WEST TREK TOURS presents

The AMAZING ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINTER WONDERLAND TOUR - from $275

Would you go to Egypt and not bother to see the pyramids?  Of course not.

Would you go to Paris and skip a trip to look at the Eiffel Tour?  That’s crazy.

So, you can’t come to Canada and not visit the ROCKIES!

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS WITH WEST TREK…

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO CANADA!

What do most people think of when you say that you are going to visit Canada?  Stunning alpine lakes surrounded by towering, snow capped peaks; quaint mountain villages; and incredible scenery are a start! 

This is what we will show you on our Amazing Rockies Winter Wonderland Tour!

Join us on a 4-day (3 night) tour to the heart of the Canadian Rockies as we travel through some of the most awe inspiring scenery to be found anywhere in the world!!

Picture frozen lakes so beautiful that they look like they can’t be real and must have been painted. Picture soaring mountain peaks that look like they’ve come from an imaginary fantasyland. 

Picture glaciers of solid ice nestled on mountain tops and creeping along valley floors.

Picture thundering waterfalls surrounded by stunning mountain scenery.

Now, put yourself in the picture on a West Trek Amazing Rocky Mountain Winter Wonderland Tour!!

Get your cameras ready and prepare to embark on a journey into a Disney-like fairy tale land of majestic castles, towering peaks, frigid glaciers, and frozen lakes. A winter wonderland that will give you memories to last a lifetime.

Meet new friends from around the world while learning about Canada on this exciting and fast paced tour.  

Experience sensory overload as you take in the stunning views that await you at every turn of the highway. 

Whether you are just out for an incredible sightseeing journey or you want to try your hand at a variety of winter sports and adventures, this tour has something to suit every taste.

TOUR DATES

· Nov 20 - 23

· Dec 4-7

· Dec 18-21 (Christmas special!)

· Dec 30-Jan 2 *Premium Price $315* (New years Eve in Banff!)

· Jan 15-18 · Jan 22-25

· Feb 5-7 (Olympic Games Themed Tour)

· Feb 19-22 (Olympic Games Themed Tour)

· Mar 5–8

· Mar 19-22

· April 23-26

TOUR  INCLUDES

·  The PERFECT MIX of amazing adventures and stunning sightseeing!      

-  Round trip deluxe coach transportation

·         3 nights hotel (1 night right in the town of Banff). Price is based on 4 people sharing 1 room with 2 Queen beds

·         Note that our hotel in Banff is The Mount Royal Hotel located right in the centre of this beautiful mountain village.  Step out the front doors of the hotel and you are in the heart of the shopping and entertainment district! 

-         1 Breakfast (Continental-style)

·         Daily guided sightseeing through some of the most incredible scenery in the world!

·         Free entrance to Banff’s best night clubs!

·         Services of a friendly and knowledgeable Canadian guide

·         In-transit games, entertainment and movies

·         All tips and taxes included

·         All park fees

GO WITH WEST TREK, THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOUR EXPERTS!

TOUR  HIGHLIGHTS

·         3 nights - - Golden ~ Banff ~ Revelstoke

·         LAKE LOUISE.  Try ice-skating or cross country skiing (seasonal) or go for a walk around (or across!) this world famous lake.  A variety of other outdoor activities such as a horse drawn sleigh ride are also available – just ask your guide for details.

·         BANFF.  You have lots of time to explore this scenic mountain town.  Soak in the famous Hot Springs or soar to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola for awesome views!  Take a hike along the Bow River or shop ‘til you drop in Banff’s many boutiques and shops. 

·         JOHNSTON CANYON.  Join us on a stunning “canyon crawl” as we explore this rugged and picturesque canyon.  View the first falls from inside a cave!  In season, you may see ice climbers testing their skill at the second falls.  Fun and adventure await on this awesome hike. 

·         BOW FALLS.  Visit this picturesque little waterfall right in the town of Banff. 

·         Yoho National Park

·         Glacier National Park and much more!

·         Free Style Dining Guide (Anytime, Anywhere, Anything you like)

TOUR  OPTIONS

 ·         Banff Hot Springs $7.40 (Tax included)

·         Banff Gondola $25 (Tax included)

·         Night Clubbing (Free entrance)

·         Free Style Dining Guide (Anytime, Anywhere, Anything you like)

o    Our guides will help you find the food you want to eat. Included in your tour is a continental breakfast. We recommend at least $45-$50 for the rest of your meals on the trip.

 West Trek Ski & Snow Club

For those of you that want to experience some great winter activities, West Trek offers a variety of choices!  What does it take to become a member?  You have to have a spirit of fun and adventure, be willing to try exciting new adventures and explore new mountains, and, best of all, YOU DON’T PAY A CENT!

