Pacific Northwest

 

Vancouver	The Wedgewood Hotel	2 nights
Victoria	Hotel Grand Pacific	2 nights
Campbell River	Painter's Lodge	2 nights
Port Hardy	Quarterdeck Inn	1 night
Prince Rupert	Crest Hotel	1 night
Prince George	Coast Inn of the North	1 night
Jasper	Jasper Park Lodge	2 nights
Lake Louise	Deer Lodge	2 nights
Banff	Buffalo Mountain Lodge	1 night

Click on the name of the hotel for details

16 days from £2598

excluding international flights

DAY 1 - Arrive Vancouver.

On arrival at Vancouver International Airport take a taxi (not included) to your centrally-located hotel. Recommended flight: British Airways from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFERS: If you prefer we can arrange for you to be met at Vancouver Airport by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private chauffeur-driven limousine to your hotel. The one-way cost is £34 per person.

DAY 2 - Vancouver.

Vancouver is arguably Canada's most attractive city, a cosmopolitan metropolis of excellent shops and restaurants, galleries and museums, and some of the finest sea-to-sky vistas of any city in the world. Take a walk around the Stanley Park Seawall for some superb mountain and city views, taking in the colourful collection of native totem poles. Explore the historic Gastown area with its unique steam clock (pictured left). Or head to the North Shore to see the Capilano Suspension Bridge [more] and take the Skyride to the summit of Grouse Mountain [more] for panoramic views across the city.

DAY 3 - Across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.

Pick up your rental car and drive to the ferry terminal for your journey by BC Ferries across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. The voyage takes around an hour and 45 minutes and your route takes you through some beautiful scenery, passing between Salt Spring Island and North Pender Island en route to Swartz Bay where you disembark. Drive to Victoria, British Columbia's charming provincial capital, and check in at your hotel. In the afternoon you are free to explore the city, with its trademark English colonial buildings, including the venerable Empress Hotel overlooking the pretty Inner Harbour.

DAY 4 - Victoria. Whale-watching excursion.

This morning you will be collected from your hotel for an included Orca whale-watching excursion. There is a choice of vessels, from small cruiser to zodiac boat. The on-board naturalist will give commentary on the marine ecology and canrecognize individual orca whales by sight. The waters of Juan de FucaStrait are best known for their pods of orca (killer whales) but grey whales, minkewhales, humpback whales, dolphins and porpoise may also be sighted. The cruise lasts approximately 3 hours and the rest of the day is at leisure in Victoria.

DAY 5 - Drive to Campbell River.

Leave Victoria for the drive through beautiful Vancouver Island. You might want to stop off at the famous Butchart Gardens [more], located 23km/14 miles from Victoria. Your onward journey takes you to Campbell River on Discovery Passage, best known for its sportfishing - it is known as the 'Salmon capital of the world' - but also a delightful place just to spend a few days amidst beautiful surroundings.

DAY 6 - Campbell River.

At leisure. Activities available include scuba diving, sea kayaking and white-water rafting.

DAY 7 - Whale-watching at Telegraph Cove. Drive to Port Hardy.

Drive along the coast to picturesque Telegraph Cove (pictured left), a former sawmill village with rustic shacks and boardwalks. Here you will board a boat for a second whale-watching excursion, this time in the calm waters of the Johnstone Strait (best time for viewing is between late June and the end of September). This area is acknowledged as the most accessible andpredictable location to see orca in the world, and there is also a wealth of other marine life, including Dall’sporpoises, harbour porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea lions,seals, Minke whales, humpback whales and grey whales. For bird watchers,there are many migrating bird species in the Pacific Flyway including rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, harlequin ducks, sooty shearwaters and bald eagles. Continue to Port Hardy, where you will drop off your rental car and stay overnight.

DAY 8 - The Inside Passage.

An early start as you board the BC Ferries'  Northern Adventure [more] for an unforgettable full day's journey through the spectacular Inside Passage (left) which runs from Canada up to Alaska through a narrow maze of channels, passes, and reaches. Snow and ice coat the peaks of the mountains, and their shoulders plunge to the tideline. You should keep your eyes peeled for a whale or dolphin in Queen Charlotte Sound. With a bit of luck, you might even see a white-coated Kermode bear on Princess Royal Island's lengthy shoreline. With World Discovery you will be allocated a private outside day cabin for your use during the voyage. Your journey ends late at night (approximayely 10.30pm) when you disembark at Prince Rupert and take a short taxi ride (not included) to your hotel.

DAY 9 - Travel on the Skeena to Prince George.

