Compare Western Canada with Inside Passage by Cosmos vs Canadian Rockies by Train by Tours of Distinction
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
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4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 14 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 3,408 | $ 3,700 |
| Price Per Day | $ 243 | $ 529 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
6 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners |
| Description | Take a fantastic adventure on this affordable guided vacation in Canada. Begin in Vancouver with a tour of the city, including Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbour, beaches, and more. Cross the Strait of Georgia by ferry to Vancouver Island for sightseeing, including Butchart Gardens. Spend a free day in Victoria as you please—from whale watching to afternoon tea. Embark on your Inside Passage cruise from Port Hardy at the northern end of the island. Cruise through spectacular scenery to see mountains, waterfalls, islands, and rainforests. Watch for sea lions, eagles, porpoises, and orcas! Disembark your ship for two overnights in the historic fishing village of Prince Rupert. Take a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Board your VIA Rail train through the mountains, following the mighty Skeena River through the Pacific Coast Rainforest. Retrace the ancient steps of the First Nations and fur trading routes while keeping watch for eagles, bears, and moose. Ascend the Canadian Rockies peaks to the highest, 12,972 ft. Mount Robson. In Jasper, take in the unspoiled beauty with an optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, or to hike, shop, or relax. Coming down the western slopes of Alberta, you’ll roam the 750-foot-thick Columbia Icefield in the all-terrain Ice Explorer. Take in the crystal blue waters of Lake Louise reflecting the surrounding peaks and glaciers. Witness more gorges, snowy peaks, and alpine lakes of green and blue as you approach Banff National Park. Explore the park with hiking, boating, horseback riding, or join us for an optional helicopter tour of the Canadian Rockies. This amazing value tour is jam-packed with beauty and adventure that’s not to be missed. |
A leisurely journey that traverses the dramatic beauty of the Canadian Rockies – tour snow covered mountain peaks glisten amid glacier blue lakes where ever present wildlife roams free. Ride a “snow coach” to a glacier, cruise on a crystal clear lake, and take a quiet water raft trip to watch the pristine landscape glide by. Alpine villages, ice-fields, pounding waterfalls, and the great outdoors… await. |
Day 1: VANCOUVER AREA
Welcome to Vancouver! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2: VANCOUVER AREA
This morning, an included city tour highlights Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbour, and beaches, and more. The rest of the day is at leisure, and your Tour Director will have suggestions for your further exploration of the city. Maybe 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, art galleries, and street vendors.
Day 3: VANCOUVER AREA–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA
This morning, 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 4: 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 shopping along Government Street.
Day 5: VICTORIA–CHEMAINUS–PORT HARDY
An early departure from Victoria follows the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, stopping in 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 6: PORT HARDY–INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE–PRINCE RUPERT
Early this morning, embark on one of the world’s most beautiful ocean voyages. The scenery is spectacular, with towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, endless islands, and virgin rainforests. Marine life abounds, 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 16 hours. Please come prepared with all medications, eyeglasses, and any other items you will need.
Day 7: PRINCE RUPERT
Enjoy an orientation tour of Prince Rupert, and visit the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village, a National Historic Site, 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 in the last century.
Day 8: PRINCE RUPERT–VIA RAIL THE SKEENA–SMITHERS–PRINCE GEORGE
This morning, board VIA Rail’s Skeena train for the trip of a lifetime. Sit back and enjoy an all-daylight journey that winds its way through the majestic Coast Mountains, follows the mighty Skeena River—often referred to as the “River of Mists.” Retrace the steps of the 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. Disembarking in Smithers, you’ll continue to Prince George for an overnight stay in British Columbia’s “Northern Capital.”
NOTE:Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.
Day 9: PRINCE GEORGE–MOUNT ROBSON–JASPER NATIONAL PARK
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. In Jasper, an orientation tour showcases the area’s unspoiled beauty. Overnight in Jasper National Park.
Day 10: JASPER NATIONAL PARK
Today, join the optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, where you embark on a narrated cruise of the lake. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer, from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.
Day 11: JASPER NATIONAL PARK–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–LAKE LOUISE–BANFF NATIONAL PARK
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 is a stop at the Columbia Icefield to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick. As we journey south, precipitous gorges, snowcapped mountain ranges, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view. Visit Lake Louise, its cold waters perfectly mirroring the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Arrive in Banff National Park and enjoy an orientation tour.
Day 12: BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Banff is one of Canada’s favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities including hiking, boating, horseback riding, and fishing. Consider an optional helicopter ride high over the Canadian Rockies.
Day 13: BANFF NATIONAL PARK–CALGARY
Arrive in Calgary, home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, and take a city tour. Highlights include downtown, Fort Calgary, Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps go to the top of Calgary Tower for a 360-degree panoramic view, Heritage Park Historical Village or Studio Bell to visit the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Day 14: CALGARY
Your vacation ends this morning.
Day 1 - Arrive Vancouver, Canada
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Vancouver. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel for an overnight stay, then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2 - Vancouver - Kamloops, BC
We begin our day with a city tour of Vancouver which includes the beautiful Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown including the world famous steam-powered clock, the 2010 Olympic torch and village. In the Afternoon we journey to Kamloops, BC and check into our hotel for the night. (B, D)
Day 3 - Rocky Mountains
This morning its all-aboard VIA Rail Canada as we depart Kamloops bound for Jasper. Our relaxing daytime journey will take us past snowcapped mountains, glacial lakes, rushing rivers, and perfectly pristine Canadian wilderness, “oh what a journey!” Our train arrives in Jasper late afternoon, we check in our hotel for a two night stay. (B, D)
Day 4 - Jasper
Oh! What a day we have today! To start- we begin with a very mild float/rafting tour on the Athabasca River, the same route once used by “Fur Traders” years ago. Our adventure continues, this afternoon as we take a walk into Maligne Canyon to enjoy its natural beauty. Then it’s on to Maligne Lake for a relaxing cruise and a brief stop at “Sprite Island”. This evening after dinner we embark on a wildlife safari in search of Moose, Bear and Caribou. (B,D)
Day 5 - Jasper - Banff, AB
Our journey today will take us south on the Columbia Icefields Parkway…with snowcapped mountains and rushing rivers, impressive cliffs – this is truly one of Canada’s most scenic motorways. We stop at Athabasca Falls to wonder at the sheer beauty and power. Then we to board our special “snowcoach” for a ride onto the glacier where you will be able to get out and walk around atop a glacier. After our snow coach ride we continue on the Icefields Parkway always being on the lookout for wildlife as we make our way to visit Bow Falls and Peyto Lake. Today’s journey ends as we check into our hotel for a 2-night stay. (B)
Day 6 - Banff
Banff and the best of Yoho National Park . Today we will visit Moraine and Emerald Lakes both beautiful and different. We take a walk to the Lower Johnson Canyon Waterfall - what a sight! No visit would be complete without a stop at Lake Louise where we will have the opportunity to walk the paved path along the edge of the lake, relax on one of the many benches and savior the peaceful beauty. Return to Banff by mid-afternoon remainder of the day to explore on your own. This evening we gather for our farewell dinner. (B, D)
Day 7 - Depart Banff
Our adventure comes to a close this morning as we transfer to Calgary Airport for our homebound flight. The tour is over but the memories are yours to keep! (B)
