Grand Canadian Rockies

•   Floatplane flightseeing excursion over the Gulf Islands from Victoria to Vancouver

Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver
Your hotel is located within easy walking distance of Vancouver's lively Gastown and Stanley Park. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at the welcome reception followed by dinner.
Overnight: The Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver, BC
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Vancouver highlights and a ferry to Victoria
A guided sightseeing tour including Chinatown, Prospect Point, historic Gastown and Stanley Park introduces you to the history and vibrant cultural life of Vancouver, site of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. Later, hop aboard a ferry for a cruise to Victoria, British Columbia's capital, where you'll spend two nights at the city's only 5-star hotel, the Hotel Grand Pacific in a balconied, Grand Harbor View room overlooking Victoria's beautiful waterfront.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria, BC
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Victorian ways with The Butchart Gardens and afternoon tea
Discover a little piece of England on a visit to The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, encompassing 55 acres of breathtaking floral beauty in Japanese, Italian, Rose and Sunken show gardens dating back to the early 20th century. Later, indulge in a beloved English ritual – and a Victoria tradition – with Afternoon Tea in the restored Tea Lobby of The Fairmont Empress on the Inner Harbor. Explore on your own for the rest of the day and evening.
Overnight: Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria, BC
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: The BC Museum, flightseeing and all aboard the Canadian
The many treasures of one of the world's finest museums of natural and cultural history are yours to explore on a visit to Victoria's Royal BC Museum. Then return to Vancouver via floatplane in late afternoon, with spectacular views over the Gulf Islands. Tonight, board the sleek, newly restored rail cars of VIA Rail's The Canadian, and celebrate the start of your overnight journey to the Canadian Rockies with a champagne toast. Spend the night on the train while speeding across some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America.
Overnight: Aboard The Canadian, VIA Rail Canada
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: To the Canadian Rockies by rail
The vistas are nothing short of spectacular from Tauck's private domed observation car – reserved for Tauck guests only – aboard The Canadian, as your western Canada tour continues across British Columbia, where towering peaks and glaciers highlight the route. Cross the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta; arrive in Jasper National Park for a two-night stay at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Overnight: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: A day as you please in Jasper National Park
The day is yours to spend just as you wish among the carefully protected ecosystems – and "photographer's paradise" of Jasper National Park, where optional choices at your resort (at additional cost) include horseback riding or tennis. Rent a canoe or paddleboat on Lake Beauvert; go on a trail ride or a guided nature walk; play a round of golf on a top-rated course; or visit the historic town of Jasper on your own. This evening, a presentation by a Parks Canada official precedes dinner at your choice of restaurants at the lodge.
Overnight: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 7: Icefields Parkway & glacier ride
Drive the Icefields Parkway, featuring jaw-dropping views of mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and snowfields around every turn. Watch for bears, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats, especially in the spring and fall. View Athabasca Glacier flowing from the Columbia Icefield, and take a memorable climb across the glacier's surface on an Ice Explorer, a specially designed vehicle. Arrive at your chateau-style hotel on the edge of Lake Louise overlooking Victoria Glacier, for a night in a Lake View room.
Overnight: The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Lake Louise at leisure, and on to Banff
Travel via the Bow River Valley to Moraine Lake; after lunch at the Emerald Lake Lodge, continue through Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park. See Spiral Tunnels, a century-old railway engineering feat, and Natural Bridge, a rock formation over the Kicking Horse River, before setting off to The Fairmont Banff Springs, a Rocky Mountain icon since the 1880s, for a two-night stay inside Banff National Park; enjoy dinner at leisure at your resort tonight.
Overnight: The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Bow River float trip and a day of resort leisure
Embark on a float trip along the Bow River, then spend the rest of the day at leisure at your grand hotel, built more than a century ago to resemble a Scottish baronial castle. There's a full range of optional activities (available at additional cost) to try. Perhaps take a guided nature walk; book a treatment at the renowned Willow Stream Spa; ride the scenic Banff Gondola; or enjoy horseback riding, a round of golf, or the museums in the town of Banff. Join us this evening for our farewell dinner.
Overnight: The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Journey home
Travel from Banff National Park to Calgary, Alberta this morning, approximately 80 miles. Your western Canada tour and mountain adventure ends at 10:00 AM at Calgary International Airport. Direct flights to the U.S. will clear U.S. customs in Calgary. Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Fairmont Palliser for guests wishing to extend their stay; an airport transfer is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Special Air Savings - Learn More Hurry! Air Savings End March 26! Special International Air Savings – Europe Book and deposit summertime departures of the following Tauck journeys to Europe by March 26, 2010 and save $2,000 per couple off Business Class Air ($1,000 off per person) from select U.S. cities. Savings are valid for travel between June 29 and September 5, 2010, subject to availability: •Treasures of the Aegean – 14 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit •Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome – 11 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Le Ponant •Switzerland – 11 days featuring travel along Tauck’s scenic Yellow Roads •Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence & Rome – 10 days in Italy with all multiple-night stays •Paradors of Northern Spain – 14 days exploring culturally rich Iberia •The Best of Ireland – 13 days featuring iconic cultural treasures of the Emerald Isle •A Week In… Ireland – 8 days with a 2-night stay at Dromoland Castle •A Week In… Spain – 8 days from Barcelona to Andalucía, Seville and Madrid •A Week In… Scotland – 8 days with 2- and 3-night stays in Loch Lomond, Inverness & Edinburgh •Spain and Portugal – 14 days of Iberian pleasures and culinary treasures •Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley – 13 days showcasing joie de vivre •A Week In… London & Paris – 4 nights at a grand hotel in London and 3 nights in Paree •Castles & Kings: London to Paris – An 8-day family vacation alive with royal traditions Deposit must be paid at time of booking and certain restrictions apply. Valid on new bookings only and not combinable with other promotions; ask for details. Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
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Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

