Holiday Overview
Big, bold and impossibly beautiful, Alaska stretches beyond the imagination. Starting with a sensational rail journey through majestic Canadian Rockies aboard luxurious Rocky Mountaineer, wind through awe-inspiring landscapes, taste exquisite local cuisine and hear captivating stories.
Then set sail on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, see ancient glaciers glint majestically, as snow-mantled mountains soar into the sky. Visit historic frontier towns from the gold-rush era and be astounded at the fascinating marine life such as the humpback whale, orcas, dolphins and more. This extraordinary trip is a real feast for the senses.
Canadian Rockies & Grand Alaska includes:
- Return UK flights
- Transfers throughout
- 6 nights accommodation
- Discover Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Tour
- 2 day Rocky Mountaineer journey SilverLeaf (Upgrade to GoldLeaf from only £359pp)
- 7 nights Alaska Cruise (Full Board) on Island Princess
- Ask about upgrading to Azamara or Regent of Seven Seas cruises
Day 1 - Fly UK to Calgary and transfer to Banff
Arrive in Calgary and you will be transferred by coach to your Banff Hotel (included)
Day 2 - Lake Louise & Moraine Lake
Spend this morning in Banff at your leisure. This afternoon we have included the Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour. You will be picked up from one of the Banff downtown pickups and dropped back off.
On this afternoon sightseeing tour you will visit the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies," Lake Louise and the world renowned Moraine Lake. Both are a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you will have time to take photos of their shorelines. Learn our mountaineering history and how a tragic accident at Lake Louise shaped Canadian Mountain Culture. Finally, walk to the viewpoint in the Valley of Ten Peaks overlooking Moraine Lake.
Tour highlights: Bow Valley Parkway, Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Lake Louise, Chateau Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (closed early/late season), refreshment, and maple cookies.
Featured accommodation
Banff Aspen Lodge
Unmissable Experiences
Banff Experiences
Day 3 - Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops
Now your venture into the heart of the mountains begins in earnest. Continuing along the South Thompson River, you’ll witness historic Craigellachie. This spot marks where the Last Spike was driven home on the Canadian Pacific Railway line, uniting the nation. You’ll marvel at man’s ingenuity as Rocky Mountaineer enters the Spiral Tunnels, bored through solid rock beneath a mountain over a century ago. You’ll gaze in wonder at cascading waterfalls and icy glaciers spilling over the lips of the peaks above, on your way from the charming alpine town of Banff and the brilliant waters of Lake Louise. All of this craggy wilderness is yours to embrace, from the comfort of your luxurious Rocky Mountaineer coach.
Day 4 - Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver
Journey through the farmlands of the Fraser Valley. From fertile greenery, the landscape transforms to the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains. You’ll see the mighty Fraser River and the raging white waters of Hell’s Gate. The train will slow to fully appreciate this narrow canyon where the volume of water rushing through is about three times greater than Niagara Falls. Then, the landscape undergoes another transformation and you’ll find yourself amid scrub brush and desert.
Featured accommodation
Loden Hotel
Enhance your experience
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Day 5 - Explore Vancouver
Today is yours to spend at your leisure in Vancouver. Make sure you take in a stroll along Coal Harbour to Stanley Park, passing Lions Gate and English Bay. We highly recommend the aquabus from downtown to Granville Island, try to time it for lunch at Granville Market or even an afternoon Galeto and/or cake. If you would prefer to have an organised tour, why not ask one of our Canada Experts for some pre-bookable trip options and prices.
Featured accommodation
Loden Hotel
Enhance your experience
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Unmissable Experiences
Vancouver Experiences
Day 6 - Embark Island Princess
Spent the morning in Vancouver at your leisure before your taxi transfer (included) around midday from your hotel to Vancouver Port for your Alaska Cruise.
Day 7 - Cruise the Inside Passage
Acquaint yourself with the ship and take advantage of some of the many facilties on offer. Make sure you pop up on deck to take in some of the spectacular scenery as you sail up the Inside Passage.
Unmissable Experiences
Inside Passage
Day 8 - Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Nearby Alaska's largest Tlingit village exists a uniquely Alaskan place - lcy Strait Point.
Hoonah, meaning "village by the cliff," is home to the Huna Tlingit who have occupied this area for thousands of years. Local legend tells how they were forced from their ancestral home in Glacier Bay by advancing glaciers, resulting in their relocation to and settlement of Hoonah.
In 1912, the Hoonah Packing Co. built a large cannery one mile north of town. After only five years of operation, the cannery at Icy Strait Point turned out 152,505 cases of one-pound cans of salmon, the largest pack ever achieved in Alaska.
