Grand Canadian Explorer

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow
At Heathrow, relax into your journey in the executive lounge, where you’ll be met by your Tour Manager before your flight to the modern lakeside city of Toronto and 3 nights at the splendid Fairmont Royal York.

Day 2 Toronto
This is Canada’s largest city but it will soon feel like home after a tour of all the highlights, including Old and New City Hall, the trendy Yorkville area, High Park and the Harbourfront with its impressive skyline. Recharge your batteries at the hotel and then join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink followed by a short stroll over to the CN Tower for dinner in the revolving restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 3 Niagara Falls
On your way to the magnificent Niagara Falls, you’ll travel through the rich and fertile Niagara Peninsula with time to explore gardens, antique shops and art galleries of picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake. After a look at the impressive Whirlpool Rapids, you’ll board the Maid of the Mist for a boat ride to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. There’s a bit more time to look around before returning to Toronto.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 4 Toronto to Banff
After a westward flight to Calgary, you travel on to Banff, in the Rockies. You’ll stay for 3 nights at the Banff Park Lodge and meet up this evening for dinner in a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 5 Banff
A morning tour of this lovely town includes the classic viewpoint of Surprise Corner along Tunnel Mountain Drive, Bow Falls and the wind-shaped rock formations known as the Hoodoos. Explore at your own pace in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 6 Banff
Today is free to enjoy at your own pace. We recommend taking the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain to simply absorb the views or go on the 1km Sky Walk along the summit ridge. You might also like a relaxing soak in the natural hot springs.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 7 Banff to Lake Louise
The old road to Johnston Canyon offers a fantastic opportunity to look out for wildlife. En route, you’ll take a stroll to see sparkling waterfalls before continuing across the Continental Divide into Yoho National Park. You’ll stop at Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge before arriving at beautiful Lake Louise where’ll stay for 2 nights on the scenic lake shore at Fairmont Château Lake Louise. You can upgrade to a lake view room for £115 per person supplement.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 8 Lake Louise
Set against the Victoria Glacier, the ‘Jewel of the Rockies’ is truly inspiring. You have the whole day to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery before meeting your travel companions for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 9 Lake Louise to Jasper
A unique experience awaits at Icefields Parkway, as you climb aboard the Ice Explorer to traverse the Athabasca Glacier. You’ll also have the opportunity to step out onto this ancient and powerful ice flow. After a late lunch at Sunwapta Falls Resort, you’ll stop to view Athabasca Falls, then continue on to the town of Jasper and the Chateau Jasper hotel for 3 nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 10 Jasper
Today you travel through the rugged scenery of Jasper to Pyramid and Patricia Lakes. As you cross the valley to Maligne Canyon, the view down the gorge to the rushing waters 50 metres below is simply breathtaking. A cruise on Maligne Lake gives a close up view of Spirit Island.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 11 Jasper
On your free day, you can set your own pace. Your Tour Manager can give you plenty of ideas for your day, and we recommend an optional guided rafting excursion along the Athabasca River to see Jasper’s striking scenery from a unique perspective. The views are wonderful as you sail along calm stretches, interspersed by small but thrilling sets of rapids.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12 & 13 Jasper – Kamloops – Vancouver
Journey through the clouds on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train trip through wonderful scenery which has consistently won awards. There are too many highlights to mention each, but some of the most exhilarating are: Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, Yellowhead Pass and the journey along the North Thompson River. You’ll stop overnight at a hotel in Kamloops, then continue westwards to Vancouver, passing the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the gushing waters of Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon. On arrival in Vancouver transfer to the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle for a 3 night stay.

Day 14 Vancouver
This morning, your introduction to Vancouver includes Stanley Park with over 1,000 acres of majestic evergreens and 10km of Pacific sea wall, Lion’s Gate Bridge, Prospect Point, Gas Town, China Town and Granville Island. The rest of the day is free to explore the markets and sophisticated boutiques of this beautiful city.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 15 Vancouver
You have another free day today, and your Tour Manager will have plenty of ideas such as an optional excursion to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 230ft above the Capilano River, surrounded by the serene West Coast rainforest.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 16 Vancouver to Victoria
After a journey north to Horseshoe Bay, you’ll take the ferry over to Vancouver Island, stopping at Chemainus, ‘the little town that did’, to discover its many murals. You’ll also see the impressive Totem Poles at Duncan before arriving in the Provincial Capital of Victoria and 3 nights at Laurel Point Inn.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 17 Victoria
Today’s tour of Victoria includes the Inner Harbour, Empress Hotel, Beacon Hill Park and Butchart Gardens. Among the 50 acres of spectacular gardens you’ll find the unique Sunken Gardens, fragrant Rose Gardens, serene Japanese Gardens and Classical Italian Gardens. The afternoon is free for relaxation or more sightseeing; perhaps a leisurely wander around the Inner Harbour and the Olde Town Districts.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 18 Victoria
Today is your last full day, and you’re free to simply absorb the atmosphere in a waterfront café or cram in more excursions, such as a boat trip to go whale watching. Tonight, share your most memorable experiences with your fellow travellers at a farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 19 Depart Vancouver
A ferry ride will take you back to Vancouver for your homeward flight, arriving tomorrow morning. Or for the next leg of your journey, if you’ve chosen the 27-day tour with a cruise to Alaska on board Celebrity Century you will be taken to your cruise ship where you’ll settle in and relax in your Concierge Class Balcony Stateroom for a 7 night cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 20 to 25 Alaska Cruise
During your time on the Celebrity Century you will cruise through the waters of the Inside Passage, past rugged frontier scenery of glaciers and mountains, on the lookout for some of the wildlife of the area – you may see sea-lions and even humpbacked whales. You will step ashore in the Alaskan town of Juneau and there are a variety of optional excursions you can book or just relax amid untouched nature.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 26 Depart Vancouver
After dropping anchor in Vancouver you will have some free time in the city before you head to the airport for your evening departure.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 27 Arrive London Heathrow
Arrive this morning full of memories of the Canadian wilderness.

Tour includes:

Maximum group size: 25
JOD Tour Manager up to start of cruise
Local expert guides in resort
All flights specified
London airport executive lounge
Welcome drinks party
Inspirational sightseeing programme
Hotel luggage porterage service
18 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners (20 day option)
25 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners (27 day option)

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”