Pre-Program Tour April 20-23, 2015 Prepared by: Cantrav Travel Christine Waschhofer cwaschhofer@cantrav.com Selene Solis ssolis@cantrav.com Day 1 Monday April 20 Your journey begins this morning by travelling motor coach on the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler 8:00am Vancouver Hotel pick up for Whistler and Shannon Falls tour. Vancouver to Whistler drive is approximately 2 ½ hours. Home to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and award winning for a reason, Whistler is an internationally renowned, year-round resort nestled in the Central Mountain range. The journey up the Sea-to-Sky Highway is just like it sounds a winding spectacle of ocean and mountain scenery including the roaring Shannon Falls and cultural Squamish Adventure Centre. As the majestic backdrop of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain unveils before your very eyes, the adventure at Whistler Village is yours to create. Tour Highlights Shannon Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in BC An authentic First Nations experience at the Squamish Adventure Centre Exploring, dining and shopping in the charming, pedestrian-style Whistler Village Experience the PEAK2PEAK Gondola the longest and highest lift in the world. Overnight Whistler at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler hotel Day 2 Tuesday April 21 Morning at Leisure in Whistler. Whistler s pedestrian village has won numerous design awards And has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s. Return to Vancouver by motor coach in the afternoon Overnight Vancouver at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel
Day 3 Wednesday April 22 Depart Vancouver harbour by Seaplane for an exciting Flight over the Gulf islands and into downtown Victoria s Inner Harbour. 9:20am float plane from the Vancouver harbour to Victoria Arriving Victoria at approximately 9:55am 10:30 Check in at Prince of Whales 11:00 am Victoria Whale watching tour. Duration 3 hrs. approx. Get ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime! Whether you are a first time whale watcher or a seasoned veteran, we guarantee that you will have a blast! Prince of Whales fleet of open-air, purpose built, zodiac-style vessels are Victoria s largest and safest. Equipped with bright yellow inflatable collars, this stable design cushions your ride and guarantees maximum buoyancy even if the sea conditions are rough. With aerodynamic aluminum hulls and reliable twin two-hundred horsepower Mercury engines, our vessels are able to cover over one hundred miles in one trip. This maximizes the distance you can travel on your tour and the amount of time you are ultimately able to spend viewing whales and other marine wildlife. Your tour will last a minimum of three hours and will include various stops at different points of interest within the protected waters of Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. While on scene with whales and other marine wildlife, the vessel will be positioned parallel to the animals allowing for excellent photo opportunities. All the while, you will be fully entertained and educated by the industry s best and brightest marine adventure guides. All of our guests are required to wear a Mustang Survival flotation suit for their entire Zodiac Adventure. These suits are designed to protect from cold weather and use closed-cell foam to offer flotation in the event of an emergency. Afternoon at Leisure In Victoria, you will discover a very walkable city with small funky boutiques, cafes and restaurants, beautiful galleries, museums and the oldest Chinatown in Canada.
Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Victoria is made for strolling, with downtown hotels, restaurants, shops and parks within close proximity to each other. Our vibrant and eclectic arts and culture community includes world famous museums, performing arts, festivals, local authors, artisans and performers. Foodies will be drawn to the region's dynamic culinary scene, vast array of dining choices, locally-sourced food, craft beer producers, and more. Overnight Victoria at the Laurel Point hotel (or similar) Day 4 Thursday April 23 This morning visit to the Butchart Gardens. Enjoy a pleasurable trip through the scenic countryside of the Saanich Peninsula with its many fruit and vegetable farms and back roads Butchart Gardens The Butchart Gardens is one of the world s premier floral show gardens. Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences. An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history. Through successive generations of the Butchart family, The Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays. Afternoon float plane ride back to Vancouver. Return by seaplane to Vancouver flying over the Gulf Islands and directly into downtown Vancouver bustling Coal Harbour. Float Plane departs every 20 minutes, last departure 18:00pm Arrive Vancouver End of Tour *Note: Victoria trip Option for Days 3 & 4 Day 3 Travel by scenic ferry from Vancouver to Victoria and visit to the Butchart gardens Day 4 Morning Whale watching and afternoon return by Float plane
Travel information WHISTLER Whistler is located approximately 125 km (78 mi) north of Vancouver, driving distance is approximately 2 ½ hours Vancouver hotel pick up and drop off is included. The Fairmont Chateau hotel is located in the Whistler Village and within walking distance, 5 minutes, to the Motor coach drop off and pick up areas The Peak to Peak Gondola lift tickets are also included VANCOUVER Harbour air float plane terminal is located at the Vancouver Harbour flight centre, 5 minute walk from the Fairmont Waterfront hotel, next to the Vancouver Convention Centre. The luggage allowance on the float planes is 25lbs (11.5kg) Stated luggage allowance includes both checked and carry-on luggage. Additional luggage (including sports equipment, strollers and pet carriers) may be accommodated on a stand-by basis on the next available flight, subject to weight availability. If you think you will be travelling with more luggage than allotted, please contact the Reservation Department at 1-800-665-0212 for additional options. Extra bags? No problem! If you are travelling with more than your allotted allowance, we will be happy to transport your bags on a standby basis at no extra cost to you. We do however ask that bags weigh no more than 50lbs (per piece) where possible. Should you find that you did a little extra shopping or have that extra gift which puts the weight above the limit, we do have excess luggage bags available for purchase. Carryon items: Please note that some of our aircraft do not permit any carryon items. Due to the size of the aircraft all items including purses and briefcases will be placed in the baggage compartment for the duration of the flight. Luggage should not exceed the following dimensions: Single Otter Width 18 / Length 48 / Height 54 Beaver Width 15 / Length 24 / Height 15 Rocky Mountaineer, as part of your Rail package, all transfers between Hotels and train stations are included in Vancouver, Kamloops and Banff. Please be ready at your hotel lobby 15 minutes prior to pick up time. Time to be advised on you final documents. VICTORIA Harbour Air float plane terminal Prince of Whales whale watching is located in the Inner Harbour Centre on Wharf Street, 5 minute walk to the Fairmont Empress Hotel or a short drive (15minutes walk) to the Inn at Laurel Point Hotel. Transfers are not included
Harbour Air offers a complimentary shuttle service to Victoria downtown hotels based on availability Prince of Whales, whale watching Tour Company is also located in the Victoria Wharf, next to the Harbour Air terminal, walking distance to most of the main attractions in Victoria Victoria Float Plane departs back to Vancouver every 20 minutes, last departure is at 18:00pm All guests are required to wear a Mustang Survival flotation suit for their entire Zodiac Adventure. These suits are designed to protect from cold weather and use closed-cell foam to offer flotation in the event of an emergency. Prince of Whales keeps a large inventory of flotation suits of varying size and can accommodate all ages. Guests are advised to dress warmly for their tour. They have changing facilities and lockable storage, onsight, to ensure guests privacy and the safety of their belongings. Medical Conditions. This tour is not suitable for anyone with a history of serious medical conditions including but not limited to back or neck injury, recent surgery, and/or current or suspected pregnancy. Butchart Gardens is located 23 km (14 mi) north of Victoria, sightseeing transportation departs from Government Street, across from the Victoria wharf, in front of the Fairmont Empress hotel. Transfer takes approximately 30 minutes Motorocoach departures times: 9:20am, 10:15am, 11:00am. Return from the Butchart Gardens: 11:55am, 12:55pm, 1:55pm Option 2 Victoria by Ferry From Vancouver It starts with 90 cruising minutes aboard BC Ferries, and just gets better. With scenery so jaw-dropping you won t want to blink, relax and enjoy the voyage through Juan de Fuca Straight and the Gulf Islands. From exploring the inner harbour of BC s capital city Victoria named after British monarch Queen Victoria to Butchart Gardens 22 breathtaking hectares of meticulously manicured beauty, this tour delivers a royally spectacular experience.