Day One: August 11, 2008 Arrive Vancouver
You will be met at Vancouver International Airport by the guides, and transferred to a centrally located hotel in Vancouver. Remainder of the day free. Wild BC Guides will be on hand to answer any questions regarding Vancouver and the tour in general.
Overnight in Vancouver |
Coal Harbour, Vancouver |
Day Two: August 12, 2008 Vancouver
Vancouver,
is Canada's most dramatically beautiful city, caressed between the
mountains and the sea. It will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. 9:00 AM Departure for City tour which will include:
- Stanley
Park and the Lions Gate bridge with stops at displays of Native totem poles and view points.
- Chinatown - The second largest in North America, Chinatown is one of
Vancouver's oldest neighborhoods and a fascinating place to explore.
(You will think you are in the far east)
- Gastown - Vancouver's earliest business district, lovingly restored
with shops and galleries.
- The
Lookout Observatory - To get a view of the entire city.
- Granville
Island - Art and fashion Mecca. (Great place for coffee.)
- Entertainment
and Business districts - Where the fashionable are seen.
Free afternoon with guide available by request. All of the sites covered on the morning tour are within walking distance of the hotel. Overnight in Vancouver
. |
Canada Place, Vancouver |
Day Three: August 13, 2008Vancouver to Victoria
Depart greater Vancouver area on a 40 minute drive through agricultural  country south
of the city to catch the British Columbia Ferry service to Vancouver
Island. Priority boarding whisks us on board ship for a truly breathtaking
1.5 hour cruise through the Gulf Islands that stand between the mainland,
and Vancouver island.
Arriving on Vancouver Island , we proceed directly to the world famous Butchart Gardens. The gardens are one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences. An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement, and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history. Through successive generations of the Butchart family, the Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays.
We depart the gardens late-afternoon for the brief drive to the city of Victoria, the picturesque provincial capital, often called the "garden city" because of its' many private and public gardens.
Once
we arrive in Victoria we will do a city tour including:
Legislature Buildings, the Inner harbour, James Bay, Chinatown, Antiques Row, Empress Hotel, Beacon Hill Park and more.
After checking into your hotel you will enjoy some free time to explore this fascinating city and all
it has to offer. Overnight in Victoria.
|
Butchart Gardens
Victoria, BC
|
Day Four: August 14, 2008 Victoria to Tofino
Depart Victoria and travel over the Malahat pass and up Vancouver Island
along the scenic Island Highway our first stop is:
Chemainus:
From just five murals and lots of spirit in the summer of 1982, Chemainus
has struggled, grown and succeeded in literally putting itself on the
map. In 1983, it won the prestigious New York Downtown Revitalization
Award for redevelopment of the town core. It has  since gained world wide
acclaim for the integrity and superb artistry of its huge depiction of
the town's history, earning the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award
(the Americas) in 1994.
Thirty-six larger-than-life historic paintings in this open air gallery
and many statues now greet the gaze of hundreds of thousands of visitors
each year. Chemainus thrives as a result, but it remains a small town,
with just over 4,500 residents. These welcoming people still dish out
island hospitality, along with ice cream and afternoon tea and scones
just as they always have. |
View along the Malahat
Sandstone shore
|
|
The Quw'utsun Cultural Centre brings the heritage
of the Cowichan people to life through live demonstrations, hands-on activities
and a moving multi-media presentation of their oral history. There are
2.4 ha ( 6 ac) of landscaped grounds and a number of traditional buildings
to stroll through and enjoy - don't pass up this unique chance to lunch
on freshly barbequed wild salmon on the banks of the historic Cowichan
River.
Lunch: Native Dance and Salmon BBQ
Experience the sights and sounds of traditional dance and food along the
Cowichan River. The Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers will perform on the river
bank the traditional songs and dances passed down from many generations.
The Barbeque features fresh salmon cooked on cedar stakes over an open
fire in traditional native style. Every table receives their food on a
cedar plank by servers in traditional native regalia. Guests favor our
freshly baked native scow bread and blackberry pie.
|
Salmon BBQ and Native Dancers |
|
The Bastion
The Bastion is the oldest freestanding Hudson's Bay Company fort in North
America. A curious, octagonal building of three floors, it was constructed
in 1852 without the use of nails, using 20-cm (8-in) squared cedar timbers
that were notched and then fitted together with dowels.
