Canadian Rockies & Calgary Stampede

WHERE STORIES BEGIN - SAVE UP TO 15% ON ALL 2023/24 AIR HOLIDAYS - BOOK BY 28 FEBRUARY

Join us for a journey into the Canadian Rockies, one of the world's most majestic wonderlands. Discover this dramatic landscape and enjoy a scenic cruise from Vancouver to pretty Vancouver Island. Explore Lake Louise, Jasper and Banff, and experience the 'Wild West' at the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

Highlights

Spend two days at the Calgary Stampede
Discover the delightful city of Vancouver
Look out for grizzlies in the Monashee Mountains
Explore famous Butchart Gardens or go searching for whales on a choice of optional excursions
Enjoy a two-night stay in Jasper, 'Gem of the Canadian Rockies'
Journey from Jasper, on the Icefields Parkway via sparkling Lake Louise, to Banff, capital of the Rockies
Stay in Banff, the majestic Rockies capital
A Rodeo show, an evening show, souvenir programmes, and Skyrides over Stampede Park during your time at the Stampede

Inclusions

12 nights' room-only accommodation in a series of three-star hotels in Vancouver (2 nights), Victoria (2), Sun Peaks (1), Jasper (2), Banff (2) and Calgary (3)
Entrance to the Calgary Stampede
Return flights to Vancouver, returning from Calgary
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Fly to Vancouver to enjoy a two-night stay on the edge of the Pacific Rim, overlooking the Georgia Strait and backed by the snow-capped Coast Mountains.

Day 2

Join today's optional guided tour of Vancouver and discover why it is frequently voted the best place in the world to live. Highlights of the day will include restored Gastown, hectic, colourful Chinatown, and the Burrard Inlet coastal fjord. You'll also cross into the leafy suburbs of North Van to brave the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which stretches 450 ft across Capilano River.

Day 3

Today, we travel to the port to catch a 90-minute ferry ride to Vancouver Island, which cruises through the scenic Georgia Strait. We'll then continue to Victoria, the charming, colonial provincial capital, for a two-night stay.

Day 4

Spend today exploring this unashamedly British city. Visit attractive Inner harbour, the vast Parliament Buildings and the grand Empress Hotel, or join us on an optional morning visit to colourful Butchart Gardens. In the afternoon, you'll also have the chance to head offshore, searching for signs of orca, humpback and grey whales on our optional whale-watching cruise.

Day 5

Sail back to the mainland and drive through beautiful mountain scenery to the resort of Sun Peaks, a modern alpine village high in the BC interior.

Day 6

Don't miss today's included cruise through 'Grizzly Bear Valley' where sightings of grizzly and black bears are almost guaranteed from the boat. Later, we'll continue our tour. We'll head past towering Mount Robson, the Rockies' highest peak, and through beautiful scenery, to Jasper, at the gateway to scenic Jasper National Park, where you'll stay for two nights.

Day 7

Join today's optional excursion, which will include a ride on the historic Jasper Skytram - Canada's longest - to the scenic heights above, and a journey to the stunning Medicine and Maligne Lakes, in their spectacular settings, as well as beautiful Maligne Canyon. For the young at heart, join the exhilarating optional 'Jasper Motorcycle Tour', an exciting adventure on the back of, or in a sidecar attached to, a legendary Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by a professional driver.

Day 8

Today you'll travel along the renowned Icefields Parkway, calling at beautiful Lake Louise, where stunning turquoise waters are set against the awesome backdrop of Victoria Glacier. You'll continue on to Banff, the delightful, bustling 'capital' of the Rockies, with its many shops and surrounding mountain scenery.

Day 9

Take the opportunity to join an optional Banff sightseeing tour, which includes a cable-car ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain and a trip to scenic Surprise Corner viewpoint overlooking the famous Banff Springs Hotel. Also today, perhaps enjoy an optional Rockies helicopter ride over the mountains.

Day 10

Spend a morning at leisure in Banff before you travel to the 'cowboy city' of Calgary for a three-night stay.

Day 11

Visit the Stampede showground in Calgary. You'll have plenty of time to experience this iconic outdoor event and soak up the fantastic atmosphere as you watch authentic rodeos, chuck-wagon races and grandstand shows.

Day 12

Today you'll return to the Stampede showground for another taste of the Wild West. As well as thrilling rodeos, there'll be entertainment in abundance with live music, rides and games, and the Skyride that takes you from one side of the park to the other.

Day 13

Today you'll transfer to the airport to board your overnight flight back to the UK.

Day 14

Arrive back in the UK.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Passports and visas

British citizens require machine-readable passports when travelling to Canada. Visas are not normally required for entry, but for travel from 15th March 2016 visitors to Canada must apply for an eTA online with Canadian Immigration at least 72 hours before departure atwww.canada.ca/eta. The current charge is seven Canadian dollars for British Citizens. British subjects, and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested, should consult the Canadian Embassy as a visa may be required.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Tipping

Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. Customary gratuity to a coach driver and tour manager is about $5 per person per day; in a taxi or a restaurant leave 15-20 per cent of the bill and in a bar leave a dollar or so per drink.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted on any coach forming part of your holiday; regular stops will be made though for your comfort en route. The majority of hotels in North America are non-smoking throughout including in all bedrooms. In general smoking outside is acceptable, but do look out for signs prohibiting this close to public entrances or bus stops.

On your flight

All outbound flights depart and arrive on the same day. All return flights leave in the evening and land in the UK the next day. On-board meals will usually include lunch and a snack on outward flights, and dinner and breakfast on your flight home. Soft drinks are complimentary, but some airlines will charge for alcoholic drinks.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.

Helicopter flights

Sightseeing flights by helicopter are weight controlled and balanced. Please contact us if you wish to book a helicopter flight and your bodyweight exceeds 250lb. (In such cases, a seat may have to be left empty, and some companies may charge a premium.)

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Hotel rooms

Standard hotel rooms in North America will contain one or two double- or queen-sized beds, and it is not possible to add extra beds to the room. Parties consisting of more than two travellers, but who have only booked one room, will be expected to make use of the two beds provided. If this is a concern, you may wish to consider booking more than one room for your group.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: 15% discount applies to specific holidays and tours only. All other holidays and tours will have a 10% discount applied. The Where Stories Begin offer applies to new bookings only booked between 26 December 2022 and 28 February 2023 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Andre Rieu events, Lapland and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the 15% or 10% applied. The discount applies to your final holiday price (excluding holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

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