Epic Alaska, British Columbia & The Rockies

Arrive in Calgary, a city known for its expansive skies and proximity to the Canadian Rockies. You’ll be transferred from the airport to Banff, watching the prairie landscape gradually give way to towering peaks and spectacular alpine scenery. Once in Banff, take time to explore the town at your own pace. Stroll along Banff Avenue, browsing local shops, restaurants and bars, all framed by impressive mountain views. Your accommodation for the next three nights is at Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada’s iconic ‘Castle in the Rockies’, renowned for its grand architecture, rich history and spectacular mountain setting.

Today, join a guided sightseeing tour to Lake Louise, often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Canadian Rockies’, and the spectacular Moraine Lake*. Both are located within Banff National Park, part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Enjoy time to take in the scenery and capture photos at both lakes, including a walk to the Rockpile viewpoint at Moraine Lake. Along the way, see highlights including the Bow Valley Parkway, Castle Mountain and the iconic Fairmont Château Lake Louise, while your local guide shares stories of the region’s mountaineering heritage, history and legends.

*Moraine Lake is seasonal and access is weather dependent. A substitute may apply at the beginning or end of the season.

Today, travel aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer in a custom-designed, bi-level, glass-domed GoldLeaf coach from Banff to Kamloops. Upstairs, take in spectacular views from the comfort of your seat, while downstairs you’ll enjoy elegantly plated meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients in the dining room. Your journey takes you through a breathtaking array of scenery, from glacier-carved peaks and snow-capped mountains to dramatic mountain passes, remarkable tunnels, rocky lakeshores and expansive ranchlands. Highlights along the way include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. On arrival in Kamloops, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Surrounded by rugged landscapes and rolling hills, Kamloops offers a striking contrast to the alpine scenery of the Rockies.

Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. Along the way, watch he landscape transform dramatically, from the arid interior of British Columbia through winding river canyons and forests to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the fertile Fraser River Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your spectacular two-day journey aboard Rocky Mountaineer concludes this evening in Vancouver, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Your accommodation tonight is the Pan Pacific Vancouver, ideally located above Canada Place and offering sweeping views across Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains. The hotel also provides direct elevator access to the cruise terminal, making for a seamless start to your expedition the following day.

Granville Island has transformed from its industrial origins into one of Vancouver’s most vibrant cultural and culinary precincts, known for its public market, artisan producers, galleries and waterfront setting. Today, explore the Granville Island Public Market on a guided culinary tour, sampling more than 20 local and Canadian specialties from some of the market’s leading food artisans. Tastings may include artisan breads, local charcuterie, British Columbia cheeses, freshly made doughnuts and other regional favourites. This evening, embark on your National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Epic Alaska & British Columbia expedition aboard the Greg Mortimer. Settle in with a welcome drink before meeting the expedition team and crew and learning more about the journey ahead.

Trace the wild and scenic coastline of British Columbia, exploring secluded inlets and forested islands while keeping watch for whales, dolphins, bears, deer and other wildlife. As the ship sails north towards Alaska, hear insights from your expedition team or simply relax with a book in the lounge or on the observation deck as the wilderness unfolds around you.  

Cruise through the serene waters of Misty Fjords National Monument, where sheer granite cliffs rise more than 600 metres above deep blue fjords. Wisps of cloud drift along the winding waterways, framing forested peaks and creating the atmospheric mists for which this wilderness is known. Explore alongside the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions expedition team, whose knowledge of the region’s geology, wildlife and natural history adds depth to the experience. Venture out by Zodiac or kayak for a closer perspective of the forested shoreline, keeping watch for bald eagles, mountain goats and marine wildlife as waterfalls tumble from the surrounding cliffs. Throughout the journey, photography guidance helps you make the most of the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife encounters. With the flexibility of expedition travel, each day is shaped by the conditions, wildlife sightings and discoveries of the moment.

Navigate the Wrangell Narrows, a spectacularly scenic waterway inaccessible to larger ships. Explore the coastline by kayak or Zodiac, then venture ashore to follow bear trails through lush temperate rainforest, accompanied by expert naturalists who share insights into this rich ecosystem. In the evening, cruise Frederick Sound, keeping watch for orcas, humpback whales and Steller sea lions. Scan the shoreline for moose, Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears, wolves and bald eagles drawn to the salmon-rich waterways.

