Canada's Best from East to West with Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise

Welcome to Ontario's capital and the largest city in Canada. Your Tour Director is on hand in the lobby from 3-6:00 p.m. this afternoon to answer any questions.

On your way to Niagara Falls, take in some of Toronto's major landmarks like the CN Tower and Rogers Centre, home of the Blue Jays. Then skirt the shores of Lake Ontario to one of the most loved natural attractions in the world. Board your Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise for a thrilling ride to view the thundering falls up close, and watch the water come crashing down at the rate of over 3,160 tons per second!

Have free time at the Falls on your own or consider joining the optional excursion to Skylon Tower for more amazing views of the Falls and a buffet lunch before returning to Toronto.

Leave Ontario's capital and stop in Kingston, a city with an exciting history dating back more than 300 years. Proceed along the St. Lawrence River with splendid vistas of Thousand Islands National Park. At Rockport, embark on a narrated cruise following a scenic route through the many islands that are sprinkled with charmingly simple homes to the opulent summer mansions of America's Gilded Age. Next, head to Ottawa, Canada's beautiful capital.

This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of this lovely city on the banks of the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. See the Royal Canadian Mint, the embassy district, and stately Parliament Hill. Suggestions for this afternoon include a visit to the magnificent Canadian Museum of History or perusing the array of restaurants and shops at lively Byward Market.

Drive into the French-Canadian province of Québec to discover its unique, time-honored culture, language, and traditions. Visit the Basilica de Notre-Dame-du-Cap and learn of its miraculous past. Follow the historic King's Highway along the north shore of the mighty St. Lawrence River before arriving in Québec City, the heart of French Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The rest of the day is free to explore this charming city. Tonight, join a unique optional excursion to the Érablière le Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack to learn how maple syrup is made and enjoy a traditional Québec dinner.

Enjoy a guided tour of Canada's only walled city, crowned by the turrets of Château Frontenac. Until the British victory of 1759, Old Québec was the center of New France; today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls reside Place d'Armes, Laval Seminary, the star-shaped Citadelle, and ancient Place Royale. Also, see the stone houses crowding the narrow streets of Lower Town by the St. Lawrence River.

The afternoon and evening are free to join an optional guided tour of the iconic Chateau Frontenac where famous guests and historical events shared the history of this majestic landmark hotel. Then tonight, partake in an optional excursion to Montmorency Falls, cascading 272 feet into the St. Lawrence River, followed by dinner featuring local cuisine at a charming 18th-century restaurant on nearby Orleans Island.

This morning, head south for ultra-modern Montréal, named a UNESCO City of Design in 2006. Major attractions on this afternoon's guided tour include once-walled Old Montréal and majestic views of the city from the top of Mount Royal. This evening is at leisure, giving you time to check out Montréal's diverse and vibrant culinary scene.

Enjoy a day to independently explore Montréal. Perhaps visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest art museums in Canada, or the Notre-Dame Basilica. Consider a walk around the historic Old Port, ride La Grande Roue de Montréal for panoramic views of the city, or indulge in shopping and dining on Sainte-Catherine Street.

Transfer to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport for your flight to Vancouver. Upon arrival in Vancouver, be transferred to your host hotel. Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.

This morning, an included city tour highlights Stanley Park, the harbour, beaches, and more. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps take a water-taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafés, or visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, and art galleries.

Board the Rocky Mountaineer for a 2-day, all-daylight adventure through some of Canada's most spectacular scenery. Travel along the Fraser and Thompson River canyons before arriving in the city of Kamloops. (B/L)

Reboard the train and continue your adventure traveling along shimmering Shuswap Lake, through the Columbia Mountains, and into the Canadian Rockies. Wind your way through the Spiral Tunnels while climbing Kicking Horse Pass to cross the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta. Enter Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, for a two-night stay. (B/L)

After an orientation tour, today is at leisure. Hike the many wilderness trails in the area, stroll through Banff townsite, or simply relax at the hot springs. Banff National Park is the perfect place for photographers and wildlife watchers. You may be lucky enough to encounter some of these amazing creatures, like elk, deer, or big-horn sheep, in their natural habitat. Perhaps elevate your experience with an optional helicopter ride over the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies−a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won't soon forget!

Enjoy a day of scenic grandeur. First, visit famous Lake Louise, where turquoise waters create a perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains. Then travel the stunning Icefields Parkway where you'll stop to ride the Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle over ice that's 750 feet thick! This afternoon, take the opportunity to glide down the Athabasca River on an optional scenic float trip. Arrive in the quintessential mountain town of Jasper and take an orientation tour of the town.

Start your day with an optional cruise on magical Maligne Lake and see why Spirit Island is one of the most photographed views in the Canadian Rockies.* Then travel to the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Continue through British Columbia's fur trade and Cariboo Gold Rush regions for glimpses of the soaring granite mountains. Watch for wildlife as you continue to the internationally renowned Sun Peaks ski resort for an overnight stay.

Head south, following the once-treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. From Lillooet, “Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route,” you'll follow the rushing waters of Cayoosh Creek en route to the resort town of Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains. Take an orientation tour upon arrival.

Today is at leisure to explore this vibrant town on your own. Choose to soar to new heights on an optional Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride which spans the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and is the world's longest unsupported span for a lift of this kind. Or go on an optional ziplining adventure in an old-growth temperate rainforest. Or if you'd prefer staying closer to the ground, perhaps take an optional excursion to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, a First Nations Museum and Art Gallery, for an authentic Indigenous experience.

Set sail across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. In Victoria, sightseeing includes a visit to gorgeous Butchart Gardens and its 55 acres of stunning floral displays, and seeing the Empress Hotel, Legislative Buildings, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. In your free time this evening, perhaps take a stroll along the scenic harbour front.

A day at leisure is the perfect opportunity for high tea at the Empress Hotel, shopping on Government Street, or having lunch in one of the manypubs. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing like embarking on an optional Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Expedition where you'll cruise the beautiful waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands while watching for the resident whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles!

Return to the mainland by ferry this morning and bid your Tour Director farewell as you transfer to your cruise ship for a 7-night voyage through the famed Inside Passage. Your package price includes Holland America's ‘Have It All Premium Cruise Package.' (D)

Spend the day cruising one of the world's most spectacular waterways. Located along the coast of British Columbia, the Inside Passage is the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Watch the water for orcas and humpback whales. (B/L/D)

Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska's capital city of Juneau features the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town—or get out and kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There is no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. (B/L/D)

Skagway is historically considered the gateway to the Gold Rush of 1898 when thousands of men with dreams of striking it rich poured into the city and withstood treacherous winter conditions as they traveled on to the Yukon Territory. Explore gold rush lore at the Trail of '98 Museum or at the Red Onion Saloon, with its treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. Or simply walk on the boardwalks along the dirt streets and peruse the many shops. (B/L/D)

Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than any place else in the world. How does it feel when a colossal chunk of ice splits off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The sound is like thunder and the impact shoots water hundreds of meters into the air. You hold your breath as you capture the moment on camera, then wait for it to happen again! (B/L/D)

Alaska's “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it is the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage. The town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. An important hub of the salmon-fishing and packing industries, visitors can try their luck on a sport-fishing excursion, or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. Ketchikan is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. (B/L/D)

Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska's most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orca plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead, and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. (B/L/D)

Your cruise ends this morning. Please schedule flights after noon. (B)