Summary
Short description
Combine the beauty of the Canadian Rockies with Alaska's wilderness on board a luxury train and cruise ship
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Highlights
- Take in the Rockies' stunning landscapes from the glass-domed comfort of Rocky Mountaineer
- Explore Alaska's wild coastline aboard Celebrity Eclipse
- Observe a vast range of wildlife from breaching whales to roaming bears
- Explore fascinating Alaskan towns steeped in history
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
City | Natural world | Ocean cruise | Rail journey
Canada and Alaska are, individually, home to some of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes. So, combine a tour through snow-capped peaks and alpine forests with whale watching and cruising through deep fjords and glaciers, and you're met with one of the most spectacular rail and cruise trips in America. Not only home to some of the world’s most striking terrain, among these backdrops lie fascinating historical towns, sleepy remote cities, and astounding gastronomy, showcased in fresh Alaskan seafood. You’ll discover this and more on our rail and cruise trip curated by our specialists, which starts in the scenic rockies at Banff before joining the glass-domed Rocky Mountaineer, speeding along rivers and over canyons, and sailing through gold rush towns and mountains on the luxurious Celebrity Eclipse, ending your journey in Vancouver on the British Columbia Coast.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
UK to Calgary
After a relaxing start to your journey with included airport lounge access you’ll embark on a daytime flight to Calgary. Once you’ve arrived you will be transferred directly into the Canadian Rockies, and your home for two nights The Rimrock Resort in Banff.
Stay: Rimrock Resort Hotel (Superior)
Day
2
Banff
You'll have a full day to explore Banff, perhaps enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in the Banff National Park, sitting below the towering peaks of Mount Aylmer and Mount Inglismaldie to Devil's Gap. Look out for wildlife, including big horn sheep, deer and eagles, before returning to Banff to explore the town's shops and museums at your leisure, take a ride on the Banff Gondola for panoramic valley views before a dip in the mineral pools of the Upper Hot Springs.
Stay: Rimrock Resort Hotel (Superior)
Day
3
Rocky Mountaineer Banff to Kamloops
Board the Rocky Mountaineer train at Banff Station at 7:30am. Enjoy the spectacular array of scenery as you travel between the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranchlands of the Interior. Highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass, and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. Breakfast and lunch will be served onboard. Arrival in Kamloops in the early evening. Spend the evening exploring the city of Kamloops or relaxing in your hotel room. All hotels in Kamloops are of moderate standard: your hotel will be assigned post-booking.
Stay: Kamloops accommodation (Rocky Mountaineer allocated)
Meals: B L
Day
4
Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver
Board the Rocky Mountaineer train at the Kamloops Station at 7:35am. Journey west and again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Breakfast and lunch will be served onboard. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Arrival into Vancouver in the early evening in time for dinner.
Stay: The Loden (Superior)
Meals: B L
Days
5-6
Vancouver
The Loden is located in Coal Harbour just a short walk from the shops of Robson St, Stanley Park and the seawall. Situated in downtown Vancouver, the hotel is the perfect base to explore some of the best leisure activities Vancouver has to offer, including the Vancouver Aquarium, Totem Poles, art galleries, shopping and the classical Chinese gardens. Its green spaces, beach shores and historic architecture are a hive of activity, that's all eclectic shops, sensational art galleries, trendy streets and cosy forest trails. Everything here is framed by snow-capped, steely mountains and the glorious views you've become used to in your Canada adventure.
Stay: The Loden (Superior)
Day
7
Depart Vancouver
Enjoy a relaxing day before an afternoon departure, explore Vancouver’s old buildings and innovative architecture, from the iconic Canada Place to the streets of Gastown, peppered with 19th century buildings, unique art galleries and boutiques. While historic Yaletown is abuzz with charming shops and bars lining picturesque oceanfront walkways.
Depart Vancouver at 4:30pm
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Meals: B L D
Day
8
Inside Passage
You'll sail beyond the Inside Passage into the more protected Alaska Inside Passage in southeastern Alaska. This complex labyrinth of fjords, bays, and lush green islands is home to an abundance of wildlife, including orca, mountain goats, bald eagles, bears, puffins, sea otters and much more. During the summer months, the long hours of daylight allow for ample opportunities for nature photos on your Inside Passage Cruise. You'll never forget the sight of 40-ton whales hurling themselves into the air, almost completely escaping the water. If you're especially lucky, you could see them swimming together to create a bubble net, trapping and eating fish by the giant mouthful.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Meals: B L D
Day
9
Icy Strait Point
For thousands of years, the Tlingit Indians have called this place home. Located near the city of Hoonah, and home to a historic cannery, Icy Strait Point also offers travelers the chance to view wildlife like humpback whales, orcas, seals, eagles, and brown bears, or to explore monuments to the region's fishing heritage.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Meals: B L D
Day
10
Hubbard Glacier
The Hubbard Glacier is located about 30 miles north off the coast of Yakutat and is by far one of Alaska’s most exciting natural treasures. On your cruise to Hubbard Glacier, enjoy incredible picture-perfect views of this glorious mount of ice from about every angle on your ship. Named after Gardiner Hubbard, the founder and president of the National Geographic Society, Hubbard Glacier is the longest tidewater glacier in the world. Dramatically massive at about 7-miles wide, 76-miles long and as tall as a 30-story building above the waterline, it’s the largest river of ice in North America. How this magnificent block came to form begins about 400 years ago from the snowfalls on the slopes of Mount Logan. While most of the world’s glaciers are retreating, the Hubbard Glacier has continued to thicken over the years and on rare occasion will partially block Russell Fjord, temporarily damming its passage.
Cruise Hubbard Glacier and experience the wilds of Alaska as your ship makes its way through icy waters turning from Yakutat Bay into the narrow Disenchantment Bay to come face-to-face with the towering Hubbard Glacier. The strong currents and riptides that flow between Gilbert Point and the face of the glacier cause calving to occur on daily basis, sending massive chunks of ice crashing into Disenchantment Bay. Witness this awe-inspiring phenomenon onboard a Hubbard Glacier cruise through the misty, chilled air of the Gulf of Alaska. Our dedicated onboard naturalist narrates the experience and keeps an eye out for the whales, harbor seals, and otters that hunt and play in the waters of Yakutat Bay. It’s an adventure of a lifetime.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Meals: B L D
Day
11
Juneau
Here's your chance to take a glacial dogsled adventure in Alaska's capital, where cultured sophistication meets the ruggedness of the Last Frontier.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Meals: B L D
Day
12
Ketchikan
You've never tasted salmon so fresh. Known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World', Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world's largest collection of totem poles. If you're up for an adventure, take a canoe and nature trail excursion through the rain forest or a wilderness exploration followed by a sumptuous crab feast you'll long remember.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Day
13
Inside Passage
Today you will travel back south through the complex labyrinth of fjords, bays and lush green islands which make up the Inside Passage, there will be opportunities again to view the wide selection of wildlife which resides there in the summer months, with another opportunity to view a number of species of whale.
Stay: Celebrity Eclipse
Day
14
Vancouver to UK
Arrival back into Vancouver is at 6am, after breakfast you will disembark and either extend your stay in Vancouver, or a private transfer will take you to Vancouver airport for your overnight flight back to the UK arriving on Day 15
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
14-day tailor-made holiday
from £5,895 pp incl. flights
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Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7590 0635
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