Today, nature sets the pace as you explore spectacular bays and secluded inlets, with the flexibility to follow wildlife sightings and changing conditions. Trace bear trails and salmon-rich streams, or head inland for a peaceful walk through forests of towering spruce and hemlock, listening for the calls of bald eagles overhead. If conditions allow, take to the water by kayak and explore the intertidal zone, searching for the fascinating marine life that thrives along the shoreline.

Enjoy a relaxed morning on the Gulf of Alaska as you trace the rugged coastline north towards Yakutat Bay. Keep watch for the towering summit of Mount Fairweather, rising more than 4,500 metres above sea level. This afternoon, the ship enters Yakutat Bay and makes its way towards the mighty Hubbard Glacier, an immense expanse of ice stretching approximately 10 kilometres wide within Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. If ice conditions allow, there may be an opportunity to explore more closely by Zodiac.

Explore the scenic bays of Chichagof Island, part of the Tongass National Forest and home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of brown bears. Conditions permitting, paddle by kayak or stand-up paddleboard along rugged shorelines, or venture into the temperate rainforest for a guided hike. After lunch, spend time on deck with the naturalists as you cruise along the outer coasts of Chichagof and Baranof Islands, keeping watch for the marine and terrestrial wildlife that inhabit these remote shores.

Enjoy a day of independent exploration in Sitka, a picturesque town on the western coast of Baranof Island overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Known for its rich Tlingit culture and Russian heritage, Sitka offers a fascinating insight into Alaska’s layered history. Today marks a transition point in the voyage, with some guests disembarking and others joining the expedition. Some members of the expedition team may also rotate as the journey continues.

Explore the Inian Islands by Zodiac, a rich feeding ground for wildlife including Steller sea lions and sea otters. Continue through the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait, keeping watch for whales and other marine mammals.  

In Haines, choose from a range of active experiences set against a dramatic glacial landscape. Depending on the day’s programme, options may include cycling along the edge of a fjord, fly-fishing for salmon and Dolly Varden trout, or setting out on a scenic hike. You may also have the opportunity to visit the Tlingit village of Klukwan for a cultural presentation and interpretation, followed by rafting on the Chilkat River.

Explore the wild and remote landscapes of Southeast Alaska within the Tongass National Forest. Wake in Endicott Arm and cruise through the glacier-sculpted fjord before setting out by Zodiac for a closer look at Dawes Glacier. Watch for the dramatic sight of ice calving from the glacier into the water below. If conditions permit, take to the water by kayak beneath the steep walls of the fjord. Later, cruise Frederick Sound, renowned for sightings of orcas and humpback whales.

Today, explore Southeast Alaska’s remote coastline with the flexibility to follow wildlife sightings and changing conditions. Venture along the shoreline by Zodiac and, if conditions permit, take to the water by kayak to explore the intertidal zone and discover the marine life that thrives there. Keep watch for bald eagles overhead as you cruise this expansive coastline, searching for wildlife along the shore and in the surrounding waters.

Wake in Prince Rupert, a scenic harbour town on British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast. Visit the Museum of Northern British Columbia, designed in the style of a Northwest Coast longhouse, and explore its collection of carvings, weavings, ceremonial objects and regalia that reflect the region’s First Nations cultures and history. Continue to the North Pacific Cannery Museum, a collection of historic cannery buildings set along the Skeena River, where you’ll gain insight into the economic, cultural and social history of British Columbia’s fishing industry.

Trace the remote coastline of British Columbia, where forested islands, secluded inlets and mist-shrouded waterways unfold along the journey. Keep watch for breaching whales and soaring bald eagles, while bears, deer and other wildlife may be spotted along the shoreline. Between wildlife sightings, hear insights from your expedition team as they bring the region’s landscapes, wildlife and natural history to life. Or simply relax on the observation deck and take in the passing scenery, or retreat to the lounge with a book as the ship continues through this striking coastal wilderness.

Your journey concludes this morning as you arrive in Vancouver and disembark Greg Mortimer. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home, or speak with your dedicated Travel Associates advisor to extend your time away.