Itinerary:
Day #1 Vancouver, British Columbia - Tour Begins - Get ready to experience the beauty and wonder of British Columbia with the comfort and romance of rail travel. Your exciting tour begins in the city of Vancouver.
Day #2 Vancouver - “Walk on the tree tops” when you enjoy breakfast at Capilano Suspension Bridge. What better way is there to begin your experience of the Canadian west than by walking through a cedar-scented rainforest canopy? Then, get to know Vancouver with a sightseeing tour that begins at beautiful Stanley Park, an urban rainforest reaching out to the Pacific Ocean. Visit vibrant Chinatown, one of North America’s largest, and the bustling waterfront. Conclude your tour in Gastown, the city’s turn-of-the-century pedestrian mall, busy with pubs, restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and the home of the world-famous steam-powered clock.
Day #3 Vancouver - Whistler - This morning enjoy your journey on the Sea to Sky Corridor and into the jagged Tantalus Mountains. Travel along Howe Sound with views of the British Columbia Coastal Mountains, past Shannon and Brandywine Falls, Mount Garibaldi and through Cheakamus Canyon. Be sure to watch for the province’s abundant wildlife in the sea, forest and sky. Arrive in the famed ski resort of Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the village.
Day #4 Whistler - Rocky Mountaineer® Train - Quesnel - This morning, board the Rocky Mountaineer® Train for a journey along the Fraser Discovery Route into unspoiled scenery inaccessible by other means. Sit back and relax as you travel through jaw-dropping scenery. Pass through river canyons and the lush farmland of the Pemberton Valley. Then, journey along the shores of Anderson and Seton lakes. Cross the rolling hills, endless forests and vast cattle ranches of the Cariboo Plateau. Overnight in the historic gold rush town of Quesnel.
Day #5 Quesnel - Jasper, Alberta - Continue your rail journey into the Canadian wilderness, moving into the dramatic Canadian Rockies. Reach the Rocky Mountain Trench, the longest valley in North America, cradled between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cariboo and Columbia ranges to the west. Discover the upper reaches of the mighty Fraser River. Look up to see heavily glaciated Mount Robson, at 12,972 feet, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The train ascends to Yellowhead Pass and crosses into Alberta. Watch for moose, mountain goats, bear and caribou. Arrive in Jasper this evening.
Day #6 Jasper - Begin your day with a trip to the extraordinary Maligne Canyon, where the Maligne River has cut a narrow gorge 165 feet deep into the limestone. Travel to the deep blue waters of Maligne Lake, ringed by towering, snowcapped mountains. An optional cruise brings you to one of the most photographed spots in the Canadian Rockies, Spirit Island. Enjoy the remainder of the day to explore Jasper, the small town in the heart of a national park.
Day #7 Jasper - Kelowna, B.C. - Mount Robson’s towering peak greets you as you cross back into British Columbia while traveling along the scenic Yellowhead Highway. Follow this stunning route and continue along the Thompson River. Traveling south, arrive in Kelowna, nestled in the fertile Okanagan Valley on the shores of Lake Okanagan. This resort city is your home for the next three nights.
Day #8 Kelowna - Discover the wealth and bounty of Okanagan Valley. Embark on a morning tour of Quail’s Gate winery, a 125 acre estate vineyard on the shore of Lake Okanagan. Savor a wine tasting, including their internationally coveted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Visit the Kelowna Farmers’ Market and discover the bounty of the region. Wander the booths of produce, crafts and meats. Perhaps indulge in a local café or bakery and explore the ethnic treats. Visit a Jammery and see delicious jam crafted from berries, fruit and even peppers. Smell the sweet bubbling kettles of cherries, saskatoons, blueberries and other fruits. Discover fields of echinacea flowers gently swaying in the breeze on your visit to the Falcon Ridge organic echinacea farm. Discover the uses and benefits of this helpful herb, its seeds and roots, and learn about the products created from its flowers.
Day #9 Kelowna - Spend the day experiencing the rich bounty of the Okanagan Valley. Begin with a visit to Kelowna Orchard, a family-owned farm producing four million pounds of fruit a year on its 150 acres, for a behind-the-scenes tour. Then, visit the award-winning Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Canada’s largest certified organic vineyard. Its 2006 Peace Chardonnay Icewine recently won the gold medal in an international competition. See the winery’s mysterious Four Story Pyramid where the wines are aged and enjoy a tasting. Then, discover the fragrant grounds of the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm, where 60 varieties of the purple herb are grown. The farm produces and distills fine lavender products such as teas, sachets, jellies, eye pillows and sleep pillows. Enjoy serene views of Lake Okanagan while you learn about the many uses and traditions of this beloved herb.
Day #10 Kelowna - Vancouver - Journey out of the Okanagan Valley to the spot where the powerful Fraser River is forced through a narrow gorge – Hell’s Gate. During the spring thaw, more than twice the volume of Niagara Falls squeezes through this chasm every minute. Traverse the gap in a gondola suspended over the river for truly breathtaking views of the river and gorge. This scenic spot is rich with enchanting Fraser River history and lore. Return to Vancouver where you will enjoy leisure time to explore this fantastic city. Celebrate your discoveries and memories of beautiful British Columbia with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.
Day #11 Vancouver - Depart for Home - You’ve seen the majesty of the Canadian Rockies, the serenity of Kelowna and the rich bounty of the Okanagan Valley. Today, depart with an abundance of memories of western Canada.