Majestic Peaks & Coastal Passage

Day 1 | Calgary

Welcome to Calgary! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.

Day 2 | Calgary – Banff National Park

The discovery of oil converted this ranching town into a sophisticated city. It is also home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. See many of the city’s attractions, including Fort Calgary, Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. Motor west through the foothills and into Banff National Park, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. An orientation tour highlights Banff’s unspoiled beauty.

Day 3 | Banff National Park

Banff is one of Canada’s favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing. With a free day, your Tour Director will have many suggestions, including a sky-high adventure with an unforgettable optional helicopter ride over the incredible Canadian Rockies. Or if you prefer keeping your feet on the ground, join the Panoramas & Peaks optional excursion to see breathtaking Moraine Lake in the famed Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Day 4 | Banff National Park – Lake Louise – Columbia Icefield – Jasper National Park

Enjoy a day of scenic grandeur. First stop is Lake Louise, whose turquoise waters create a natural mirror that reflects the surrounding mountains. Up next, a stop at the Columbia Icefield to experience the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Then, drive north into Jasper National Park, where precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as your journey scales three mountain passes. Later, consider an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of the town of Jasper upon arrival.

Day 5 | Jasper National Park

Today, experience the magic of nature on an optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island* where you’ll embark on a narrated cruise to learn about the area’s history, geology, flora, and fauna amid stunning scenery. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer—from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.

Day 6 | Jasper National Park – Mount Robson–Kamloops

Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, which at 12,972-feet is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The Yellowhead Highway continues south along the mighty Thompson River, with spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. Overnight in Kamloops.

Day 7 | Kamloops – Ferry Crossing – Victoria

As you travel through British Columbia’s Cascade Mountains and the fertile Fraser Valley to the majestic Pacific coastline, the vegetation changes from desert landscape to lush alpine forest. Board your ferry for the scenic crossing to Vancouver Island. Prior to arriving in Victoria, visit world-famous Butchart Gardens and view 55 acres of beautiful floral displays. Continue downtown and see the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park. This evening, consider a relaxing stroll along the lively Waterfront Promenade.

Day 8 | Victoria

Today is free to explore on your own. Your Tour Director will have ideas for enjoying this most British of Canadian cities. Perhaps enjoy High Tea at the Empress Hotel or choose an adventure at sea with an optional Wildlife and Whale-Watching Expedition, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.

Day 9 | Victoria – Ferry Crossing – Vancouver

This morning, set sail across the Strait of Georgia, an arm of the Salish Sea, and through the scenic Gulf Islands. In Vancouver, city sightseeing includes beautiful Stanley Park and other famous landmarks. The remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant city known for its incredible scenery, thriving art scene, and diverse culture. Perhaps visit Robson Street and experience British Columbia’s premier shopping and entertainment location.

Day 10 | Vancouver

Your guided tour ends this morning. Make your way to your next hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Days 11 - 12 | Vancouver

Enjoy time at leisure exploring the vibrant city, renowned for its natural beauty, diverse culture and relaxed West Coast lifestyle. 

Day 13 | Vancouver – Embark Cruise

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and make your way to the cruise terminal ready to board Discovery Princess.

Departs 3.00pm

Day 14 | At Sea

Spend a relaxing onboard. Enjoy the ship’s elegant dining, enrichment talks, spa experiences, or simply unwind on deck as you sail through one of the world’s most scenic waterways.

Day 15 | Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan is known as Alaska's "First City" because it's the first major community travellers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means "eagle with spread-out wings," a reference to a waterfall near town. In the early 1900s, when gold was Alaska's claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established in Ketchikan. The growth of these industries helped make this Inside Passage port Alaska's fourth-largest city. Visitors to Ketchikan will be intrigued by its rich Native heritage, which includes the world's oldest collection of totem poles at Totem Heritage Centre. The Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian are all a part of the city's colourful history. Ketchikan, with its abundance of salmon, is also a sport-fishing paradise. Sightseers will be impressed with both the scenic town and its surroundings, especially Misty Fjords National Monument.

Arrive 6.00am | Depart 2.00pm 

Day 16 | Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising), Alaska

This narrow fjord is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Juneau and is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area. Breathtaking Endicott Arm extends over 30 miles long, with nearly one-fifth of its area covered in ice. At the head of the fjord, tidewater glaciers, such as the Dawes Glacier, regularly expel enormous chunks of ice into the waters below in a magnificent process known as calving. During the summer when Princess ships visit, icebergs float along the surface of the glistening water in an array of sizes, from just a few inches up to three stories wide. Protected within the Tongass National Forest, Endicott Arm is a haven for wildlife. Black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, mountain goats and a variety of seabirds have been spotted in the area. As you glide through the pristine fjord, you'll first pass by a lush forest where a number of beautiful waterfalls cascade down, and then you'll be treated to views of snowcapped mountains and blue-tinged glaciers more spectacular than you could ever imagine.

Arrive 6.00am | Depart 10.00am 

Day 16 | Juneau, Alaska

In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets "as large as beans." From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than $150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government. Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneau's 3,248 square miles. Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.

Arrive 1.30pm | Depart 09.15pm

Day 17 | Skagway, Alaska

Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest. Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail. The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome. Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavour of the gold rush era.

Arrive 6.30am | Depart 8.30pm

Days 18-19 | At Sea

Relax onboard as you sail through the breathtaking Inside Passage. Take in ever‑changing views of forested islands, misty fjords, and mountain peaks from the comfort of the ship, with plenty of opportunities for whale spotting along the way.

Day 20 | Vancouver

Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking Discovery Princess and continuing your onward journey.

Arrive 7.30am

*Itinerary is subject to change.