Fairmont Discounted Package

Take advantage of last minute specials at the Fairmont hotels in the Canadian Rockies. See our suggested last-minute luxury holiday package below:

Suggested itinerary (can be customised):

TUE SEP 22
Arrive 09:50am. Pick-up car rental and GyPSy guide and drive to Banff (~1.5 hours)
Explore Banff townsite using your GYPSY guide. Banff gondola included. After the Banff gondola, soak in the Banff Hot Springs (located beside the Banff Gondola).
Overnight Banff.

WED SEP 23
Banff to Lake Louise. Drive along the old highway stopping at Johnston Canyon. Hike up to the upper falls at Johnston Canyon. From Johnston Canyon, continue onto Lake Louise gondola. Enjoy a buffet lunch and take the gondola or chair lift up to the interpretive centre. In the afternoon, drive to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. If you have time, hike up to the tea house and up further to the big beehive for great views of the lake. Trail head is at the Chateau Lake Louise. Canoes can be rented on the Lake for about $30 per hour.
Overnight Banff.

THU SEP 24
Enjoy a 3-hour horseback ride along the Bow River. The afternoon is free for you to explore the many trails around Banff.
Overnight Banff.

FRI SEP 25
Explore Yoho National Park. Take the trans-Canada highway to Yoho National Park. Stops include spiral tunnels, Takakakaw falls and Emerald Lake. Lunch at Emerald Lake. Take a leisurely drive back stopping at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake if you didn't have time on Wednesday.
Overnight Banff.

SAT SEP 26
Drive to Jasper along spectacular Icefields Parkway. Your GYPSY guide will point out all the sights. Take the snowcoach onto the Athabasca Glacier (included). Continue onto Jasper.
Overnight Jasper.

SUN SEP 27
Take the Jasper Tramway up Whistler Mountain. Soak in the Miette hot springs.
Overnight Jasper.

MON SEP 28
Explore Jasper area on your own using your GYPSY guide. Many trails to explore.
Overnight Jasper.

TUE SEP 29
Jasper to Lake Louise. Take your time as the scenery is just as spectacular coming back.
Overnight Lake Louise.

WED SEP 30
Morning - Canoe on Lake Louise or head to Banff. Take time to relax. Drive to Calgary YYC (approx. 1.5 hours from Banff, 2 hours from Lake Louise) - flight departs at 18:00.

Package for 2 adults includes:

- 3+1 FREE nights Banff Springs Hotel:
FAIRMONT QUEEN - CLASSIC ACCOMMODATION LOCATED THROUGHOUT RESORT WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS, APPROX 250 SQ FT

- 2+1 FREE nights Jasper Park Lodge:
FAIRMONT QUEEN - LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY, PATIO, CABIN VIEW, APPROX 275 SQ FT

- 1 night Chateau Lake Louise:
FAIRMONT QUEEN HILLSIDE VIEW, COZY ACCOMMODATION - 165 SQ FT

- 9-day car rental with UNLIMITED Kms (Toyota Matrix or similar)

- 9-day GyPSy guide rental

- Banff Gondola

- Lake Louise - buffet lunch and sightseeing gondola

- 3-hour horseback ride (THU SEP 24 - 9am)

- Snowcoach onto Athabasca glacier

- Jasper Tramway

Total Discounted Package Price for 2 adults: CDN$2,788 ($1,394 per person). This rate includes all taxes and is what you would pay.

To book, contact rocky-peak Holidays direct. Rates and availability are subject to change.

Vancouver to Calgary Itinerary 10 day 9 nights

Here are a couple of Rocky Mountain Holiday itineraries departing on Friday August 14 2009 for 10 days / 9 nights from Vancouver finishing in Calgary:

1) Holiday Package with Rocky Mountaineer®:

FRI AUG 14 - Arrive Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.

SAT AUG 15 - Vancouver City Tour - AM. Overnight Vancouver.

SUN AUG 16 - Victoria Day Trip from Vancouver. Full day. Overnight Vancouver.

MON AUG 17 - Explore Vancouver on your own. Overnight Vancouver.

TUE AUG 18 - Vancouver to Kamloops onboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Overnight Kamloops.

