Overview
Relax onboard the Rocky Mountaineer for two days of all-daylight rail travel through Canada's West and the Canadian Rockies. Continue travel via cruise ship through the calm, protected waters of the Inside Passage, through glacier-carved fjords, snowcapped mountains...read more and lush forests of Sitka spruce and the western hemlock.
Itinerary
Transfer to Canada Place to board Holland America Line's MS Zuiderdam. The latest cruise check-in is at 1pm. (D) Stay: Holland America MS Zuiderdam
Be inspired by Alaska's astounding beauty. (B/L/D)
See dramatic Sawyer Glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm and arrive in Juneau. (B/L/D)
Visit Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. (B/L/D)
See the pristine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park from the ship. (B/L/D)
Explore Ketchikan. (B/L/D)
Relax and cruise back to Vancouver. (B/L/D)
Disembark in Vancouver Harbor, transfer to the hotel and join your Spectacular Canadian Rockies trip on Day 1 for a Welcome Reception at 6 p.m. (B/WR) Stay: Pinnacle Harbourfront
Embark on a morning sightseeing tour of Vancouver's historic neighborhoods. Savor the smells of freshly steamed Siopao in Chinatown and admire the Victorian façades of Gastown as you make your way to the leafy sanctuary of Stanley Park to view First Nations totem poles. Gain insights into Indigenous cultures and values during a visit to the Bill Reid Gallery on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience including a docent-led tour and time to explore the gallery on your own. Enjoy lunch at Al Porto Ristorante before continuing by ferry to Vancouver Island and having an orientation tour in Victoria. (B/L) Stay: Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites
Embrace the Garden City status of Victoria as you greet the day with breakfast at Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre showcase of gorgeous floral gardens that have colorfully transformed a once unused quarry. After breakfast, enjoy exclusive time in the garden prior to the gates being open to the public. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the walkable capital of British Columbia or join an optional Victoria Whale Watching Excursion and keep your eyes peeled for whales, bald eagles, porpoises or seals. (B)
Depart Victoria by ferry with one last view of the city's historic buildings and make your way to Maan Farms for a Be My Guest lunch experience. Meet the Maan family and learn about how they turned one small berry stand into a farm that now provides quality local produce to the citizens of Abbottsford, the Fraser Valley and Greater British Columbia. Make your way to Kamloops for a relaxing evening, where you'll enjoy a Stays with Stories experience at The South Thompson Inn. Once home to a thoroughbred racing stable, this riverfront property still has the original brick manor and carriage houses. Relax in the lounge, swimming pool, or hot tub overlooking the South Thompson River, go on a nature walk around the Reflection Pond, try your hand at horseshoes and other lawn games, or take one of their bikes for a spin. (B/L) Stay: South Thompson Inn & Conference Center
This afternoon you'll stop at the Mount Robson Visitor Center where you can admire UNESCO-listed Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies in all its 12,972 feet (3,954 meters) of glory. Continue to the raw wilderness of Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we'll spend the next two nights. (B) Stay: Forest Park Hotel
Join a guided walk at Maligne Canyon this morning.
Later, take to the aqua waters and cruise Maligne Lake to Spirit Island (seasonal), admiring views of its three glaciers and Spirit Island. After the cruise enjoy a delicious lunch with wine at the lakeside Maligne Lake Chalet. Choose to join an optional rafting trip down the Athabasca River or take in an optional theater performance highlighting the best of this little mountain town. (B/L)
The icy fingers of the Columbia Icefield beckon as we journey along the Icefields Parkway to Athabasca Glacier. Cross its icy terrain on board a specially designed Ice Explorer and continue on to Lake Louise, where there is time to soak in the majestic beauty of the lake and its turquoise, glacier-fed waters, fringed by high peaks, deep green forests and overlooked by Victoria Glacier.
Continue on to the township of Banff, in the heart of UNESCO-listed Banff National Park. Settle in for an evening at leisure. (B) Stay: Banff Park Lodge
The day is free for you to pursue your own discoveries and your Travel Director is eager to help plan the perfect day for you. Join an optional guided Signature Hiking experience, a helicopter tour of Mt Assiniboine or Three Sisters Peak. After lunch, opt to take the Brewster Banff Gondola. Then enjoy Banff sightseeing including Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and other local sights.
