through the Fraser River Valley before arriving in Vancouver for a twonight stay. On arrival we have included a short tour of the main highlights of the city – Gastown, exotic Chinatown and waterside Stanley Park.
DAY 7 Victoria
Today is free to explore or join our optional excursion to Vancouver Island to visit the British Columbian capital, Victoria. This unique and appealing town retains much of its colonial heritage and boasts more than 60 parks and gardens.
DAY 8 Alaskan Cruise
We depart the hotel this morning and board our cruise ship in the harbour for this evening’s sailing.
DAY 9 Inside Passage
Our cruise takes us along the Inside Passage of southeast Alaska, some six hundred miles of beautiful mountains, fjords, islands and glaciers. The protected waters are home to sea lions, sea otters and migrating whales, while above, look out for soaring eagles.
DAY 10 Sawyer Glacier & Juneau
We cruise through the scenic splendour of Tracey Arm and Sawyer Glacier, framed by 7,000-foot-high snowcapped mountains and boasting an impressive list of wildlife. This afternoon we reach Juneau, the state capital and a fascinating city accessible only by sea or air. Here you can pan for gold, watch salmon swim up one of the world’s largest fishing ladders or visit the mighty Mendenhall Glacier.
DAY 11 Skagway
More than 20,000 gold prospectors passed through the town of Skagway on their way to the Yukon in the famous Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Today we can relive part of their journey aboard the White Pass & Yukon Railway, which chugs through wonderful scenery along the Skagway River.
DAY 12 Glacier Bay
We spend the day cruising in some of the world’s most spectacular scenery where the awesome scale of nature dwarfs the ship. We pass deep fjords with sheer rock walls covered with thick forests and an abundance of plants. Moose, bears, seals and even humpback whales have made their home here.
DAY 13 Ketchikan
We arrive in the lively frontier town of Ketchikan, once the haunt of gold prospectors. Here, the shops and houses have been restored to their former glory. Perhaps visit nearby Totem Bight where the ethnic museum and display of totem poles give a glimpse of the history and culture of the area.
DAY 14 Inside Passage
We once again cruise through the Inside Passage with its beautiful mountains, fjords and glaciers. Watch in wonder and appreciate the scenery as you relax on board.
DAY 15 Vancouver
The ship arrives in Vancouver this morning. After disembarkation, we enjoy an included visit to the spectacular Capilano Suspension bridge and a cable car ride up Grouse Mountain for magnificent views. Overnight in Vancouver.
DAYS 16 & 17 Vancouver/UK
There will be a little free time for shopping before we transfer to the airport for the return overnight flight to the UK. We arrive back in the UK on Day 17.