“ALASKA – THE YUKON – CANADA”
COACH & CRUISE TOUR

Tour Departs: 06 July 2012    •    Tour Length: 24 or 31 Days

Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territory. Together, they embrace North America’s greatest glaciers and ice fields, its highest peaks and mightiest rivers. It is the last true frontier where raw wilderness seems to stretch out forever. And if it could speak, what a story it would tell – from the days of the early fur traders who explored and mapped out the land, to the gold-fevered stampeders who flocked throughout the entire Northwest in their quest for gold. Alaska will make you feel more alive than almost any other place on earth.

Our tour starts with a leisurely 4 night stay in Vancouver, one of the most pleasant and beautiful cities in the world to visit. The few days in Vancouver allow us time to find our feet after the journey from home before we fly up to Whitehorse to commence our 10 day coach tour of Alaska and the Yukon. And what a wonderful 10 days it is. When you visit Alaska, you will see, hear, touch and smell the natural wonders that, until now, were only tales from friends or pages in a travel brochure. One of the highlights is the day spent in Denali National Park with its fantastic array of wildlife, while the rail journey to Denali from Fairbanks on the “McKinley Explorer Express” is a cracker.

HIGHLIGHT:  7 NIGHT ALASKA – INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE
After the coach tour, we join our deluxe 5***** cruise ship “Millennium” for the 7 night cruise from Anchorage down to Vancouver. From the moment you step aboard, you are embraced in an air of complete elegance. For 2012, we have a choice of onboard accommodation available … Ocean View Staterooms or Deluxe Ocean View Staterooms with Balcony. The superb cuisine served both in the dining rooms and on deck is as good as you will get from the finest of restaurant – and there is just so much of it. There is a never ending sequence of activities to keep you occupied en route – as if the magnificent passing scenery and interesting and exciting ports of call weren’t enough – Seward, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Icy Strait, Ketchikan and Vancouver.  And no worries about tipping on board – all tips to crew and port taxes are included in the tour cost.

To complete our tour, we have an optional seven day Canadian Rockies Tour, travelling by coach to see the world-renowned beauty of this region. We journey into the heart of the Rockies, stopping in Whistler, Kelowna, Lake Louise, Jasper and Banff with plenty of time to take in the unsurpassed splendour of this incredible part of the world along the way.

TOUR COST:

Excluding Rocky Mountains
Tour Costs Per Person based on:        Ocean View Stateroom                           Balcony Stateroom
Share Twin/Double Cabin/Room:         NZ$14,495     AUD$12,300                      NZ$15,100     AUD$12,900
Supplement for Single Cabin/Room:    NZ$  3,600     AUD$ 2,950                       NZ$ 4,100     AUD$  3,350

Including Rocky Mountains
Tour Costs Per Person based on:       Ocean View Stateroom                           Balcony Stateroom
Share Twin/Double Cabin/Room:        NZ$17,895     AUD$15,100                     NZ$18,500     AUD$15,700
Supplement for Single Cabin/Room:   NZ$  4,600     AUD$  3,750                     NZ$ 5,100      AUD$  4,150

Costs Include:
• Economy Class air travel ex Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney (additional cost to upgrade to Business Class available on request)
• Superior Tourist / First Class hotel accommodation
• Deluxe Ocean View Staterooms or Balcony Staterooms on the cruise ship
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary B = Full Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• First Class air-conditioned coach transportation for all touring
• Sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
• Services of a tour director and local guides for touring and sightseeing
• All port taxes and tips to crew on the 7 night cruise
• Tips to local guides and coach drivers
• Airport and government security taxes
• Baggage handling of one suitcase per person
• Fully Escorted

Costs Exclude:
• Any meals and sightseeing tours not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Items of a personal nature such as room service, laundry, drinks, telephone charges etc

Important - Cancellation Conditions: Due to the cruise content in this tour, we must vary our standard payment and cancellation conditions. These will be detailed in our written confirmation of your booking. Travel insurance will also be offered at this time.

