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Introduction
We refer to several itineraries on our website as ‘The way we’d do it’ well at the risk of this term becoming slightly over used that is without doubt the case with our ‘Ultimate Canada Rockies’ itinerary, which we consider to be our ‘Signature’ Canada itinerary.

This is a very exciting itinerary; it really does not get much better. You start with 3 nights in Vancouver giving you time to acclimatize and savour what we consider to be simply one of the best cities in the world. Vancouver is bursting with style, vibrancy, character and beauty. We will then take you across to Vancouver Island for 1 night staying in the capital Victoria from where you can take an exciting whale watching trip. It’s then back to Vancouver before you board one of the most famous rail journeys anywhere in the world as we whisk you to the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train.

On arrival into the stunning mountain town of Banff you will be one of the first travellers to experience a complete evolution in fly-drive touring. New in 2007 is the ‘Location Aware Touring’ navigational system. We’re not just talking about navigational directions like a regular Sat Nav System, this system provides much more. The guide automatically knows where you are and shares information and stories about your surroundings while you travel…. You get to keep your independence and flexibility to travel at your own pace whilst having a virtual tour guide to point you in the right direction and make sure you do not miss any sites and stories along the way.

So armed with your navigational guide system you will spend 8 nights in these majestic mountains, 3 nights in Banff, 3 in Jasper and 2 at Lake Louise before you return home from Calgary.

To make your experience even more memorable we have included a pass to all of the National Park areas as well as National Historic sites such as the Cave & Basin and Banff Park Museum. Entrance to Banff & Jasper National Parks would be around $120 so this pass represents great value.

So please do read on, we are quite sure this is the Canadian Rockies itinerary for you but should you have and variations in mind then we would be happy to quote on an amended itinerary, just get in touch.

Itinerary Summary Vancouver 3 nights – Westin Bayshore Victoria 1 night – Laurel Point Inn Vancouver 1 night – Westin Bayshore Kamloops 1 night - with Rocky Mountaineer Railtours Banff 3 nights – Banff Caribou Lodge Jasper 3 nights – Chateau Jasper Lake Louise 2 nights – Moraine Lake Lodge / Emerald Lake Lodge Total 14 nights

Financial Protection
By booking this complete package with Complete North America you benefit from reduced rates on flights, accommodation and car rental along with complete financial protection. We are fully bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority and this package is ATOL protected under ATOL No.5368.

Arrive in Vancouver

Depart London Heathrow - 13:05
Arrive Vancouver - 14:30
Journey Time - 9 hours 20 minutes

On arrival at Vancouver airport we have included a meet & greet service and private transfer to your downtown hotel. After a long flight and with your body adjusting to the time difference we suspect you will not want to do much the first evening but if the weather permits do have a walk along the waterside path located right outside your hotel, it’s a lovely walk to Stanley Park.
Hotel – Westin Bayshore

Reccomended
We can provide rates should you wish to upgrade your room to moutain/harbour view or the tower building at the Westin Bayshire Hotel. Standard rooms have a city view.

Vancouver

Vancouver is set in spectacular surroundings, with the majestic Coastal Mountains, evergreen forests and Pacific Ocean as its background. Your 3 nights/2 full days here will be packed as you discover such delights as historic Gastown, colourful Chinatown, and the ultra modern financial district. Discover the beauty of 1000-acre Stanley Park and English Bay as well as the bustle of Robson Street in the heart of the shopping district and Granville Island oozing character and atmosphere both night and day.