Today, Hoonah is home to nearly 750 residents. Visitors will be intrigued by its rich Native heritage, opportunities to see wildlife and the vast wilderness that surrounds this unique village. Icy Strait's waters have yielded record-breaking halibut and salmon catches and provide summer-long access to all five species of salmon. Chichagof Island, on which Icy Strait Point is located, supports one of the largest concentrations of brown bears in the world and sightings are common.
Unmissable Experiences
Icy Strait Point
Day 9 - Juneau, Alaska
In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets "as large as beans."
From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than $150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government.
Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneau's 3,248 square miles.
Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.
Unmissable Experiences
Juneau
Day 10 - Skagway, Alaska
Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest.
Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail.
The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome.
Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.
Unmissable Experiences
Skagway
Day 11 - Glacier Bay
Princess is one of a select few cruise lines permitted to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, the highlight of our 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. Just west of Juneau, this breathtaking national park and preserve boasts some of the world's most spectacular tidewater glaciers, such as Margerie Glacier, which often drops colossal chunks of ice into the sea. Not surprisingly, Glacier Bay National Park and its epic ice giants are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising Alaska's magnificent park system.
During your scenic cruise, friendly Park Rangers will join the ship to share their knowledge of this amazing place and host a fun Junior Ranger program for kids. They may even be able to help you identify Glacier Bay's abundant wildlife, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles and large colonies of seabirds.
Take in the awe-inspiring scenery as you enjoy an unforgettable day of sailing through this dazzling park, where you'll glide along emerald waters and past calving icebergs, and can breathe in the crisp, fresh air to your heart's content.
Unmissable Experiences
Glacier Bay
Day 12 - College Fjord
Discovered in the northwest corner of Prince William Sound during an 1899 research expedition, spectacular College Fjord and its glaciers were named after prestigious east coast schools by the college professors who first laid eyes upon their majesty. Stretching for miles, these massive rivers of ice tumble down from mountains and through valleys, dipping into the pristine waters of the fjord. There you'll have a chance to watch the awe-inspiring process of glaciers calving, or dropping enormous pillars of ice into the sea, as they crack and land with a thunderous splash – a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed!
College Fjord not only boasts the world's largest collection of tidewater glaciers, but it features magnificent snowcapped mountains as far as the eyes can see. Plus, during the summer, it's not unheard of to catch a glimpse of one of the area's 40-ton humpback whales feeding in the waters of the fjord.
It's a magical wonderland of epic proportions, so breathtaking you won't want to blink!
Day 13 - Whittier
Whittier, approximately 65 miles southeast of Anchorage, lies nestled at the base of the Chugach Mountains bordering Passage Canal. Established as a World War II port for cargo and troops of the Alaska Command, Whittier remained activated until 1960. Today, Whittier's economy and its 290 residents rely largely on the fishing industry, the port and, increasingly, on tourism.
Once accessible only by boat or via a war-era railway tunnel, The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel was recently enhanced to accommodate highway traffic as well, making it the longest highway/rail tunnel in North America at 2.5 miles.
Named for the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, the community is also the gateway to spectacular Prince William Sound, with its magnificent tidewater glaciers and abundant marine life.
Whittier tours are available to passengers on back-to-back voyages who will stay onboard the ship and cruise back to Vancouver as well as guests ending their cruise in Whittier wiith an evening flight out of Anchorage on the day of disembarkation or an overnight in Anchorage after their cruise. Whittier tours are only available to cruisetour guests who spend the first night of their package in Anchorage. Other cruisetour guests cannot take an excursion as they would miss the transfer their next destination.
Disembark and transfer to Anchorage Hotel.
Day 14 - Fly Anchorage to UK
Transfer Anchorage hotel to airport and fly to the UK
Banff Aspen Lodge
The Banff Aspen Lodge hotel offers warm, friendly hotel accommodations in Banff National Park. Enjoy an intimate Canadian mountain experience and make the Banff Aspen Lodge Hotel your base as you explore the surrounding Rocky Mountains and the culture of the town of Banff. The Banff Aspen Lodge offers a friendly and cosy atmosphere with the best hotel rooms in Banff. Guestrooms are spacious, newly renovated and offer excellent value!
Loden Hotel
The Loden Hotel is an interesting boutique hotel which features an on-site spa and gourmet restaurant and is only approx 5 minutes from Robson Street.
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver
The Fairmont Waterfront luxury hotel showcases the best of Vancouver. Conveniently located, the hotel connects by covered walkway to the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place, and the Sky train. Situated on scenic Burrard Inlet, it has a central to sightseeing and shopping in Vancouver.
