Day 1 Sunday 8th July
Fly from your preferred airport to Calgary. On arrival, clear Customs and transfer to your hotel. Tonight meet your fellow travellers over a get-together dinner in your hotel. .
Overnight: Greater Calgary area (D)
Day 2 Monday 9th July After breakfast, depart for Drumheller Valley, considered to be the heart of the Canadian Badlands. The valley provides a unique combination of spectacular scenery and interesting farming enterprises. Rolling fields suddenly give way to steep, dry ravines, ridged with the strata of countless years' erosion by time, wind and water. We'll visit a number of cattle and grain operations, and after lunch in Drumhella township, we'll visit the Royal Tyrell Museum, Canada's only museum dedicated exclusively to the science of paleontology. In addition to housing one of the world's largest displays of dinosaurs, the Museum offers a wide variey of creative, fun and educational programmes that bring the prehistoric past to life. Later check into the hotel for the next two nights.
Overnight: Greater Calgary area (B/-/D)
Day 3 Tuesday 10th July
Today is spent in the Olds district with morning visits to local cattle operations as well as the weekly cattle sales at Olds Auction Mart. Established in 1953, this was the second market of its kind in Alberta, and is currently owned and managed by the same families. The Mart has grown to be one of the largest volume trading centres in Alberta, with a capacity of 5000 calves and feeder cattle being run through two auction rings. During the afternoon, we will also visit Olds Agricultural College, well-known across Canada and around the world for the courses it offers in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business Administration, Horticulture, Land and Water Resources and well as Trades and Technology. Overnight: Greater Calgary Area (B/-/D)
Day 4 Wednesday 11th July
Before heading back to Calgary, we visit another major livestock auction to experience further how the locals undertake livestock selling. The Innisfail Auction Market is a family-owned and operated livestock market with weekly sales. We'll spend the rest of the day visiting cattle operations along the Cowboy Trail, an historic strip of land considered to be first-grade ranching country, nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian prairie. Late afternoon, we drive back to Calgary, a vibrant city with an economy based on oil and ranching. This evening, there's an invitation to meet other international guests along with local farmers and cattle industry representatives at the International Reception on the Stampede Grounds. Overnight: Calgary (B)
Day 5 Thursday 12th July
This morning we travel back into the countryside for another visit to a cattle ranch with adjacent feedlot. Later return to Calgary. It's time to grab your Akruba and pull on your boots - we're off to the Calgary Stampede!. This afternoon, transfer to the Stampede grounds, learning how to access the site by the very convenient C Train (Calgary Rapid Transit) which will also give you unlimited access to Sunnyside with its boutiques, downtown 7th Ave, or the Heritage Village. The Calgary Stampeded is described as the 'greatest outdoor show on earth' and offers all things agricultural and cultural, as well as the tradtional side-show alley. There are concerts and events to attend, as well as cattle judging, displays of local indian history and unique Canadian foods, and plenty of Western gear and other goodies for the shoppers to stock up on. There are reserved grandstands seats for you to watch the Rodeo events, including the adrenaline-packed saddlebronc, bareback bronc and bullride events. Evening free. Overnight: Calgary (B)
Day 6 Friday 13th July
This morning we visit Spruce Meadows to inspect its world-class horse training facility. Afterwards, go to the Stampede grounds or explore Calgary on your own. In the late afternoon, there will be a chance to meet up with other international groups. In the evening, don't miss the spectacular chuckwagon races and Showtime at the Stampede grounds (with reserved grandstand seating)Overnight: Calgary (B)
Day 7 Saturday 14th July Today is your last full day in Calgary, so it's a great opportunity to catch up with your contemporaries at the Stampede's livestock events. The finals of the International Auctioneers' Competition will take place today, which you may like to attend. After the activities at the Stampede your final evening in Calgary is free for you to enjoy local restaurants or cultural activities. Overnight: Calagary (B)
