National Parks and Natural Wonders Explorer Tour with Alaska Deluxe Cruise & Canadian Rockies 25 Days Day 1: Australia Los Angeles Welcome to Los Angeles Your journey of discovery begins here. On arrival at the airport, you ll be met and transferred to your hotel by hotel shuttle. Settle in to your accommodation. Then either enjoy some time to relax at the hotel for the rest of the day, do some independent exploring at the local Ontario Mills Fashion District, or go for a stroll around the local area of Ontario known as the Gateway to Southern California with fellow travellers at your own leisure. The choice is yours! Tonight, stay at Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center or similar. Day 2: Los Angeles St. George, Utah This morning, we ll depart our hotel and travel northeast through the San Bernardino Valley Area and the Mojave Desert, a rain shadow desert named after the Mojave tribe of Native Americans which has the lowest absolute elevation and highest maximum temperature. Its boundaries are generally defined by the presence of Joshua trees and is the driest of the North American deserts. Arrive at the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas and enjoy some free time at the mall, snap up a bargain at your favourite designer outlet store, purchase souvenirs for friends and family back home or stop in for a bite at the food court. Afterward, we ll journey across the State of Nevada and arrive at St. George, the most important Mormon community in southern Utah. Tonight, stay at Lexington Hotel or similar. Day 3: St. George Salt Lake City Today, we ll head to Salt Lake City, Utah s vibrant capital that played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics and is the most populous city in the State of Utah. The city was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young and is the centre of the Mormon religion where Brigham declared to his followers, This is the place. Step back in time with a visit to the famous historic Temple Square and experience the beautiful landscape of this top attraction. Visit Mormon Temple, a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See the Utah State Capitol Building, an elegant architectural masterpiece reminiscing the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. and is one of Utah s most prominent landmarks. Tonight, stay at Town Place by Marriott or similar.
Day 4: Salt Lake City Jackson, Wyoming Grand Teton National Park West Yellowstone Journey north into the State of Wyoming and arrive in the Wild West town of Jackson renowned for its cafes, wooden sidewalks, swing-door saloons and a popular base of many hikers in summer. Later, travel through the magnificent Grand Teton National Park, one of America s last preserves of wild solitude. The Park protects stunning mountain scenery and a diverse array of wildlife. Rising over 2000 metres above the valley of Jackson Hole, the 64 kilometre long snow-capped Teton Range dominates the park s skyline. This afternoon, proceed towards Yellowstone National Park, enjoy the scenery before arriving at your hotel accommodation. Tonight, stay at Country Inn West Yellowstone or similar. Day 5: Full day Yellowstone National Park Today, embark on a journey to explore the impressive Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the world s first National Park and known for its unique geothermal activity and marvellous landscapes. Be sure to have your cameras ready in this photographer s paradise and keep a lookout for some of the park s wildlife that can include elk, moose, deer, bison, fox, wolves and grizzly bear in their natural habitat. You ll be joined by a Local Expert who will enlighten you about this remarkable park, one of the world s principle wildlife preserves that offers superb mountain scenery. Tonight, stay at 320 Ranch Montana or similar. Day 6: Yellowstone National Park Salt Lake City Provo, Utah Explore more of the first national park by returning to see the Old Faithful shooting water over 37 metres in the air. Afterward, we ll visit the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, located in Midway Geyser Basin, the park s largest hot spring and the third largest hot spring in the world. It measures approximately 112.8 metres in diameter and is over 37 metres deep. You ll be amazed by the hot spring s stunning colouration thanks to the heat-loving bacteria that call the spring home making it one of the most remarkable natural wonders you ll find within the Yellowstone National Park. Later, we ll head south to return to Utah and arrive in Provo, home to the Brigham Young University. Tonight, stay at Holiday Inn Provo or similar. Day 7: Bryce Canyon National Park Zion National Park Las Vegas