This French-Canadian
construction method was called "poteau sur sole" ("post
on sill"). The third floor, considerably larger than the first and
second, was originally intended as a refuge for Hudson's Bay Company employees
and their families in the event of an attack by the "natives"
(no such one occurred). The building has since served many functions in
the Nanaimo community, including jailhouse, meeting place and, currently,
museum. |
The Bastion |
|
Cathedral Grove;
Walking through the immense, ancient trees of Cathedral Grove is a singular,
awe-inspiring experience. The dense canopy creates a magical, dappled
green light, matched by a profound quiet broken only by the occasional
birdcall. One giant Douglas-fir on the south side of the highway measures
more than 9 m (29.5 ft) in circumference. On the north side, western red cedars
dominate the landscape by nearby Cameron Lake. Cathedral Grove is one
of the most accessible stands of old-growth Douglas-fir trees on Vancouver
Island - and not to be missed.
Coombs Market
The Market with the famous "goats on the roof" is located in
Coombs, northwest of Nanaimo. Thousands of people each year travel
through Coombs, stopping to visit with the goats.
By evening we arrive on the far west coast for Vancouver Island, and overnight in Tofino/Ucluelet.
|
Cathedral Grove |
Day Five: August 15 Tofino
Tofino (population: 1,466) sits on a narrow peninsula bordered by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, north and east. Tourism has replaced timber and fishing as the mainstay of the local economy. No wonder: Tofino lies in the centre of a United Nations World Biosphere Reserve, an ecologically significant area that supports many uncommon plant and animal species. Its scenery, which includes miles of sandy beaches, stands of massive old-growth cedars and a seascape dotted with verdant islands, is breathtaking by any standard.
This morning we embark on a Whale Watchin g trip. Most often viewed are the Pacific Gray Whales. From April on through November, we have our 'Resident'
Gray whales feeding in Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound. Humpback whales
are seen throughout our season, with the heaviest sightings in February,
June, July, August and September. We see Orca whales (Killer whales) as
well. There are 12 pods of 'Transient' Orcas that we see about once every
two to three weeks throughout the year.
The Gray Whales hug the shoreline on this northern migration, making the West Coast of Vancouver Island one of the best viewing areas in the world! From mid-April on, three to twenty or more of these magnificent creatures stay and feed on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, with a few in Barkley Sound just out of Ucluelet, and the rest in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino. These 'Resident' whales, as we call them, remain feeding in our area right through mid November at which time they head out to sea to join with the main migration as it passes our coast on the southern journey.
The Humpback Whale usually ranges between 12–16 m long and weighs approximately 36 tonnes. It is well known for its breaching (leaping out of the water), its unusually long front fins, and its complex whale song.
It is a migratory species, spending its summers in cooler, high-latitude waters found on the west coast of Vancouver Island while mating and calving in tropical and sub-tropical waters.
We see Humpback Whales occasionally March through May and quite regularly June through October.
Afternoon free to explore the village and enjoy the local beaches. Overnight in Tofino/Ucluelet. |
Pacific Rollers
Humpback
Gray
Orca Whales
|
Day Six: August 16, 2008 Tofino to Telegraph Cove Area
This day we make a late morning departure, and head up island into one of the most beautiful areas on the coast. There will be remote forest walks, visits to small villages along the way and plenty of time to stop and smell the roses, both figuratively and literally.
Overnight in Telegraph cove Area |
Orca Whales |
Day Seven: August 17 Telegraph cove to Port Hardy
Our second whale watching adventure will be off Stubbs Island, and feature the Orcas of Robson Bright, and the famous sand stone rubbing grounds where the whales come to scratch, folic, and socialize.
Then it's on to the remote village of Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.
Overnight in Port Hardy
|
|
Day Eight: August 18, 2008 Port Hardy to Prince Rupe rt
Depart Port Hardy at 7:30 AM we cr uise the inside passage aboard the MV Northern Adventure.
The very same route as the Alaska cruise ships.
This sheltered, yet dramatic passage cruises the coast between the mainland, and offshore islands sometimes becoming so narrow you can almost reach out and touch the trees on the sides of the mountains. Wild and rugged, the area is home to many species of large mammals, such as Bear, Moose, Ott er, Sea Lions, and Whales, which are often seen from the deck of the ship.