Day 8 Sunday 15th July Today you will experience spectacular mountain scenery. Make sure you have your camera with you. Enjoy some sightseeing heading into the Rocky Mountains and travel to Banff with visits to Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and Moraine Lake en route. With a population of 8,352, the town of Banff sits at an elevation of 1,383 metres (4,537 ft), making it the highest town in Canada. Check into Banff hotel for a two-night stay. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner-theatre performance of 'Oh Canada Eh' , a comic look at Canada and its history. Overnight: Banff (B/-/D)
Day 9 Monday 16th July
This morning, we take the gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, with a 1 km walkway into the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The spectacular 360 degree view from the viewing-decks and boardwalk is considered to be one of the best vantage points in the world. Later, we descend for a cruise on the largest lake in Banff National Park followed by lunch and a tour of Banff Springs Hotel. Free time this afternoon to enjoy the atmosphere of this very sophisticated resort. Overnight: Banff (B/L/-)
Day 10 Tuesday 17th July
After breakfast, travel on the Trans-Canada Highway through the Rocky Mountains, crossing the Continental Divide. We enter Yoho National Park, through Rogers Pass, taking time out to see the amazing engineering feats of the spiral tunnels. We'll stop at Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, a replica of an 1880s railway snow shed, to see the exhibits about railway history, avalanches and wildlife. Continue through Glacier National Park and on to Revelstoke. Overnight: Revelstoke (B/-/-)
Day 11 Wednesday 18th July This morning we visit a ranch running 2,400 cattle in a cross-breeding programme, with Angus, Simmental and Charolais. Many of the breeders will be up in the high country for the summer, but heifers are run closer to home and the ranch has its own feedlot which can be inspected. Another visit today will be a large apple orchard where they also make ice apple cider, and a hazlenut farm. After lunch, we travel down the Coquihalla Highway, meeting up with the mighty Fraser River, and onto Harrison Hot Springs for a mid-afternoon check-in. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to relax in the hot mineral springs at our hotel. Overnight: Harrison Hot Springs (B/-/D)
Day 12 Thursday 19th July This morning, there's more time to relax and enjoy a hot springs pool before a late morning departure for Vancouver, considered by many to be one of the most photogenic cities in the world. We'll take a relaxing ferry ride across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island and the historic British Columbia capital city of Victoria. After checking into our hotel for a two-night stay, the rest of the evening is free. There will be plenty of daylight for you to explore this most British of cities. Overnight: Victoria (B/-/D)
Day 13 Friday 20th July
This morning we visit the world-renowned Butchart Gardens which were developed with love and care by a local lady to redress an unsightly disused quarry. After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is free to browse the shops, visit the Royal British Columbia Museum or Legislative Assembly of BC, around the pretty inner harbour. Perhaps indulge yourself in tea at the famous Empress Hotel. This evening we have our final tour dinner, where you have the chance to relive the lighter moments of the tour. Overnight: Victoria (B/L/D)
Day 14 Saturday 21st July
After breakfast return to the mainland by ferry with time for lunch on your own. On arrival in Vancouver, enjoy a city tour of this beautiful city prior to transferring to Vancouver airport for the homeward flight. Tour Cost | Price per person | Twin/Double | £2,506.00 | Single Supplement (Land portion only) | £595.00 | |
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Price from arrival in Calgary to departure from Vancouver includes: - 13 nights hotel accommodation in quality 4-star accommodation.
- 13 breakfasts 1 lunches and 6 dinners (indicated in itinerary by B L D)
- Private air-conditioned coach transportation
- Sightseeing programme as per the itinerary
- Admissions to Calgary Stampede and evening show
- Park fees
- Technical and farm visits
- Services of a tour manager
Not included: - Personal expenses
- Tips to driver and guide
- Travel insurance
- Meal other than those indicated on itinerary
- Flights
Air Fares can be quoted separately on a subject to availability basis. International scheduled flight departures to Calgary are available from London Heathrow and Manchester, return flights from Vancouver are also available to these airports. How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515 712 or click on our Booking Details. |
Our sister company, Stita Special Destinations also offers tours to exciting and exotic destinations. Current tours include Tanzania March Migration, India, & Andalucia. |
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