Tonight, we join our newfound friends for a Farewell Dinner. (B/D)
Your train journey starts as you travel through the Rockies on your way to Vancouver, stopping overnight in Kamloops. (B/L) Stay: Assigned by Rocky Mountaineer
Continue your journey by rail through British Colombia to Vancouver. Train arrival into Vancouver is between 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, please take this into consideration when booking your flights. (B/L)
Trip Inclusions
- Explore Vancouver, Victoria, Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Columbia Icefield Adventure
- Visit Mt Robson Visitor Center, Maligne Canyon during a guided walk
- View Lake Louise, Stanley Park Totem Poles, Athabasca Falls, Mount Robson, Bow Falls & Surprise Corner
- Scenic drive along Icefields Parkway
Be My Guest
- Vancouver: Mouthwatering Indian-inspired food and an inspiring family story await at Maan Farms. Get a peek at local farming learning how Maan Farms began producing cole crops, but soon shifted to growing the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries for which they became famous. From one small berry stand, Maan Farms has grown into a place with something for everyone. Enjoy a local Indian lunch of family recipes with an experience on the farm (seasonal) ranging from U-pick during berry season, behind the scenes winery tour or fall pumpkin patch exploration. You'll love getting a glimpse of what rural farm life looks like and seeing first-hand different cultures that make up Canada as a melting pot.
Iconic Experience
- Vancouver: Vancouver's historic neighbourhoods spring to life on a tour with your Travel Director. Savour the smells of freshly steamed Siopao in Chinatown and admire the Victorian facades, cobblestone streets and charming lighting of Gastown as you make your way to the leafy sanctuary of Stanley Park.
- Victoria: Victoria. A waterfront city of historic sites known for its gardens and British influence. View the Parliament Buildings erected in 1897 with beautiful gardens. Then explore on your own, strolling along the Inner Harbour where you will have the chance to watch street buskers perform or venturing to Victoria's unique shopping areas in Market Square.
- Vancouver: Go beyond Stanley Park's iconic seawall with a trip to the famous totem pole display at Brockton Point. Delve into history starting in 1920 when four totem poles from the Alert Region on Vancouver Island were created. Originally located on Lumbermen's arch and Prospect Point, they were moved to their current location at Brockton Point in 1962, with thee display growing over the decades with totem poles from Haida Gwaii and Rivers Inlet.
- Victoria: Buchart Gardens' lush and expansive garden is a must-see oasis which has been growing in Victoria, BC for over 100 years. With over a million visitors per year, you will love this morning's visit to the gardens before opening hours. Starting with a breakfast on the grounds, you will get to explore the 55-acre garden rich with ever-changing colours and blooms before the crowds arrive.
- Mount Robson: Mount Robson, one of the world's crown jewels awaits. Admire one of the finest views in the Rocky Mountains of this UNESCO-listed icon which is also the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972 feet. Not only will you bask in a view of Mount Robson but learn from your Travel Director why it's the most prominent mount in North America's Rocky Mountain Range.
- Jasper: Maligne Canyon promises natural wonders from mosses and lichens on the canyon walls to ice caves, fossils and frozen waterfalls. On this guided walk, admire this incredible natural landmark as you cross bridges built across various points of the canyon. As the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, you pass incredible sights including a spectacular waterfall that makes for a great photo opp.
- Maligne Lake: See how Maligne Lake is in a league of its own on a scenic cruise. Discover world-famous Spirit Island and get great photo opportunities with beautiful views of the mountains, its three glaciers and Spirit Island - significant to the Indigenous Stoney Nation. Learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular alpine destination and how, because visitors cannot walk on the island, it remains an enclave of evergreens. And since you can only see Spirit Island from a cruise, you'll love being one of the few who get to see it.