Whilst in Vancouver (on Day 3) we have included a morning tour taking you to Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park, the world's greatest suspension footbridge set amongst the West Coast Rainforest which offers meandering trails by tranquil trout ponds and towering old growth evergreens. Whilst there be sure to see the colourful Totem Park which displays over 25 authentic totem poles collected since the 1930's and life-size red cedar statues carved during the Depression. Continue on to Grouse Mountain to experience a spectacular mountain top adventure at the peak of Vancouver. During summer enjoy lumberjack shows, the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge for endangered wildlife including Grizzly Bears and Timber Wolf, birds in motion demonstrations and so much more. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Hotel – Westin Bayshore

Victoria

Today you will be collected from your hotel for a fully escorted tour to Vancouver Island and the capital Victoria. Included is priority ferry boarding, 90 minute ferry ride through the Gulf Islands, admission to world-renowned Butchart Gardens, University of Victoria, Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria City Tour, Uplands and Oak Bay scenic residential areas, Scenic Beach Drive and ample free time to explore the world famous Empress Hotel, Parliament buildings, Provincial Museum the city centre and the attractions around the city Harbour, all this before you retire to you Victoria hotel for the night.
Hotel – Laurel Point Inn

Victoria – Vancouver (Optional Whale Watching - £49)

Today we highly recommend the 3 hour whale watching boat trip (Not included). There are 2 morning departures so we recommend you pre-book with us to avoid disappointment. This coastal excursion is an exhilarating round trip of 50 to 80 kilometres in search of orcas, minke whales, grey whales, porpoises, harbour seals and other marine wildlife. You will ride aboard the Orca Spirit, a 50 foot certified 45 passenger covered vessel or a custom built Zodiac boat that offers high speed with extraordinary stability giving you an exhilarating, safe and intimate whale watching experience. Comments by a certified Marine biologist and naturalist are provided.

Your tour will finish around lunchtime which gives you plenty of time in Victoria before you return to Vancouver via the scheduled coach and ferry service (Cost included)
Hotel – Westin Bayshore

Vancouver – Kamloops (Rocky Mountaineer Train)

Today we will arrange for a taxi to take you to the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Station from where you will board the world famous Rocky Mountaineer train for you 2 day tour into the Canadian Rockies through the interior of British Columbia. En route you will pass through the fertile Fraser Valley and the scenic Fraser Canyon. One of the canyon's true highlights is Hell's Gate, where you will watch water torrent past the canyon's walls at its narrowest point. Upon leaving the Fraser Canyon, the train will follow the Thompson River to the city of Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops.
Hotel - Overnight lodge Kamloops with Rocky Mountaineer

Kamloops - Banff (Rocky Mountaineer Train)

Continue your journey eastwards to the Canadian Rockies. First, you will travel through vast ranchlands to Shuswap Lake. Next, pass Craigellachie, where the "last spike" was driven completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Beyond Craigellachie is Rogers Pass with its tunnels, glistening glaciers, and snow capped-mountains. Before crossing over the Continental Divide into Banff National Park, the train will travel through the unique Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park, a remarkable engineering achievement town of Banff. Hors d'oeuvres will be served onboard prior to your arrival at the beautiful mountain town of Banff.

On arrival into Banff make your own way to the nearby Fox Hotel & Suites and we suggest you take a leisurely evening stroll around this quaint town looking out for the Elk who you might have to share the sidewalks with that roam the town freely.
Hotel – Banff Caribou Lodge

Banff

This morning we suggest you collect your Alamo car and GPS guide system from downtown Banff, at least then you can utilise the guide for sightseeing information and the car is there if you need it dependent on your daily plans whilst in Banff.

We give you three nights and two full days in Banff and you'll need every minute of it. Take a gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views, visit the Hot Springs, the Cave and Basin, Banff Park Museum, Banff Indian Trading Post and the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, the Bow River Falls at the Banff Springs Hotel and why not take one of the very easy 1, 2 or 3 hour horseback rides along the river, this is great fun and you do not need to have any riding experience. Other activities you can easily book up for are bike rides, fishing trips and rafting on the Bow River. There are also some amazing scenic drives in the Banff area, details of which you can obtain from your hotel.

• We are happy to pre-book river rafting trips, short horseback rides or even a wonderful trail ride with steak fry dinner – please ask for details
• Special - Complimentary Sulphur Mountain Gondola Ride Included*

Hotel – Banff Caribou Lodge

Banff – Jasper – 181 miles.

