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About this tour

Experience British Columbia and Alberta on this fun-filled Canadian vacation. Start your trip in Vancouver with a city sightseeing tour before taking a ferry to Vancouver Island, where you make stops in Victoria, Chemainus, and Port Hardy. Your tour in Victoria includes world-famous Butchart Gardens, a floral extravagance with 55 acres. Cruise one of the world’s most beautiful ocean voyages on the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert. The breathtaking scenery includes towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, endless islands, and virgin rainforest. Watch for sea lions, eagles, and porpoises. In Prince Rupert, board Canada’s VIA Rail®’s Skeena train to Prince George. On this train journey, watch for soaring bald eagles, black bears, moose, and majestic mountains. Leave British Columbia and cross the border into Alberta, where you overnight in both Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. Other fabulous highlights on this vacation include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies; Columbia Icefield, where you take a thrilling Ice Explorer ride in an all-terrain vehicle on ice measuring 1,200 feet (365 meters); Lake Louise; and Yoho National Park, one of Canada’s most popular recreational areas. Your vacation ends back in Vancouver. To see spectacular scenery by land, train, and boat, this vacation offers it all!

including admission charges where applicable.Note: The Canadian Rockies are blessed with stunning lakes, In Vancouver and Victoria; Stanley Park; Butchart Gardens; orientation tour of Prince Rupert; guided visit to the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village; Columbia Icefield (Ice Explorer ride). Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, exquisite mountain scenery

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: VANCOUVER.

Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2: VANCOUVER–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA

. Morning sightseeing focuses on Vancouver’s Chinatown, Gastown, the beautiful beaches and harbor, and lovely Stanley Park. Afterward, set sail across the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an area known for its Mediterranean-like climate. Afternoon sightseeing in Victoria includes world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles.

Day 3: VICTORIA

. Be sure to discover some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, a whale-watching cruise on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street. This evening, join our optional excursion in Chinatown, complete with colorful lanterns and dinner at a first-class restaurant.

Day 4: VICTORIA–CHEMAINUS–PORT HARDY.

An early departure from Victoria follows the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, stopping at Chemainus, the unique village with more than 30 murals depicting pioneer settlement of the area. Then, it’s through the port of Campbell River, the “Salmon Capital of the World.”

Day 5: PORT HARDY–INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE–PRINCE RUPERT.

Early this morning, embark on BC Ferries for what is referred to as one of the world’s most beautiful ocean voyages. The scenery is spectacular, with towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, endless islands, and virgin rainforest. Animal and marine life abound, often with sightings of sea lions, eagles, and porpoises—you may even spot a killer whale! Late-evening arrival in Prince Rupert.Note: Cruising time through the Inside Passage is approximately 15 hours. Please come prepared with all medications, eyeglasses, and any other items you will need.

Day 6: PRINCE RUPERT

. Depart for an orientation tour of Prince Rupert, then visit the NORTH PACIFIC HISTORIC FISHING VILLAGE for a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Learn of the canning process and what life was like in the village during peak production earlier this century. With your free time this afternoon you may opt for an outing to learn the secrets of the totem. See a totem pole being carved and visit a longhouse to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day lifestyle of the First Nations culture. (The native people in Canada are referred to as the First Nations.)

Day 7: PRINCE RUPERT–VIA RAIL SKEENA TRAIN–PRINCE GEORGE.

This morning, board VIA Rail®’s Skeena train for the trip of a lifetime. The Skeena winds its way through the majestic Coast Mountains, follows the mighty Skeena River—often referred to as the “River of Mists”—and concludes in the Pacific Coast rainforest. You’ll retrace ancient First Nations trading routes and follow the paths of the earliest fur traders. Soaring bald eagles, inquisitive black bears, browsing moose, and other wildlife may be spotted from the glassed-in observation dome that provides 360-degree views. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. (B,L,D)

Day 8: PRINCE GEORGE–MOUNT ROBSON–JASPER.

As we continue onward to Jasper National Park the peak elevations grow, culminating with Mount Robson, the highest of Canada’s Rockies at almost 13,000 feet. Overnight in Jasper.

Day 9: JASPER–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–BANFF.

Winding our way down the western fringe of Alberta, our journey takes us through some of the Canadian Rockies’ most breathtaking wilderness. Our first highlight on today’s agenda is a stop at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 1,200 feet (365 meters) thick. Precipitous gorges, snowcapped mountain ranges, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the motorcoach scales two mountain passes on the journey south to Banff.

Day 10: BANFF.

Banff is one of Canada’s favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities including hiking, boating, horseback riding, and fishing. Cosmos has arranged for an optional helicopter ride high over the Canadian Rockies. This evening, join the optional excursion to Oh Canada Eh for a 5-course dinner and musical entertainment.

Day 11: BANFF–LAKE LOUISE–YOHO NATIONAL PARK–KELOWNA.

This morning’s visit takes us to Lake Louise. Its cold waters perfectly mirror the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Afterward, enter the spectacular beauty of YOHO NATIONAL PARK, one of Canada’s most popular recreational areas and the site of pre-Cambrian fossil finds. On to GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, where the motorcoach climbs 4,379-foot-high Rogers Pass, a perfect spot for photos of the impressive surrounding mountain cliffs and glaciers. Continue on to the resort city of Kelowna, attractively set on the shores of Okanagan Lake.

Day 12: KELOWNA–CASCADE MOUNTAINS–VANCOUVER.

Today, continue through the fertile Fraser Valley with grand vistas of vineyards and orchards. Next, travel over the towering Cascade Mountains into Vancouver.

Day 13: VANCOUVER

. The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Vancouver International Airport are included.

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About Cosmos

Well organized tours and good value for money. Cosmos is the budget version of Globus (they are owned by the same company). The difference would be that Cosmos would not have hotels in as central locations and they do not have as many things included in the price but rather offer those things as optionals at an extra charge.

Traveler profile

Generally younger age range than globus. Average age of passengers is in the 50s (vs. 60s for Globus). But all ages will go on the tours. Most passengers are American.

Group size

Maximum 50 people on a bus, buses are usually fully booked during peak season

Tour directors

Newly hired tour directors and those with less experience are usually assigned to these tours to increase their experience

Hotel type

Generally stay in 3-star hotels. Not all hotels will be centrally located (which helps Cosmos keep the price down)

What's included

Many excursions are 'extra' with Cosmos.

Free time

Cosmos tours usually bank in at least a few half days of free time (more if you choose not to go on the optional excursions)

Booking Policy

CANCELLATIONS & CANCELLATION FEES:
If cancellation is received by Globus before the final payment date of your vacation, your non-refundable deposit and Travel Protection premiums will be retained in addition to any airline-imposed fees or penalties. For individual reservations, the following per person cancellation fees apply. Total price does not include discounts, promotions, or special incentives. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)

STANDARD CANCELLATION FEES:

* 45-22 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* 21-8 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* 7-1 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* On departure day and later: 100% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums

* Prices do not include taxes and fees, may not include airfare and are based on double occupancy. Tour information including pricing may not be up to date.

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