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Photo montage Inside Passage

From "Vancouver" / Gate to the Pacific Ocean to "Dawson City" / Legendary Gold Rush Capital
-   16 days / 15 nights  - 

Your very special Getaway! Discover the most beautiful and scenic landscapes of Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon! This unique exciting journey starts in Vancouver and crosses Vancouver Island with its beautiful "Victorian Style" places. Sail the protected waterway of the picturesque Inside Passage, formed by thousands of islands where calving glaciers extend into the ocean and northern rainforest characterize the landscape of the rugged coastline. The marine life is abundant. Whales, sea lions, seals, otter and many rare seabirds can be spotted from the vessel. From Skagway you will ride the historic White Pass Train up to the White Pass and continue to Whitehorse, the Capital City of the Yukon. Parallel on the "Klondike Highway" the Gold Rush Route all the way up to Dawson City, the "City of Gold".

Itinerary:

Day 1
Arrival at Vancouver Airport and transfer by taxi to a Downtown Hotel. The afternoon will be at your leisure on your own schedule.
Vancouver -
Downtown Vancouver at nightcosmopolitan centre, located at the west coast of Canada - is known as the most beautiful city at the west coast of America beside San Francisco. Surrounded by the snow capped coastal mountains in the North and in the East and by the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is characterized by the ethic and cultural diversity of its inhabitants from more than 100 different nations.

Accommodation: The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver

Day 2
Vancouver
In Anthropologisches Museum, Vancouverthe morning the sightseeing bus will pick you up at the hotel for a guided sightseeing tour. The highlights of this tour are: Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gas-Town, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Robson Street, Canada Place, and Lions Gate Bridge.
In the afternoon you will be at your leisure on your own schedule. Visit the comprehensive exhibition of art and culture of the northwest coastal Indians at the Museum of Anthropology or enjoy a shopping tour downtown Vancouver. How about a Gourmet Dinner at one of the many gourmet restaurants to close this eventful day in Vancouver.

Accommodation: The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver

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Day 3
Vancouver - Vancouver Island - Victoria
Early in the morning the sightseeing bus will pick you up again and transfer you and your luggage to the BC ferry terminal. You will sail through the spectacular Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. The following sightseeing tour through Victoria with its numerous "Victorian Style" buildings and places includes: Butchart Gardens, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park, Downtown, Empress Hotel, and the Parliament Building.
The very British Flair of the Provincial capital city Victoria is emphasized by the red double-deckers, the well-tended lawns and gardens and last but not least the Victorian Style Architecture.
The evening will be at your leisure.

Accommodation: "Humboldt House Bed & Breakfast", Victoria

Day 4
Victoria - Nanaimo approx. 112 km / 70 miles
Pick up your rental car in the morning. You may spend the better part of the morning strolling through the old town centre of Victoria. Visit the exhibitions of the Parliaments Building, Victoria, Vancouver IslandProvincial Museum or the Maritime Museum. Have a walk through Thunderbird Park with the collection of totem pools carved by the coastal Indians. Have a rest on one of the benches which are placed around the harbour and Fisherman's Wharf. From here you have an excellent view at the Parliaments Building and the Empress Hotel, both are landmarks of Victoria. In the afternoon you start for the first leg of your 4-day-journey from the southern tip of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy, the most northerly harbour on Vancouver Island. You will have plenty of time for sightseeing. Do not miss to take a little trip to the charming tiny town of Chemainus just a few miles north of Duncan. Beautiful rendered murals decorate the buildings of Chaimanus depicting the town's heritage of native people and great moments of its history. In Nanaimo you will find "The Bastion" a former fort of the "Hudson's Bay Company" as well as prehistoric rock paintings at "Petroglyph Park". Enjoy the ambience of an evening in the harbour of Nanaimo.

Accommodation: "The Buccaneer Inn", Nanaimo

Day 5
Nanaimo - Long Beach/Tofino (west coast) - Parksville approx. 418 km / 260 miles
Set out early in the morning. After approx. 40 km / 25 miles you  reach Parksville. Take the Highway # 4 to head west for the "Pacific Rim National Park" at the west coast. Enjoy the natural magnificence of impressive mountains and primeval forests containing some of the tallest trees in the world. Take a chance and stroll the hard-packed sand at Long Beach and to catch sight of sea lions, seals, porpoises and schools of orca whales or grey whales. Treat yourself to some delicious seafood in Ucluelet or Tofino. On your way back from the west coast to Parksville you will discover a completely new perspective of what this beautiful countryside has to offer.

