GEMS OF THE WEST

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DESTINATION CITY Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Banff, Seebe, Calgar	DESTINATION COUNTRY Canada
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A 15-DAY TOUR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALBERTA Your tour will begin in Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and take you to such diverse locations as elegant Victoria on Vancouver Island, the bountiful Okanagan Valley, Banff National Park in the heart of the spectacular Rocky Mountains, and finally Calgary, home of the wild and woolly Calgary Stampede. Come along for the ride of your life! This sample itinerary can be amended to suit the interests of your group. Day 01– to VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Upon arrival at Vancouver’s airport you will be met by your deluxe motorcoach and driver for transfer to your hotel . This evening enjoy your opening dinner and orientation welcome to this beautiful city nestled on English Bay. The breathtaking scenery of Vancouver together with its wide variety of attractions make it one of the most delightful cities in the world to visit. (meals inflight/D) Day 02– VANCOUVER Meet your coach driver and guide for a full day of sightseeing. Begin with a tour through Gastown and Chinatown, then visit Queen Elizabeth Gardens’ Bloedel Conservatory with its tropical plants and exotic birds. After lunch in the Market Building on Granville Island you’ll have time to explore beautiful Stanley Park before venturing up Hollyburn Mountain for panoramic views of the region. A guided tour of Capilano Suspension Bridge, a foot bridge swaying 70 metres above Capilano Canyon, will bring the day to a thrilling conclusion. This evening is at your leisure. (B) Day 03 – VANCOUVER Today you are free to continue exploring the city on your own. You might consider a visit to the waterfront’s Canadian Pavilion with its ten-peaked roof, a tour of the Vancouver Art Gallery featuring the works of Emily Carr, a shopping excursion on fashionable Robson Street, or a walk among the majestic totem poles at the Museum of Anthropology. Bring your appetite to Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House this evening for west coast culinary delights. (B/D) Day 04 – to VICTORIA Today you will leave the mainland and transfer by ferry to Vancouver Island where your first stop will be at Butchart Gardens, a vast amphitheater of solid rock containing thousands of flowering plants, trees and shrubs. Continue to Victoria, one of the most visitor friendly and sunniest cities in Canada. After dinner the evening is yours to explore the unhurried streets and enchanting gardens of this most genteel of cities. (B/D) Day 05 – VICTORIA Begin the day with a guided tour of Victoria, which still retains the stateliness of its British heritage. The city has many scenic offerings from fine old structures such as the Empress Hotel and Legislative Buildings set against the background of the Olympic Mountains to the remarkable West Coast totem poles and artifacts in Thunderbird Park. This afternoon partake in optional activities such as tea at the Empress Hotel or a horse-drawn carriage ride of the city. Suggestions will be made for dinner and entertainment this evening. (B) Day 06 – VICTORIA This morning you are at your leisure to either join an optional whale watching cruise on a luxury motor yacht or to take in more of Victoria’s attractions such as Beacon Hill Park, the Pacific Undersea Gardens or the imposing 18th century Craigdarroch Castle. Then it’s off to Duncan, the “City of Totems” this afternoon to visit the Cowichan Tribe’s Native Heritage Centre with its Khowutzen Gallery, Longhouse and Carving Shed. Return to Victoria via Chemainus famous for its fantastic larger-than-life murals depicting the town history. This evening is free. (B) Day 07 – to KELOWNA Today you will transfer by ferry back to the mainland and travel by coach to the beautiful Okanagan Valley known as the “Fruitbasket of Canada” because of its lush orchards amid spectacular mountain scenery. Once you have checked into your hotel in the lakeside town of Kelowna and enjoyed dinner at Carmelle’s Restaurant the rest of the evening is free to explore. (B/D) Day 08 – KELOWNA Tours of an area orchard, a historic ranch and a winery are all on today’s itinerary. After an entertaining guided tour of Gatzke Orchards in Oyama you will travel north via the popular Kalamalka Lake Lookout to visit O’Keefe’s Historic Ranch for a tour and lunch. Continue along the scenic route this afternoon to Grey Monk Estate Winery where you will be treated to a tour and wine tasting before returning to Kelowna for the evening. (B/L) Day 09 – to BANFF, ALBERTA Your transfer to Banff today will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountains, including Rogers Pass with its rugged peaks, emerald lakes and immense ice fields, and Banff National Park where nature’s forces have created fantastic geological shapes in the mountain formations. After hotel check-in and dinner the evening is free. (B/D) Day 10 – BANFF Enjoy a short coach tour of Banff, then depart for emerald-green Lake Louise, one of the most familiar mountain vistas in the world. After a short stop continue on your journey to the Columbian Ice Fields, an immense remnant of the ice mass which covered Canada more than a million years ago. You’ll have time to explore this vast accumulation of ice in a special SnoCoach before your late afternoon return to Banff, with the remainder of the day at your leisure. (B) Day 11 – to SEEBE After your hotel check-out, travel to Radium Hot Springs for a morning of pampered relaxation in 35 degree Celsius waters. Return to Banff for lunch then transfer to Seebe, Alberta for an overnight stay. Your BBQ dinner will be followed by an evening of true western hospitality and entertainment. (B/D) Day 12 – to CALGARY Depart Seebe for Calgary with a visit to an Indian Village enroute. Upon arrival in Calgary you’ll be given a guided coach tour of this thriving, dynamic metropolis before checking in to your hotel. This evening enjoy dinner atop the city at Calgary Tower’s Revolving Restaurant with an opportunity to view the panorama of city, outlying prairies and mountains beyond. (B/D) Day 13 – CALGARY The next two days feature the Wild & Woolly Calgary Stampede, one of the biggest and most famous shows in the world. After this morning’s Opening Parade complete with Cowboys, Indians and Royal Canadian Mounties, spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the many Stampede attractions. This evening at the Grandstand Show the popular hair-raising Chuck Wagon races will keep you glued to your seat as you watch the chuckwagons, horses and riders dash for the finish line. (B) Day 14 – CALGARY Today you can explore the Stampede Grounds at your leisure before attending the Rodeo this afternoon to watch events such as bareback bronco busting, calf roping, buffalo riding, a wild horse race and steer wrestling. This evening look for firework displays and square dancing in the streets. (B) Day 15 – CALGARY Catch up on last minute shopping and sightseeing, time permitting, before you bid a fond farewell to Canada’s West and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B/inflight meals) May You Soon Return! B - Breakfast / L - Lunch / D - Dinner - denote meals included in tour cost *Itinerary is tentative and subject to final confirmation*
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