| Day 1 | Home City / Calgary, AB |
| Depart home city to Calgary and transfer to your hotel. Meet your tour
director at a welcome reception. |
| Day 2 | Calgary, AB |
|
Experience Calgary and visit Canada Olympic Park, to view the premiere
site of freestyle skiing, bobsleigh, luge and ski jumping events during the
1988 Olympic Winter Games. Then travel back in time...and discover the
treasures of Western Canada's past at Heritage Park. All the sights and
sounds of pre–1914 life are recreated at Canada's largest living historical
village. |
| Day 3 | Calgary / Edmonton, AB |
| Travel north to the friendly, cosmopolitan city of Edmonton. Enroute, we
stop at the Devonian Botanical Gardens. Highlights of this picturesque
attraction features over 10,000 species of plants showcased over 80 acres
including an authentic Japanese garden, large collection peony, iris, lilly
and dahlia; and 110 acres of nature trails and ecological and wetland
reserves. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the 8th
wonder of the world – West Edmonton Mall. |
| Day 4 | Edmonton / Prince George, BC |
| Welcome aboard…for a trip of a lifetime! We travel westward on the
Yellowhead Trail, where we enter the great Canadian Rockies. Crossing
the British Columbia border we visit Mount Robson, Canada's highest
mountain peak. We continue to travel through thick forests before
arriving at our destination of Prince George for the evening. |
| Day 5 | Prince George / Terrace, BC |
|
We continue our westward journey today following the beautiful rivers
and valleys of north central British Columbia, passing through the towns
of Fraser Lake and Burns Lake. This afternoon we will visit the Ksan
Historical Village and Museum in Hazelton where you will learn about
the richness of the Gitxsan Culture and Heritage. Tonight will be spent
in Terrace. |
| Day 6 | Terrace / Prince Rupert, BC |
| An incredible landscape unfolds today as we travel one of the Top 10
Scenic Drives in the World. Our destination today is Prince Rupert, BC,
the unofficial city of rainbows and the gateway to British Columbia's
dramatic North Coast. On arrival at Port Edward, we will tour the North
Pacific Cannery Village Museum, a National Historic Site and BC's oldest
surviving salmon cannery offering a unique and entertaining look at life in
a cannery village. We arrive at Prince Rupert where you will have an
opportunity to visit historic Cow Bay, a must see attraction in Prince
Rupert. |
| Day 7 | Prince Rupert / Queen Charlotte City, BC |
|
This morning we will board the ferry to Queen Charlotte Islands. The
Haida have called these islands home for over 10,000 years. The voyage
takes us through the Coast Islands, across the Hecate Strait to Skidegate
and to Queen Charlotte City. It is not unheard of for the Captain of the
BC Ferry to spot whales when coming into the inlet and announce to the
passengers that they can be seen. Be sure to have your binoculars and
cameras ready! |
| Day 8, 9, 10 | Queen Charlotte Islands, BC |
|
A local guide will accompany our group during our stay on the Queen
Charlotte Islands. We will travel to Massett visiting Naikoon Provincial Park at the Northern end of Graham Island. At Tow Hill a 20-minute walk
can be taken to the Blow Hole, along with a beach walk on Agate Beach
and North Beach. During our stay, visits will be made to The Balanced
Rock, St. Mary's Spring, The Bill Reid Totem Pole, and The Haida Gwaii
Museum. We will visit the Old Massett (Haida Indian Reserve) with time
for shopping at the local stores featuring silver, gold and argillite carvings,
prints and paintings. We will also travel to Port Clements an active
forestry area. Here we will visit the Forestry Museum and learn about the
history and present conditions of the industry. There may be an
opportunity of taking an optional Boat Cruise or Air Flight to see other
parts of the Island. On our last evening, please join your tour director for
a traditional Haida Feast in the company of local Haida residents.
We depart the Queen Charlotte Islands to the mainland via the BC Ferry,
crossing the Hecate Strait and arriving in Prince Rupert in the late
afternoon. |
| Day 11 | Queen Charlotte City / Prince Rupert, BC |
| We depart the Queen Charlotte Islands to the mainland via the BC Ferry,
crossing the Hecate Strait and arriving in Prince Rupert in the late
afternoon. |
| Day 12 | Prince Rupert / Prince George, BC |
|
A leisurely day of travel as we retrace our steps along the Yellowhead
Trail. The scenery is breathtaking, and wildlife such as moose, black bears
and eagles may be glimpsed. En route we will visit the alpine–themed
town of Smithers, with its red brick sidewalks and Bavarian storefronts.
This afternoon we stop at the Vanderhoof Heritage Village Museum.
We retire for the evening at Prince George. |
| Day 13 | Prince George / Jasper, AB |
| We say farewell to British Columbia as we cross the border into Alberta.
This afternoon enjoy a cruise on beautiful Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.
We will also take a gentle hike down Maligne Canyon where you will see
how the water has carved spectacular crevices out of the mountain. The
rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the quaint and unique town
of Jasper. |
| Day 14 | Jasper / Home City |
| Depart Jasper for Edmonton or Calgary International Airport for your
flight home. |
| Note: | |
| This tour involves a fair amount of walking. |
| Added Value | |
| Extend your tour by traveling south from Jasper
National Park into Banff National Park. Book your
return flight home from Calgary. |
| Optional | |
|
“ALL ABOARD” calls the Conductor as you travel on
the “Skeena”, VIA Rail's route from Prince Rupert
to Prince George, BC. You will see the breathtaking
grandeur of the mountains, waterfalls, impressive
rivers and lakes from a different perspective. You
will agree this is another best–kept scenic secret. |
