Winnipeg to Alaska4

Day 1 Monday Our incredible train journey commences! Board VIA Rail train at Winnipeg's downtown train station. Dinner is served aboard this evening.   You will love the international cuisine served by VIA's super-friendly staff.   Enjoy the scenery roll by your picture windows and appreciate the long Canadian summer days. Your porter will prepare your sleeping accommodations for the evening.    VIA RAIL BEDROOMS / DINING CAR / DOME CAR / PARK-LOUNGE CAR

Day 2 Enjoy a delicious breakfast and relax as we forge across the great wheatfields of Saskatchewan before our morning arrival into Edmonton, capital and most vibrant metropolis in Alberta.   After a brief stop we continue the train journey to the "Jewel of the Canadian Rockies" JASPER, Alberta. Disembark and we are transferred to our Jasper hotel. Keep on the lookout for wild animals often seen in and around the town.

Day 3 This morning we tour JASPER and, above the townsite, beautiful PYRAMID LAKE.   Perhaps take an optional cruise of magnificent MALIGNE LAKE and its incredible aquamarine waters. The views are stunning and the water is a shade of blue found only in these mountains.   Spirit Island is a famous spot for photographers seeking the perfect picture. Return to Jasper. Those staying for additional nights can travel on their own a few miles to the south of Jasper to the JASPER GONDOLA from where the views of the valleys and peaks are outstanding and ATHABASCA FALLS / HORSESHOE LAKE. Overnight at one of our Jasper

Day 4 We have a free day in this pristine alpine paradise.   Perhaps rent a car and drive south on the Icefields Parkway to ATHABASCA GLACIER. Stop at waterfalls (ATHABASCA FALLS), mountain vistas and stunning aqua green and blue lakes such as BOW LAKE, MISTAYA LAKE . Bikes can be rented in town, horseback riding is available and there are trails for every level of adventurer. Be sure to stop by the magnificent Jasper Park Lodge, built between two lakes and visited by King George the V and Marilyn Monroe. Cuisine tastes even better after walks in the fresh mountain air and Jasper has no shortage of terrific restaurants. Overnight at one of our Jasper Hotels

Gourmet meals, world class scenery

Day 5 All aboard Via rail as we continue our scenic trip west to the Pacific! On board the train we cross the continental divide and se scoot along the shores of Lake Kamloops (Kamloops being a native word meaning "meeting of the lakes") and then shadow the mighty Frasier River past Hell's Gate Canyon. Enjoy the finest cuisine before retiring for the evening to your bedroom.

Day 6 Arrive in VANCOUVER early morning and transfer on your own the short distance to one of our downtown hotels. The afternoon is free to explore this very walkable city.

Day 7 Cruise Departure (some sailings depart on Sundays and require one more overnight in Vancouver, Monday. Some sailings available on Mondays) Transfer the short distance to one of Vancouver's two cruise ship terminals. Board the cruise ship in the early afternoon for a 4:00 sailing departure. We work with all the major cruise lines. We can arrange affordable inside cabins, picturesque outside cabins and verandas and staterooms. We do it all. Sail north along the beautiful inside passage.

Day 8 Cruise the inside passage. Towering mountains, narrow fjords and pre-historic glaciers combine to make one of the World's great sea voyages. This is prime habitat for grizzly bears, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoise and of course several species of whales. Ocean currents between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia are some of the fastest in the World and you can see fish farms, loggers and coastal cities fade into wilderness as you calmly sail north.

Day 9 Arrive at Ketchikan, Alaska and disembark. This city is both wet and wild. Pristine wilderness is fed by the abundant moisture. It is here you find pristine wilderness and a high concentration of animal life. Consider seeing the outside museum of native art and one of the largest collections of totem poles in the World.

The Empress Hotel, Victoria

Day 10 Juneau is the next stop. Juneau is only accessible by water and air. Grizzly bears are commonly seen here and you can see the Governer's Mansion here. Majestic Mendenhall Glacier is just 13 miles from the state capital, where you have views of Juneau Icefield, Lynn Canal and Stephens Passage. Following Juneau we cruise either Sawyer or Hubbard Glacier. These glacier parks continually amaze and inspire cruisers. Massive chunks of ice calve off the edges and crash into the salt water below, often as frequently s once per hour. Backdropped with coastal mountains with white caps the sightseeing here is unique in the World and absolutely astounding.

Day 11 Situated at the head of the scenic Lynn Canal, Skagway was once the gateway to the Goldrush. Listen for the echoes of "There's Gold in them thar hills" echoing from the canyon walls and valleys. Stroll the famous historic Gold Rush National Historic Park, Trail of '98 Museum and the White Pass and Yukon narrow-gauge Railroad. Others may want to experience a shore excursion to the glaciers of Chilkat State Park or go dogsledding on Denver Glacier.

Day 12 The quaint port of Wrangell, at the mouth of the Stikine River has much to offer. Be sure to check out the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory or Petroglyph Beach State historic Park.

Day 13 We cruise the inside passage southbound back into Canadian waters. Enjoy the fabulous food and entertainment aboard the ship Pass the Alaska Panhandle. The colors are inspiring with brilliant blue ice of glaciers, emerald green of virgin forests, diamond-bright waterfalls and fall foliage yellow and golds.

Day 14 Arrive in Vancouver in the morning and disembark. Some passengers will transfer to Vancouver International Airport or perhaps stay a day or two more and travel up to WHISTLER Resort area (North of Vancouver).

EXTENSION AVAILABLE: A great day awaits us. Motor coach picks us up at (or very near to) our downtown hotel and departs for Vancouver Island. Sail the ferry across to Vancouver Island and transfer to World famous BUTCHART GARDENS. The floral displays are astounding. Continue to VICTORIA, the most British city in Canada for a city tour. You have time to shop or enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel before returning by coach and ferry to your Vancouver hotel. This is a great day!

See glaciers calving

Whales on the inside passage

This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction MORE TOURS FROM WINNIPEG

This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction
MORE TOURS FROM WINNIPEG