 
 DAY TO DAY ITINERARY 
 

Friday 06 July:
Home – Vancouver (D)
Today we fly to Vancouver. The flight crosses the International Dateline, arriving Vancouver in the afternoon of the same day. On arrival, we are met and transferred by coach to our hotel for a 4 night stay. The remainder of the day is free to rest and relax after your flight.

Saturday 07 July
Vancouver (B)
The morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vancouver, a very beautiful city with lovely parks and gardens. Highlights of the tour include Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Bay and Park with its 400 hectares of trails and virgin wilderness so close to the city, English Bay, Gas Town with its trendy boutiques and cafes, and the downtown area. The afternoon is free.

Sunday 08 July
Vancouver (B)
This morning we enjoy a tour of Vancouver’s North Shore. We cross the Lions Gate Bridge and visit Capilano Canyon with totem poles and native carving and the pedestrian suspension bridge. We see the salmon hatchery before continuing on to Grouse Mountain to take the skyride to the mountain top to enjoy spectacular views of the city and gulf islands.

Monday 09 July:
Victoria / Vancouver Island Excursion (B)
Today we enjoy a full day tour to Vancouver Island. During our full day on the Island we will visit the world famous Butchart Gardens and also have time in the beautiful city of Victoria. Return to the mainland in the early evening.

Tuesday 10 July
Vancouver – Whitehorse (B, D)
This morning we are transferred by coach back to Vancouver Airport where we join the flight to Whitehorse, our gateway to the Yukon. On arrival, we enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of the city and a visit to the fully restored “SS Klondike” sternwheeler, before checking into our hotel for an overnight stay.

Wednesday 11 July
White Horse – Dawson City (B)
Leaving White horse this morning, we commence our coach journey through the gold-rush country to the heart of the Klondike, Dawson City. We stop at Carnacks to view the dangerous Five Finger Rapids which were a major hazard to negotiate for the boats going to the goldfields. We enjoy a 2 night stay in Dawson City.

Thursday 12 July
Dawson City (B)
It was to Dawson City in the late 1800s that the fortune hunters came in search of gold. The town buildings have been faithfully restored and maintained in period styling to give the town its special character. Our sightseeing tour this morning includes the many historic sights from the gold rush days. The Grant Gold Dredge, Jack London’s House, and a photo stop at “SS Keno”, the last sternwheeler to run between Dawson and Whitehorse. This evening, we enjoy a special treat with fun and games at “Diamond Tooth Gerties”, a rowdy saloon featuring ragtime music and Can Can Girls (Yukon style).

Friday 13 July
Dawson City – Tok (B, D)
We have the morning free in Dawson City before commencing the 5 hour journey along the “Top of the World” Highway. The route crosses a pristine wilderness area and through remote settlements like “Chicken” before we cross over into Alaska and join the Alaskan Highway for the short run into Tok, a trade centre for local native Indian crafts. We spend the night in Tok.

Saturday 14 July
Tok – Fairbanks (B)
Our journey continues along the Alaska Highway with panoramic views of the Alaska Range. We stop near Delta Junction to see the Trans Alaska Pipeline. On arrival Fairbanks this afternoon, we visit the University of Alaska which provides visitors with an overview of the whole State of Alaska. Exhibits range from the largest display of gold to a 36,000 year old Bison Mummy and an extensive Northern Lights display. We have a 2 night stay in Fairbanks.

Sunday 15 July
Fairbanks (B)
After breakfast this morning, we visit Gold Dredge Number 8. Later today, the Brinkley Family welcomes you aboard the sternwheeler “Discovery” for a leisurely yet informative cruise on the Chena and Tanana Rivers.

Monday 16 July
Fairbanks – Denali National Park (B, D)
An early departure this morning as we board the “Midnight Sun Express” train bound for Denali National Park. The seats in the Dome Car give panoramic views of the scenery during the 4 hour journey. We see massive Mt McKinley and the Alaska Range. On arrival Denali, we are transferred to our accommodation for a 2 night stay. The afternoon is free for a stroll around Denali or you may want to watch the dog-sled demonstrations.

