16 Day Wonders Of Canada With Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise

Upon arriving at Calgary Airport, proceed independently to your downtown hotel using your preferred mode of transportation. The rest of the day is yours to discover Calgary, a vibrant city located at the base of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Known for the iconic Calgary Stampede, the city offers a rich glimpse into the heritage of the Canadian West. Notable attractions include the Glenbow Museum, Calgary Tower, Canada Olympic Park, and Eau Claire Market.

Special Information

Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.

If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, take some time this morning to explore downtown Calgary at your leisure. Later, return to the hotel to board your scheduled coach for the scenic two-hour journey to Banff, nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Once in Banff, the rest of the day is free for you to experience the charm and natural beauty of this mountain town. You may choose to stroll along Banff Avenue, visit the Whyte Museum, or relax at the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

Tonight is yours to enjoy at your own leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

• Canadian Rockies

Special Information

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

After breakfast at the hotel, set out on a guided sightseeing tour of Banff, featuring some of the region’s most iconic landmarks. Discover the charm of Banff’s historic town centre, bustling with shops, galleries, cafés, and restaurants. Throughout the tour, you’ll take in stunning viewpoints of the surrounding mountain peaks.

Highlights include a ride on the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, offering sweeping panoramic views. From mid to late May onward, the tour also includes a scenic cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies.

As the evening is at your leisure, consider unwinding with a visit to the Banff Upper Hot Springs, where you can soak in soothing mineral waters surrounded by alpine views. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely dinner at one of Banff’s acclaimed restaurants or catch a live performance at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Overnight in Banff.

Inspiring Highlights

• Banff Gondola
• Sulphur Mountain
• Lake Minnewanka

Special Information

Please note that visits to Lake Minnewanka may not be possible on May departures due to snow and ice conditions

Enjoy free time in Banff this morning before your scheduled transfer to Lake Louise. The scenic one-hour journey takes you through the breathtaking landscapes of the Bow Valley, with midday and afternoon departure options available.

Upon arrival in Lake Louise, you’ll have time to explore at your leisure: . You may also choose to take the hotel shuttle to the lake itself for stunning views of this iconic alpine destination.

While in Lake Louise, consider taking a leisurely walk along the lakeshore trail or renting a canoe (season and weather permitting) to experience the turquoise waters up close. For a more active option, hike part of the trail toward Lake Agnes or the Plain of Six Glaciers for spectacular mountain vistas. In the evening, unwind with dinner at your hotel or enjoy fine dining with a view at one of the restaurants in the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Inspiring Highlights

• Bow Valley
• Lake Louise

Special Information

Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a breathtaking sightseeing transfer to Jasper via the legendary Icefields Parkway—Canada’s most scenic mountain highway. This awe-inspiring route winds past more than one hundred visible glaciers, dazzling turquoise lakes, and dramatic waterfalls.

Highlights along the way include Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, and Athabasca Falls. A major highlight of the journey is the Columbia Icefield Adventure, where you’ll travel across the surface of the Athabasca Glacier aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer. Afterwards, experience the Columbia Icefield Skywalk—a glass-floored observation platform that offers thrilling views of the Sunwapta Valley below.

Admission to both the Columbia Icefield Adventure and Skywalk is included, along with a hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre.

You will then continue on to Jasper to enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

• Crowfoot Glacier
• Bow Lake
• Peyto Lake
• Columbia Icefield
• Athabasca Falls
• Columbia Icefield Skywalk

Special Information

Some stops may be unavailable due to seasonality, weather conditions or traffic delays, and will be substituted based on the driver's discretion.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, begin your free day with a leisurely exploration of the charming town of Jasper, nestled in the heart of Jasper National Park. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, the town offers a variety of shops, cafes, and galleries to browse through. If you're interested in learning about the area's history and wildlife, consider visiting the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives or the Jasper National Park Visitor Centre.

Today, you will embark on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer to begin the journey from Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to Kamloops, nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. As you journey west and south, you'll be immersed in the breathtaking scenery of the Continental Divide, with the stunning river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo mountain ranges accompanying you along the way.

Today's highlights include glimpsing Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 meters (12,972 feet), and the stunning Pyramid Falls. Experience the climb over Yellowhead Pass and enjoy the scenic route along the North Thompson River as you approach Kamloops. This remarkable train journey offers an unforgettable view of some of Canada's most iconic landscapes.

You will arrive in Kamloops at approximately 5 pm, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

Inspiring Highlights

• Rocky Mountaineer
• Mount Robson
• Monashee
• Cariboo
• Pyramid Falls
• Yellowhead Pass

Special Information

Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours. 

This morning, you will be transferred back to the Rocky Mountaineer to begin day two of your journey on this iconic train.

Leaving Kamloops, your scenic journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the vibrant city of Vancouver. Today’s route offers a dramatic transformation in landscape, as you travel through winding river canyons and pristine forests, then into the Coast and Cascade Mountains, before reaching the lush fields of the Fraser River Valley.

Along the way, highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds of the Thompson River and the powerful rush of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon.

Upon arrival in Vancouver in the early evening, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

• Rocky Mountaineer
• Coast and Cascade Mountains
• Fraser River Valley
• Thompson River

Special Information

Please note - upon disembarking the Rocky Mountaineer, you will be transferred to the Georgian Court Hotel, which is a 200m walk from the Sandman City Centre Hotel.

Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before setting out for a morning to explore Vancouver at your own pace with the Vancouver Hop-On, Hop-Off 1-Day Classic Pass. Travel aboard vintage clear-top buses and discover the city’s top sights and neighborhoods at your leisure. This flexible pass allows you to hop on and off at major attractions and scenic locations throughout downtown Vancouver.

