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Western Canada by Rail with Alaska Cruise 2025
16 days from Calgary to Vancouver
Tour Description:
Create a lifetime of incredible memories traveling through the majestic Canadian Rockies! Take an Ice Explorer ride on the Columbia Icefield in Alberta, travel across British Columbia on the Rocky Mountaineer Train, and enjoy scenic ferry crossings to/from Victoria—these are just a few of the many highlights on this Western Canada by Rail tour. You’ll overnight in Calgary, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kamloops, Vancouver, and Victoria, and you’ll enjoy a 7-night Alaska cruise. Along the way, witness spectacular scenery and explore western Canada’s most famous cities. Two nights in both Banff National Park, one of Canada’s favorite resorts, and Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, give you time to hike, stroll the townsites, and go to new heights with optional excursions like a helicopter ride with breathtaking views over the Rockies! Between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, stop in Lake Louise and marvel at this world-famous location with its turquoise waters reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. You’ll also take a thrilling ride aboard an Ice Explorer to Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies. And you’ll board the Rocky Mountaineer for a 2-day, all-daylight journey from Jasper National Park to Vancouver. This train ride through stunning scenery takes you back to a time when getting to your destination was part of the fun. Along the way, pass Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies’ highest mountain; wild rivers; magnificent mountain ranges; and turbulent Hell’s Gate. More beautiful scenery awaits on your ferry crossing from Vancouver through the picturesque Gulf Islands to Victoria. On the way into Victoria, enjoy sightseeing that includes a trip to world-famous Butchart Gardens with its 55 acres of floral displays. But that’s not all…watch for spouting whales, soaring eagles, barking seals, and other wildlife on your Alaska cruise. Marvel at glaciers and witness the amazing spectacle of thunder and spray as tremendous slabs of ice break off and “calve” into the sea. This is a value-minded vacation with an itinerary full of awe-inspiring sights and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that is not to be missed!
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Dates & Pricing
| Tuesday 13 May 25 — Wednesday 28 May 25 | Starting at $5,814 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 20 May 25 — Wednesday 04 Jun 25 | Starting at $6,094 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 03 Jun 25 — Wednesday 18 Jun 25 | Starting at $6,104 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 17 Jun 25 — Wednesday 02 Jul 25 | Starting at $6,219 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 15 Jul 25 — Wednesday 30 Jul 25 | Starting at $6,091 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 29 Jul 25 — Wednesday 13 Aug 25 | Starting at $6,299 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 05 Aug 25 — Wednesday 20 Aug 25 | Starting at $6,288 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 19 Aug 25 — Wednesday 03 Sep 25 | Starting at $6,179 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 26 Aug 25 — Wednesday 10 Sep 25 | Starting at $5,965 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Tuesday 09 Sep 25 — Wednesday 24 Sep 25 | Starting at $6,085 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingThe world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available), as well as a ferry crossing from/to Vancouver Island. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your adventure includes a 2-day, all-daylight rail journey on the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Service (GoldLeaf Service upgrades are available) and a cruise on Holland America’s MS Zaandam! Your tour includes Holland America’s ‘Have It All Premium Cruise Package,’ featuring a signature beverage package, dinner in a specialty restaurant, $100 shore excursion credit, and Wi-Fi package.
Notes:
Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.At least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.Cruise itineraries are provided by Holland America Line and are up to date at time of printing. Your travel documents will contain the most current information.Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.
Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.At least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.Cruise itineraries are provided by Holland America Line and are up to date at time of printing. Your travel documents will contain the most current information.Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
Welcome to Calgary! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions
Day 2
The discovery of oil converted this cattle-ranching town into a thriving, sophisticated city. Sightseeing highlights downtown, Fort Calgary, Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. Next, drive west through the foothills of the Rockies into Banff National Park. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour
Day 3
Enjoy the day exploring Banff, Canada’s first national park. Hike the many wilderness trails, horseback ride, golf, stroll through Banff townsite, or simply relax at the hot springs. The park is the perfect place for wildlife watching as it is home to 53 species of mammals. You may spot some of these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. The most commonly seen are deer, elk, and big horn sheep
Day 4
First stop is stunning Lake Louise, with its turquoise waters reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Then precipitous gorges, snowcapped mountain ranges, and more exquisite lakes come into view as your motorcoach scales three mountain passes. Stop at the Columbia Icefield for another trip highlight and experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Late this afternoon, let it flow on an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. Spend the next two nights in Jasper National Park. An orientation tour showcases the area’s unspoiled beauty
Day 5
A day at leisure to explore the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. This morning, consider joining the optional narrated cruise on magical Maligne Lake to Spirit Island*. On the return journey, view picturesque Medicine Lake and Maligne Canyon keeping an eye out for native wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, and elk. Later, perhaps do some hiking or peruse the shops in town.
*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June
Day 6
An exciting morning as you board the Rocky Mountaineer for a 2-day, all-daylight, classic rail journey from the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific Coast. En route, pass Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Follow the North Thompson River and enjoy vistas of the Monashee Mountains. Enjoy free time in Kamloops this evening
Day 7
This morning your train adventure continues as you head through the ranchlands along the Thompson River. View the stark beauty of Fraser Canyon and the turbulence of mighty Hell’s Gate. After an evening arrival in Vancouver, transfer to your hotel
Day 8
Morning sightseeing focuses on Vancouver’s Chinatown, Gastown, and beautiful Stanley Park. Afterward, sail through the spectacular Gulf Islands, known for their Mediterranean-like climate. Afternoon sightseeing in Victoria includes world-famous Butchart Gardens, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its collection of totem poles
Day 9
Morning departure via ferry for Vancouver. After arrival in Vancouver, transfer to Canada Place and board your cruise ship. Your package price includes Holland America’s ‘Have It All Premium Cruise Package.'
Day 10
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
Day 11
Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska’s capital city of Juneau has 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
Day 12
In winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through enroute to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy’s Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky-tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of ’98 Museum
Day 13
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. The impact shoots water hundreds of meters into the air. You hold your breath as you capture the moment on camera, then you wait for it all to happen again
Day 14
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, where 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. 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
Day 15
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 & 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
Day 16
Your cruise ends this morning. Please schedule flights after noon.
Accommodations
Accommodations| Calgary | Banff | Jasper | Vancouver | Victoria |
Sandman Signature Calgary Downtown Hotel
First-Class
First-Class
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