Accommodation: "Travelodge", Parksville

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Day 6
Parksville - Campbell River, plus a short side trip into the Strathcona Provincial Park approx. 222 km / 138 miles
The driving distance between Parksville and Campbell River comes to 122 km /
Hiker in boreal rain forest76 miles. You pass small communities like Deep Bay, Union Bay, Courtney (the summer meeting point in Canada for musicians from all over the world), and Oyster River.
From Campbell River, the gateway to Strathcona Park, you will follow the Highway # 28 towards the west coast. The ride through the Strathcona Provincial Park (total size of the park: 1.5 million hectare / 5,792 square miles) will enchant any nature lover. Dense forest with mighty Douglas-firs, quiet lakes, ravines with roaring creeks and the fascinating alpine mountains - purest Canadian wilderness; home for Moose, Wolverine, and of course black bears. The "Golden Hinde" (approx. 2,500 m / 8,200') is the highest point in the Strathcona Provincial Park.

Accommodation: "Best Western Austrian Chalet", Campbell River

Day 7
Campbell River - Port Hardy approx. 232 km / 144 miles
Even today in Campbell River the annual salmon runs have a big influence to the community culturally and economically. If you are interested in the cultural heritage of the coastal Indians you can travel back in history at the Campbell River and Kwagiulth museums. On your way to Port Hardy you pass two of the smaller National Parks on Vancouver Island, the "Morton Lake Provincial Park" and the "Schoen Lake Provincial Park".
After your arrival in Port Hardy (Port Hardy is the most northern point that can be reached by car) you drop the rental car at the airport and get transferred to the hotel. During the evening you may want to go for a walk along the seawall to the bustling harbour. Follow the seawall to Carrot Park and view the war memorial, next come to Tsulquate Park. Yet another beautiful park along the scenic seawall is the Kinsmen Park and pavilion, a great place for a picnic or barbecue. Or whould you enjoy fresh shrimps at the town dock?

Accommodation: "The Glen Lyon Inn", Port Hardy

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Day 8
Ferry Port Hardy - Prince Rupert, "Inside Passage"
The
Inside Passageshuttle service of the hotel will transfer you to the ferry terminal. To make this 15-hour sailing-tour through the "Inside Passage" more convenient, an outboard cabin will be reserved for you. Just pick up your key at the purser corner.
Thousands of islands form a pristine and protected waterway, the "Inside Passage". For most of the travellers coming to Canada this sailing-tour is an absolute highlight. The marine life is abundant. Whales, sea lions, seals, otter and many rare seabirds can be spotted from the vessel. Keep your camera ready to hand.

Accommodation: "Anchor Inn", Prince Rupert

Day 9, 10 and 11
Ferry Prince Rupert - Skagway (Alaska Marine Highway)
Inside PassageTwo days sailing on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry lie ahead of you. An outboard stateroom with shower and toilet provides the necessary comfort. Enjoy your journey along the deep fjords, glaciers, waterfalls and the impenetrable northern rainforest. The ferry will make short stops at small picturesque coast communities like Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and the capital city of Alaska, Juneau, with its bustling harbour and last but not least Haines, a jewel in the Alaska Panhandle.

2 nights on the Alaska Marine Ferry (Stateroom)

Day 11 (further course of the day)
Skagway
Ferry Alaska Marine HighwayYou arrive in Skagway early in the morning. One of our guides is going to pick you up at the ferry terminal with an invitation for a hearty breakfast.

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In the morning our guide will accompany you during a stroll on the busy "Broadway" of Skagway with his numerous historical buildings. Skagway, once starting point for up to 100.000 "Stampeders" which - under extreme conditions - tried to make their way over the gruelling Chilkoot Pass into the Yukon Territory, to get to the rich gold fields of the Klondike. Only 40.000 adventurers eventually made it to the destination of their dreams, Dawson City.
In the afternoon you embark the historical train of the White
White Pass TrainPass & Yukon Route for a charming ride on the steepest railway route in North America which takes you to the White Pass. Built in 1898 during the Klondike gold rush this railway stretches through breathtaking panoramas of mountains, glaciers and waterfalls. It took tens of thousands of workers and 500 tons of explosives to build this railway through the rugged terrain of the coastal mountain range and under extreme weather conditions.
At the White Pass, the border station of the Yukon, our guide will pick you up again to transfer you through a fascinating landscape to Whitehorse. A stop in Carcross is scheduled to pay a visit to "Matthew Watson's General Store" and a further short stop at Carcross Dessert, named the smallest dessert of the world, which shouldn't be missed.

Accommodation: "Westmark Hotel", Whitehorse

Day 12
Whitehorse
In the morning
Wooden Sky Scraper in Whitehorseyou will pick up your rental car, to be mobile during your day in Whitehorse and its vicinity. Drive to Schwatka Lake and sail on the MS Schwatka across the Schwatka Lake and through Miles Canyon. Visit the world's longest wooden fish ladder or admire the MS Klondike, a well preserved old Yukon Sternwheeler, that once played the Yukon River. Stroll downtown Whitehorse, visit the McBride Museum and the Old Log Church. Did you know, that there's a wooden sky scraper in Whitehorse? See the amazing Pre-Ice-Age-exposition of the Beringia Museum located near Whitehorse Airport. Restaurants, Cafes and Galleries at Main Street and at the Yukon River waterfront are waiting for you.

