Rocky Mountaineer & Silversea Alaska Cruise

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before your flight to Calgary, gateway to the Canadian Rockies. From the airport you will transfer west into Banff National Park. The journey itself is a spectacle, with prairies giving way to jagged peaks and alpine forests. On arrival, settle into your hotel and perhaps wander Banff Avenue, framed by the Bow River and snow-dusted summits. Elk and deer often graze nearby, offering a first glimpse of the wildlife that defines this region.

Stay: The Moose Hotel and Suites (Superior/SilverLeaf) or Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection (Deluxe/GoldLeaf)

Spend today immersed in Banff’s wilderness. Cruise across Lake Minnewanka, its turquoise waters framed by towering peaks such as Mount Aylmer and Mount Inglismaldie. Wildlife is abundant here – from bighorn sheep to soaring eagles – while the Banff Gondola offers panoramic views across six mountain ranges. Afterwards, perhaps soak in the mineral-rich pools of the Upper Hot Springs or explore Banff’s boutiques and museums.

Stay: The Moose Hotel and Suites (Superior/SilverLeaf) or Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection (Deluxe/GoldLeaf)

This morning, a private transfer brings you to Banff Station in time to board the gleaming carriages of the Rocky Mountaineer. Settle in and enjoy breakfast as you traverse through the stunning and varied landscapes of the Rocky Mountains. The train is designed with the surrounding nature in mind, with the glass-domed coaches framing views of the Continental Divide, Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon. Your host will share stories of the landscapes as you enjoy breakfast and a gourmet lunch served at your seat. The journey continues past Rogers Pass and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. By evening, arrive in Kamloops, a picturesque town set amid British Columbia’s interior.

Stay: Kamloops accommodation (Rocky Mountaineer allocated)

Step back aboard Rocky Mountaineer for another day of scenic splendour. The route winds past desert plateaus, river canyons and dense fir forests, with highlights including Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. If travelling GoldLeaf, enjoy the split-level carriage with its private dining room and exclusive outdoor viewing platform – perfect for photography. After another gourmet lunch, arrive in Vancouver late afternoon and check into your stylish downtown hotel.

Stay: OPUS Vancouver (Superior/SilverLeaf) or Loden Hotel (Deluxe/GoldLeaf)

Vancouver’s blend of nature and culture makes it one of North America’s most captivating cities. Over the next two days, you'll have time to discover explore it at your leisure. Cycle the seawall around Stanley Park, admire its totem poles and ocean views, or ascend Grouse Mountain for alpine panoramas. Granville Island’s markets and artisan studios showcase the city’s creative spirit, while Gastown’s cobbled streets and Yaletown’s chic restaurants offer contrasting atmospheres. Optional excursions include whale watching in the Strait of Georgia or a day trip to Whistler. 

Stay: OPUS Vancouver (Superior/SilverLeaf) or Loden Hotel (Deluxe/GoldLeaf)

After a relaxed morning in Vancouver, perhaps taking time for a final stroll along the waterfront, you’ll be transferred to the port where the Silver Whisper awaits. This refined vessel will be your home for the next seven nights, combining the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the indulgence of a world-class resort. Each suite offers ocean views, many with private verandas, and all with the attentive service of a dedicated butler. Dining is a highlight, with multiple venues ranging from elegant fine dining to more casual al fresco options, each showcasing international flavours and regional specialities. Between meals, you might unwind in the spa, enjoy a lecture from onboard experts, or simply watch the scenery unfold from the comfort of a lounge. With fewer guests than larger ships, the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, ensuring a more personalised experience.

As you sail north, the Inside Passage reveals a landscape of forested shores and sheltered waterways, offering the chance to experience the wilderness at close quarters. Snow‑capped peaks rise above fjords and islands, while calm waters reflect the scenery in striking detail. From the decks of your ship, watch for bald eagles overhead and humpback whales surfacing nearby. In the Johnstone Strait, pods of orcas are often seen hunting salmon.