- Icefields Parkway: Unlock the Canadian Rockies' pristine wilderness on one of the most scenic drives in North America – the Icefield Parkway. This stretch of double-lane highway from Jasper to Lake Louise winds along the Continental Divide through rocky mountain peaks, rock spires, waterfalls, icefields, valleys and more than 100 ancient glaciers. Snap a pic at a viewpoint to capture the beauty.
- Columbia Icefield: Gear up for a Columbia Icefield Adventure. Board a massive, specially designed ‘Ice Explorer' to view one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world, the Athabasca Glacier. Stop at the best spot to walk on, feel and drink from the Glacier. What better way to appreciate this natural wonder? You'll even enhance your visit learning about the Columbia Icefield, how the glacier has changed and the thrill of driving up the moraine deposits to reach the glacier.
- Athabasca Glacier: A picturesque waterfall awaits at Athabasca Falls. At only 75 feet tall, the rushing Athabasca River tumbles over a wide ledge into a tight canyon - making Athabasca Falls one of the most powerful waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. Learn how the river and falls are fed with water from the Columbia Icefield glaciers, snowmelt from surrounding mountains and rainwater as you admire these small but mighty waters.
- Lake Louise: Get ready for a showstopper. Walk down a forest path before coming up upon the unreal turquoise colour of Lake Louise popping through the trees for the first time. After this stunning first-time glance, admire the turquoise waters of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier with its scenic mountain backdrop. Be amazed by the glacier-fed waters fringed by high peaks, deep forests and overlooked by Victoria Glacier and palatial hotel.
- Banff: Uncover how Banff is in a league of its own. Stroll through the downtown lined with historic buildings as majestic mountains stand tall in the distance. This is your chance to visit the iconic sites and the local spots on a guided tour around town. Stop at Bow Falls for great sightseeing opportunities of the river and the falls. At Surprise Corner, named for its spectacular, surprising views from Buffalo Street, capture a photo of another unique vantage point.
Make Travel Matter®
- Vancouver: Unlock the diverse living cultures of the Northwest Coast at The Bill Reid Gallery, the only public Gallery in Canada dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast Art. Explore the gallery's in-house collection, special exhibitions and programs that build bridges between Indigenous and settler populations established by the Bill Reid Foundation in 2008 to celebrate the Haida master artist, Bill Reid (1920 - 1998). On a private, guided tour, learn about Reid's work as an acclaimed master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, writer, broadcaster, mentor and community activist while viewing his art. This experience addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 by reducing inequalities for minorities or underrepresented people.
Trafalgar Difference
- Kamloops: Savour every moment of a Stays With Stories - experience at The South Thompson Inn in Kamloops. Once home to a thoroughbred racing stable, this riverfront property still has the original brick manor and carriage houses. You'll love the historic feel of the Inn as you kickback in one of their fireside Adirondack chairs.
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences (Additional Cost) and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
- 16 Breakfast (B)
- 11 Lunch (L)
- 8 Dinner (D)
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
You’ll enjoy the icons and hidden gems with a Local Specialist by your side. Read more
With one on every itinerary, Be My Guest ensures your journey is truly one-of-a-kind, wherever it takes you. Read more
Find yourself overnighting in accommodations with stories as rich as the destinations you’re exploring. Read more
Trip Reviews (5) Most Recent 'Spectacular Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise' Reviews
The pace of the tour was quite relaxed & good - we were never rushed. The Tour Director Allen Gibson was superb & knowledgeable, With COVID there was a Health & Wellbeing Official on the coach who took good care of sanitizing the interior of the coach at every turn, John our driver was very courteous & knew all the roads/short cuts and most importantly kept us safe. Travelling from Australia to North America in August was ideal as it was Summer over there & gave us every opportunity to be outdoors. The cruise to Alaska & back was good with just 3 stops at ports for a brief period of approx. 6.5 hours which did not leave you much time to explore the towns once you went on the pre-booked excursions. We felt there was too much sailing, would have liked more time at the ports. Internet was not complimentary on the ship & had to be purchased at quite a high price. Many people on the ship could not wait to get off the few port stops to go to local pubs & use the complimentary Wi-Fi.
