July 02 - 17, 2022
16 Days
Tour Status - Available
Alberta is a province in Western Canada. Its landscape encompasses mountains, prairies, desert badlands and vast coniferous forests. It has more than 600 lakes, and rich mineral deposits. In the west, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks have glaciers in the Columbia Icefields. The West in the summertime means hot weather, fields of yellow canola, the "Greatest Outdoor Show" in the World, and many beautiful sights to admire. You will experience the Calgary Stampede, "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", as well as visits in the rural areas of Central Alberta and into the Canadian Rocky Mountain range.
Then board the Celebrity Cruises “Eclipse” for seven nights, cruising the Inside Passage, Hubbarb Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan, plus more….
“This farm tour was very well organized. The tour was very informative and impressive.”
Click Image to Enlarge
Tour Highlights
Private, air conditioned motor coach transportation
Accommodations
Meals & Attractions as Outlined
Multiple Farm/Technical Visits
Columbia Icefields
Lake Louise
Banff National Park
Visit a Hutterite Colony
Entrance fee for Sulphur Mountain Gondola in Banff
Entrance fee to Calgary Stampede including evening "Grandstand Show & Chuckwagon Races"
Visit "Layden" Family Farm
Knowledgeable Select Holidays escort
7 Night Inside Passage Cruise on Celebrity “Eclipse”
All meals onboard cruise ship
Plus more...
DAY 01 – Sat - July 02, 2022 - CALGARY*
Your adventure begins as you arrive Calgary, and make your way to the hotel for the night. Overnight: Calgary
*Airfare into Calgary is at an additional cost.
DAY 02 – Sun - July 03, 2022 - LETHBRIDGE (B/L)
Following breakfast, travel into the foothills of Alberta where most of the cattle ranching takes place. A stop will be made at Bar U ranch, one of the first, most successful and most enduring large scale ranching operations in Canada, along with a wagon ride. Ride into history on a wagon pulled by Percheron horses to discover the life of a ranching cowboy from the late 1800s at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site. Back-dropped by the Rocky Mountains – it’s a true Alberta experience! Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump for a guided tour of this unique facility and learn about the hunting of the buffalo by a ‘native’ story teller. Arrive Lethbridge for a 2-night stay. Overnight: Lethbridge
DAY 03 – Mon - July 04, 2022 - LETHBRIDGE (B/D)
This morning, travel to “Feedlot Alley” to visit a feedlot operation specializing in both beef cattle feedlots as well as a sheep feedlot. This will be followed with a visit to a commercial greenhouse facilities. After lunch, visit with a local farmer that grows potatoes, beans, sugar beets and seed canola on his farm. Return to Lethbridge for the night. Dinner this evening at a local restaurant featuring Alberta grown produce.
Overnight: Lethbridge
DAY 04 – Tue - July 05, 2022 – LETHBRIDGE – RED DEER (B/D)
Depart Lethbridge and travel North towards some of the most fertile farm land in Western Canada. Visit a Hutterite Colony. These "colonies", are all rural, depending largely on farming or ranching for their income. This is followed by a visit to a local family farm that specializes in oil seed and grain production. Enjoy a BBQ dinner at the family farm before transferring to Red Deer for 2 nights. Overnight: Red Deer
DAY 05 – Wed - July 06, 2022 – RED DEER (B/L)
Today starts with a visit and tour to a large dairy operation as well as at grain terminal and fertilizer plant. Following lunch, you will visit the Star Cheese operation. Star Cheese is a field to final product with award winning Gouda from the heart of Alberta. The cheese is made from the milk of their own cows, raised and fed on their land and crafted in a time honored, traditional way. The farm produces Gouda, Swiss Style and Edam. Return to Red Deer for the night. Overnight: Red Deer
DAY 06 – Thu - July 07, 2022 - RED DEER – BANFF NATIONAL PARK (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, travel west through the farming and ranching country into the Foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. A coffee stop will be made in Rocky Mountain House, the "Gateway to the Canadian Rockies". From here, continue the journey past Lake Abraham, one of Canada's largest man-made lakes, before entering Banff National Park for lunch. This afternoon drive to the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center where you board an amazing SnoCoach glacier ride onto the Glacier surface. The Columbia Icefields are situated inside Jasper National Park. Return to hotel for the night including a buffet dinner. These accommodations are situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies situated in Banff National Park. Overnight: Banff National Park
DAY 07 – Fri - July 08, 2022– BANFF NATIONAL PARK - CALGARY (B)
Enjoy a buffet breakfast then travel along the scenic Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic highways in Canada. Visit beautiful Lake Louise and continue on to Banff, visiting Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, both crowning jewels in Banff National Park. Take a ride on the Banff Gondola up the side of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views. You will continue on towards Calgary for the night. Overnight: Calgary
DAY 08 – Sat - July 09, 2022 - CALGARY, AB (B)
Today you will make your way to Stampede Park, home of the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" Calgary Stampede. This is a whole day at the Calgary Stampede to enjoy as you would choose, from the agricultural pavilions and other many other displays. There is the option to take in the afternoon rodeo performance. (Afternoon Rodeo Tickets must be booked in advance and are at an additional cost) This evening, you will enjoy the thrill and excitement of the world famous Chuckwagon Races, Grandstand show and Fireworks. (NOTE: this will be a late evening) Overnight: Calgary
DAY 09 – Sun - July 10, 2022– CALGARY TO VANCOUVER* (B)
Depart Calgary and fly to Vancouver. Upon arrival into Vancouver, transfer to board Celebrity “Eclipse” for the Inside Passage Cruise, Vancouver round trip. Luxurious and upscale on every deck and at every turn, Celebrity “Eclipse”® sets the standard for modern luxury vacations. Sail in style surrounded by stunning décor. Take your taste buds on vacation with diverse dining options. Enjoy endless entertainment options from sensational shows to some tranquil time in the library. Take a yoga class in the Fitness Center or relax with a massage in the Canyon Ranch® Spa. Find true poolside serenity at the Solarium. Featuring a gorgeous pool, sparkling waterfalls, thickly padded lounge chairs, and an adults-only policy, tranquility is always just a few steps away. Whatever your travel style, you'll find your home on board.
