Discover the CANADIAN ROCKIES AND ALASKA
California and Canyons extension option
25 days/22 nights accommodated
Departs 18th May, 2011 - returns saturday 11th June, 2011
Projected date for 2012 - 14th June.
CALIFORNIA AND CANYONS
17 days/14 Nights accommodated. 9th - 25th June, 2011
San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Anaheim.
Just $7,950 per person share twin ex Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.
OPTIONAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE ABOARD "ALLURE OF THE SEAS" - largest cruise ship in the world!!
Fully escorted subject to minimum of 10 travelling
PLEASE NOTE:
1. We are flexible! This tour may be joined or left at some points en route. If you cannot join us for the full tour tell us what you would like to do and we will give you a price.
Day 1-2. Wednesday. 18th May, 2011 AUCKLAND - VANCOUVER
Depart Auckland late evening with Air New Zealand for Vancouver. Crossing the dateline means arrival Vancouver same day. We will be met and transferred to the Cascadia Hotel and Suites.
Day 3. Thursday. 19 May. VANCOUVER 19th May. (B)
Our morning sightseeing includes Downtown, Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, and an Art Glass factory. The afternoon is free to explore at your leisure. Dinner included this evening at a local restaurant.
Day 4. Friday. 20 May. ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TO KAMLOOPS (CB.L)
Transfer to the Rocky Mountaineer for an unforgettable daylight ride through British Columbia. (Red Leaf grade included. For Gold Leaf add $1,300) Travel through the fertile fields of the Fraser Valley and alongside the towering peaks of the Coast Maountains before entering Fraser Canyon. Following the Thompson River arrive at historic Kamloops.
Day 5. Saturday. 21 May. KAMLOOPS - JASPER. (CB.L.D)
Continue through the mountains to beautiful Jasper and transfer to the hotel Chateau Jasper. After dinner enjoy an informative lecture on the local wildlife.
Day 6. Sunday. 22 May. JASPER (B)
Today we visit beautiful Maligne Canyon for a narrated walk. The rest of the day is at leisure for optional (extra expense) activities such as a cruise on Maligne lake and/or a cable car ride for spectacular views of Jasper and the surrounding mountains - weather permitting.
Day 7. Monday. 23 May. JASPER - COLUMBIA ICEFIELD - BANFF (BD)
A day of magnificent scenery as we drive along the icefields Parkway. Enjoy a snow coach ride on the Athabasca Glacier and see Peyto Lake and Crowfoot Glacier en route to Banff. Accommodation at Banff Park Lodge.
Day 8. Tuesday. 24 May. BANFF (B)
Sightseeing includes a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain and stops at the Hoodoos, Surprise Corner, Bow River and Falls.
Day 9. Wednesday 25 May. BANFF - LAKE LOUISE - SUN PEAKS. (BD)
Drive to beautiful Lake Louise for a stop the on through the Revelstoke National Park to Sun Peaks. Accommodation at Hotel Delta Sun Peaks. Time to explore this year round resort this evening.
Day 10. Thursday 26 May. SUN PEAKS - VICTORIA (B)
Drive to the Pacific Coast and across the Strait of Georgia be ferry to Vancouver Island. A tour of introduction is provided on arrival including including the beautiful inner harbour, Parliament Buildings, and Bastion Square.
Day 11. Friday 27 May. VICTORIA. (B)
Enjoy breakfast at the famous Butchart Gardens with plenty of time to explore the gardens with their wonderful floral displays. Later visit a quant cidery and an orchard with free time to enjoy Victoria.
Day 12. Saturday 28 May. VICTORIA - VANCOUVER. (B)
Coach and ferry back to Vancouver and return to Hotel Cascadia or similar.
Those who prefer a 7 night inside passage cruise only returning to Vancouver depart saturday evening aboard Holland America's luxury cruise ship "Zuiderdam" returning to Vancouver the following saturday morning for 1 night hotel. Depart for Auckland sunday night arriving Auckland tuesday 31 May.
"Zuiderdam Itinerary
Saturday. Vancouver depart 5pm
Sunday. Scenic cruising inside passage
Monday. Skagway. Scenic cruising Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier
Tuesday. Skagway. Arrive 7am - depart 9pm
Wednesday. Scenic cruising Glacier Bay National Park
Thursday. Ketchikan. Arrive 10am. depart 6pm
Friday. Scenic cruising inside passage
Saturday. Vancouver arrive 7am.
