Whales, Bears & Vancouver Island Self Drive + Alaska Cruise
8 NIGHT Self Drive Tour • 7 NIGHT Cruise
Drive the stunning scenic route from Victoria to Vancouver before embarking on a 7 night cruise through Alaska on board Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam.
Arriving in Victoria you will plunge right into a whale watching journey. Travel to remote Tofino to discover the remote and untamed beauty seldom seen by people, home to grizzly bears, eagles and other quintessentially Canadian wildlife. A captivating stay at an authentic wilderness lodge provides the perfect setting for eco or wilderness tours. The final leg of your journey will take you back to the mainland where you will explore Vancouver.
From Vancouver you will board Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam. A cruise on board Nieuw Amsterdam provides so many enriching experiences you will never be stuck for something new to try out!
For the adventurer in you, Explorations Central™ (EXC™) is an immersive on board programme designed to make your journey more engaging, vivid and meaningful. From EXC Talks,™ to EXC Encounters™ to a chat with your EXC Guide™, you’ll feel the spirit of a region come to life and you can discover the connections that unite us across borders and cultures.
At night this ship comes alive with entertainment options. Direct from Beale Street, B.B. King’s All Stars bring the best of Memphis music to sea. From funky and fast to soulful and smooth, this eight-piece band performs in the B.B. King’s Blues Club in the Queen’s Lounge where you can enjoy specialty cocktails like the Lucille and Rock Me Baby. Showcasing comedy, song, dance and more, the Mainstage presents myriad performances and presentations to entertain and inform throughout your voyage, including Holland America Line exclusives such as the BBC Earth Experiences live show Planet Earth II in Concert.
From €5575pp
What's Included
- All Flights Included
- 8 NIGHTS self drive tour including accommodation from Victoria to Vancouver
- Fully inclusive car rental with Alamo
- 7 NIGHT Cruise on board Nieuw Amsterdam
- Travelling September 2019 - Based on 2 Sharing
- Quote Ref 51667571
- We can offer you the flexibility of combining any USA City with a Cruise Holiday
Staff Tips
Your Adventure...
Victoria
Victoria
Victoria to Tofino
Tofino
Tofino to Sonora Resort
Sonora Resort
Vancouver
Vancouver
Juneau
Skagway
Glacier Bay
Ketchikan
Vancouver
-
06Sep, 2019
Day 1 Victoria
Arrive in Victoria and transfer independently to your hotel. Take the rest of the day to create your own west coast island adventure amid the port lands, parks, restaurants and gardens of British Columbia's capital city.
Overnight in Victoria -
07Sep, 2019
Day 2 Victoria
Today you embark on a fascinating wildlife viewing adventure aboard a fast-moving Zodiac rigid boat. A certified marine biologist provides insight into the environment and habits of orca, minke and grey whales as well as other marine wildlife.
Overnight in Victoria -
08Sep, 2019
Day 3 Victoria to Tofino
Today you pick up your rental car and head for Tofino. Your road leads you across Vancouver Island to the Pacific Coast winding through ancient rainforests and provincial parks. You're venturing into true wildlife territory, exemplified by The Pacific Rim National - a marvel of ecological and geographical diversity.
Overnight in Tofino -
09Sep, 2019
Day 4 Tofino
Today you board a Zodiac boat to take a captivating bear watching excursion and speed along the lush coastline to the bears' feeding grounds. Back on dry land you're free to explore the rugged coastline along the network of hiking trails or to walk to the shoreline.
Overnight in Tofino -
10Sep, 2019
Day 5 Tofino to Sonora Resort
This morning, the spectacular winding road takes you back to the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Your route will introduce you to many gems you may wish to stop at for a brief visit. Upon arrival in Campbell River, you board a water taxi for the short boat ride to the stunning Sonora Resort. Settle in for the night and prepare yourself for tomorrow's day of adventure and discovery!