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2022, 2023 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 270 0009 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
Canada Holiday Offers
Rockies & Alaska Experience
- 15 Nights
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
Canadian Rocky Mountains
The Splendour of Canada & Alaska
- 17 Nights
- Toronto
- Niagara Falls
- Banff
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
Spectacular Rail Journeys
The Rockies, Alaska & Toronto
- 17 Nights
- Toronto
- Niagara Falls
- Banff
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
- Inside Passage
- Skagway
- Glacier Bay
- Ketchikan
Ontario & Quebec
Canada & Alaska Sojourn
- 19 Nights
- Toronto
- Niagara Falls
- Banff
- Jasper
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
Calgary Stampede
Cowboys, Trains & Cruise - The Calgary Stampede
- 18 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise in Style
- 16 Nights
- Banff
- Jasper
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Canada Place
- Inside Passage
- Ketchikan
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Sitka
- Hubbard Glacier
- Anchorage
June Holidays
Alaska Cruise & Vancouver Stay
- 11 Nights
- Vancouver
- Inside Passage
- Icy Strait
- Hubbard Glacier
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
Canada Holidays 2022
Grizzlies and Alaska Cruise
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Knight Inlet
- Alaska Cruise
Alaska Luxury Cruises
Wilderness of Alaska & Canada
- 16 Nights
- Anchorage
- Alaska Cruise
- Vancouver
- Sonora Island
- Campbell River
- Knight Inlet
Multi-Country Holidays
Fall into Canada, New England & New York
- 15 Nights
- Quebec City
- Saguenay
- Charlottetown
- Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Halifax
- Portland Maine
- Boston
- New York
Denali Explorer & Glaciers
- 12 Nights
- Anchorage
- McKinley Wilderness Lodge
- Denali Wilderness Lodge
- Whittier
- Hubbard Glacier
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Skagway
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
- At Sea
- Vancouver Port
- Vancouver
Victoria, Vancouver & Alaska Highlights
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Alaska Cruise
Canada Holidays 2022
Pacific Coast & Alaska Cruise & Fly Drive
- 20 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Campbell River
- Whistler
- Alaska Cruise
Canadian Rockies & Grand Alaska
- 13 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Vancouver Port
- Inside Passage
- Icy Strait Point
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Glacier Bay
- College Fjord
- Whittier
- Anchorage
Vancouver, Alaska & the Rockies
- 18 Nights
- Vancouver
- Canada Place
- Inside Passage
- Tracy Arm/Juneau
- Skagway
- Glacier Bay
- Ketchikan
- Kamloops
- Jasper
- Banff
- Calgary
Rockies & Alaska Grand Discovery
- 17 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Jasper
- Sun Peaks
- Vancouver
- Inside Passage
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Glacier Bay
- Ketchikan
Canada Holiday Offers
Bears, Whales & Glaciers
- 14 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Tofino
- Alaska Cruise
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Canadian Rockies & Alaskan Explorer
- 14 Nights
- Banff
- Icefields Parkway
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- The Inside Passage
- Icy Strait Point
- Hubbard Glacier
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
Canada Holiday Offers
Vancouver & Alaska Adventure
- 15 Nights
- Vancouver
- The Inside Passage
- Ketchikan
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Glacier Bay
- The Gulf of Alaska
- Denali National Park
- Anchorage
Majestic Alaska & Rocky Mountains
- 14 Nights
- Calgary
- Banff
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Mighty Rockies & Eastern Maritimes
- 18 Nights
- Vancouver
- Kamloops
- Jasper
- Banff
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Charlottetown
- Sydney NS
- Bar Harbor
- Boston
Canada Holiday Offers
Alaskan Wilderness Discovery
- 20 Nights
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
- Alyeska
- Anchorage
- Talkeenta
- Denali National Park
- Fairbanks
- Seattle
Rockies & Alaska Explorer
- 17 Nights
- Banff
- Jasper
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Alaska Cruise
- Whitehorse
- Dawson City
- Fairbanks
- Denali National Park
- Anchorage
Jewels of Alaska & Canada
- 19 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Alaska Cruise
- Whistler
- Quesnel
- Jasper
- Banff
Canada Wildlife Holidays
Rainforest Cruise, Whistler & Vancouver
- 14 Nights
- Whistler
- Vancouver
- Great Bear Rainforest
Canada & Alaska Extravagance
- 16 Nights
- Rimrock Resort
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Jasper
- Kamloops
- Vancouver
- Canada Place Vancouver
- Inside Passage
- Ketchikan
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Icy Strait Point
- Hubbard Glacier