Tuesday 17 July
Denali National Park (B,L)
A special day today as we enjoy a 7 hour wildlife tour into the heart of Denali National Park. The tour offers a great opportunity to see the wildlife of the park – in particular grizzly bears, caribou, moose and perhaps even wolves. We return to Denali mid-afternoon with time for a stroll or a visit to the Visitors Centre.

Wednesday 18 July
Denali – Anchorage (B, D)
A morning departure from Denali as our coach travels south towards the city of Anchorage. Once again, there is magnificent scenery to enjoy en route. Our afternoon arrival into Anchorage allows time for an orientation drive through the city.  We have a 2 night stay in Anchorage.

Thursday 19 July
Anchorage (B)
This morning, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Anchorage including the 26 acre Alaska Native Heritage Centre. View live demonstrations and performances in native village settings representing the indigenous cultures from the five regions of Alaska.  The afternoon is free.

Friday 20 July
Anchorage – Seward (B, D)
Leaving Anchorage, our coach takes the scenic drive along Turnagain Arm. We stop at the Portage Glacier to visit Begich Boggs Visitor Centre where we learn about the formation of glaciers and see views of the glaciers which carve icebergs into Portage Lake. We then continue on to the port of Seward.
7 Night Alaska – Inside Passage Cruise
On arrival Seward this afternoon, we commence boarding formalities for our home for the next 7 nights, the magnificent cruise ship “Millennium”. This evening, we dine aboard and later our ship slips quietly out of Seward to commence the cruise south.

Saturday 21 July
Yakutat Bay – Hubbard Glacier (B, L, D)
Today sees us in Yakutat Bay as our ship cruises close to Hubbard Glacier. Known as the “Galloping Glacier” because of its once incredible rate of growth, it is North America’s longest and most spectacular glacier, at one time (1986) blocking off Russell Fjord when it was surging forward at a rate of 130ft a day.

Sunday 22 July
Juneau (B, L, D)
Our ship docks in Juneau at 8.00am this morning. Juneau is Alaska’s capital city, nestled between the mountains and the sea. Here, the Alaska State Museum includes a native clan-house and birch-bark canoe, gold rush memorabilia and Russian Orthodox Church relics. Optional tours available on-board. Our ship sails from Juneau at 9.00pm.

Monday 23 July
Skagway (B, L, D)
Our ship docks early this morning to spend the day in Skagway where the frontier spirit is alive and well in this gold-rush town at the northernmost point of the Inside Passage. Optional tours once again available on board. Lively saloons, rousing dance hall revues, vintage street car tours, historic White Pass & Yukon Railway. Lots to do before we set sail again this evening.

Tuesday 24 July
Icy Strait Point (B, L, D)
Today, our ship visits Icy Strait Point, 22 miles west of Glacier Bay, known for its proliferation of wildlife. In season can be found the humpback whales feeding off the schools of herring as bald eagles swoop down for their share of the pickings. A truly majestic setting which will keep nature-lovers spellbound. Shipping traffic is carefully controlled to preserve the ecology of the area.

Wednesday 25 July
Ketchikan (B, L, D)
Our ship slips quietly into Ketchikan this morning to spend the day there. The ancestral home of Alaska’s Tlingit Indians, this rustic waterfront village has the world’s largest collection of totem poles. Ketchikan is also known as the Salmon capital of the world, and is a jumping-off point for seaplane excursions to the 2.2 million acre Misty Fjords National Monument. Optional tours available on board. We set sail at 6.00pm this evening.

Thursday 26 July
Inside Passage – Cruising (B, L, D)
Our final day aboard today. Sit back, relax and enjoy the passing vista of snow-capped mountains and fjords as our ship sails majestically through the Inside Passage. Maybe take time for some wildlife spotting. And don’t forget to enjoy the facilities of our luxury floating hotel. Fine dining this evening and maybe a Broadway Show in the theatre afterwards. 