*Flight from Calgary to Vancouver is included in price below.
Day 10 - Mon - July 11, 2022 - INSIDE PASSAGE
You'll sail beyond the Inside Passage into the more protected Alaska Inside Passage in southeastern Alaska. This complex labyrinth of fjords, bays, and lush green islands is home to an abundance of wildlife, including orca, mountain goats, bald eagles, bears, puffins, sea otters and much more. [B/L/D]
Day 11 - Tue - July 12, 2022 - ICY STRAIT POINT
For thousands of years, the Tlingit Indians have called this place home. Located near the city of Hoonah, and home to a historic cannery, Icy Strait Point also offers travelers the chance to view wildlife like humpback whales, orcas, seals, eagles, and brown bears, or to explore monuments to the region's fishing heritage. [B/L/D]
Day 12 - Wed - July 13, 2022 - HUBBARD GLACIER
The Hubbard Glacier is located about 30 miles north off the coast of Yakutat and is by far one of Alaska’s most exciting natural treasures. On your cruise to Hubbard Glacier, enjoy incredible picture-perfect views of this glorious mount of ice from about every angle on your ship. Named after Gardiner Hubbard, the founder and president of the National Geographic Society, Hubbard Glacier is the longest tidewater glacier in the world. Dramatically massive at about 7-miles wide, 76-miles long and as tall as a 30-story building above the waterline, it’s the largest river of ice in North America. How this magnificent block came to form begins about 400 years ago from the snowfalls on the slopes of Mount Logan. While most of the world’s glaciers are retreating, the Hubbard Glacier has continued to thicken over the years and on rare occasion will partially block Russell Fjord, temporarily damming its passage.
Cruise Hubbard Glacier and experience the wilds of Alaska as your ship makes its way through icy waters turning from Yakutat Bay into the narrow Disenchantment Bay to come face-to-face with the towering Hubbard Glacier. The strong currents and riptides that flow between Gilbert Point and the face of the glacier cause calving to occur on daily basis, sending massive chunks of ice crashing into Disenchantment Bay. Witness this awe-inspiring phenomenon onboard a Hubbard Glacier cruise through the misty, chilled air of the Gulf of Alaska. Our dedicated onboard naturalist narrates the experience and keeps an eye out for the whales, harbor seals, and otters that hunt and play in the waters of Yakutat Bay. It’s an adventure of a lifetime.[B/L/D]
Day 13 - Thu - July 14, 2022 - JUNEAU
The allure of beautiful glaciers & thrilling outdoor activities draws visitors to Juneau, a city made famous by its discovery of gold nuggets “as large as beans” Here's your chance to take a glacial dogsled adventure in Alaska's capital, where cultured sophistication meets the ruggedness of the Last Frontier. Or watch in awe as a massive whale frolics along the water. [B/L/D]
Day 14 - Fri - July 15, 2022 - KETCHIKAN
You've never tasted salmon so fresh. Known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World', Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world's largest collection of totem poles. If you're up for an adventure, take a canoe and nature trail excursion through the rain forest or a wilderness exploration followed by a sumptuous crab feast you'll long remember. [B/L/D]
Day 15 - Sat - July 16, 2022 - INSIDE PASSAGE
During the summer months, the long hours of daylight allow for ample opportunities for nature photos on your Inside Passage Cruise. You'll never forget the sight of 40-ton whales hurling themselves into the air, almost completely escaping the water. If you're especially lucky, you could see them swimming together to create a bubble net, trapping and eating fish by the giant mouthful. [B/L/D]
Day 16 - Sun - July 17, 2022 - VANCOUVER*
Your cruise comes to an end this morning at 7 am.
*Airfare from Vancouver, British Columbia, is at an additional cost.