Accommodation: "Westmark Hotel", Whitehorse

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Day 13
Whitehorse - Dawson City
During your 550 km / 342 miles drive on the Klondike Highway you are going to have several great opportunities for stops to take pictures or simply stretch your legs (e.g. Braeburn Lodge, Five
"Gertie" at the Diamond Tooth Gertie's Show in Dawson CityFinger Rapids-View Point).
In the late afternoon you shall reach Dawson City. The legendary capital of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 is "living history". For over 100 years people have been mining for gold in the area. In the evening you can try your luck at Poker, Blackjack or Roulette while visiting "Diamond Tooth Gertie's" Gambling Hall. Long legged can-can girls, Honk-y-Tonk piano players and a hearty whiskey or Sourdough Cocktail create an authentic gold-miner's atmosphere and will make for an enjoyable evening.

Accommodation: "Westmark Inn", Dawson City

Day 14
Dawson City
After your visit of the Gold Miner's Museum and the Jack London Cabin in the morning it's time to enjoy the fascinating view
Old buildings in Dawson Cityfrom the "Dome", a viewpoint high above Dawson City. The Dome offers an unforgettable 360 view of the Klondike and the Yukon River and the many scars left from 100 years of gold mining. Only a few kilometres south of Dawson City you can experience how nowadays plaza miners are working their claims. Pan yourself for gold and keep the gold you may find. You may travel back in time to the days of the gold-rush when visiting the huge Gold Dredge #4 and the discovery claim at Bonanza Creek.

Accommodation: "Westmark Inn", Dawson City

 

Day 15
Before your last night at the hotel you might enjoy to reflect over an unforgettable trip during a cosy dinner in one of the many restaurants in Whitehorse.

Accommodation: "Westmark Hotel", Whitehorse

Day 16
Return of the rental car and journey home or to your next destination.

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Book a tour

Price includes:

  • 2 nights hotel in Vancouver
  • 1 night hotel in Victoria (Vancouver Island)
  • 1 night hotel in Nanaimo
  • 1 night hotel in Parksville
  • 1 night hotel in Campbell River
  • 1 night hotel in Port Hardy
  • 1 night hotel in Prince Rupert
  • 3 nights hotel in Whitehorse
  • 2 nights hotel in Dawson City

        All Hotels are rated 3 stars plus or better
  • 1 Sightseeing-Tour in Vancouver
  • 1 Sightseeing-Tour in Victoria (Vancouver Island), incl. Ferry Vancouver - Vancouver Island
  • Fare  BC-Ferry from Port Hardy - Prince Rupert
  • Outboard Cabin (2 persons) BC-Ferry Port Hardy - Prince Rupert (with shower and toilet)
  • Fare Alaska-Ferry from Prince Rupert  -  Skagway
  • Stateroom (2 persons) Alaska Ferry for 2 nights (with shower and toilet)
        from Prince Rupert - Skagway
  • 4 days Mid Size Car  Vancouver Island inclusive unlimited km/miles, liability insurance,
        collision/damage insurance (CDW) and all applying taxes and fees
  • 4 days Mid Size Car Whitehorse inclusive unlimited km/miles, liability insurance, collision/
        damage insurance (CDW) $ 250.00 deductible, tire and wind shield insurance and all applying
        taxes
  • Historical Train Ride White Pass - Skagway - White Pass
  • Guided Plaza Mining Tour in Dawson City

    Book a tour

    Price does not include:
    Admission fees for museums and casino, costs for fuel, rental car upgrade, optional excursions, food and beverages, tips, US VISA fee (US$ 6.00)

    Price for 2 persons
    based on double room occupancy from
    Vancouver to Whitehorse
    from  CA$

    7,390.00

    All prices are subject to 5 % GST

    Book a tour

    Travel dates 2008:     -  upon request -

    Important Note:
    We reserve the right to stay in hotels other as named in the itinerary. All changes will be replaced by same or better options.
    We also reserve the right to change the itinerary or parts of it if necessary due to circumstances that are beyond the control of Canadian Wilderness Travel Ltd. All changes will be replaced by same or better options.

    We strongly recommend you to purchase proper insurance coverage at the time of booking. Your policy should cover at least trip cancellation, injury, illness, travel accident, emergency medical and search & rescue.

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    CANADIAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL Ltd.
    P.O. Box 114, Carmacks, Y0B 1C0, Yukon Territory, CANADA
    Phone: 867 863 5404, FAX: 867 863 5405
    e-mail:

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