Hannah Campbell was the ultimate professional who listened to what we wanted as regards to the tour & put together all the paperwork and followed up with Trafalgar Tours every step of the way & kept us in the loop. We had no worries as all the 'final' paper work was sent to us by Hannah well in time prior to departure from Melbourne. A very big thank you to Hannah for her efforts.
We booked the above trip ...read more through Global Journeys & Hannah Campbell was our Travel Adviser. Hannah answered all our questions, offered suggestions/options and helped us all the way till we departed Australia to Canada to begin this tour. Hannah was the ultimate professional & the level of customer service from Hannah & other members of her team was par excellence.
The trip encompassing the Cruise, road & train travel was excellent with lodging in good hotels, excellent food, visits to top places. We would recommend the above trip to anyone & also direct them to Hannah at Global Journeys who will do the leg work for you.
Next day a raft ride on the Athabasca River, then to the Athabasca Glacier, then onto Banff National Park, visiting the famous Fairmont Hotel, then to Canmore for an awesome helicopter ride over the mountains. We then returned to Jasper overnight and then over the next 2 days, we rode the Rocky Mountaineer Railway (GoldLeaf Class which was terrific) back to Vancouver. My wife and I could not fault the whole trip from start to finish. Would thoroughly recommend the whole tour to everyone and Global Journeys (Yvonne Brooks) was excellent to deal with.
We have been regular overseas travellers but this was our first experience of a fully organised tour. This Trafalgar tour met all our expectations. The organisation was seamless, with punctuality, cleanliness and comfort featuring. The Tour Director and Coach Driver were both outstanding. The passion and knowledge of the Tour Leader was a special feature of the tour. We learnt so much of the history, geography, geology and anthropology of Western Canada while at the same time being entertained with humour and an easygoing caring manner. It was especially wonderful to have luggage organised each day, to find it waiting in your hotel room, and not once was there a hitch with our luggage. This is a great help for us seniors!
All the accommodation was of a high standard. We enjoyed the variety of styles and appreciated the convenient position of the hotels in the towns.
Thank you Yvonne for your work in planning and booking our trip. We found the online booking process quite seamless too and really appreciated your quick responses to any queries and your immediate availability. The written information we received certainly covered every detail of the tour and every component was met. On hindsight we would choose to do the cruise part of the tour last rather than the Rocky Mountaineer. Cruising is very relaxing and although the luxury of the Gold Class Rocky Mountaineer experience was breathtaking, and an experience I fully recommend to others, we encountered some bad luck. A four and a half hour delay at the beginning of day one resulted in all passengers leaving the train at 7pm and completing the journey, a three hour trip, in buses. Train delays are common, we learnt, but the length of this delay was exceptional. We have since received an email from the Rocky Mountaineer offering us $300.00 pp compensation which we accepted but as yet we have not received it. Had this delay occurred on day two our flight home may have been jeopardised. In light of this we believe it would be wise to suggest travellers spend a night in a hotel at the conclusion of the train journey rather than going directly to the airport for the long flight home.
In conclusion let me say the tour you booked provided us a magnificent experience. We will wholeheartedly recommend Holland America Line cruises, superb, Trafalgar Tours and the unique Rocky Mountaineer experience. Global Journeys will definitely be included in our recommendations and if we are fortunate enough to travel again we will be back in contact.
Cabins
Inside Stateroom (Included)
Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads and a host of amenities are featured in these comfortable staterooms. The configuration of staterooms may vary from the images shown. Approximately 143–225 sq. ft.
Oceanview Stateroom (Upgrade)
These expansive staterooms include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view. The configuration of staterooms may vary from the images shown. Approximately 175–282 sq. ft.
Verandah Stateroom (Upgrade)
Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed - Holland America's signature Mariner's Dream™ bed - with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and shower with premium massage showerheads. The configuration of staterooms may vary from the images shown. Approximately 213-379 sq. ft. including verandah.
Brochure
Trafalgar Canada & Alaska (2025)
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Trafalgar. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Trafalgar. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
