This winter why not escape the chill and immerse yourself in the spectacular North American wilderness with ecruising’s 21-night RAIL & SAIL: First Passage to the West & the Great Alaskan Explorer journey.
Comprising a 7-night tour including 2 spectacular days on the Rocky Mountaineer through the Canadian Rockies, followed by a 14-night cruise through the pristine waters of British Columbia and Alaska onboard Holland America Line’s Maasdam, this itinerary from one of Australia’s leading cruise experts is guaranteed to impress and inspire.
Your journey begins on 20 July 2020 with a night in the Hyatt Regency Calgary Hotel in Canada’s Alberta Province. Spend time exploring the cosmopolitan Calgary at your leisure, making sure to leave enough time to enjoy your complimentary visit to top of the 525 foot high Calgary Tower, with its awe-inspiring 360 degree views of the city and the Rocky Mountains in the distance. From Calgary, head west towards Banff on a breathtaking sightseeing tour, taking in Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos along the way, as well as a stopover at Kananaskis for a Panoramic Helicopter Tour over the remarkable Canadian Rockies’ landscape. Spending your next 2 nights at Banff’s luxurious Rimrock Resorts Hotel, enjoy a half-day tour of nearby Yoho National Park, home to snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers, cascading rivers and sweeping vistas, as well as myriad attractions including the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River.
Next up are 2 days aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train to Vancouver, travelling in GoldLeaf Service, with an overnight stay at Kamloops along the way. The perfect way to travel, sink into spacious seats as you soak up expansive views through the panoramic windows of your bi-level glass dome coach, venture out onto the exclusive outdoor viewing platform, or simply relax in the dedicated Dining Room as you indulge in complimentary beverages and gourmet meals prepared by Executive Chefs. En route watch sprawling landscapes unfold right outside your window incorporating everything from glaciers, snow-capped peaks and rugged mountain passes to rocky lakeshores and the vast ranch lands of Canada’s Interior, with highlights including the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, British Columbia’s Coast and Cascade Mountains and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon.
Finish up your tour with 3 nights in British Columbia’s capital, Vancouver, staying at the sumptuous Fairmont Hotel, and explore the city’s many sights and attractions including a chance to indulge in your choice of one of four activities – a sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore, a guided bicycle tour of the city, a small-group culinary walking tour of the Granville Island Farmers Market, or a Sea Safari zodiac boat tour along the pristine Howe Sound coast.
On 27 July 2020, say farewell to Vancouver as you embark on the next stage of your journey – a 14-night cruise to Alaska and back onboard the stately Maasdam. The ship features supremely comfortable, well-appointed staterooms and suites, as well and stylish contemporary décor throughout – the perfect backdrop for the ship’s impressive collection of antiques. Add in plenty of tranquil relaxation areas and a wealth of fantastic dining options, and it is the perfect place to bask in a little summer sunshine. Even better, you can hone your culinary skills with EXC Port to Table and thrill to BBC Earth Experiences’ onboard program of concerts and films. Plus, the ship is outfitted with its own nimble, inflatable Zodiacs, ensuring that you can explore every port of call along the way further than ever before.
Your voyage gets underway with a day’s sailing through the complex labyrinth of fjords, bays, and verdant islands of Alaska’s Inside Passage, home to an abundance of wildlife, including orca, bald eagles, bears, puffins and the occasional whales. Further north, stopovers include Ketchikan, the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’; the Tracey Arm Fjord, site of the largest intact coastal temperate rain forest in the United States; and the former gold rush town of Skagway with its charming downtown of restored 19th-century buildings. The ship also calls at the Tlingit Indian-operated Icy Strait Point, home to a restored 1912 salmon cannery and museum, and the pristine Inian Islands, before heading northwest across the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage, the State’s largest city, and Homer, famous for its Halibut.
Returning southwards, highlights include Valdez, gateway to nearby wilderness areas of Thompson Pass, the Worthington Glacier and the Chugach Mountains; the impressive Hubbard Glacier, one of Alaska’s most exciting natural treasures; Juneau, the State’s capital; and the spectacular Misty Fjord with its remarkable, ‘u’-shaped canals; before the cruise concludes in Vancouver on 10 August 2020.
Priced from just $9,599* per person twin share, ecruising’s 21-night RAIL & SAIL: First Passage to the West & the Great Alaskan Explorer journey includes return international economy airfares, all accommodation, all meals, beverages, plus bonus $100 merchandise credit* onboard Rocky Mountaineer, and all transfers and touring as per itinerary.
*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information about this itinerary or ecruising generally, please visit:
www.ecruising.travel or telephone 1300 369 848.
SOURCE: ecruising