You need to set the alarm, grab a quick breakfast and get started today as this is likely to be one of the most scenic drives you are ever likely to take, with lots of pull out’s for stunning waterfalls, lakes and glaciers. You will be heading north along the famed Icefield Parkway, one of the most scenic routes in the entire world. We suggest a stop at Peyto Lake and a visit to Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, however there's so many other well signposted pull-off's to visit that you'll be spoiled for choice. At the Columbia Icefield, take a 'snocoach' ride onto the massive glacier and experience the thrill of walking on centuries-old glacial ice where you can sample the pure glacial water. Of course you will have your friendly GPS travel guide system to keep you well informed along the way so you do not miss a thing!

• Special – Complimentary Ice Explorer Ride onto the Athabasca Glacier Included*

Hotel – Chateau Jasper

Jasper

By now you will almost certainly have witnessed some of the amazing wildlife in Canada but keep you're eyes peeled for bears, moose and the hundreds of elk that roam freely around Jasper. We give you three nights in Jasper allowing you two full days to explore. Be sure to visit Medicine Lake, Cavell Road, Pyramid Lake Road and the 'Old Banff/Jasper Highway'. Another must is a visit to Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake where we recommend you hire a canoe. The gift shops at these two attractions are excellent and also worth a visit. We also recommend a visit to Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls, both of which can be done in the same day from Jasper.

Hotel – Chateau Jasper

Jasper – Moraine Lake – 157 miles

Today you return south along the Icefield Parkway. Today’s journey would take about 3 hours 30 minutes if you just drove non-stop but of course you will want to stop to see more of the sites you were unable to visit on the way up to Jasper. Travelling south along the Parkway gives you a whole new perspective of your surroundings and really does feel like you are on a different road.

As you head south you have every right to get excited about the finale we have in store for you on our ‘Ultimate Canadian Rockies’ itinerary. Your stay at Moraine Lake Lodge, just 8 miles from Lake Louise is, we feel, an experience that will last a lifetime. Time and time again our customers tell us how much they enjoyed their stay here, please see a small selection of these comments below.

• ‘The decision about selecting Moraine Lake ahead of Chateau Lake Louise was undoubtedly the right one, Moraine Lake was the highlight for us. Thanks again' Dave
• ‘We thought that Moraine Lake Lodge was a superb hotel in an unbelievable setting, and waking in the morning to look over the lake and mountains (before the tourist hordes arrived) was something we will never forget. So much more intimate and peaceful than Lake Louise' Peter and Margaret
• ‘Our 30th wedding anniversary will be one to remember. Moraine Lake and Lodge is something close to heaven' Gary & Barbara
• ‘The arrangements were perfect (Moraine Lake Lodge was our favourite hotel)' Robert and Susan
• ‘The upgrade to the Moraine Lake Lodge was well worthwhile' Lesley and Graham

Hotel – Moraine Lake Lodge

Moraine Lake Lodge – Calgary Airport – 121 miles

This drive will take you a little over 2 hours and as we have you returning on a late evening flight from Calgary you have plenty of time to make your way to the airport and return your rental car. We firmly believe that your time should be spent in the heart of the Rockies and so we do not include a stay in the city of Calgary, however if you are keen to visit we would be delighted to provide a modified version of this itinerary, please just ask.

Depart Calgary – 2035
Arrive London Heathrow – 1340*
Journey Time – 8 hours 50 minutes
* Denotes next day U.K. arrival

Ultimate Canadian Rockies - Photo Album

We are pleased to be able to display a selection of photographs from this Flydrive

Prices (in Pounds Sterling)

The prices shown below are 'per person'.

Cost Includes ....

