The Independent Travel Reader Offers

Sixteen days from only £1,899 per person

Selected departures May to September 2013

The magnificent Rocky Mountains are Canada’s crowning glory: home to bears, majestic elk, moose and beaver with vast forests that seem to go on forever. Opaque lakes, of stunning emerald green and turquoise glassy waters, reflect the magnificent scenery like no other place on earth. Carpets of wild flowers bedeck the green meadows spread beneath the towering glaciers - huge expanses of brilliant white ice and snow, contrasting with the muted greys and pinks of the jagged peaks.

We stay in Banff, the very heart of the mountains then travel along the monument to man’s engineering prowess, the ‘road of steel’ that is the great Trans-Canadian railway, on the incredible Rocky Mountaineer train. Crossing high passes, deep ravines and innumerable spectacular bridges, places that can only be seen by rail, the Rocky Mountaineer is acknowledged as the ultimate way to travel through the beautifully rugged terrain of Alberta and British Columbia.

Finally, we arrive in Vancouver, nestling beside the immense majesty of the Pacific Ocean, which ranks alongside Sydney, Cape Town and San Francisco as one of the world’s most naturally beautiful panoramas. With its gleaming glass skyscrapers reflected in the azure-blue ocean, Canada’s third-largest city is a fascinating and cosmopolitan metropolis encircled by water and mountains.

Fully escorted price includes:

Return, direct flights from London Gatwick and connections from Manchester
Excellent hand-picked three-star superior accommodation
Explore some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the world on a stunning two day journey through the majestic Rockies on the incredible Rocky Mountaineer train between Banff and Vancouver
Guided visits to Lake Louise Peyto Lake & the 300-meter thick Athabasca Glacier
Travel on the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most scenic highways
Stay, and tour, in Vancouver, a vibrant, sophisticated city overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Two lunches and two breakfasts included on Rocky Mountaineer train
Escorted by an experienced tour manager
The price of this holiday is per person based on two people sharing a twin room
Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement

Manchester departures

Prices include standard class rail ticket on the day before your flight to Calgary from Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Stockport, Stoke, Stafford & Crewe to Gatwick Airport and one night at the 4-star Sofitel Gatwick Airport on bed and breakfast basis. Applies to trains arriving in Euston after 16.00 hrs. On your return from Vancouver the flight will return you direct to Manchester Airport, arriving at 09.05 hrs.

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service from £509

Upgrade to the double-decker GoldLeaf Dome Coach with its panoramic wrap-round windows that make you feel right in the middle of the breathtaking scenery! Guests also have access to the open-air observation vestibule at the end of each carriage. Impeccable service is complimented with 3-course gourmet dining in the lower-level dining room. GoldLeaf upgrade is not bookable online, please call us on 01283 742300 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to book this option.

Visas and Health Matters

Canada - UK & Irish nationals do not require a visa. However, please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after the intended return date. There are no current health requirements for Canada.

Whilst the travelling schedule shall pose no problems for people of any age in normal physical health, we would point out that we often enjoy walking tours (sometimes over unmade paths) of the various places of interest. This tour also reaches an altitude of 5,700ft and temperature variations can be unpredictable, especially during spring and autumn. For these reasons this holiday may not be suitable for clients of greatly impaired mobility. Please bear this in mind when considering this holiday.

To make the most of your trip, we recommend you check the Foreign Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel or call the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.