Make your way to your hotel.
Day 13. Sunday. 29 May. VANCOUVER DEPART. (B).
Free time to explore at your leisure before transferring to the cruise terminal to board your luxurious Holland America line cruise ship "Zaandam" sailing late afternoon.
We do recommend a balcony cabin to be able to experience all the best of Alaskan sightseeing.
Those on the Rocky Mountains tour option only depart this evening for Auckland arriving tuesday 31st May.
Day 14. Monday 30 May. CRUISING. (BLD)
A day to settle in and enjoy all the facilities, entertainment, and cuisine of your resort.
Day 15. Tuesday 31 May. KETCHIKAN. (BLD)
Arrive 7am - sail 3pm
Optional tours to Misty Fjords, Saxman Native Village, the cannery, etc.
Day 16. Wednesday 1 June. JUNEAU. (BLD)
Arrive 8am - Sail 10.30pm
Optional scenic flights by float plane or helicopter and tours to Mendenhall Glacier, Brewery, Whale watching cruise, Salmon Bake etc.
Day 17. Thursday 2 June. SKAGWAY. (BLD)
Arrive 7am - sail 9pm
Enjoy the included famous White Horse and Yukon Railway ride today to the Canadian border.
Day 18. Friday 3 June. CRUISING. (BLD)
Its camera time on deck as we cruise magnificent Glacier Bay from 7am to 4pm
Day 19. Saturday 4 June. CRUISING. (BLD)
More magnificent cruising in College Fjord this evening from 5pm to 8pm.
Day 20. Sunday. 5 June. SEWARD - ANCHORAGE (B)
Arrive in Seward 7am and disembark after breakfast driving to Portage Lake for a 'small boat' cruise to Portage Glacier. Drive on to Anchorage for a city tour which includes the Alaska Native Heritage Centre and historical parts of the city.
Day 21. Monday 6 June. ANCHORAGE - DENALI (B)
Transfer to the railway station and board the McKinley Explorer train for our ride into the Denali National Park and transfer to our hotel. Free afternoon to explore and this evening enjoy the rangers introduction to the park.
Passengers on the Rockies and cruise only tour transfer to Anchorage airport and fly home arriving wednesday morning.
Day 22. Tuesday 7 June. DENALI - FAIRBANKS. (B)
This morning enjoy a tundra wilderness tour with a local guide and this afternoon reboard the McKinlay Explorer train for our ride into Fairbanks.Transfer to our hotel.
Day 23. Wednesday. 8 June. FAIRBANKS. (B)
Enjoy our city tour and the sternwheel riverboat "Discovery 3" cruise along the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Also visit the historic Gold Dredge Number 8 site.
Day 24. Thursday 9 June. FAIRBANKS DEPART (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home via San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Those doing the Alaska extension travel to Dawson Falls
Those enjoying the California and Canyons extension fly to San Francisco.
Day 25.Saturday 10 June. AUCKLAND ARRIVE
Arrival in Auckland is scheduled for early morning.
Tour cost per person 25 day tour
Two per room...... $11,650
Single Room....... $14,760
The above costs are based on an inside cabin during your cruise.
Supplement for upgraded cabins during cruise
Outside Cabin( subjecty to availability - very limited as at 31st March, 2011)
2 per cabin... $500...Single cabin $1000
Verandah Cabin (Highly recommended) 2 per cabin 850, single cabin $1700
ALASKA EXTENSION
Day 24. Thursday 9 June. FAIRBANKS - DAWSON CITY. (B)A day of magnificent scenery as we drive along the Alaska Highway and over the "Top of the World" highway to Dawson City. This was the main centre of excitement after the first gold rush strike in the Klondike in 1896 which led to the worlds largest gold rush.
Day 25. Friday. 10 June. DAWSON CITY. (B)
A full day to enjoy this exciting Gold Rush town. See Bonanza Creek and claim #1, Robert service's cabin, and a phoostop at the SS Keno, the last sternwheeler to run between Dawson and Whitehorse. Optional (extra expense) entertainment tonight at the Gaslight Follies or Diamond Tooth Gerties Saloon tonight.
Day 26. Saturday 11 June. DAWSON CITY - WHITEHORSE (BD)
Continue driving south to Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon, with a stop at the Five Finger rapids en route. Tonight we enjoy a special farewell dinner and the "Frantic Follies"
Day 27. Sunday. 12 June. WHITEHORSE DEPART (B)
Morning sightseeing includes the SS Klondike and McBride Museum. This afternoon we fly to Vancouver to rejoin Air New Zealand for our non stop flight to Auckland. Cross the dateline en route.