All you have to do is join our West Trek Ski & Snow Facebook Fan Club and we will keep you up to date on great deals and last minute savings.  Join now, it’s FREE!

Winter Wonderland Adventures

·         Try Ice Skating on Lake Louise, Canada’s most famous lake - $10 (Tax included – seasonal)

-              Choose from a variety of winter activities such as Horse Drawn sleigh rides around Lake Louise or go cross country skiing to the head of the lake.  Both activities available at the Chateau Lake Louise.   

-              For SKIERS and BOARDERS – West Trek offers a number of ski tours designed specifically for skiers and boarders.  These tours focus on the incredible mountains and champagne powder of the best ski hills in British Columbia’s interior Okanagan Valley.  For more details go to Ski & Snowboard Tours.   These tours all include lift tickets and most include On Mountain accommodation. 

-              For SKIERS and BOARDERS that want to experience the Rockies, West Trek offers the 2 PREMIER ski hills in the Rockies!  You can Ski a FULL DAY at Lake Louise and / or a FULL DAY at Sunshine Village.  Please talk to your guide or one of our Sales Reps if interested. 

Dare to Compare and then ski the BEST with WEST Trek…

•  Calgarians vote Sunshine #1 resort for second year running.

•  Sunshine ski area covers 3 different mountains.  Lake Louise has 4 skiable mountain faces

•  Sunshine Village was recently voted “Best Local Attraction” by residents of Banff and Canmore, and who should know better!?

•  Lake Louise is one of the largest ski areas in North America!

•  Lake Louise was named “Best Steeps”, “Best Scenery”, Best Terrain Park” – Ski Magazine, 2006.

•  Lake Louise was voted the most scenic resort in North America by Ski Magazine in 2004

TOUR  ACCOMMODATIONS

West Trek’s Rocky Mountain Tour properties are clean, comfortable and conveniently located hotels. Checkout the links below to get a closer look:

·         Sportsman Lodge (Golden, BC)         www.sportsmanlodge.ca 

·         Revelstoke Lodge (Revelstoke, BC)  www.revelstokelodge.com

·         Mount Royal Hotel                          www.mountroyalhotel.com

TOUR ITINERARY (sample – all times are approximate)

Day 1   Vancouver to Golden

7:00am -  Meet in front of Seymour & Cordova

7:30am – Departure.   Your tour begins right away as your guide reviews some of the hightlights of the tour plus gives you details on all you need to know in order to take full advantage of your time in the Rockies.  As we travel east through the Fraser Valley and up into the Coastal Mountains you can sit back and relax as you enjoy a video or listen to some music.

1200 – Lunch stop in Kamloops on the dry “rain shadow” side of the Coastal Mountains. 

Enjoy the scenery as we pass by BC’s summer playground – Shuswap Lake - and through small towns with names like Salmon Arm and Sicamous.  Be amazed by the scenery as we tour past Mt. Revelstoke National Park, cruise through famous Roger’s Pass as we traverse spectacular Glacier National Park. 

6:30 pm – Check in to the Sportsman Lodge in Golden, BC.  Join us for a Welcome Party around the campfire (weather permitting) where you have the chance to mix and mingle with your fellow travelers.  Take your photo in an authentic First Nations teepee and afterwards, enjoy the indoor, heated pool with waterslide or relax in the indoor hot tub and sauna.   A great way to end your first day!

Day 2   Golden to Banff 

 7:30 am    Breakfast in the hotel (included)

8:15           Depart hotel

Enjoy a breathtakingly scenic drive through beautiful Yoho National Park

0945         Arrive at world Famous Lake Louise in Banff National Park.  Try ice-skating, cross country skiing or a variety of other winter activities. 

1:00 pm    Join us on a Canyon Crawl through fabulous Johnston Canyon.  Frozen waterfalls and amazing canyons highlight this adventure.  Bring warm clothes and good walking shoes or boots.  High heels and sandals are definitely out. 

3:00  pm   Arrive in Banff and enjoy a town tour to help get you oriented.  Stops include Bow Falls and Surprise Corner for great views of the famous Banff Springs Hotel.  Plus stop at the Cave & Basin to see where it all began!  Look down into the cavern where the original hot springs were discovered that launched the Canadian National Parks system back in the late 1800s. 

5:30 pm.   Check in to the Mt. Royal Hotel in the centre of Banff.

6:30 pm.   Join the whole group as we dine out at the Paddock Bar & Grill. 

Free time after dinner to explore Banff or visit a few shops.

In the evening we meet in the lobby and head out for a night on the town at some of Banff’s most popular nightspots.   Dance the night away or enjoy an intimate drink at one of the many pubs or cafes.