WED AUG 19 - Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper. Overnight Jasper.

THU AUG 20 - Maligne Valley Sightseeing and Boat Cruise. 5-6 hours. Overnight Jasper.

FRI AUG 21 - Jasper to Banff along spectacular Icefields Parkway. Snowcoach onto Athabasca Glacier included. Overnight Banff.

SAT AUG 22 - Banff Sightseeing Trip - AM / Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Sightseeing Trip - PM. Overnight Banff.

SUN AUG 23 - Depart to Calgary Airport YYC on scheduled airport shuttle.

Holiday Package Includes:

- 4 nights Vancouver - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Vancouver City Tour (4-5 hours)

- Victoria Day Trip (includes return ferry, Butchart Gardens admission, Royal London Wax Museum admission & return transportation from you Vancouver hotel)

- Rocky Mountaineer® Train, RedLeaf Service to Kamloops

- 1 night Kamloops (moderate) Hotel

- Rocky Mountaineer® Train, RedLeaf Service to Jasper

- 2 nights Jasper - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Maligne Valley Sightseeing and Boat Cruise (5-6 hours)

- Jasper to Banff with Snowcoach onto Glacier included

- 2 nights Banff - Mid-range (moderate) Hotel

- Banff Sightseeing Group Tour

- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Sightseeing Group Tour

- Scheduled Airport Transfer to Calgary Airport YYC. Available departures from Banff (takes approx. 2 hours): 8:30, 12:30, 13:30, 16:00, 18:00, 19:30

Total Discounted Package Price for 2 Adults = CDN$4,786 ($2,393 per person). This rate includes ALL taxes, promotions and discounts. Upgrade to GoldLeaf service on the Rocky Mountaineer for CDN$930 per person.

We have VERY LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER® so please CONTACT US immediately if you would like to book this holiday package.

To keep costs down, you can take the overnight train from Vancouver instead of the Rocky Mountaineer®:

2) Holiday Package without Rocky Mountaineer®:

FRI AUG 14 - Arrive Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.

SAT AUG 15 - Vancouver City Tour - AM. Overnight Vancouver.

SUN AUG 16 - Victoria Day Trip from Vancouver. Full day. Overnight Vancouver.

MON AUG 17 - Explore Vancouver on your own. Overnight Vancouver.

TUE AUG 18 - Vancouver to Jasper onboard the overnight train. Departs Vancouver: 20:30

WED AUG 19 - Arrives Jasper 16:00. Overnight Jasper.

THU AUG 20 - Maligne Valley Sightseeing and Boat Cruise. 5-6 hours. Overnight Jasper.

FRI AUG 21 - Jasper to Banff along spectacular Icefields Parkway. Snowcoach onto Athabasca Glacier included. Overnight Banff.

SAT AUG 22 - Banff Sightseeing Trip - AM / Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Sightseeing Trip - PM. Overnight Banff.

SUN AUG 23 - Depart to Calgary Airport YYC on scheduled airport shuttle.

Holiday Package Includes:

- 4 nights Vancouver - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Vancouver City Tour (4-5 hours)

- Victoria Day Trip (includes return ferry, Butchart Gardens admission, Royal London Wax Museum admission & return transportation from you Vancouver hotel)

- Overnight Train to Jasper - Economy (Seat)

- 2 nights Jasper - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Maligne Valley Sightseeing and Boat Cruise (5-6 hours)

- Jasper to Banff with Snowcoach onto Glacier included

- 2 nights Banff - Mid-range (moderate) Hotel

- Banff Sightseeing Group Tour

- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Sightseeing Group Tour

- Scheduled Airport Transfer to Calgary Airport YYC. Available departures from Banff (takes approx. 2 hours): 8:30, 12:30, 13:30, 16:00, 18:00, 19:30

Total Discounted Package Price for 2 Adults = CDN$3,186 ($1,593 per person). This rate includes ALL taxes, promotions and discounts.

Please note that rates are subject to change. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payment.

To book or for more information, contact rocky-peak Holidays:

Freephone U.K.: 0800-567-7542

North America Toll-Free: 1-888-747-6259

7-Day Round-Trip Itinerary from Vancouver

A sample 7-day itinerary from Vancouver with rocky-peak Holidays which takes advantage of current travel specials. This itinerary can be completely customised and you can easily upgrade to a luxury package.

