Description:

Name of tour:The Canadian Rockies
Duration: 13 days
Exclusive Price Discounts are shown below

1 VANCOUVER
Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Cosmos Tour Director is on hand to assist with check-in at your hotel this afternoon.

Day 2 VANCOUVER
This morning an included city tour shows you STANLEY PARK, Chinatown, the harbour and beaches, and more. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and your Tour Director will have suggestions for your further exploration of the city. Shoppers and browsers can take a water taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafes. Or visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, art galleries, and street vendors.

Day 3 VANCOUVER-KELOWNA
This morning start out through British Columbia's fertile valleys and rich mountain forests to Lake Okanagan. Travel along the lake to the resort city of Kelowna, attractively set on the lake shore and surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Sample the local wines on the included WINERY tour this afternoon.

Day 4 KELOWNA-KICKING HORSE PASS-BANFF
Motor north through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its peaches and vineyards. Then begin the climb up 1,335-metre (4,379-foot) high Rogers Pass in GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. A break at the pass, a perfect spot for photos of the impressively rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Enter YOHO NATIONAL PARK and continue over Kicking Horse Pass, peaking at 1,652 metre (5,421 feet). By early evening, reach BANFF NATIONAL PARK, gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies.

Day 5 BANFF
Banff is one of Canada's favourite year-round resorts with activities ranging from skiing in the winter to hiking, boating, and fishing in the summer. With a free day, your Tour Director will suggest an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies. Tonight why not take in an optional dinner theatre featuring cuisine and entertainment all about Canada.

Day 6 BANFF-LAKE LOUISE-COLUMBIA ICEFIELD-JASPER
A day of scenic grandeur. First to Lake Louise, its cold turquiose waters a perfect natural mirror reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Precipitous gorges, snow-capped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the coach scales two mountain passes on the journey northward into JASPER NATIONAL PARK. Another highlight on today's agenda is a stop at the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD for a snowcoach ride on the 305-metre (1,000-foot) thick Athabasca Glacier. Late this afternoon your Tour Director suggests an optional raft trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of Jasper townsite upon arrival. Note: Unfavourable weather conditions may affect the availability of the Columbia Icefield snowcoach excursion.

Day 7 JASPER
Today, join our optional excursion to Maligne Lake. The balance of the day is free to join one of our guided hikes, shop, or canoe. With free time this evening you might take a walk along the trails and watch for elk.

Day 8 JASPER-MOUNT ROBSON-SUN PEAKS
Leave Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, peaking at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet). Continue following the Yellowhead Highway south along the Thompson River - a route pioneered by fur trappers a century ago. Overnight at the mountain resort of Sun Peaks.

Day 9 SUN PEAKS-LILLOET-WHISTLER
Head south following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. Via Lilloet-"mile 0 of the gold rush route"-your coach will follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes with a mid-afternoon arrival in Whistler. There are plenty of optional activities to choose from, such as hiking or even flightseeing by floatplane over the lakes and glaciated peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Tonight wander the many alpine trails, or relax in the plaza enjoying the artists and musicians.
10 WHISTLER-FERRY CROSSING-VICTORIA
Motor along the majestic Sea to Sky highway. Then sail this afternoon across the Strait of Georgia and through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an archipelago known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Afternoon arrival in Victoria. Sightseeing today includes Marine Drive, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. Tonight a stroll along the lovely waterfront might be fun.

Day 11 VICTORIA
A full free day. Be sure to check out some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, the IMAX presentation at the National Geographic Theatre, whale watching on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street. Suggestion for this evening is an optional outing that includes a carriage ride through Beacon Hill Park, followed by a delightful dinner at one of Victoria's waterfront restaurants.

Day 12 VICTORIA-SWARTZ BAY-VANCOUVER.
First stop this morning is world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS. At Swartz Bay, board the ferry for the scenic crossing to the mainland for a mid-afternoon arrival. Tonight, your Tour Director will offer recommendations for dinner in this vibrant city.

Day 13 VANCOUVER
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfer to Vancouver International Airport is included.

• Coach tour as shown in above itinerary
• Sightseeing as shown in itinerary
• Meals (if applicable) are shown in itinerary

(PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYPLANET EXCLUSIVE EARLYBIRD COACH TOUR DISCOUNTS)

Cosmos-Introduction

More than three decades ago, Cosmos virtually invented the European budget vacation. Since then, the team of experts have developed and refined the concept of low-cost travel. Although others have jumped on the budget-travel bandwagon, Cosmos prices are still the lowest by far, and the choice of budget tours is unique. 

With Cosmos, low prices don't mean "cheap tours". More than a million people have come back to Cosmos for a second or third vacation. Their clients' repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value they offer.

EARLYBIRD COACH TOUR DISCOUNTS-COSMOS-2008

BOOK EARLY SAVE HUGE $'S 

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT/INCENTIVES
Book/pay at least 4 months in advance save 2.5%

AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Available from $60 pp return

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Save 10% on QBE Travel Insurance of 5% or HBF Insurance member rates if taken out at time of booking.

SECOND TOUR DISCOUNT
Receive $50 Discount of the shortest tour

TRIPLE ROOM
Great Discounts-please call for details

CHILD DISCOUNTS
Up to 10% (Conditions apply)

SINGLE ROOM
Can offer share accommodation at no extra cost