2026 Alaska Cruising with Derek

Discover the spectacular Canadian Rockies on an unforgettable escorted journey through some of North America’s most breathtaking landscapes. Explore Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Jasper National Park and the world-famous Icefields Parkway, with highlights including Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Emerald Lake and Glacier National Park. Travel through dramatic mountain scenery, historic railway landmarks and the scenic Thompson and Fraser River canyons before reaching vibrant Seattle, where iconic attractions await. The adventure then continues with an MSC Poesia cruise hosted by Cruise1st TV’s Derek Marks, combining incredible sightseeing, memorable experiences and outstanding value in one exceptional holiday package.

Escorted Tour Highlights

• ● Banff National Park and Bow Falls
• ● Lake Louise scenic beauty
• ● Icefields Parkway mountain drive
• ● Bow Lake and Peyto Lake viewpoints
• ● Jasper National Park landscapes
• ● Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park
• ● Rogers Pass and Glacier National Park
• ● Craigellachie Last Spike historic site
• ● Thompson and Fraser River canyons
• ● Seattle city tour and Pike Place Market

 Your Tour Itinerary in Detail

 

‣ Day 1: United Kingdom → Calgary International Airport

● Your tour begins in Calgary.

● Upon arrival make your own way to the hotel and check in for one night, rest of the day at leisure.

‣ Day 2: Calgary - Lake Louise - Banff

● Breakfast at hotel

● Leaving Calgary we travel west on the Trans-Canada Highway into the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies soon fill the horizon as we enter Banff National Park.

● We tour the region around Banff. The area became Canada's first national park in 1885 to protect its natural hot springs. We see the landmark Banff Springs Hotel and Bow Falls.

● We then travel to Lake Louise - one of the most photographed scenes in Canada.

● Check into your hotel in Banff in the late afternoon

● Optional - (£54) Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for amazing views of the Bow Valley and the charming town of Banff!

● Free time to enjoy dinner (excluded) on Banff Avenue in Banff

‣ Day 3: Banff - Jasper / Columbia Icefield - Banff

● Breakfast at hotel

● Depart hotel. Banff is the first and most famous of Canada's national parks and is an incomparable combination of towering peaks and high meadows, emerald lakes and keen mountain air

● The journey today promises to be a highlight of our program. We travel north along the Icefields Parkway to experience a wealth of breathtaking scenery. Crystal blue-green lakes (Bow Lake & Peyto Lake), fresh mountain streams, deep forests, and snow-capped mountain peaks are the order of the day.

● We then enter Jasper National Park and pass the Athabasca River.

● Optional - (£60) Take the famous Ice Explorer Tour on the Athabasca Glacier.

● Return to Banff in the late afternoon/evening

Breakfast Included

‣ Day 4: Banff - Kamloops

● Breakfast at hotel

● Depart hotel. This morning our drive is on the famed TransCanada Highway, following a route chartered by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid-1800s.

● Sightseeing at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park

● Kicking Horse Pass leads us from the Rockies into the Columbia River Valley before we climb through Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. The Selkirk Mountains receive massive amounts of winter snow and are home to over one hundred active avalanche zones.

● Stop at Craigellachie - the site of the Canadian Pacific Railway's Last Spike

● We continue through the Monashee Mountain Range to the rugged interior town of Kamloops.

● Arrive in Kamloops in the late afternoon.

● Check into your hotel in Kamloops this evening

Breakfast Included

‣ Day 5: Kamloops - Seattle 

● Breakfast at hotel

● We leave the dusty, rolling ranch land of "cowboy country" and follow the dramatic course of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers, the road clinging to sheer canyon walls within the turbulent waters rushing below.

● Approx Midday Stop in Historic Downtown Abbotsford (or District 1881 in Chilliwack) for lunch (excluded)

● We will then cross the Canada/US border and travel to Seattle.

● Upon arrival late afternoon depending on the waiting time at the border), we will enjoy a sightseeing driving tour of Seattle and discover key landmarks such as Space Needle, Pike Place Market and much more!

● Free time to explore downtown Seattle on your own after checking into your hotel.

● Evening at leisure

Breakfast Included

See the full MSC Poesia itinerary by clicking here.

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