Scenic Spectacular

Day 1 London - Calgary - Banff Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to Calgary, where our coach transfers us to Banff and our hotel, the Banff Park Lodge (3T+), Caribou Lodge (3T+) Ptarmigan Inn (3T+) or Fox Hotel (4T). Day 2 Banff - Lake Louise Today we tour the surrounds of Banff and also visit Lake Louise. Take a stroll by the lakeside and visit the Chateau - a luxury hotel with cafés and bars to enjoy. We return to Banff by a different route, which enables us to enjoy the beauties of the region. Day 3 Banff - Columbia Icefield - Jasper We journey by road through spectacular scenery of rugged peaks, aquamarine lakes and high forested valleys. We stop at the Columbia Icefield one of the highest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle. Here we take an included Ice Explorer ride on to the surface of the Athabasca Glacier (subject to favourable weather conditions). Our destination is Jasper National Park and our hotel - the Chateau Jasper (3T) or Marmot Lodge (3T). Day 4 Jasper - VIA Rail - Prince George We depart early morning for an unforgettable sightseeing journey that includes Medicine Lake, Pyramid Lake and the limestone gorge of Maligne Canyon. Shortly after midday, we board VIA Rail’s Skeena train. As we are whisked through the beautiful countryside, following the Fraser River for some of the journey, sights to see include Moose Lake, Mount Robson and Mount Rider, and also watch out for elk, deer, caribou and bears. We arrive later in Prince George, located at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, with magnificent views of the Rockies. Our overnight accommodation is the Sandman Signature (4T+). Day 5 Prince George - Smithers Today we journey from Prince George, one of the British Columbia’s largest cities, to the northwestern town of Smithers. We stay overnight in this alpine-style town, banked by rolling hills, farmland, and snow-peaked Hudson Bay Mountain. Due to its stunning natural surroundings, the town is also home to amazing wildlife including bears and moose. We stay overnight at the Aspen Inn (3T). Day 6 Smithers - Prince Rupert This morning we wake for a scenic journey to Prince Rupert, located on British Columbia’s mighty wild and historic northwest coast. En route we make a stop at Exchamsiks River Valley for a fantastic nature experience. Activities will include a jetboat journey, during which we are greeted by cascading waterfalls, glacial ice and impressive rock walls; a captivating walk along the old growth trail, past 600-year old Cedar and Sitka Spruce trees and the beautiful glacier fed stream - where we may even feel the spray of the glistening waterfall; searching for mountain goats and other possible wildlife that may include bald eagles, bear, moose, beaver and river otters. We complete our ultimate Canadian river tour with an outside barbecue serving freshly prepared local salmon amidst amazing views of the natural surroundings. In Prince Rupert, we stay two nights at the Crest Hotel (3T+) or Prestige Prince Rupert (3T). Day 7 Prince Rupert A day at leisure in Prince Rupert provides us with an array of unique experiences to choose from: perhaps take a water taxi to Digby Island and beautiful Dodge Cove; discover the Museum of Northern British Columbia, hosting archaeological discoveries and amazing artefacts which reflect on the region’s unique history and culture dating back to the ice age; or there are a number of delightful trail tours exploring Prince Rupert’s displays of nature. Day 8 Prince Rupert - Port Hardy An early start today to join BC Ferries for a remarkable cruise through the 274-nautical-mile Inside Passage route between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy. We have reserved seats in the Aurora Lounge, making this scenic journey even more enjoyable, as we travel along this sheltered marine highway - one of the world’s greatest waterways. It follows a series of natural channels and, even beyond Queen Charlotte Sound, is protected from ocean swells by the islands and the rugged, densely wooded mountains of the British Columbia coastline. Late tonight we dock in Port Hardy and transfer to the Kwa’lilas Hotel (4T). Day 9 Port Hardy - Campbell River We drive towards Campbell River, stopping en route to embark on an included whale watching cruise in the Johnstone Strait, with the opportunity to possibly spot orca, minke and humpback whale, porpoises, bears, sea lions, various bird species and dolphins (please note that sightings are subject to the time of year and not guaranteed). We continue later to Campbell River and the Coast Discovery Inn and Marina (3T). Day 10 Campbell River - Ucluelet From Campbell River, we drive through the farmlands of Merville and Black Creek, alongside the sea and through the Comox Valley. We meander through the picturesque oceanside communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach, where views stretch across sandy beaches, the Strait of Georgia and beyond. Leaving the Oceanside Route, we continue to the twelve enchanting acres of gardens and forest that make up Tofino Botanical Gardens, including the flower, herb and kitchen gardens, duck pond, and the forest, where clearings have been transformed into a series of pocket gardens, art installations and garden buildings. Onwards to Ucluelet and our hotel, the Water’s Edge Shoreside Suites (4T). Day 11 Ucluelet - Victoria The scenic picturesque east coast of Vancouver Island is ranked among the top three drives in Canada. En route to Victoria, our drive takes us to Duncan, the ‘City of Totem Poles’, where we make a stop at the Cowichan Valley Museum, offering an authentic interpretation of life and traditions of the Pacific Coast tribes and Nanaimo - the Harbour City - where we will enjoy a city tour. Continue on to Victoria and the Embassy Inn Hotel (3T) or Chateau Victoria (4T). Day 12 Victoria Described in 1843 by an official of the Hudson’s Bay Company as ‘a perfect Eden’, Victoria remains true to its earliest plaudits and we have a full-day excursion exploring this vibrant capital of British Columbia. We spend time at the city’s world-famous attraction, Butchart Gardens, where an unused quarry was converted into a collection of gardens, including the Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, and the Mediterranean Garden, characterised by lush exotic plants. Day 13 Victoria - Vancouver From Victoria we enjoy a scenic journey to Swartz Bay, where a ferry cruise through the beautiful Gulf Islands takes us to Tsawwassen, for a drive onwards to Vancouver. We are treated to a tour of the city, admired for its vibrant charm and breathtaking mountainous views, before continuing to our hotel, the Century Plaza (4T), Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre Broadway (4T) or the Metropolitan Hotel (4T). Day 14 Vancouver - In flight There is time to explore further, before boarding our coach for the transfer to Vancouver Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to London. Day 15 London Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.