West America Trip

Day 1:  Arrival in Vancouver
Welcome to Canada! Pick up your rental car with our agent’s assistance and then transfer to your 2/3 star hotel (double room B&B, breakfast included).

Day 2: Vancouver City Tour – Vancouver Island
Your Vancouver city tour (guided on request) starts in the green heart of the city, Stanley Park, which boasts a beautiful seawall and aquarium. You will then cross over the Lions Gate Bridge to visit West Vancouver as well as the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Hatchery. From here, your road book will direct you to Horseshoe Bay, where you will depart on the ferry to Vancouver Island. From Nanaimo, continue towards Campbell River to the north, where you will arrive in the late afternoon and settle down in a double room at the Painter’s Lodge located in front of Quadra Island (breakfast included). In the evening, have dinner at your own convenience (not included).

Nanaimo to Campbell River: 95 miles

Day 3: Discovery Coast
In the morning, you will depart your lodge for an observation tour along the Discovery Coast. There is a large variety of wildlife present in this park, featuring animals of both land and sea: big bears, gray forest wolves, bald eagles, giant moose, bull deer, otters, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and various species of whales. After the tour, you will head North to Telegraph Cove, where you will settle in a restored cabin on the boardwalk.

Campbell River – Telegraph Cove:  170 miles

Day 4: Johnston Strait Orcas
This morning will offer one of the most spectacular experiences in the world: the observation of orca whales in the Broughton Archipelago. When the excursion finishes at 12:30pm, you will return to Vancouver, embarking in the evening on the ferry from Nanaimo. You will spend the night in Vancouver at your original hotel, or similar. Breakfast is included.

Day 5: Boarding Your Cruise | First Day of Cruising
You will board your cruise ship in the morning, departing from Vancouver. After slipping under the Lions Gate Bridge and sailing through the Georgia Strait, you will enter the Inside Passage, the scenic waterway that leads to Alaska and is rich in natural wonders. Vancouver and its coastline will appear in all of their glory, with the glittering of the beautiful West Coast metropolis crowning the dense green forests and deep blue ocean.

Day 6: Inside Passage | Second Day of Cruising
Relax and enjoy the day at sea along the scenic Inside Passage and immerse yourself in the elegance of Holland America Line. The mythical Inside Passage is one of the most spectacular waterways in the world, and one of the few where large cruise ships can sail near steep mountain walls. The scenery is amazing, with forests in a hundred shades of green, turquoise glaciers and cities full of history, culture and adventure. With most of southeastern Alaska accessible only by boat or plane, the Inside Passage is an anchor of salvation, allowing the remote region to communicate with the outside world.

Day 7: Ketchikan / Misty Fjords (on request) | Third Day of Cruising
Ketchikan is a port city is famous for its rich native culture, salmon fishing and the spectacular Misty Fjords National Monument, located on the banks of the Tongass Narrows. In addition to the main attractions – including Creek Street, Tongass History Museum, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Village – a breathtaking hike to the Misty Fjords is not to be missed. These deep-water fjords, formed by the retreat of glaciers, are bordered by granite rocks towering hundreds of metres above sea – and the countless waterfalls from these rocks offer unforgettable shows.

Day 8: Juneau | Fourth Day of Cruising
Enjoy a full day exploring the capital of Alaska. You can choose from exciting excursions on the ground, or reserve time for shopping. Hike the Mendenhall Glacier, explore the lush Tongass National Forest or visit the rustic shops in town. You may also choose to go kayaking, dogsledding, whale-watching, rafting along the pristine rivers, trekking through the forests surrounding them or even enjoy a gorgeous panoramic flight.

Day 9: Skagway | Fifth Day of Cruising
Go back in time with an exciting excursion to the glory days of the gold rush, and then devote the rest of your day to some shopping. You’ll travel on the same narrow gauge railroad used by the gold seekers, which winds through high rock walls and gives you an idea of how life was during the time of the gold rush.

Day 10: Glacier Bay | Sixth Day of Cruising
Enjoy the gorgeous eight-hour cruise between the icy fjords of this national treasure. As a biosphere reserve and heritage site, the Glacier Bay National Park protects a unique ecosystem of plants and animals living in an environment of ever-changing glacial landscape. What do you feel when a monumental piece of ice comes off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The noise is like thunder. The impact projects water at hundreds and hundreds of feet in the air that we will breathe in while capturing the moment on the film. In Glacier Bay, there are more glaciers active in calving (breaking off into the water) than in any other part of the world.

Day 11: College Fjord | Seventh Day of Cruising
The College Fjord is surrounded by icy rivers on three sides. Here, you’ll pass by one glacier after another: a magnificent assembly of glacial wonders truly showcasing the forces of nature.

Day 12: Landing in Seward – Anchorage – Denali
Arrive in Seward at 7am, where you’ll have the morning to visit the town. A coach bus will then take you to Anchorage. The city, beautifully located in Cook Bay and surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, is a business centre complete with restaurants, frontier saloons, museums and art galleries. From here, you will continue by bus to Denali National Park, admiring the lovely landscapes along the way. You will then spend the night at a lodge in the park.

Day 13: Denali National Park
Today you will embark on a guided tour of Denali, a park of international importance. Here, you’ll see the highest mountain in North America: Mount McKinley (also known as Denali, ‘the tallest’ in the area’s native language). The area was established as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917, and is the largest protected natural ecosystem in the world. You can spot many forms of wildlife in the park, including moose, bighorns, caribou and bears. You’ll also be amazed by the massive glaciers, and admire the many moraines, waterfalls and ice bridges. Upon return, you will have dinner at your lodge.

Day 14: Return to Anchorage – Depart for California
Take a panoramic train tour from Denali back to Anchorage, and upon arrival, transfer to the airport for your flight to San Francisco. As soon as you arrive, you will pick up your rental car and head to the Pacific Heights Hotel, Holiday Inn or Crescent Ramada Hotel in the city centre (double room, breakfast included).

Days 15 & 16: San Francisco
Steep hills, cultural vivacity and architectural eclecticism define San Francisco. As the second most densely populated U.S. city after New York, San Francisco stands on 43 hills, with its numerous steep streets giving it a distinctive appearance that allows you to admire endless city views. The city boasts a diversity that is characterized by Victorian style alongside modern architectural structures, with each of these peculiarities making San Francisco the most “European” of American metropolises. San Francisco is almost entirely accessible on foot, but if you prefer, you can take the 49 Mile Scenic Drive. Following an easy route of about 50 miles, well-marked by white and blue signs, you will be able to visit many attractions. If you favour guided tours, you can opt for one of the many tours listed in our road book, which shows the most interesting parts of the city and its hinterland. On the afternoon of the second day, transfer to Fresno to start your exploration of Sequoia National Park. You will spend both nights at a hotel and enjoy dinners at your leisure (not included).

Day 17: Fresno – Sequoia & Kings Canyon Natural Parks
After a rich breakfast, you will be ready for your hike to the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks – two bordering parks where you will find huge trees, high peaks and deep canyons. The park contains many diverse habitats, with 1,200 species of plants making up dozens of unique communities; and underground, over 200 marble caves with widespread fauna. The real ages of the giant sequoia trees towering over the forest are unknown, but it is estimated that they range between 1,800 to 2,700 years old. When the excursion is complete, return to Fresno and stay overnight at your hotel.

Day 18: Return Flight from San Francisco
Head to the San Francisco Airport, return your rental car and board your return flight home.