CANADIAN TRAIN ODYSSEY WITH ALASKA CRUISE

Day 1 - TORONTO.

Welcome to Toronto! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

Day 2 - TORONTO. EXCURSION TO NIAGARA FALLS.

Leave bustling Toronto and travel along the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. Sightseeing here includes a SIGHTSEEING BOAT CRUISE past the worldfamous falls. Later, visit picturesque Niagaraon- the-Lake. Return to Toronto and spend the evening exploring the city sights on your own, including Harbourfront Centre, Ontario Place, and Chinatown. NOTE: Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favourable weather and/or river conditions. When unfavourable conditions exist, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.

Day 3 - TORONTO-VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN.

Setting Toronto's exciting architectural pace are City Hall; the downtown banking district; Roger's Centre; and stunning CN Tower, more than a third of a mile high. See all this and more on your city sightseeing tour. This evening, join the optional outing that combines dinner with the spectacular sight of Toronto's lights from the CN Tower. Afterward, transfer to Union Station for a late-evening departure on the CANADIAN, VIA Rail's premier transcontinental train. Spend the next three days and nights on this classic trip across Canada's heartland. Your Sleeper Plus class rail cars are refurbished art-deco cars from the 1950s. Domed observation cars let you enjoy views of the Canadian countryside as you roll past Ontario's landscapes. All meals are included, and you won't want to miss any of them, as the chef offers a tempting array of soups, salads, main courses, and desserts.

Day 4 - VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN.

Today, watch the scenery as you whisk by the everchanging Canadian landscape and travel the full length of the Canadian National Railway's breathtaking mainline. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN- WINNIPEG.

An early arrival into Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital, a city rich in history and culture. In the early afternoon, we continue our journey through Manitoba's prairies and into Saskatchewan. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - VIA RAIL THE CANADIAN-JASPER NATIONAL PARK.

Wake early and enjoy a delicious breakfast as you continue on the Canadian into the very heart of the Canadian Rockies. Arrive in Jasper this afternoon. An orientation tour includes Jasper's unspoiled beauty. Perhaps an optional float trip on the Athabasca River to end the day? The evening is free to enjoy the ambiance of this delightful mountain setting. (BR)

Day 7 - JASPER NATIONAL PARK.

With free time this morning, maybe hike on the trails and watch for wildlife, or stroll the streets of Jasper. This afternoon consider an optional trip to Maligne Lake for a narrated cruise to much-photographed Spirit Island. On the return journey, stop to view mighty Maligne Canyon.

Day 8 - JASPER NATIONAL PARK-COLUMBIA ICEFIELD-LAKE LOUISE-BANFF NATIONAL PARK.

Board your motorcoach this morning and journey through JASPER NATIONAL PARK, stopping along the way at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice that is 750 feet (250 metres) thick. Continue down Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, where cold waters mirror the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Arrive in BANFF NATIONAL PARK for a leisurely 2-night stay.

Day 9 - BANFF NATIONAL PARK.

This morning, consider an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. The day is free to independently explore this resort town located within Banff National Park. Stroll Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare of boutiques and souvenir shops. The surrounding 2,564 square miles (4126 sq kilometres) of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and grizzly bears. This evening your Tour Director will suggest an optional horse drawn wagon ride along scenic trails followed by a BBQ Steak dinner.

Day 10 - BANFF NATIONAL PARK-YOHO NATIONAL PARK-GLACIER NATIONAL PARK-KAMLOOPS.

This morning, leave Banff National Park and travel over Kicking Horse Pass on the Continental Divide. Travel through YOHO NATIONAL PARK, where pre-Cambrian fossils were discovered, and GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, where recreational mountain climbing was introduced to North America a century ago. Late this afternoon, arrive at the cattleranching centre of Kamloops."

Day 11 - KAMLOOPS-FERRY CROSSING- VICTORIA.

As you travel through the Coast Mountain Range to its majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forests. Board your afternoon ferry for the spectacular crossing to Vancouver Island. Sightseeing in Victoria includes the worldfamous BUTCHART GARDENS, the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider strolling along the Waterfront Promenade.

Day 12 - VICTORIA.

Be sure to discover some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel, a whale-watching cruise on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street.

Day 13 - VICTORIA-FERRY CROSSING- VANCOUVER.

This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its climate. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes STANLEY PARK, Gastown, Chinatown, and many other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore Robson Street and experience British Columbia's premier shopping and entertainment location.

Day 14 - VANCOUVER.

Today is at leisure for independent sightseeing. Maybe take a water taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafes. Or, re-visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, art galleries, and street vendors.

Day 15 - VANCOUVER.

Enjoy day at leisure.

Day 16 - VANCOUVER (EMBARKATION).

Embark Holland America's luxurious MS Volendam for a 7-night voyage through the famed Inside Passage. (D)

Day 17 - SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE.

Spend the day cruising one of the world's most spectacular waterways. Located along the coast of British Columbia, the Inside Passage is the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Watch the water for orcas and humpback whales. (B,L,D)

Day 18 - JUNEAU.

Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska's capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town-or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There's no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. (B,L,D)

Day 19 - SKAGWAY.

In winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy's Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky-tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of `98 Museum. (B,L,D)

Day 20 - SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY.

Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world. How does it feel when a colossal chunk of ice splits off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The sound is like thunder. The impact shoots water hundreds of metres into the air. You hold your breath as you capture the moment on camera, then you wait for it all to happen again. (B,L,D)

Day 21 - KETCHIKAN.

Built over the water and up weathered stairways, Ketchikan clings to the shores of Tongass Narrows and drapes the mountains with a hospitable air. (B,L,D)

Day 22 - SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE.

Cruise through the awe-inspiring Inside Passage, keeping watch for spouting whales, soaring eagles, and other wildlife. Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner and onboard entertainment. (B,L,D)

Day 23 - VANCOUVER (DISEMBARKATION).

Your holiday ends this morning. Please schedule homebound flights after Noon.(B)