ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival in Vancouver
Breathe easy when you arrive in the west coast city of Vancouver. Surrounded by mountains and ocean, the air is fresh, the ambiance cool, and the residents are friendly. This is the city where Greenpeace started, where bears roam into backyards, and where coyotes sometimes wander across the golf course in Stanley Park. Explore the city, stopping at a sidewalk café to watch the world go by, or take advantage of nearby mountains, beaches, and lakes to get active. Your home for the night will be a luxurious downtown hotel, and it’s here where you’ll have the chance to settle in, and get to know your traveling companions over a welcome dinner. (Dinner included)

Day 2 Through the River Canyons
In the early morning you will leave the metropolis of Vancouver and travel away from the Pacific Coast, through the Coast Mountains. The train will follow Burrard Inlet before entering the awesome Lower Fraser and Thompson River Canyons where the jagged mountains have been carved into deep canyons where the river twists with white-water rapids. Throughout the day discover the changing scenery of lush greenery, shady maples and alder trees, rugged mountains and barren lands before arriving in the sunny Okanagan favorite of Kamloops. (All three meals included)

Day 3 Uncover the History of the Rail
After breakfast, enjoy a journey back in time on board the ‘Spirit of Kamloops’ heritage train where you travel through First Nations lands and along-side creeks and forests, with plenty of historical information and opportunities for photography. On returning to Kamloops rejoin your private train and continue your journey into the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, passing Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven to complete the Trans-Continental rail link on the 7th of November, 1885. Enjoy a private visit to the Railway Museum in Revelstoke before ending your day at the important historical junction of Golden, which is nestled in the stunning Columbia Valley, and surrounded by three different mountain ranges and five National Parks. Enjoy a lively dinner in Golden, and a relaxing overnight stay. (All three meals included)

Day 4 Discover Columbia River Valley
From Golden the train diverges from the main CPR line to take the former Kootenay Railway for an exciting journey south along the Columbia River Valley towards the US border. Traveling alongside the Kootenay Lake, relive the frenzy of activity in the late 1800’s when hitherto unknown towns became rich in mining and logging opportunities, and railroad companies and industrialists vied for control. The Kootenay Railway was constructed to serve trade, but was controversially viewed as a train connecting “nowhere to nowhere”. Today, this rarely-used route leads to charming towns and through brilliant scenery.

With a comfortable hotel room waiting in Cranbrook, enjoy dinner and lively period entertainment in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall, the fabulous original dining room from the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel in Winnipeg, the perfect end to a historic day! (All three meals included)

Day 5 Exploring the Native Land
In the morning enjoy a private visit to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel before taking the spectacular journey through the Crowsnest Pass. This pass through the Canadian Rockies crosses the continental divide, and also offers incredible views of the mountains and the dozens of lakes and rivers within them. Here there is also the possibility for an optional visit (at additional cost) to the excellent Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this site celebrates Native American culture and customs and has been used continuously for more than 5,500 years. One of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps (an ancient hunting practice of driving bison over a precipice) known to exist, it is a remarkable testimony of prehistoric life. Spend the night in Lethbridge. (All three meals included)

Day 6 The Peaceful Prairies
Enjoy an incredible photographic opportunity this morning when the train stops on the spectacular 1 mile long and 314-foot high Lethbridge Trestle. The largest in North America, this amazing steel structure was completed in 1909 to replace the original wooden bridge. After taking your photos, return to the train to continue north through the Prairies to Calgary. The Prairies are one of Canada’s most impressive sights – endless fields of wheat and grain under the biggest blue skies you’ve ever seen – before arriving mid afternoon into the Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion. The Pavilion is attached to the five star Fairmont Palliser Hotel, your home for the night. Enjoy free time this evening to explore Calgary and check out the lively restaurants of this up-and-coming. (Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 7 Departure from Calgary
Your tour ends with a group breakfast in the Hotel’s Rimrock Room. Before flying out you may have time to explore this lively city. Although very modern, Calgary still retains much of its traditional culture of saloons and western bars and is known by many as the “Nashville of the North”. A drink in one of these bars is a great way to soak up the atmosphere. Some of the many other attractions not to be missed include the Calgary Tower with its glass observation deck, which provides terrific views of the city skyline; Devonian Gardens, one of the largest urban indoor gardens in the world; and Calgary’s Heritage Park, which recreates nineteenth century life. (Breakfast included)

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2008/09 Package Start Dates

Starting in Vancouver
October 4th, 2008
October 3rd, 2009

Options & Upgrades

• Add a trip to Victoria, British Columbia’s quaint capital city on Vancouver Island
• Visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about Native American culture and customs
• Extra nights in Vancouver (pre-) or Calgary (-post)

Price Notes
• Prices are per person based on twin share
• Prices valid from January 2008 to March 2009

Includes
• Accommodation for 6 nights
• Trans-Rockies rail trip aboard the Canadian Empress - a 1930-built ‘Hudson’ steam locomotive, magnificently restored at a cost of $2,000,000
• Dinner and period entertainment in the reconstructed Alexandra Hall
• Private tour of the Canadian National Museum of Rail Travel
• Excursion on the ‘Spirit of Kamloops’ heritage train
• 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 Dinners
• Documentation package
• GST (Goods & Services tax)

Not Included
• Airport Transfers
• National park entrance fees
• Luggage Handling and gratuities
• Trip Cancellation Insurance

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