Canadian Rockies, Whistler & Victoria

Tour Begins: 2:00 PM, Calgary Airport. A transfer is included upon arrival at Calgary Airport to the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ideally located in the chic alpine village of Banff and set amidst breathtaking mountain scenery. Settle in the hotel and join us for a special welcome reception and dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Bow Valley. Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Banff Springs (D)

Head out into the wilderness this morning for a gentle raft ride that floats down the Bow River through some of the tallest peaks in the Rockies Front Range. As you look out at the scenery, you may find some of the locals – beaver, elk and osprey among them – looking back at you! Spend the rest of the day enjoying the sights of Banff village and the amenities of your baronial hotel as you wish. Dine at your leisure tonight at the Fairmont Banff Springs. (B/D)

Glacial lakes make the landscapes you'll see today sparkle with the beauty of nature. Leave the village of Banff behind as you drive to Lake Louise in the heart of Banff National Park. Weather permitting, stop en route to see Moraine Lake, postcard perfect after a spring thaw. Enjoy lunch upon your arrival in Lake Louise, followed by a guided walk around the lake. Your naturalist guide offers expert insights about this emerald gem and great opportunities for more picture taking! Dine at the hotel tonight. Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (B/L/D)

See snow-domed peaks and hanging glaciers as you drive along Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic roadways in North America, to Athabasca Glacier. Part of the Columbia Icefield, the glacier dates to prehistoric days. Ride atop its icy surface in slow motion aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer, experiencing a landscape that truly is frozen in time. Return to your hotel after lunch; the remainder of the day is free. (B/L/D)

This morning you'll depart for British Columbia – and turn your clocks back one hour as you cross the border. Stop for lunch in the mountain town of Revelstoke, once a mining center, and then continue on to Vernon where your resort literally sparkles atop a hill overlooking Lake Okanagan. A premier wellness spa destination, the Sparkling Hill Resort integrates 3.5 million Swarovski crystal elements into every facet of its design. Enjoy dinner here tonight at your leisure. Stay Two Nights: Sparkling Hill Resort (B/L/D)

The Okanagan Valley is renowned for its wineries and fruit orchards; sample a taste of the vine during lunch at a renowned winery and return to your hotel for time to relax or enjoy the spa as you like. There is no charge for the steam rooms or pool; spa treatments at the internationally renowned wellness center at your hotel are available (at an additional cost). (B/L/D)

It's off to the wilds of British Columbia today when you meet the local residents of a wildlife park during a morning visit, including wolves, a cougar, grizzly cubs, elk, moose, mountain goats, birds of prey and more. After an entertaining western-style barbecue lunch at a local ranch, drive to your Fairmont resort in Whistler, home to one of the largest ski resorts in North America, stopping en route for a taste of regional wine. Spend the evening in Whistler as you choose; your hotel is located in the prestigious Upper Village, a stroll away from the European-inspired pedestrian streets in the main Lower Village. Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Chateau Whistler (B/L)

Learn about the First Nations of this region on a guided tour of the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. The indigenous Squamish Nation and Lil'wat Nation have coexisted as neighbors here for centuries and the center you will visit today showcases their culture through exhibits on display. In fact, the building itself was designed to represent the longhouses of the Squamish people and the Istken (traditional earthen pit house) of the Lil'wat people with a modern architectural interpretation. Your visit includes a Tauck Exclusive crafts showcase with the opportunity to see artisans work on traditional handicrafts. You have a choice of afternoon activities: explore Whistler Blackcomb by gondola, going from peak to peak amidst stunning alpine views. Or visit the extraordinarily unique Audain Art Museum to see a variety of art, from traditional to contemporary, in its rotating exhibits. Dinner is included at your resort tonight. (B/D)

Drive along the scenic Sea to Sky coastal highway to Horseshoe Bay where you will board a ferry to Vancouver Island. Cruise through the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia, known for their artists, wineries, and farms, as well as for their natural beauty and wildlife. Disembark on Vancouver Island for lunch at a mountainside resort overlooking picturesque Saanich Inlet. The views here are stunning. Drive to your regal hotel, a storied landmark on Victoria's Inner Harbour since 1908. Dinner is included at your leisure the hotel tonight. Stay Two Nights: Fairmont Empress (B/L/D)

Vancouver Island is blessed with some of the most spectacular waterfront scenery and marine life in North America. The wildlife-rich waters surrounding Victoria are home to orca, gray, humpback, and minke whales along with sea lions, seals, porpoise and many marine birds. Embark on a private whale watching cruise this morning with a naturalist who helps you spot these magnificent mammals before spending the remainder of the day exploring the sights of Victoria as you wish. (B)

More than a century old and a National Historic Site of Canada, The Butchart Gardens entice with some of the most beautiful floral landscapes in the world. Each year over a million bedding plants in some 900 varieties promise a continuous bloom from March through October. Created by an enterprising young chemist determined to beautify the stark looks of an abandoned limestone quarry, the first garden Jennie Butchart planted was the Sunken Garden. See it, along with the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and more, on a self-guided stroll this morning.

After your visit, a floatplane will be waiting onsite to take you on a scenic flight to Vancouver's Coal Harbour (weather permitting). Touch down for lunch and an orientation tour of Vancouver, seeing its landmark sites, before arriving at Fairmont Waterfront for an overnight stay. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight at one of Vancouver's acclaimed restaurants in Queen Elizabeth Park. Stay: Fairmont Waterfront (B/L/D)

Tour ends: Vancouver. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Fairmont Waterfront to Vancouver's International Airport or Pacific Central Station is included. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. (B)