Highlights include Stanley Park, Vancouver’s famous urban oasis; Granville Island, a vibrant spot perfect for lunch and browsing local artisan shops; the historic charm of Gastown; the modern flair of Yaletown; and Robson Street, known for its excellent shopping.

Your Alaska Inside Passage Cruise departs today at 3 pm. Make your own arrangements to the Vancouver Cruise Ship terminal in time for check-in to the cruise.

Special Information

Check-in for the cruise will begin at 1 pm, and luggage drop off starts at approximately 10:30 am.

The Vancouver Cruise Terminal is situated in downtown Vancouver and can be reached by taxi or Uber.

Please note - Ports of arrival may vary depending on weather and cruising schedules.

Enjoy a leisurely day at sea cruising the spectacular Inside Passage.

The cruise ship provides an ideal vantage point for admiring the beauty of British Columbia's Inside Passage. Stretching over 25,000 miles from Seattle to Prince Rupert near the Alaska border, this archipelago boasts serene waters nestled between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. As you navigate this route, prepare to be captivated by the awe-inspiring rugged landscapes and encounter a plethora of wildlife, including orcas, humpback whales, rare white spirit bears, and countless seabirds.

This morning’s sailing will be done through the Tracy Arm Inlet. After breakfast, head to the deck of the cruise ship to enjoy the Steep cliffs and glacier-covered mountains that flank this fjord, fringed by the largest intact coastal temperate rain forest in the United States. Visitors often see bears, whales, and mountain goats roaming across various corners of this pristine area, not to mention chubby baby seals resting on the ice floes.

This afternoon, you will head to Juneau for a scheduled arrival of approximately 1 pm.

Juneau is the most remote, most beautiful, and strangest capital in the United States. Surrounded by water, forest, and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do in Juneau indoors and outdoors can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio, and tour a grand capitol building all in one day.

Juneau is known for its outdoor recreation, fresh seafood, and fine dining. The city itself is pleasant, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay—bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. If you prefer land mammals, catch a floatplane to a nearby wildlife reserve, such as Chichagof or Admiralty Island, to spy some bears lolling around on an Alaska cruise excursion.

This evening, you’ll reboard the ship for dinner, and it will prepare to set sail again at 10 pm. 

This morning, you will wake up in the stunning port of Skagway. After breakfast, you can choose to make your way off the ship to explore.

At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields, and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons, and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history, pristine wildlife, and unrivaled natural beauty.

Much of the town has been preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where rangers offer free walking tours around the historic district. You’ll also find a vibrant local community, home to a rich collection of local galleries, curio shops, and restaurants serving seafood plucked fresh from nearby waters.

This evening, enjoy dinner on the ship as you set sail around 8 pm. 

Overnight, the ship will continue its journey for a day of cruising through Glacier Bay.

Glacier Bay is a serene and awe-inspiring experience, filled with breathtaking natural beauty and quiet wonder. As the ship enters the bay in the early morning, gather on the cruise deck to take in the sight of towering snow-capped peaks, deep fjords, and glassy waters, often accompanied by commentary from onboard National Park rangers. Wildlife sightings are common—sea otters, bald eagles, and whales may appear as the ship approaches massive tidewater glaciers like Margerie or Lamplugh, where calving ice crashes into the sea with a thunderous roar.

The golden hues of the late evening sun bathe the landscape as the ship begins its exit, ending the day with a tranquil dinner and the possibility of glimpsing the northern lights above the mountains.

Special Information

Please note: Holland America is one of the few cruise lines permitted to sail through Glacier Bay, making this a truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After breakfast on the ship this morning, you will cruise into Ketchikan - Alaska’s ‘First City ', nestled between forested hills and the Tongass Narrows. Known for its rich Native culture and colorful waterfront, Ketchikan invites you to step off the ship and explore its charming downtown, where historic Creek Street—once a red-light district—is now lined with quaint shops and galleries perched on stilts above the water. You might join a guided tour to Totem Bight State Park or Saxman Village to admire towering totem poles and learn about Tlingit and Haida traditions, or venture into the rainforest for a nature hike or zip-lining adventure.

For wildlife lovers, floatplane excursions offer aerial views of Misty Fjords or chances to spot bears fishing along salmon streams. After sampling local seafood—like fresh halibut or Dungeness crab—you return to the ship with souvenirs in hand and memories of a town where history, culture, and nature come together beautifully.

This evening, you will embark back onto the ship to begin sailing again at approximately 7 pm. 

Enjoy your last full day of your Alaska adventure by cruising through the Inside Passage.

As the ship glides southward, you'll pass a stunning landscape of dense evergreen forests, rugged coastline, and remote islands, often shrouded in mist that adds to the mystical atmosphere. Enjoy the last glimpses of Alaska’s natural beauty—watching for whales, dolphins, or eagles from the deck or enjoying the scenery from a cozy lounge with panoramic views. Onboard, spend the day relaxing, attending farewell events, or gathering for a final meal with new friends.

Welcome back to Vancouver. Your ship will arrive in port at approximately 7:00AM this morning. At the appropriate time, disembark your Alaska cruise and make your own way to the airport for your onward flight. We hope you have had an unforgettable experience in Canada.

Vancouver's Canada Place Cruise Terminal is located approximately 15kms from Vancouver International Airport. There are a range of transportation options available. Taxis are readily available and will cost approximately $35-45. The Skytrain is also available to the airport from Waterfront Station, located approximately 150 metres from the Cruise Terminal.

Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.

Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.