Those wishing to join us for our CANYONLANDS tour fly to Las Vegas and join us there.
CALIFORNIA AND CANYONS
Day 1 and 2. Thursday 9 June. AUCKLAND TO SAN FRANCISCO. (B) Depart Auckland late evening with Air New Zealand (crossing the dateline means arrival same day) and fly to San Francisco. You will be met on arrival and transferred to the well loved Handlery Hotel handy to Union Square.
Day 3. Friday 10 June. SAN FRANCISCO. (B)
Sightseeing today includes downtown, a ride on the famous cable cars, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Bridge, Fishermans wharf, and a harbour cruise with Alcatraz visit.
Day 4. Saturday. 11 June. SAN FRANCISCO - YOSEMITE VALLEY (B)
We drive to the magnificent Yosemite Valley and spend the afternoon exploring its forests, lakes, mountains, and waterfalls. Accommodation at Cedar Lodge in the Merced River Canyon.
Day 5. Sunday. 12 June. YOSEMITE - SAN FRANCISCO. (B)
Tour the high country of Yosemite this morning including spectacular views of Mt Lyall (13,000ft) in fine weather and there is time to walk among the giant Sequoia trees before returning to San Francisco.
Day 6. Monday. 13 June. SAN FRANCISCO - LAS VEGAS (B)
Transfer to the airport and fly to Las Vegas. We will be met on arrival and enjoy a tour of the famous strip before arriving at our accommodation at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Downtown. Time to explore at your leisure and enjoy some of the fabulous shows this evening.
Day 7. Tuesday 14 June. LAS VEGAS - GRAND CANYON - LAKE POWELL. (B)
We drive past Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam before arriving at the magnificent Grand Canyon, one of the 7 natural wonders of the World. At Tusayan you have the opportunity to take an optional 30 minute spectacular flight by helicopter (extra expense USD175) to really appreciate the magnitude of the Grand Canyon. Continue to the major viewpoints of the Grand Canyon including Mather Point and Bright Angel Lodge. You have time to explore at your leisure and enjoy the spectacular views. Drive along part of the rarely seen South Rim into Navajo country and on to Page on the shores of Lake Powell for accommodation.
Day 8. Wednesday. 15 June. MONUMENT VALLEY (B)
Optional leisurely (extra expense USD95) float trip this morning. Drive down the 2 mile long Glen Canyon dam access tunnel then board a motorised pontoon raft for your journey downstream. For the next 15 miles enjoy one of the most dramatic stretches of river in the United States.
This afternoon enjoy a 2 hour tour exploring the amazing Monument Valley with its buttes, mesas, and other sandstone formations which have been the scene of many western movies. Also visit the Navajo tribal park before returning to Page.
Day 9. Thursday 16 June. LAKE POWELL - BRYCE CANYON - ZION NATIONAL PARK - LAS VEGAS (B)
This morning tour Antelope Valley in a special off road vehicle led by a Navajo guide. Rejoin your tour van and drive to Bryce Canyon, regarded by many as more spectacular than the Grand Canyon. Marvel at, and photograph, the amazing colourful Hoodoos. Continue to Zion National Park. Tour the park including the striking rock formations, massive sand dunes and the Great Arch of Zion, a gigantic work in progress. Return to Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget Hotel mid evening.
Day 10. Friday 17 June. LAS VEGAS - ANAHEIM. (B)
Transfer to the airport. Fly to Los Angeles and take the bus to Anaheim. Accommodation at the Sheraton Hotel handy to Disneyland.
Passengers taking our Caribbean cruise option fly directly to Miami for one night.
Days 11-15. Saturday 18th June - Wednesday 22nd June (B)
Five free days to enjoy all the attractions of California. You may shorten or extend this time as you wish. No admissions are included.
Day 16. Thursday 23rd June. LOS ANGELES DEPART. (B)
Transfer to the airport late afternoon to join your non stop Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Crossing the dateline means arrival saturday.
Day 17. Saturday 25th June. AUCKLAND ARRIVE.
Arrival in Auckland is scheduled for early this morning.
TOUR COST PER PERSON AUCKLAND TO AUCKLAND
2 per room.... $7,950
Single room .. $9,700