SAT AUG 15

Arrive Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.

SUN AUG 16

Overnight Train to Jasper departs 20:30.

MON AUG 17

Train arrives Jasper 16:00. Overnight Jasper.

TUE AUG 18

Jasper to Banff along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Snowcoach onto Athabasca glacier included. Overnight Banff.

WED AUG 19

Banff Sightseeing Trip - AM / Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Sightseeing Trip - PM. Overnight Banff.

THU AUG 20

Depart Banff onboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service, to Kamloops. Overnight Kamloops.

FRI AUG 21

Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf Service to Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.

SAT AUG 22

Victoria Day Trip from Vancouver. Full day. Overnight Vancouver.

Package Includes:

- 1 night Vancouver - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Overnight Train to Jasper - Economy (Seat)

- 1 night Jasper - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Jasper to Banff with Snowcoach onto Glacier included

- 2 nights Banff - Mid-range (moderate) Hotel

- Banff Sightseeing Group Tour

- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Sightseeing Group Tour

- Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service to Kamloops

- 1 night Kamloops (moderate) Hotel

- Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service to Vancouver

- 2 nights Vancouver - Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel

- Victoria Day Trip (includes return ferry, Butchart Gardens admission, Royal London Wax Museum admission & return transportation from you Vancouver hotel)

Total Discounted Package Price for 2 Adults = CDN$3,990 ($1,995 per person). This rate includes ALL taxes, promotions and discounts. Price will be confirmed at time of booking.

Contact rocky-peak Holidays for more information or to book:

Freephone U.K.: 0800-567-7542

North America Toll-Free: 1-888-747-6259

Kicking Horse, Canada

Here is some information about a resort which receives plenty of publicity regarding the incredible ski terrain offered, but little about what the summer months offer: Kicking Horse, Canada.

Kicking Horse Mountain Ski Resort offers some of the best ski vertical in the winter time with is famed "champagne powder" which is light fluffy snow (the stuff making snowballs out of is difficult). I have been up to my waste in this stuff, and you can still move easily! In the winter time, many use the Kicking Horse Powder Express to experience this ski resort from Banff and Lake Louise or you can stay right on the mountain.

Lets look at what the summer offers as we are finding more and more guests are now including Kicking Horse in their Rocky Mountain summer holiday itinerary.

✩ The Kicking Horse Summer Gondola. Another gondola?! This one is worth it too as there is an almost 100% you will see a grizzly bear at the top! Boo, the resident grizzly bear, lives in the largest grizzly bear reserve IN THE WORLD. There are day tours from Banff to Kicking Horse which actually guarantee the Grizzly sighting or you get to go on the tour again for FREE!

✩ Hiking and Mountain Biking. There are trails from the top of the gondola to make things easier for you - downhill all the way!

✩ Rafting. There are several White-Water Rafting trips available on the Kicking Horse River. Most tours include a mouth-watering BBQ lunch on the riverside.

✩ Jet Boating. Jet boating on the Kicking Horse Lower Canyon and Columbia River can also be easily integrated into any Rocky Mountain summer holiday package. This tour is usually combined with a rafting trip for additional package savings.

✩ Wolf Centre. See these beautiful animals up close and learn about their struggles against humans.

✩ Golfing. There is plenty of golfing to be had and the rates are fraction of comparable other resort golf courses. Tee times are easy to secure and can be included into a discounted Rocky Mountain Holiday package.

✩ Fishing. Nearby lakes located out of National or Provincial Park boundaries can be visited in a day. Permits are still required.

✩ Accommodation. Kicking Horse accommodation in the summer is very reasonably priced. There is on-mountain accommodation which certainly will not disappoint.

To ask how to incorporate Kicking Horse, Canada into your Rocky Mountain Holiday, just contact a Rocky Mountain Holiday specialist who can create your customised itinerary.

Any questions or suggestions about Kicking Horse, Canada? Visit KickingHorseCanada.com or post your comments on this Canadian Rockies Blog.

Information provided by: RockyMountainHolidays.com