The Northern Venture is a coastal ferry with plenty of outside deck space as well as plenty of comfortable seating, a cafe, gift shop, restaurant, and a lounge. A very relaxing day with superb scenery.
About BC Ferries: They are known for safety, spectacular scenery and a proud maritime history. What began in 1960 as a two vessel, two terminal operation has grown into one of the largest, most sophisticated ferry transportation systems in the world. Their fleet of 36 vessels serves a diverse range of communities - up to 47 ports of call - along the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
|
| |
|
Arrive in Prince Rupert 10:30 PM, Overnight in Prince Rupert
.
|
Day Nine: Tuesday August 19, 2008 Prince Rupert to Juneau
Free Day in Prince Rupert
Depart 6:30 PM aboard M/V Matanuska. Even though we leave in the evening remember this is "the land of the Midnight sun" so it will stay light very late to let you enjoy the amazing scenery as we cruise the narrow Alaska Inside passages past Ketchikan, and Wrangell to Juneau.
The Matanuska  was built by Puget Sound Bridge & Dry Dock Company of Seattle and began service in 1963. In 1968 the vessel was lengthened and renovated. It now carries 499 passengers, and provides 4 four-berth, 21 three-berth, and 80 two-berth cabins. One two-berth cabin is wheelchair accessible. The Matanuska is 408 feet long, with capacity for 88 vehicles (20' lengths), and has a service speed of 16.5 knots. Passenger services include a cafeteria, gift shop, cocktail lounge, solarium, and forward observation lounge. (Ships Photo by Rodney Stitt)
The Alaska Marine Highway System operates along routes that give travelers rare glimpses of the vast natural beauty and cultural history of Alaska. Experts from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are on board to provide educational and interpretive programs for all ages, share information about public lands resources, and enhance the experiences of the traveler during sojourns on shore.
Overnight on board |
 |
Day Ten: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Aboard MV Matanuska
This day is spent cruising the Alaskan Inside Passage. Stretch out on a deck chair and watch the scenery drift by, or relax in your outside cabin. Most cabins feature private bathroom facilities. Room service and daily makeup of cabins are not available. However, trash is collected daily, and fresh linens are available on request.
Arrive Juneau Alaska at 11:15 PM
Transfer to Hotel and overnight in Juneau, Alaska |
Sunrise on the Inside Passage |
Day Eleven: Thursday August 21, 2008 Juneau, Alaska
A City and Glacier Tour, fully narrated, starting in the streets of historic downtown Juneau. On the tour you’ll go right by the Governors Mansion, Alaska state Capitol, and world famous Red Dog Saloon.
From there you head down the scenic Gastineau Channel past the Gastineau Wildlife Refuge to the Mendenhall Glacier, the only drive up glacier in the world. At the glacier you will have 45 minutes to explore the walking paths and enter the visitor center if you choose. The USFS does charge a $3.00 entrance fee to the visitor center, entrance is optional. The glacier is an excellent place to see spawning salmon in season and often bears as well.
Next you will go to Chapel by The Lake, a little log church right along the edge of beautiful Auke Lake and in the middle of the University of Southeast Alaska campus. From inside the church we will treat you to another inspiring view over the altar of the Mendenhall Glacier.
* Veiwings of Chapel by The Lake will not be avalible on Sundays or during the occasional wedding and memorial service.
We finish the tour with a stop on Douglas Island for a panoramic view of downtown Juneau with the cruise ships in front of the city. From there the driver will drop you off in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, centrally located between all the cruise ships. These tours are expertly narrated, by the time you return you will be so informed you’ll feel like a local. Tour length is 2.5 hours.
Afternoon Free. Depart 11:15 PM MV Matanuska
Overnight on board |
Juneau, Alaska
Mendenhall Glacier
|
Day 12 Friday August 22, 2008 On Board MV Matanuska
Return cruise on a different route of the inside passage with brief stopover shore tour at:
Sitka:
Ninety miles west of Juneau lies Sitka, the historic capital of Russian-America. This compact community on the edge of the Pacific Ocean was once referred to as the "Paris of the Pacific" due to its cosmopolitan nature. Trading vessels from the west coast of North America all stopped in Sitka en route to Russia, China and Japan. Sitka's Russian heritage can be seen today throughout the town. Visitors can stand in front of the flagpole where, on October 18, 1867, the territory of Alaska officially exchanged hands between Russia and America.