Day 3   Banff to Revelstoke

8:30 am    Depart hotel and continue our tour of Banff.

In the morning we take you up Sulphur Mountain where you have the options to soak in the world famous Banff Hot Springs or take a ride to the top of the Banff Gondola for stunning 360 degree views.  Or do both!  The time is yours to do what you want.

After Sulphur Mountain we return to Banff where you have free time to do some more exploring.  Our recommendations include:

•  Take a hike up past the Cave & Basin along the shores of the Bow River for some quiet and solitude.  The really adventurous may want to try Sundance Canyon at the end of the paved trail. 

•  Visit the Banff Park Museum or Whyte Museum to discover more about the history and wildlife in the national parks.   

•  Follow the back roads and trails to the historic and amazing Banff Springs Hotel.  The closest thing to a real castle that you can find in Canada!  You could spend hours exploring this magnificent building which features great dining, wine bars, shops, sitting rooms with incredible views, and banquet halls complete with their own ghosts! 

•  Mt. Norquay offers some great skiing for those that want to say that they skied the Rockies.  Ask your guide for information on shuttles to the ski area. 

So much to see and do that you’ll wish you had more time! 

3:00  Time to say good bye to this alpine village but hopefully you will be able to return some day.  In the meantime, you will have wonderful memories from your West Trek stay in Banff!

Travel back through Kicking Horse Pass, Yoho National Park and over Rogers Pass to the village of Revelstoke tucked away in the Monashee Mountains. 

6:30 pm   Check in to the Revelstoke Lodge. 

You have the evening free to explore Revelstoke or join us for an end of tour party at one of the local clubs. 

Day 4   Revelstoke  to Vancouver

 8:30 am.  Depart hotel

9:00 am.  Stop at the historic Last Spike rest area

12:00       Lunch stop at the Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops

6:00 pm   Arrive back in Vancouver

PHOTO OPS - To look at some great photos of the sights that you’ll be seeing, click here: ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINTER PHOTOS

WHY GO ON A ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINTER WONDERLAND TOUR WITH WEST TREK?  Let us count the reasons….

1. ITINERARY – We have spent years refining and upgrading our itinerary to maximize the amount of time that you have at key attractions.  For example, by making it to Golden on the first night, you are able to have all of Day 2 in the Rocky Mountains.  This means that you have more time to visit Lake Louise and we are able to include extras like Johnston Canyon and the Cave & Basin. 

2. JOHNSTON CANYON – This is a great little gem that none of the other budget tour operators include in their itinerary!  Hiking the canyon is a unique experience that you will remember for years to come.  Not to be missed and only with West Trek’s Amazing Rocky Mountain Winter Wonderland tour!

3. We offer 4 full days for the price of 3½.  While other tour operators don’t leave until Friday afternoon, we leave first thing Friday morning so that we can maximize your time in the Rockies.

4. Rocky mountain EXPERTS.  We don’t just say we’re experts, we ARE!  One of the owners of West Trek lived and worked in Banff and has been taking people on tours of Banff and the Rockies for over 25 years.  Let that expertise work for you.

5. THE MOUNT ROYAL HOTEL – Our hotel in Banff is located right in the centre of the village.  This means that you don’t have a 30-minute walk from your hotel to the nightclubs, restaurants and shops.  After all, who wants a 30 minute walk in -25 degrees?!

6. SAME PRICE for everyone.  We don’t have member or non-member pricing.  All of our guests receive the same low pricing and the same great quality!

7. TIPS – Our price includes all tips so you won’t have anyone asking you for more money on the tour. 

8. ENGLISH speaking guides.  All of our guides are Canadian and English speaking. They are young and fun; knowledgeable and caring. 

9. QUALITY.  From the timing of the itinerary to a downtown Banff hotel to extras like Johnston Canyon – West Trek delivers the highest quality designed to make you feel that you are on a luxury tour at a budget price.

10. VALUE.   Price + quality = Value.  West Trek gives you the best value for your money.  We know that a hotel in the centre of one of Canada’s most expensive resort towns is going to be expensive.    Our philosophy is simple.  Our customers are worth it. 

And counting….

IMPORTANT NOTES

What to bring:

·         Swimming suit (hot tub or swimming pool in the hotels)

·         Proof of medical insurance

·         Government photo ID (passport) & Student ID

·         Good winter walking shoes/boots

·         Warm jacket, hat, gloves

Policies:

·         We recommend paying at least 10 days before departure to avoid disappointment

·         The tour is NON-REFUNDABLE within 10 days of departure

·         NO REFUND if you fail to show up at the meeting spot on time.

·         A small bus may be used for smaller groups