• Roundtrip Direct non-stop scheduled flights.
• UK & Canadian airport taxes.
• 14 nights room only accommodation as stipulated or similar.
• 8 days Intermediate car rental based on Hertz ‘Fully Inclusive’ Rate (excludes Satellite Navigation System – please ask for details if you would like us to include for you).
• 8 days GPS ‘Guide System’ rental
• Private Transfer from Vancouver International Airport to downtown hotel
• West Coast Sightseeing Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge Tour
• Driver guided tour to Victoria including admission to Butchart Gardens
• Scheduled Coach/Ferry transfer from Victoria to Vancouver
• Taxi transfer between hotel and Rocky Mountaineer Rail Station in Vancouver and Banff.
• 2-day Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tour between Vancouver and Banff – Red Leaf Class, includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard.
• Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola Ride
• Ice Explorer Ride onto the Athabasca Glacier
• Parks Canada Discovery Pass, allowing access to all National Parks and admission to National Historic Sights.
• Exclusive travel documentation package including personalised maps, itinerary and driver directions along with all applicable tickets and vouchers.
• Due to the varying and frequently changing fuel surcharges imposed by all carriers from time to time the costs above do not include these charges. Any applicable charge will be confirmed to you at the time of enquiry or booking.

Hotel Availability
Sometimes the hotels named in this itinerary are not available at the time of booking. Under these circumstances Complete North America will book alternative accommodation of a similar standard. Such changes will be confirmed in writing to you at the time of booking confirmation. If you are not completely happy with the alternative hotel we will happily discuss other possibilities with you in the same location.

Hotel Upgrades/Downgrades
We have used what we would describe as a ‘Superior’ level of accommodation with the exception of Moraine Lake which is Deluxe. If you would like to consider Deluxe properties in other locations then we would be happy to prepare a quote for you.

Alternatively, if you like our ‘Ultimate Canadian Rockies’ itinerary but would like to experience the itinerary on a budget please do let us know & we will prepare an alternative proposal featuring. Please understand that these hotels offer reductions as they may not be as well located, they may be older and the service might not be to the same level as would be found in our other recommendations.

Best days to travel, seat assignments, special requests and flight upgrades

• This itinerary is based on using the most convenient flights currently on offer with British Airways. Due to operational schedule of the Rocky Mountaineer in 2010, this itinerary generally tends to work best with a U.K. departure on a Wednesday or Sunday, subject to seat availability. In all other cases we will suggest amending the itinerary slightly in order to coincide with the Rocky Mountaineer schedule. Please speak to a member of our team regarding specific departure dates.
• Where available we will be delighted to take care of any special meal requests on your flights (vegetarian, child meals etc) – please discuss with us at the time of booking.
• We have exceptional deals on upgrades with British Airways to World Traveller Plus, Club World and FIRST.
• We have discounted prices for British Airways regional flights to Heathrow, please ask for details and if you are flying from Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland? Read about special deals for connecting flights here.

Travel Insurance
Whilst it is not compulsory to take our travel insurance, it’s imperative that you do not travel without comprehensive travel insurance. Our adult premium is £49 per person for 2 weeks, however we do have rates for family policies and annual travel insurance, please call for details. In all cases taking our travel insurance will require acceptance of the medical health declaration and all pre-existing conditions should be declared to the insurance company.

Ready to book?

Call our booking line on 0845 263 7100

(Mon-Fri. 09.00-18.00 or Sat 10.00-17.00)

A member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you have before processing your booking and the initial non-refundable deposit payment of £150.00 per person. We will endeavour to secure your flights and take care of any special meal requests during this call. The remaining components of your holiday will be put in place and a written 'Confirmation/Invoice' detailing everything we have confirmed on your behalf will be sent by regular mail along with a receipt for the deposit to your nominated contact address. We try to complete this whole process within 7- 10 working days of accepting your order and deposit, however meeting this target is very much dependant on the speed of response from our hotel and tour partners in North America.

Please note – By agreeing to pay a deposit you are instructing us to commence with the booking of your holiday arrangements and as such you enter into an agreement with Complete North America Limited. This agreement is governed by our standard booking conditions a copy of which is available to you at anytime and included with your written holiday confirmation.

Click here to view our Booking Conditions & Promise of Fair Trading