We will also a further free time stopover at Petersburg :
One hundred miles south of Juneau is the fishing community of Petersburg. Known as Alaska's little Norway, as many of the town's inhabitants share a Scandinavian heritage, Petersburg has a delightful atmosphere in a spectacular setting.
Overnight on board |
Mount Edgecumbe near Sitka 
Petersburg, Alaska
|
|
Day Thirteen: Saturday August 23 2008 Prince Rupert to Prince George
Arrive Prince Rupert 5:15 AM. Transfer to Train Station to depart 8:00 AM by Train on a fabulous 1,160-kilometre (725-mile) journey over two days, the Skeena travels between Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast and Jasper National Park in the heart of the superb Canadian Rockies. And thanks to an overnight layover in Prince George you'll arrive in the Rockies feeling refreshed! The Skeena is a wonderful way to discover the region's scenery, Native culture and other attractions. On board, you'll be comfortably ensconced in a wide seat with headrest. You can stretch out your legs, and enjoy the scenery on either side: a huge, luminous window, snooze or socialize. Snacks and meals are available on board as well as a drinks service. Arriving in Prince George in the late afternoon we are transferred to our hotel, and the evening is free. Overnight in Prince George.
|
The Skeena. A Classic rail journey through the mountains
|
Day Fourteen: August 24 2008 Prince George to Jasper
Departing Prince George we spend a second relaxing day on the Skeena to arrive 4:00 PM in Jasper in the Rocky Mountains. Jasper is a walking town. A short wal k will find you downtown to wonder lei surely through jasper's unique boutiques, where you will find local art, pottery, unique clothing and jewelry, and fantastic souvenirs to remember your holiday.Have dinner at one of their many restaurants, and stop by The Den, Jasper's wildlife museum where Alberta's natural beauty is on display.
Evening free in the charming town of Jasper.
Overnight in Jasper |
Train from Prince George to Jasper |
Day Fifteen: August 25 2008 Jasper to Banff
Early morning departure on the most scenic highway in the world, the Jasper Parkway, we travel along the Parkway past amazing mountain peaks, lakes, and glaciers with stops at:
Athabasca Falls, which is among the most powerful and breathtaking falls in the Rocky Mountains, the Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls have been smoothed and potholed by the sheer force of the rushing water carrying sand and rock.
Sunwapta Falls; Sunwapta is a Stoney Indian word for "turbulent river". At the falls, the Sunwapta River abruptly changes course from northwest to southwest and plunges in a cloud of spray into a deep canyon.
And a tour of the Columbia Ice Fields, where we will ride the fa mous glacier buses across the permanent ice fields of the continental divide. The all terrain Ice Explorers takes visitors
on a 90 minute ice adventure. Designed and manufactured in Canada especially
for the Columbia Icefield, each ICE EXPLORER carries up to 56 visitors
over the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. Equipped with huge low-pressure
tires, traveling over ice 300 meters thick is safe and effortless for
this one of a kind vehicle. An adventure found nowhere else on earth-
unforgettable.
Peyto (pea-toe) named for Ebenezer William Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area. Wildlife is common along with the spectacular mountain scenery; these shots were taken on just one trip along the parkway.
Overnight in Banff Area |
Jasper Parkway - The most Scenic highway in the world
Athabasca Falls
Sunwapta Falls
Peyto Lake
|
Day Sixteen: August 26 2008 Banff
Banff is one of only two municipalities within a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Home to 8,721 residents, it hosts approximately 3 million guests each year. The community has embraced an aggressive growth management plan as a means to preserve this unique small town.
The footprint of the Town of Banff is just 3.93 km2 and will never be bigger. This means:
Everything is just 10 minutes away -- maximum. And you can walk anywhere.
All residents must meet the federal regulation of ‘need to reside’, which means individuals must be employed in the town in order to live there.
Morning tour of Banff including visit to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada, commemorating the birthplace of Canada's National Park system, which began here in 1885. Naturally-occurring, warm mineral springs can be found inside th e cave, and outside in an emerald coloured basin.
Sulphur Mountain gondola with its', viewing-decks and Summit Ridge interpretive boardwalk, is the very best vantage point to see Banff and the surrounding area. Safely seated in 4 passenger gondola cabins, visitors are transported in 8 minutes to the summit at an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 ft) above sea level.