This morning board VIA Rail's Skeena at the start of your 2 day rail journey into the Canadian Rockies. With World Discovery you will travel in Totem Deluxe class, in a spacious reserved seat in the Panorama car. These cars arefully glass enclosed, providing you with stunning 360-degree views ofthe Rockies, crystal blue lakes, rushing rivers, lush forests, quaintvillages and abundant wildlife indigenous to the region. Today's route initially follows the course of the Skeena River (translated from the local Tsishian dialect as 'Water of the Clouds') before heading towards tonight's destination Prince George, the largest city in Northern British Columbia.
Meals included: Continental breakfast, cold lunch, dinner.

DAY 10 - Continue on the Skeena to Jasper.

Your spectacular train journey continues today, taking you past Mount Robson (3954m/13,000ft), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. In the evening you will reach the town of Jasper and collect a new rental car for the remainder of your holiday.
Meals included: Continental breakfast, cold lunch, dinner.

DAY 11 - Jasper National Park.

Jasper National Park lies in the very heart of the Canadian Rockies.The day is at leisure. There is much to see and do. A popular excursionis an enjoyable cruise on scenic Maligne Lake [more] to Spirit Island, or you may wish to take the Jasper Tramway (pictured left) [more]up Whistlers Mountain for a spectacular view over the surrounding area.For the energetic, there is also the option of descending the MaligneCanyon, a dramatic limestone gorge with roaring waterfalls and bizarrerock formations.

DAY 12 - The Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise.

Today's drive will take you down the Icefields Parkway through some of the finest mountain scenery to be found anywhere in the world. Stop off at the Athabasca Glacier - a tongue of ice 6 kilometres long and one kilometre wide - where you will join a pre-booked ride by specially-designed vehicle on the glacier itself. On this fascinating 5 kilometrejourney your driver/guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in safety and comfort. At the mid-point, you will have the option of stepping out onto ice formed from snow falling as long as 400 years ago. Continue south along the Icefields Parkway into Banff National Park. You might also like to take a side trip along the David Thompson Highway to join an exciting helicopter flight with Icefields Helicopter Tours [more] - if you pre-book one of these tours with World Discovery we will give you a 15% discount on the prices shown. . Today's journey ends at your hotel located beside the beautiful Lake Louise.

DAY 13 - Lake Louise.

Known as the 'Jewel of the Rockies', Lake Louise is located in a small glacial valley surrounded by high peaks, and enjoys the almost theatrical backdrop of the awesome Victoria Glacier. You can rent canoes on the lake, or walk in the mountains. A classic walk is available from the public parking area next to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse; this popular and clearly signposted walk offersstunning views, and a teahouse for refuelling before the descent! Ittakes approximately 4 hours to complete the return trip (Distance: 7km/4.5 miles return; level of difficulty: moderate). Pictured left: Sunset on the Victoria Glacier.

DAY 14 - Drive to Banff.

There are many lovely spots in the vicinity of Lake Louise that you may want to visit today, including Moraine Lake (only between June and early October when the road is open), Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park and the Plain of Six Glaciers. Whenever you feel like it you can then drive the short distance to Banff town and your hotel.

DAY 15 - Banff. Drive to Calgary for your flight home.

Morning at leisure in Banff. You might like to take the Banff Gondola [more] to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views, or take a scenic cruise on Lake Minnewanka [more], or simply do some last-minute shopping on Banff Avenue. In the afternoon drive to Calgary to drop off your rental car and check in for your return flight.

DAY 16 - Arrive home.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of British Airways from London Heathrow. Flights can be booked through their easy-to-use website www.britishairways.com/travel using the 'Book multi-city' option. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Vancouver. Depart at 17.10; arrive Vancouver at 18.35
Calgary/Heathrow. Depart at 21.50; arrive Heathrow at 13.15 (next day)

Pacific Northwest (Tour Reference: WDCA003)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures	Price
2,4,14,16,18,28,30 Jun	£2669
2,12,14,16,26,28,30 Jul; 9,11,13,23,25,27 Aug	£2715
6,8,10 Sep	£2598

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, on a room only basis.
• Inside Passage voyage from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert with private outside day cabin.
• 2 day rail journey on the Skeena from Prince Rupert to Jasper.
  
• 2 Continental breakfasts, 2 cold lunches and 2 dinners on the Skeena.
  
• 11 days car rental (Compact group - e.g. Ford Focus) including unlimited kilometres, Provincial Sales Tax, Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), Concession Free Recovery (CFR), Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF), Passenger Vehicle Rental Tax (PVRT), Tax for fuel conservation (TFFC) and Air Conditioning Surcharge Recovery (ACSURCH). Upgrades are available to other vehicles.
• 2 whale-watching excursions as shown. Ice Explorer excursion at the Athabasca Glacier.
• Document pack on arrival at your first hotel with maps, safety tips for wildlife viewing, and detailed information about your trip
• Applicable taxes and General Sales Tax (GST) refunds

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance
• International airport taxes
• Optional sightseeing
• Meals
• Car parking at hotels

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.