Heart of the rockies plus rail - tour 01

[kaztig79]

I've booked a Land Tour on the Rocky Mountain Rail and cruise on the Star Princess.

 

Details of cruise and land tour below.

Arrive Depart

1 Calgary

Saturday, August 6

Arrive in Calgary by air and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Meet your traveling companions at a welcome reception hosted by your tour director. Overnight at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

2 Calgary/Banff

Sunday, August 7

Drive west following the Trans-Canada Highway, watch the Olympic city dissolve into the foothills, as the majestic Rockies rise ahead. Pass by the Three Sisters, Fairholme and Rundle Ranges enroute to one of the best known destinations in the Rockies, the charming mountain resort of Banff. Before being dropped off at your hotel you will have a sightseeing tour of Banff which will highlight many local delights including Bow Falls, the Hoodoo Lookout, Lake Minnewanka and Surprise Corner. Also included in your Banff tour is a ride up the Banff Gondola for a panoramic 360 degree view of the six surrounding mountain ranges. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. (B,D)

3 Banff

Monday, August 8

Cherished by Canadians, Banff National Park is renowned around the world as a protected paradise with 6,641 square kilometers of mountains, forests, and lakes to explore. Banff National Park is set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It attracts roughly 4 million visitors each year. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today is a free day to allow you to explore Banff at your leisure. Overnight Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. (B,D)

4 Banff/Lake Louise

Tuesday, August 9

Today's sightseeing will include some of the most famous features in the Canadian Rockies. With the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise proudly standing at one end and the Victoria Glacier reflecting off the other, Lake Louise is one of the sights most often preserved in photographs by visitors from all over the world. En route to Lake Louise, your tour will take you to Moraine Lake, located in the dramatic Valley of the Ten Peaks. Here, ten mountain peaks soar above 10,000 feet and surround the tranquil waters of the lake. After checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to fully enjoy the beauty of this famous location. Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. (B,D)

5 Lake Louise/Jasper

Wednesday, August 10

Highway 93, known as the Icefield Parkway, qualifies as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It traverses more than 100 glaciers, pristine lakes and some of the highest Rockies. Stop at the Columbia Icefield where an experience of a lifetime awaits! Shuttle to the Athabasca Glacier where you will board a unique, specially designed Ice Explorer for a guided tour onto the surface of the Glacier. A buffet lunch at Columbia Icefield Chalet is included. Your overnight destination is the charming village of Jasper in Jasper National Park. Overnight Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (B,L,D)

6 Jasper/Kamloops

Thursday, August 11

Board Rocky Mountain Rail Tours' "Rocky Mountaineer." Your silverleaf rail adventure begins as you board the train and depart Jasper, traveling along the Miette River to Yellowhead Pass. The pass is one of the lowest points on the continental divide and sits on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. Just past Yellowhead Lake, you'll meet up with the headwaters of the Fraser River. This scenic route is dotted with mountain streams and lakes. The Rocky Mountaineer will cross the North Thompson River several times before arriving in Kamloops. Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks are included onboard. Overnight at a Kamloops hotel. (B,L)

7 Kamloops/Vancouver

Friday, August 12

Soon after your departure from Kamloops, follow the Thompson River and watch the landscape give way to the high, steep walls and "40 miles of hell" of the Fraser Canyon. Sit back in comfort while the train winds along canyon walls and through the deep tunnels constructed by the railway while facing impossible odds. The route passes over 28 bridges and through 23 tunnels and snow sheds between Kamloops and the small town of Boston Bar. Travel through the fertile Fraser Delta en route to Vancouver. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served at your seat and is included while aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Transfer from the train station to your hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner with your tour director. Overnight Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. (B,L,D)

8 Vancouver/Embark ship

Saturday, August 13

There's so much more ahead of you on your journey. Transfer to your Princess ship and set sail for your 7-day Alaska cruise!

8

Vancouver, British Columbia

Saturday, August 13

4:30 PM

9

At Sea

Sunday, August 14

10

Ketchikan, Alaska

Monday, August 15

6:30 AM 2:00 PM

11

Juneau, Alaska

Tuesday, August 16

8:00 AM 9:00 PM

12

Skagway, Alaska

Wednesday, August 17

5:30 AM 8:30 PM

13

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)

Thursday, August 18

6:15 AM 3:15 PM

14

College Fjord, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)

Friday, August 19

6:00 PM 8:30 PM

15

Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska

Saturday, August 20

12:30 AM

15

Saturday, August 20

Disembark your ship in Whittier.

 

 

 

Can some one please tell me about the land tour part. That not on the website or brochure.

 

Many thanks

[dawnprincess]

We did this tour in 1997 on our very first cruise. The hotels in the Canadian Rockies are remarkable and the scenery is something you will never forget. This cruise tour got us hooked on cruising and traveling and we now have gone on nearly 50 cruises. But that first cruise still stands out as the most outstanding!!

[skynight]

Have been to these locations. The scenery is spectacular. The Fairmont hotels are very high end with great views. Haven't done the train ride but it sounds great. You should enjoy it.

[capriccio]

Have been to these locations. The scenery is spectacular. The Fairmont hotels are very high end with great views. Haven't done the train ride but it sounds great. You should enjoy it.

 

We DIYed the Rocky Mountaineer portion of this itinerary and agree 100%. The train ride (we had gold leaf service) had excellent seating, service and food. The scenery is spectacular. We then rented cars (there were 7 of us so 2 cars) and spent a few days in both Jasper and Banff - lovely towns with lots of outdoor activities available and a great drive between them - and eventually drove to Calgary for our return flight.

[voljeep]

there's no website for an independent tour not part of Princess for your land portion?

[Relaxing Robbies]

We did this land tour and Alaska cruise in 2015. It was a great trip and the scenery and the Fairmont Hotels were awesome. I searched and had trouble finding information prior to the trip.

 

We travelled by coach with a driver and Tour Guide. I thought the luggage would be like the published information for the Alaska land tours, but it wasn’t. All our luggage travelled in the luggage section below us on the coach and we collected it from the coach when we arrived at our hotel.

 

Our large coach was only half full. This was great as we were able to move to different sides of the bus to get good views of all the sights. Our fellow passengers were from Australia, New Zealand, England and America.

 

Is there anything specific you would like to know?

[RDC1]

Information on the Rocky Mountaineer can be found at

 

https://www.rockymountaineer.com/train-routes/journey-through-clouds-top-explorer?s={_rkym_core_session_get(%27search_id%27)}

 

 

This seems to be the route provided for the land portion.

 

There may be some differences (for example I don't know of your includes the helicopter tour) but it should provide a description of the route and silver leaf service.

[Kellie in Texas]

FYI, this original post is from February of 2016.