Rockies, Rail & Alaska

Arrive in the vibrant city of Calgary, the gateway to the Canadian Rockies. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in Banff, where the rest of the day is yours to relax until a welcome dinner this evening.

Today, explore the spectacular landscapes of Banff National Park. Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for breathtaking 360-degree views across valleys and mountain peaks. Continue to beautiful Lake Louise, pausing for lunch along the way, before visiting the Columbia Icefield for more unforgettable scenery and experiences.

Transfer to Banff station where you'll board the celebrated Rocky Mountaineer, a train renowned for its world-class experience. Enjoy breakfast onboard as the train pulls out of Banff and winds its way through majestic, untouched landscapes. In the dome car, alongside the views, you'll learn about Spiral Tunnels and Glacier National Park; after a full day of mountain peaks and delicious food, you'll arrive into Kamloops and transfer to your hotel for the night. Dinner this evening is not included and will be at your own expense - there are a range of dining options available in Kamloops and within your hotel.

Continue your journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, passing through thick fir forests and along the Fraser River, passing Hell's Gate, where the river is forced through a narrow canyon in a powerful surge. Pull into Vancouver in the late afternoon and bid farewell to the Rocky Mountaineer before transferring to your hotel.

Board a ferry across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island, where you will spend the day exploring its beautiful coastal scenery and world-famous gardens. Explore the renowned Butchart Gardens for a guided walk through their magnificent 122-year-old display garden, followed by lunch. Later, return by ferry, taking in more beautiful coastal scenery along the way.

Transfer to Vancouver's cruise terminal to board your cruise ship, Koningsdam. The rest of the day is free to explore the ship’s facilities and settle in. Throughout your cruise, when your ship comes into port, there will be a range of excursions available to help you explore each destination. These excursions are at your own expense and are bookable on your cruise reservation.

Journey northwards along the Inside Passage. Sheltered by the islands and bays along the Pacific coast of Canada and Alaska, the route is renowned for its calm waters and incredible scenery of huge tracts of forest, mountain peaks, glaciers and fjords. On deck, you may get to spot wildlife like whales and eagles.

Welcome to Alaska! Juneau is set among water, forest and mountains and feels a million miles from the world; as the most remote state capital of the USA, it is. While the city is pleasant to explore, Juneau is really about the great outdoors, and it is easy to spot wildlife in the nature that is right on its doorstep.

A frontier town at the height of the Gold Rush, Skagway today is a hub of Alaska's rich history and pristine nature. Here, you can learn all about the Klondike Gold Rush and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad in the historic district, or step out into the spectacular scenery that surrounds the town.

Today you'll cruise through Glacier Bay. You'll be surrounded by a landscape of mountains, temperate rainforest and ice-carved fjords, with views of the glaciers that calve into the bay and the chance to hear the cracks and creaks of their slow movement. Keep an eye out for humpback whales breaching from the water.

Ketchikan is flanked by forests of vibrant green, a major hub of salmon-fishing and a town of vibrant native culture and a rich history. Sportfishing and eating fresh seafood are two possible activities here, or you can visit the intricate totem poles of the indigenous Alaskan nations.

Cruise southwards back into The Inside Passage, another opportunity to watch the spectacular scenery drift by. Gaze out over the tracts of the Great Bear Rainforest, snow-capped peaks and glacier-cut fjords of this astonishing coastline.

Disembark the Holland America Line Koningsdam. You'll be met by your guide and depart for a city tour of Vancouver, including Stanley Park and Granville Island, with a stop for lunch along the way. Later, transfer to your hotel. This evening, share a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.

Transfer to the airport and fly home to Australia, arriving home two days later.