Booking Deadline - 1 April 2009
Reserve a Space on this Tour

Space Available

$1971
(non-member: $2046)
Single Room–add $710

Activity Level:
  80% Easy;
   15% Moderate
   5% Strenuous
 

TOUR INCLUDES:

- Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 2 dinners (includes continental breakfast and light lunch on the train)

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Air Information
Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows:

Airport:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (YVR)

Arrive:
Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday, July 14th at your convenience. The tour begins at the hotel at 6:00pm.

Depart:
Vancouver on Sunday, July 19th at your convenience.

Early Arrival:
To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, consider arriving a day early into Vancouver. The room cost will be:

   $145 dbl / $290 sgl

Tuesday, July 14:  Arrive Vancouver, British Columbia, Group Dinner

Today you will arrive into Vancouver Airport at your convenience. The tour begins at the hotel at 6:00pm. The WTT tour leader will be at the the hotel and will give you suggestions as to how to make the most of what's left of the day before the group meets.  After introductions, we will go to dinner and talk about the upcoming week’s activities.  (D)

Wednesday, July 15:  Vancouver City Tour

What better way to start the day than a city tour of Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city and the major port for all of western Canada. It is surrounded almost completely by water, with snowcapped mountains rising vertically in the background.  Stanley Park is recognized as one of the great parks of the world.  It is an evergreen oasis of 1,000 acres that abounds in wildlife, gardens and majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees.  The Vancouver Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in the Park.  Historic Gastown will take you back to cobble-stoned streets, mews, courtyards, and Victorian architecture set against a backdrop of mountains. 

After the tour the afternoon is yours. Stop for dim-sum in one of the many restaurants in Chinatown or visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, an exquisite reproduction of a Ming Dynasty landscape or do exactly what you want with an afternoon and evening free for exploring.   (B)

Thursday, July 16: Day trip to Victoria

No visit to this area is complete without a visit to Victoria. It's a "long day" but well worth it. We'll get up in time to catch the early ferry to Victoria. The day is yours until we return late in the afternoon.  While in Victoria be sure to visit Butchart Gardens, a landmark on the island. The Empress Hotel that sits overlooking the harbor is a great place to have high tea in the afternoon.  Like everything "British?"...then take a stroll through the streets and enjoy the wonderful shops. You will find more than enough things to do and explore to fill your day; you'll wonder where the time went! (B)

Friday, July 17: Train to Whistler; Overnight in Whistler

This morning we board the Whistler Mountaineer train for a three-hour trip to Whistler, British Columbia.  Whistler is a picturesque alpine resort with the look and feel of a European mountain village with cozy cafes, boutiques and gourmet restaurants.  Our trip will take us through spectacular scenery from views of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park to stunning views of the ocean and mountains to the impressive cascade of Shannon Falls and the spectacular dome peak of Mount Garibaldi. 

Upon arrival in Whistler, the day is free to enjoy as you wish.  You might want to try the Whistler Gondola that whisks you from the Village directly to the top of Whistler Mountain in only 20 minutes. Here you'll see views of snowcapped mountains in every direction, colorful wildflowers, rich forests and glistening alpine. There are numerous trails or visit the restaurant or simply take in the views.  (B-continental on train)

Saturday, July 18: Day in Whistler and train back to Vancouver; Dinner

You will have plenty of free time to continue exploring Whistler before we depart early afternoon for the return train trip back to Vancouver.  We will arrive back in Vancouver at the train station at 6pm. From here we will transfer to our hotel near the airport for convenience sake and have dinner together at a restaurant near the hotel.  (B,L-light lunch on train, D)

Sunday, July 19: Return Home

Return home today at your convenience. The hotel provides shuttle service to the airport. (B)

Reserve a Space on this Tour