Totem Circle
VACATION FEATURES: 14 nights hotel accommodation, 15 days mid-size car rental, BC Ferry fares for Inside Passage from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, Admission to: Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, Butchart Gardens, Fort Rodd Hill, Fisgard Lighthouse, Quw'utsun' Native Heritage Village, Nature Cruise, Fort St. James National Historic Site, Maligne Lake Cruise, Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff Gondola, Banff's Upper Hot Springs, Minter Gardens, and Hells Gate Tram, $2 discount coupon for the Capilano Suspension Bridge, hotel luggage handling, National Park Fees and Brewster Documentation Package.
DAY 1 Vancouver
Pick up your rental car and proceed to your Vancouver hotel. Vancouver is a busy port with a multi-cultural ambiance. The spectacular setting invites you outdoors; explore the restaurants, shopping, galleries and museums, nightlife, entertainment and more. An excellent choice to spend your first day in Vancouver would be to go visit the world-famous Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver.
DAY 2 Victoria
Your destination today is the city of Victoria located on Vancouver Island. Departing Vancouver, stop at the village of Steveston and newly restored Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. Continue to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal for your 90 min. ride to Victoria (ferry fare not included). Arriving on Vancouver Island, it is a short and richly scenic drive to Butchart Gardens.
DAY 3 Victoria
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Victoria's attractions, museums, galleries, parks and Inner Harbour. Visit Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse, a former military installation and first permanent lighthouse built in 1860 that is still functioning today.
DAY 4 Campbell River
Departing Victoria, wind your way up the Island Highway (Highway 1) through such communities as Duncan, known as the "City of Totems". Here you will find an authentic representation of the Northwest Coast Indians' world at the Quw'utsun' Heritage Village (formerly known as Cowichan). This site features totem carving demonstrations, weaving, beading and knitting. Continuing north, pass the community of Chemainus, the "City of Murals". Your final destination today is Campbell River .
DAY 5 Port Hardy
Northbound again, your route today features a stop at Telegraph Cove for a 5 hour nature cruise. Possible wildlife sightings may include Dall's porpoises, harbour seals, otters, killer whales or bald eagles. Depart Telegraph Cove and continue on the Island Highway, reaching its northern terminus at the city of Port Hardy, your destination for today.
DAY 6 Prince Rupert
An early morning transfer to the B.C. Ferry Terminal and you are boarding your vessel bound for a full day of cruising the scenic grandeur of one of the world's most beautiful and shortest (15 hrs) ocean voyages. You will be tracing a path between the northern tip of Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert, the gateway to Alaska.
DAY 7 Smithers
Departing Prince Rupert today, follow the Yellowhead Highway through northern British Columbia's forested landscape. Your first stop will be the authentic fishing village of Port Edward and the North Pacific Cannery Village Museum (admission not included) followed by the replica Gitksan Indian Village of 'Ksan (admission not included).
DAY 8 Prince George
Continuing on the Yellowhead Highway, make a short detour to the Fort St. James National Historic Site. The site features reconstructed and restored buildings that house artifacts and replicas of furs, trade goods, and furnishing of the late 1800's. Site interperters dressed in period costumes play out historic scenarios and demostrate old time skills.
DAY 9 Jasper
Venturing eastward, enter the Rocky Mountains today and pass by Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Check-in to your Jasper hotel before taking a wander through this mountain resort town.
DAY 10 Jasper
A day at leisure to enjoy Jasper. Set among some of the most rugged peaks in the Canadian Rockies, this peaceful townsite lends itself well to active or relaxed exploration. Included is a boat cruise on Maligne Lake. Some suggested activities (not included) are stopping at Maligne Canyon, the Jasper Tramway, hiking one of the local trails or taking a float trip on the Athabasca River.
DAY 11 Banff
Today, travel the scenic Icefields Parkway and stop at the Athabasca Glacier for an Ice Explorer ride onto the glacier. Other recommened stops are Athabasca Falls, Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnson Canyon.
DAY 12 Banff
Enjoy the sights of Banff this morning as you enter a Banff Gondola car that will whisk you to the summit of Sulphur mountain. Also included in your package is admission to the Upper Hot Springs and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, birthplace of Canada's National Parks system. Other suggested sights and activities are a boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka, hiking, biking, canoeing or exploring any of the museums (not included).
DAY 13 Chase
Today's journey on the Trans Canada Highway (#1) will take you over the Great Divide, past the Spiral Tunnels and to Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls (short side trips off the highway). From there, you will continue over Roger's Pass and may make a stop at Craigellachie where the last spike was driven in the railway that unites Canada coast to coast.
DAY 14 Vancouver
Continue your journey westward through near-desert regions before turning southward to follow the Fraser River through a narrow canyon. During this stretch of highway, stop at Hell's Gate for a tram ride over the unique fish ladders in the Fraser River that aid spawning salmon in this difficult part of the river. Make a stop at Minter Gardens, before continuing on to downtown Vancouver.
DAY 15 Vancouver
Your vacation concludes today with the return of your rental vehicle to either the Vancouver International Airport or any downtown drop-off location.
Additional hotel nights and car rental days are available to extend this vacation.
| Seasons | |
| 2008 Summer | Jun 24 - Jul 30, 2008 (Even Days), Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2008 (Odd Days) & Sep 2 - Sep 24, 2008 (Even Days) |
| 2008 Early Summer | May 15 - May 31, 2008 (Odd Days) & Jun 2 - Jun 22, 2008 (Even Days) |
| 2008 Spring | May 13, 2008 |
Call 1-877-482-6555 to book or email your request to info@lakelouise.com