Overnight at Sonora Resort - Dinner Included -
11Sep, 2019
Day 6 Sonora Resort
You have the entire day at this luxurious wilderness wilderness resort. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy unlimited hiking, swimming and tennis throughout their stay. Today you enjoy one of two thrilling nature adventures; Econature Tour (May 1 - Aug 26 departures) featuring a fascinating tour of the surrounding wilderness conducted by a knowledgeable local guide. Bear watching by boat (Aug 27 - Oct 11 departures) takes participants by boat to the prime feeding and gathering areas of the mighty grizzly bear.
Overnight at Sonora Resort - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included -
12Sep, 2019
Day 7
Arrive at Sonora Resort to VancouverToday you board the water taxi for your return trip to the eastern shores of Vancouver Island. Arriving in Nanaimo, you board a BC Ferries vessel and sail across the Strait of Georgia to arrive in Vancouver where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Vancouver -
13Sep, 2019
Day 8 Vancouver
Today is yours to explore this vibrant cosmopolitan city. Boutique shops line Robson Street, offering everything from high fashion to aboriginal artwork. Stanley Park is interwoven with paved forested trails an features an enthralling zoo at its centre. The boardwalks along the seawall provide sweeping views of the water and the raising mountains of the mainland.
Overnight in Vancouver -
14Sep, 2019
Day 9 Vancouver
Arrive at 2019-09-14 00:00Depart at 2019-09-14 16:30Galleries, boutiques, colorful public markets, restaurants of every ethnicity: this vital port city has them all. Visit vibrant Chinatown and Stanley Park, with its 1,000 acres of forests, gardens, lakes and lawns in the heart of the city. Sample shore excursions: Highlights of Vancouver & Granville Island; Stanley Park & Scenic Grouse Mountain. -
15Sep, 2019
Day 10 Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage
Arrive at 2019-09-15 00:00Depart at 2019-09-15 00:00 -
16Sep, 2019
Day 11 Juneau
Arrive at 2019-09-16 13:00Depart at 2019-09-16 10:00Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, the town of Juneau has the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields at its back door. Juneau is the place to let your imagination run wild. Explore the lush Tongass National Forest. Visit the rustic shops in town. Or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee or fish. There s no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. Climb aboard the Mt. Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike and shoot a souvenir photo. -
17Sep, 2019
Day 12 Skagway
Arrive at 2019-09-17 07:00Depart at 2019-09-17 21:00The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. Today, summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then. Take your time and poke into every little store from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy's Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie and other vintage characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of '98 Museum. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park boasts restored buildings and wooden boardwalks that invite you to take a stroll into the past. -
18Sep, 2019
Day 13 Glacier Bay
Arrive at 2019-09-18 07:00Depart at 2019-09-18 16:00 -
19Sep, 2019
Day 14 Ketchikan
Arrive at 2019-09-19 10:00Depart at 2019-09-19 18:00Built out over the water and climbing weathered stairways, Ketchikan clings to the shores of Tongass Narrows and drapes the mountains with a cheerful air. Besides the main attractions - Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Village, try a flightseeing trip to breathtaking Misty Fjords National Monument--a transformational adventure not to be missed. These deep water fjords left by retreating glaciers left granite cliffs towering thousands of feet above the sea and countless waterfalls cascading into placid waters. The souvenir photos you'll take from the pontoons of the plane are worth the trip alone. -
20Sep, 2019
Day 15 Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage
Arrive at 2019-09-20 00:00Depart at 2019-09-20 00:00 -
21Sep, 2019
Day 16 Vancouver
Arrive at 2019-09-21 07:00Depart at 2019-09-21 00:00Galleries, boutiques, colorful public markets, restaurants of every ethnicity: this vital port city has them all. Visit vibrant Chinatown and Stanley Park, with its 1,000 acres of forests, gardens, lakes and lawns in the heart of the city. Sample shore excursions: Highlights of Vancouver & Granville Island; Stanley Park & Scenic Grouse Mountain.