APT Ultimate Mountaineer & Alaskan Cruise

Premier Escorted, Fully Inclusive, Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Fraser Canyon, Whistler, Inside Passage, Glacier Bay

• APT Freedom Concept. Choose from a selection of activities – at no extra cost
• Dine Around Dinnerâ„¢. Choose from a selection of restaurants at Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper and let APT pay the bill

Earlybird Offer – Book Before 14 December 2006

• Two days aboard Rocky Mountaineer – GOLDLEAF SEATING
• Two Nights in Jasper National Park staying at the deluxe Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge –
• FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACTIVITIES in JASPER
• Overnight Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – LAKE VIEW ROOMS
• Two days aboard new Rocky Mountaineer Fraser Discovery Route – GOLDLEAF SEATING
• Two nights at Whistler Mountain village staying at the Westin Resort & Spa – JUNIOR SUITE accommodation
• Seven night fully escorted Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruise on board the luxurious ms Zaandam – verandah stateroom

Itinerary

Day 1. Spectacular Vancouver.
Upon arrival in Vancouver you will met and transferred to your hotel. Later, join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for an informal welcome reception.
Vancouver, Fairmont Waterfront.

Day 2. Rocky Mountaineer Rail.
Early today board the Rocky Mountaineer Train. We have GoldLeaf seating, so relax and be pampered. Enjoy breakfast in your GoldLeaf dining room as we journey eastwards. Pass through the fertile fields of the Fraser Valley and view the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains. See the thundering waters of Hell’s Gate and follow the Thompson River to historic Kamloops, gateway to the interior of British Columbia. Maybe enjoy an optional dinner show in Kamloops tonight, at additional expense. Note: Kamloops has limited accommodation so you will be staying in two or three-star hotels.
Kamloops, hotel assigned by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.
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Day 3. Spiral Tunnels, Banff.
Rejoining the Rocky Mountaineer, journey along the South Thompson River to Shuswap Lake. Pass Craigellachie where the ‘Last Spike’ of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, and enter Rogers Pass, with its tunnels, snowsheds and glaciers. The Kicking Horse River leads you to Kicking Horse Pass, the Spiral Tunnels and over the Continental Divide to Banff National Park. Arrive late afternoon in Banff.
Two Night Stay: Banff, Fairmont Banff Springs.
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Day 4. Banff Sights. Freedom of Choice Touring, Dine Around Dinner.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Banff and the surrounding area. Later, join your chosen activity in Banff. Freedom of Choice Touringâ„¢. Wildlife Safari; Interpretive Nature Hike; Helicopter Flightseeing; Golf at Fairmont Banff Springs; Bow River Float trip; Gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain; Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Banff Springs.
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Day 5. Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Dine Around Dinner.
On our short journey to Lake Louise we visit tranquil Moraine Lake. This afternoon we arrive at Lake Louise. Upon arrival we will join our local Mountain Heritage Guide for a guided walk of Lake Louise. This evening dine at one of the Chateau’s fine restaurants.
Lake Louise, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
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Day 6. Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Glacier, Jasper.
Today’s journey takes us along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. We stop at the Columbia Icefield for an exciting ride in an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier. This afternoon we arrive in Jasper National Park.
Two Night Stay: Jasper, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
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Day 7. Jasper. Freedom of Choice Touring, Dine Around Dinner.
Today it’s your choice of activity in Jasper. The rest of the day is at leisure. Freedom of Choice Touring™. Jasper Tramway and Shuttle, Interpretive Nature Hike, Maligne Valley and Wildlife Safari, Rafting Athabasca River, Massage Therapy.
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Day 8. Rocky Mountaineer Rail to Quesnel.
This morning, join the Rocky Mountaineer to travel the new ‘Fraser Discovery Route’. Relax with GoldLeaf Dome service as we pass Mt Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Continue westward through the forests of northern British Columbia, home to plentiful wildlife, including a large moose population. Note: Quesnel has limited accommodation so you will be staying in two or three-star hotels.
Quesnel, hotel assigned by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.
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Day 9. Fraser Discovery to Whistler.
Rejoin the train this morning for a day of breathtaking scenery. Follow the banks of the Fraser River as we descend through Cariboo Plateau to the desert-like conditions of Fraser Canyon. We travel the shores of Anderson and Seton lakes before ascending into the Coast Mountain range for our overnight in the world famous mountain resort of Whistler.
Two Night Stay: Whistler, Westin Resort & Spa.
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Day 10. Whistler.
A full day at leisure to soak up the atmosphere of this village buzzing with excitement as it prepares for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Experience the cafés, bars and boutiques or perhaps take the gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain for stunning views.
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Day 11. Vancouver Sights.
We return to Vancouver this morning and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vancouver, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. The tour includes the Waterfront, Gastown and Stanley Park. The remainder of the day is yours to explore. Perhaps stroll Robson Street with its many shops, bars and cafés.
Vancouver, Fairmont Waterfront.
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Day 12. Holland America Line Cruise.
After breakfast, transfer to your Holland America Line cruise ship ms Zaandam. Settle into your verandah stateroom for your seven night luxury Alaskan cruise.
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Day 13. Cruising the Inside Passage.
Enjoy a full day at sea as your ship sails past rocky headlands and glides over the still blue waters known as the Inside Passage. Explore your cruise ship and its many amenities: stroll the teak decks, work out in the ship’s fitness centre or be pampered in the spa; wander the duty free boutiques or simply enjoy the dramatic views.
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Day 14. Tracy Arm, Juneau.
At the end of Tracy Arm fjord sits majestic Sawyer Glacier. Watch in awe as the glaciers break apart, sending huge chunks of ice plummeting into the freezing waters below. This afternoon you arrive in Juneau, the state capital of Alaska, settled by gold miners 1880. Here, experience a dog sled ride over a glacier, sample salmon baked over a fire or pan for gold. Perhaps visit the Alaskan State Museum which features Tlingit and Athabascan Indian and Eskimo exhibits. (Own expense.)
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Day 15. Skagway.
At the northernmost point of the Inside Passage, Skagway’s history as a frontier town and gateway for the gold rush is still evident. It was a boom town and the gateway to the Klondike during the Alaskan gold rush in the late nineteenth century. Enjoy free time discovering what gold prospecting was like back then, or take in the wildlife. (Own expense.)
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Day 16. Glacier Bay.
Wake up to the breathtaking sight of Glacier Bay National Park with its rivers of ice and skyscraping peaks. Stand at the rail with your camera poised to catch glaciers ‘calving’ and watch for wildlife. Rangers come aboard to explain the geological formations and point out the diverse wildlife and marine mammals and highlight their unique habitats.
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Day 17. Ketchikan.
As the ‘salmon capital of the world’, Ketchikan is the place to indulge in all things to do with salmon. Enjoy time at leisure and maybe join a walking tour of the town including visits to the busy fishing harbour or the town’s totem park. Or you can immerse yourself in the Tlingit Indian culture at Saxman Native Village. (Own expense.)
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Day 18. The Inside Passage.
Heading south through the Inside Passage, watch the landscape slip by.
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Day 19. Vancouver.
Arrive back in Vancouver this morning. After disembarkation, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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What’s Included

APT Sightseeing Highlights

Finest Dining

Outstanding Places to Stay

Rates in Australian Dollars

Tour Notes