National Parks of the Northwest US & Canadian Rockies with Alaska Cruise

Welcome to Salt Lake City! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m.to answer any questions.

The day begins with a sightseeing tour of Salt Lake City, Utah's capital and center of the Mormon religion. Highlights include seeing Temple Square, the Capitol Building, and downtown. Then head north to the Wild West town of Jackson. This evening, take a stroll into town and enjoy its wooden sidewalks and streets lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants. (B)

Depart for majestic Grand Teton National Park, rich with scenic vistas and pristine lakes. Visit beautiful Jenny Lake that sits at the base of Cascade Canyon, looking for moose, deer, and black bears along the way. Drive north and enter magnificent Yellowstone National Park—home to more geysers than anywhere else on Earth. Watch in amazement as the most famous geyser of all, Old Faithful, erupts with predictable frequency, reaching heights of up to 184 feet! Then travel to West Yellowstone for a two-night stay. (CB)

Spend the day exploring all the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park established in 1872. Start at the Fountain Paint Pot Trail where you'll see a colorful, bubbling collection of hydrothermal features. Then visit Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with breathtaking views of the cascading Lower Falls, the biggest waterfall in Yellowstone. All the while keeping an eye out for abundant local wildlife, including bison, moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, wolf, fox, coyote, and grizzly bears! (CB)

Depart West Yellowstone and stop at Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to learn about the 7.5 earthquake that moved more than 80 million tons of rock in less than a minute to create Earthquake Lake. Then travel back in time to the original Old West in Virginia City, site of the richest placer (gold panning) strike in the Rocky Mountains. Arrive in Helena and visit its beautiful State Capitol, historic Reeder's Alley, and Last Chance Gulch, the downtown district and pedestrian walking mall on the site where gold was discovered in 1864. (CB)

Head north to Missoula and visit the Smokejumper's Visitor Center, home to the largest smokejumper base in the country, to learn about the brave firefighters who risk their lives parachuting into the site of forest fires. Arrive in Kalispell late this afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure. Perhaps stroll into town for dinner at a local eatery.

Spend the day at gorgeous Glacier National Park with a guided scenic ride aboard a vintage Red Jammer bus along one of North America's most spectacular highways, Going-to-the-Sun Road. Scale 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass amid a wonderland of alpine scenery and breathtaking mountain peaks. (B)

Cross into Canada and enter Waterton Lakes National Park where the wilderness of Alberta's prairies meets the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. You'll overnight in the park, which is brimming with diverse landscapes, crystal clear lakes, and towering mountain peaks. Enjoy a relaxing evening in this charming town with many nearby shops and restaurants. (B)

Visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn about the longtime relationship between Indigenous People and the vast herds of bison that once roamed the plains. Arrive in Calgary and take a city tour highlighting Stampede Park, the Saddledome, Fort Calgary, and Canada Olympic Park. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

The discovery of oil converted this ranching town into a sophisticated city. After a sightseeing tour, motor west through the foothills and into Banff National Park, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. An orientation tour highlights Banff's unspoiled beauty.

Enjoy a free day in Banff, one of Canada's favorite year-round resorts, with activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing. Your Tour Director will have many suggestions, including a sky-high adventure flightseeing with an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. If you prefer your feet on the ground, join the Panoramas & Peaks* optional excursion to see breathtaking Moraine Lake in the famed Valley of the Ten Peaks.

A day of scenic grandeur begins with a stop at Lake Louise, where turquoise waters create a natural mirror reflecting the surrounding mountains. Up next, a stop at the Columbia Icefield for an unforgettable ride on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that traverses ice measuring 750 feet thick!

Continue to Jasper National Park, where deep gorges, snowcapped summits, and exquisite lakes of blues and greens come into view as you scale three mountain passes en route to Jasper. Upon arrival, consider an optional float trip down the Athabasca River, then enjoy an orientation tour of the townl.

Experience the magic of nature with an optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island* where you'll board a narrated cruise to learn about the area's history, geology, flora, and fauna amid stunning scenery. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer—from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.

Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972-feet. The Yellowhead Highway continues south along the mighty Thompson River, revealing spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. Overnight in Kamloops.

As you travel through British Columbia's Cascade Mountains and the fertile Fraser Valley to the majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forest. Board your ferry for the scenic crossing to Vancouver Island. Prior to arriving in Victoria, visit world-famous Butchart Gardens and be wowed by 55 acres of beautiful floral displays. Continue downtown and see the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider a relaxing stroll along the lively Waterfront Promenade.

Today is free to explore on your own. Your Tour Director will have ideas for enjoying this most British of Canadian cities. Perhaps enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel or choose an adventure at sea with an optional Wildlife and Whale-Watching Expedition, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.

This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia, an arm of the Salish Sea, and through the scenic Gulf Islands. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes the harbourfront, Stanley Park, and other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant city known for its incredible scenery, thriving art scene, diverse culture, and worldclass cuisine. Perhaps visit Robson Street and experience British Columbia's premier shopping and entertainment location.

Say goodbye to your Tour Director and embark on your cruise ship. 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. Keep an eye out 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 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's 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 en route 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 enjoy perusing the shops. (B/L/D)

Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace 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 for the perfect photo opportunity, then wait for it to happen again! (B/L/D)

Alaska's “First City” of Ketchikan is so named as it is the first major landfall for most cruisers entering 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, Ketchikan offers the chance to try your luck on a sport-fishing excursion or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurant. It 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)