This morning brings your first glimpse of Alaska as you sail into Ketchikan, a frontier town affectionately known as the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’. Colourful wooden boardwalks and fishing boats set the scene, while the surrounding wilderness offers a wealth of experiences. You might begin with a visit to the Totem Heritage Center, home to one of the world’s finest collections of 19th‑century totem poles, where the artistry and traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples are vividly preserved.

For a closer encounter with nature, the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary invites you to join a guided walk through towering cedars and spruce, with the chance to spot black bears foraging along salmon streams and bald eagles perched high above. Alternatively, you could sample the region’s seafood at a local oyster farm, paddle through sheltered coves on a kayaking excursion, or take to the skies on a floatplane flight over the Misty Fjords National Monument. Here, sheer granite cliffs rise from deep fjords, waterfalls tumble into glacial lakes, and the scale of the landscape is nothing short of awe‑inspiring.

Today brings you to Icy Strait Point, unique as the only privately owned cruise port in Alaska. Set amid pristine wilderness, it serves as a gateway to a wide range of adventures both on land and at sea. Wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy, from whale‑watching cruises and ocean‑rafting expeditions to guided bear‑viewing tours along salmon‑rich streams. For something more adrenaline‑fuelled, you might choose to zipline, soaring above the largest temperate rainforest in the world, with sweeping views of the coastline. Alternatively, immerse yourself in Alaska’s culinary traditions with an interactive food workshop. Here, you’ll learn about the region’s emphasis on wild, sustainable seafood before preparing and tasting freshly caught fish.

Continuing north, you’ll arrive in Skagway, once the bustling heart of the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. The town’s historic streets still echo with that frontier spirit, from restored wooden buildings to lively museums and local shops. One of the most memorable ways to step back in time is aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. Built between 1898 and 1900, this narrow‑gauge line climbs from sea level to the White Pass Summit at 873 metres, tracing a dramatic route through steep ravines and along cliff‑edge tracks, with sweeping views at every turn. Beyond the railway, a range of excursions showcase the region’s wilderness. You might hike or cycle sections of the storied Chilkoot Trail, once trodden by gold prospectors, or try summer husky sledding in the Tongass National Forest. For wildlife enthusiasts, a fjord cruise through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve offers the chance to see one of the largest gatherings of bald eagles in the world, set against a backdrop of glaciers and mountain peaks.

Sailing onwards, today you'll reach Icy Bay, a striking inlet shaped over the past century by the retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall glaciers. Today, its still, sapphire waters are scattered with drifting icebergs, their surfaces catching the light against a backdrop of the towering Wrangell–St Elias mountains. The scenery here is dramatic yet serene, offering a true sense of the Alaskan wilderness. It’s also a haven for wildlife: harbour seals haul out on floating ice, while seabirds wheel overhead and marine life thrives beneath the surface. From the decks of your ship, the combination of glacial landscapes and abundant wildlife makes Icy Bay one of the most memorable sights along the route.

Your penultimate stop is Valdez, a remote port town framed by the dramatic peaks of the Chugach Mountains at the head of a fjord in Prince William Sound. The surrounding landscapes are defined by glaciers, most notably the Columbia Glacier, one of the fastest‑moving in the world. Here, vast icebergs break away and drift into the ocean, creating a spectacular backdrop for wildlife viewing. A glacier cruise offers the chance to see seals basking on the ice, sea lions and otters playing in the water, and seabirds such as puffins wheeling overhead. With luck, you might also spot porpoises, humpback whales or even orcas.

For those seeking adventure, river rafting and sea kayaking excursions provide a more active way to explore, while helicopter flights with glacier landings deliver unforgettable aerial perspectives of the region’s spellbinding scenery. Alternatively, stay closer to town and join a guided tour to uncover Valdez’s history, from its fishing heritage to its role in Alaska’s oil industry.

Your voyage concludes in Seward, a small port town at the edge of Resurrection Bay. After disembarking, you’ll join a transfer north to Anchorage, travelling through a landscape of fjords, forests and peaks that offers a final reminder of Alaska’s grandeur. Your journey comes to a close on arrival at the airport in time for your return flight to the UK.