1. Arrive Vancouver Tour begins: The Fairmont Waterfront at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included upon arrival from the Vancouver Airport to The Fairmont Waterfront, ideally located in the heart of the city. One of the most beautifully sited cities in North America, cosmopolitan Vancouver dazzles with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, majestic mountains and a glittering skyline. We invite you to join us tonight for a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals D 2. Vancouver / Ferry to Victoria Chosen as the host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and steeped in charm, Vancouver is home to a vibrant cultural scene, rich history and abundant natural resources. View historic Gastown, Chinatown, and trail-laced Stanley Park, on a guided city sightseeing excursion. Board a ferry and cruise across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, for a two-night stay at the Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria’s only five-star hotel. Your balconied, Grand Harbor View room overlooks vistas of the stunning Victoria waterfront. Meals BD 3. The Butchart Gardens/ Afternoon Tea Throughout your stay in Victoria, you’ll discover more than a bit of England here amidst the rustic beauty of the Pacific Coast, including stately Victorian architecture and abundant gardens. Nowhere is floral beauty more celebrated than at The Butchart Gardens, which began over a century ago with a Sunken Garden created by Mrs. Jennie Butchart from what had been an abandoned limestone quarry on her family’s Tod Inlet estate. During your visit, explore what has grown to encompass 55 colorful acres of flowers and show gardens, including the Japanese, Italian and Rose gardens. Later, indulge in a beloved English ritual that has become one of Victoria’s grandest traditions – the taking of Afternoon Tea in the restored Tea Lobby of The Fairmont Empress on Victoria’s Inner Harbor. Return to the Hotel Grand Pacific; spend the rest of the day at leisure. Meals B 4. Flightseeing / Board The Canadian After a morning visit to Victoria’s stunning Royal BC Museum, a scenic flight via floatplane over the Gulf Islands takes you back to Vancouver late this afternoon. Enjoy leisure time and dinner on your own in historic Gastown. Tonight, a champagne toast signals that it’s “all aboard” VIA Rail’s gleaming, newly refurbished The Canadian – for a memorable overnight rail excursion to the awe-inspiring national parks of the Canadian Rockies. Sleep to the rhythm of the rails tonight en route to this majestic alpine sanctuary. Meals B 5. See the Rockies from a Private Dome Car Sporting sleek new interiors blending modern elements with echoes of classic 1950s styling, The Canadian winds its way along the North Thompson River. As the train passes towering peaks and glacial valleys in a vast wilderness once only accessible by rail, you’ll enjoy the show from the comfort of a private domed observation car – reserved for Tauck guests only! Cross the Continental Divide into Alberta, arriving in Jasper National Park for a two-night stay at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Meals BD 6. A Day in Jasper National Park Spend an entire day as you please at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in the heart of Jasper National Park, whose incredible scenery is comprised of carefully protected ecosystems, and is a photographer’s paradise. There are many optional activities available at the lodge, including trail riding, tennis, golf, hiking, and swimming, that enable you to truly indulge in the natural wonders that surround you; additional charges may apply. Attend a presentation by a Parks Canada official before enjoying dinner at your choice of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s restaurants. Meals BD 7. Explore the Icefields Parkway The Icefields Parkway, linking Jasper and Lake Louise, is one of North America’s most spectacular drives. Travel the road as it winds between snow-domed peaks and immense hanging glaciers; you may see elk, deer, bighorn sheep or bears. A specially designed Ice Explorer takes you for a ride on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield. One of the largest ice masses outside of the Arctic Circle, its meltwaters flow into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Your destination today is The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, in the heart of Banff National Park, where you’ll stay in a guaranteed Lake View room. Meals BLD 8. Yoho National Park and Banff Journey via the Bow River Valley to Moraine Lake, and have lunch at the Emerald Lake Lodge. Head through Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park to see the Natural Bridge, the remarkable Spiral Tunnels and the Continental Divide, continuing to The Fairmont Banff Springs. In the early 1880s, the accidental discovery of the Cave and Basin Hot Springs by Canadian Pacific Railway workers led to the establishment of Banff National Park, the first in Canada’s history. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs was built in 1888 as Canadian Pacific opened tourism to the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight at this fabulous alpine resort. Meals BLD 9. Bow River Valley Rafting / Banff Start the day with a leisurely raft trip along the Bow River, before spending the remainder of the day as you wish. One of the world’s major recreation destinations, Banff National Park encompasses over 2,500 square miles of valleys, mountains, glaciers, meadows and forests. Today’s a perfect day to take advantage of your resort’s many amenities or optional activities from golf and horseback riding to guided hikes along more than 1,000 miles of nature trails (additional charges may apply), or explore the resort town of Banff. Please join us this evening for a farewell dinner. Meals BD 10. Journey Home Travel to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles) for your journey home. Tour ends: Calgary Airport, Alberta at 10:00 AM. Direct flights to the United States will clear U.S. customs in Calgary. Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Fairmont Palliser for guests wishing to extend their stay in Calgary; an airport transfer is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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