Afternoon free in Banff. Over Night in Banff Area |
Downtown Banff |
Day Seventeen: August 27 Banff to Three Valley Gap
Early morning departure with stops at:
Lake Louise
A great place for a cup of tea with a view, or perhaps a stroll on the lake side.
Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint
A fascinating display explains the history and operation of this amazing engineering feet, the spiral
tunnels. A railway tunnel that travels in a spiral in order to gain the needed altitude to cross the pass. From the platform, visitors have a spectacular view of the
Yoho Valley, Yoho Glacier and the lower spiral tunnel portals in Mt.
Ogden. Clearly viable is the spiral railway tunnel.
Rogers Pass
Travelers between Revelstoke and Golden near the British Columbia-Alberta
border travelers must negotiate Rogers Pass, one of the great mountain
crossings in the province and certainly the Trans-Canada Highway's crowning
glory.
Traveling through Rogers Pass requires you to go through five long tunnels,
which add a measure of protection from avalanches, although they can be
a bit unnerving the first time. The lofty sensation of crossing Rogers
Pass is one of the rewards for traveling here.
Rogers Pass (elevation 4,534 feet/1382 m) is located at the summit in
Glacier National Park, and operates the Park's main Interpretation Centre.
The Information Centre is the principal source of information regarding
the park.
Through Yoho National Park, then on to the Kicking Horse pass with stops at the Spiral Tunnels, and Takakkaw Falls - one of Canada's highest at 254 meters.
Picnic lunch in the mountains is included.
Three Valley Gap is tucked into the mountains on a clear lake where three valleys connect(hence the name), and is a perfect introduction to the Roc kies A steak barbeque (included) welcomes you in the ghost town. The evening will be free to explore
the Three Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town , a unique collection of heritage pioneer buildings, which transports visitors back to the 1800s.
Also included is the Antique Auto Museum features  automobiles from 1902 through 1929, and guests can also explore the vast Railway Roundhouse, the largest covered Turntable and Roundhouse complex in Canada.
(Or perhaps even take in a performance at the Walter Moberly Theater.) Overnight at Three Valley Lake Chateau. |
Lake Louise
Mount Stevens, Rogers Pass
Takakkaw Falls
|
Day Eighteen: August 28 Three Valley Gap to Vancouver
From the edge of the Rockies we travel down into the fur tile Okanogan Valley. Sunny and dry it is prime fruit growing country as well as home to wine vine yards rapidly developing in reputation as some of the finest anywhere. So we could not think of missing a stop at the leading winery: Mission Hill Family Estate. They offer winery tours, wine tastings and much more, of which we will partake. (Included in tour fee of course.) We will join their experienced and knowledgeable wine educators as they lead us through their transformed winery, high atop Mission Hill.
Please note: All tours have a wine tasting component - we are required by law to ask you for two pieces of ID (one with a photo) if you appear to be under 19 years of age. Thank you for your understanding.
From Mission Hill we will travel through ranching country, and then hug the side of the mountain down the length of the Fra ser Canyon stopping at Hell's Gate Rapids.
We will take a cable car across the rapids to the far side for a great view of Hell's Gate, as named by early explorers.
Evening arrival in Vancouver with drop off at hotel.
|
Mission Hill Winery
Hell's Gate Air Tram
|
Day 19 August 29 2008 Vancouver
Transfer to Vancouver International Airport |
| This whole tour is carefully designed to provide the most enjoyable experience, by mixing free time with included activities, and all at a leisurely pace. We are always looking for special opportunities for adventure, and have not hesitation in literally going the extra mile for you. We have put all our skills into making sure it will be a trip of a life time. |
Sightseeing
Tours by Wild BC Tours and Guiding
10097 - 242B Street, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada V2W 1X6
Reservations: Call your travel agent today!
Or call us direct Toll Free from the US or Canada - 1 (888) 671 9523
or operations: 604 418 8250
(8 AM to 8 PM Vancouver time) |
In
association with
BC Reg. 2922-3 |
|
|
|
A portion of your tour fees go to:
"The Last School on Earth"
supporting education in some of the most remote places in the world.
|
|
|
|
ing into this tour. Whale watching on the coast, to bear watching in the mountains, with cruising and a mountain train in between. High mo
untain passes to Native culture, and wine tasting with world class gardens. All done at a relaxed pace in a small group at a very affordable price by guides that really know their stuff. 
or star 
icons to view vessel information. Scroll down the map page for details on vessel status and time of last update)