Begin the day, visiting Bryce Canyon National Park and observe this beautiful landscape with its approximately 32 kilometres of sandstone cliffs and ever-changing colours. The whimsical eroded rock formations that characterise this natural park are some of Utah s most unusual shapes. The orange and red rock formations are sculpted by nature (wind, erosion and iron oxidation) into pillars called hoodoos and provide some of Earth s most brilliant views for visitors. Next stop today is Zion National Park with its landscape carved over millions of years by rushing streams, one of the most scenic canyons in the United States. Steep canyons, stone towers and lush vegetation form the spectacular scenery of Zion. A complete change of scenery awaits you when you arrive in glittering Las Vegas, a neon desert oasis offering a collection of bright lights, shopping malls, huge themed hotels of extraordinary design, varied casinos, and is the entertainment hub of North America. End the evening with a farewell dinner at the heart of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Tonight, stay at Circus Circus Casino & Resort or similar. Day 8: Free at leisure or Grand Canyon West & Hoover Dam Optional Tour (Full day) Enjoy a full day at leisure or join a Grand Canyon West Rim & Hoover Dam optional tour. This optional tour takes you to the Hoover Dam, named after America s 31st president, Herbert Hoover where you ll enjoy a quick photo stop from the pedestrian walkway along the new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, approximately 274 metres above the Colorado River. Next, we ll make our way through the Joshua Tree Forest heading towards the West Rim of the Grand Canyon where you ll find the road getting a little bumpy and dusty here. Arrive at the West Rim at the Grand Canyon where you ll enjoy up to 3 hours of free time at your own leisure. You might choose to consider taking part in some of the following attractions. Your driver will provide an expert commentary along the way, returning you to Las Vegas in time for a night out in Sin City. The motor coaches are climate controlled and equipped with restrooms, reclining seats, video monitors and over-sized windows. Tonight, stay at Circus Circus Casino & resort or similar. Day 9: Los Angeles Seattle Today, travel to Los Angeles and take an evening flight to Seattle. When you arrive at the air-
port, you ll be met and transferred to your hotel by hotel shuttle. Check in to your hotel accommodation this evening. Tonight, stay at Ramada Tukwila Hotel or similar. Day 10: Transfer to Seattle Pier for the 8 day 7 night Alaska Deluxe cruise on board Ruby Princess, one of the youngest fleet cruising to Alaska (breakfast, lunch and dinner included on the cruise) Cruise Itinerary: The beauty of natural wonders and rustic wildlife sightings makes this Alaska cruise a remarkable experience. Venture into the wilderness on a dogsled ride in Juneau, witness Misty Fjords aboard a jet-powered catamaran in Ketchikan, and take it all in via the rails on the Skagway White Pass Scenic Railway. DAY CRUISE PORTS ARRIVE DEPART
Day 17: Seattle Surrounded by majestic mountains, beautiful lakes and the Puget Sound, Seattle is an urban city with a bustling downtown and unique neighbourhoods where you will find interesting sites, shops and restaurants. It is home to some of the most recognizable global companies, like Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft and Starbucks. We will be transferred from Seattle Pier to the hotel in the morning. Take the rest of the day to rest up or do some shopping at the nearby Westfield Shopping Center. Day 18 Seattle Sightseeing Enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour to see Seattle s essential sights in one fun, busy day on this full day adventure that includes a city tour, time at Pike Place Market and a trip to the Boeing factory. Start with a city sightseeing tour of top attractions like the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Lake Union and the Ballard Locks. Then we can enjoy 90 minutes of free time at Pike Place Market to explore, buy lunch and end the day with a tour of Boeing s assembly plant and Future of Flight Aviation Center. Day 19 Vancouver Golden Our journey begins in British Columbia s fertile valleys and we travel through the Trans-Canada Highway. On the way we stop at the Eagle Pass and visit the Last Spike of the transcontinental railway where it connects the east and the west as well as Roger Pass Discovery Center. We continue over the towering Cascade Mountains into Golden. Day 20 Golden The Unspoiled Wilderness of National Parks Columbia Icefield* -- Banff Canmore We journey through four of Canada s most breath-taking National Parks: Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho and Banff. First we stop at the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint. Then head for Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park and ride on the specially designed Ice Explorer (optional activity) onto the surface of the stunning Athabasca Glacier. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Banff including Bow Falls, featured in Marilyn Monroe s 1953 film River of No Return and the histori-
cal Fairmont Hotel Banff Springs before reaching our hotel in Canmore. Day 21 The Two Exquisite Lakes Of Louise and Moraine Salmon Arm Today we enjoy an interpretive walk along the shore of Lake Louise and learn about the history and geography of the area. Later, we see another great icon of the Canadian Rockies, Moraine Lake, crowned by ten notable peaks. Stay overnight in Salmon Arm. Day 22 Salmon Arm Premium Outlet Seattle We cross the border into the U.S. and make a stop at Seattle Premium Outlet where there is over 120 stores at heavily discounted prices - time for shopping! Overnight in Tukwila, Seattle. Day 23 Seattle Los Angeles/San Francisco Australia Your journey comes to an end with a hotel shuttle ride back to the airport. Day 24 In flight Day 25 Arrive in Australia