Friday 27 July
Vancouver (B,D)
Our cruise concludes this morning as we arrive in Vancouver.

(Those travellers not taking the Rocky Mountains part of the tour will fly out of Vancouver for home today, crossing the International Dateline, arriving home 29 July)

ROCKY MOUNTAINS TOUR 

Vancouver - Whistler (B,D)
Following disembarkation from Celebrity Millennium you will be met by your Driver-guide and luxury motor coach. Travel the Sea-to-Sky Highway through some of Canada’s most rugged coastal mountain scenery. Walk with a naturalist through old growth rain forest and see thousand-year-old cedar trees. Stop to see Shannon Falls; third highest waterfall in Canada, and then enjoy free time on your own to explore the charming European-style Whistler Village before dinner with the group.

Saturday 28 July
Whistler - Kelowna (B)
Today following breakfast at the hotel, set out east towards Kelowna, in Canada‘s Okanagan wine Region.  Highlights today include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River.

Sunday 29 July                                      
Kelowna - Jasper (B)
Your adventure continues north and east to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Follow the North Thompson, a beautiful blue-green river, weaving through heavy forest of Cedar, Fir, and Spruce. Travel west past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and arrive in the quaint mountain town of Jasper. 

Monday 30 July                                     
Jasper  (B,D)
This morning you will ascend over 7400 feet to the summit of Whistler Mountain on the Jasper Tramway, once at the top you will marvel at an unbeatable view as you enjoy a full breakfast. Following the Tramway and breakfast you will venture out and take a cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake before you depart the Rockies. Learn of the local history, geology, wildlife and glaciology of Maligne Lake and of Jasper National Park as some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rockies drift past your window. At Spirit Island the boat lands to allow for a short walk to the viewpoint overlooking the mountain ringed southern shores of Maligne Lake; the equally famous backdrop of Spirit Island. Following your day of mountain adventure, enjoy time on your own to explore the town site before enjoying dinner with the group.

Tuesday 31 July                                     
Jasper – Lake Louise   (B,L)
Today drive one of the world’s most spectacular highways in the world down the Icefields Parkway. Visit the powerful and breathtaking Athabasca Falls. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Sunwapta Falls. Not to be missed is the experience of a lifetime - a ride on the Ice Explorer at the Columbia Icefield for a close up look at Athabasca glacier. At the summit of Bow Pass see the beautiful baby blue waters of Peyto Lake and the rugged beauty of the Mistaya River Valley. Check into your hotel at Lake Louise, one of the most photographed places in the world, surrounded by glistening glaciers and towering mountain peaks, and enjoy your evening at leisure.

Wednesday 1 August                             
Lake Louise - Banff (B)
This morning following breakfast at the hotel visit the nearby Moraine Lake, a crystal clear blue-green lake in a valley hemmed in by ten lofty mountain peaks.  Cross the Continental Divide where the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean divide and into Yoho National Park with some of the most sublime scenery in North America.  Visit Takkakaw Falls, higher than Niagara Falls and Emerald Lake, filled with glacial run-off water that makes it glisten with the blue-green hue of an emerald. Travel the famous Bow Valley Parkway towards Banff. Stop at Johnston Canyon for an easy walk through a deep rugged canyon littered with waterfalls.

Thursday 2 August                                
Banff (B,D)
This morning explore Banff on a sightseeing tour with stops at Cascade Gardens, one of Canada’s finest historic landscapes and beautiful Bow Falls located near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Great viewpoints exist along footpaths on both side of the river. Finish the morning with a trip up to the 2288 m (7500 ft) summit of Sulphur Mountain riding the Banff Gondola. This afternoon is at leisure to explore the village and boutique shops before enjoying the final farewell dinner with the group.

Friday 3 August
Banff – Calgary – Vancouver – Home (B)
This morning is free and in the afternoon we travel to Calgary for the flight to Vancouver where we connect with our homeward bound flight
****Cross International Dateline****

Sunday 5 August
Home
The tour ends today. “Welcome Home”