Coopers Travel - Coast to Alaska & Rocky Mountains 29 Nights / 30 Days

Located at Canada’s southwestern border, the city of Vancouver boasts majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage in all four seasons. A vast multicultural population, endless activities, and excellent infrastructure ensure Vancouver is welcoming to all. While the city has excellent public transportation, it is a great walking city - easily accessible, clean, green and safe. Vancouver caters to almost any interest throughout the year; visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, gourmet meals, outstanding live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, a huge array of watersports, and spectacular sights and attractions. The city is also known for its easy access to Whistler, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, and Vancouver Island. Don’t miss the opportunity to traverse the thrilling, famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and its new related activities, including palpitation-inducing cliff walks and historical tribal sites.

Situated on the southern end of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the charming town of Victoria serves as the provincial capital. It is known for its numerous outdoor activities, heritage architecture, and its colourful gardens. The surroundings feature ancient rainforests, majestic mountains and a wild Pacific coastline. Visitors can look forward to partaking in the tradition of afternoon tea, discovering the city’s world-class culinary delights, and enjoying a variety of adventure options with everything from kayaking to whale-watching and more. Other attractions include: the stately Craigdarroch Castle, a historic Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion; Butchart Garden, with its immaculately kept grounds; and the extensive network of cycle paths; Victoria has more cycle routes than any other Canadian city.

Port Hardy is nestled on the edge of Queen Charlotte Strait at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, known for its exquisite marine life and rich heritage. The town was originally settled by the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations 8 000 years ago, whose descendants make up the thriving community. The port’s legends – and talents – are displayed in the many carvings and artworks on display at several galleries and museums. The Cape Scott Provincial Park, North Coast Trail and British Columbia Marine Trail offer spectacular wilderness adventures – including kayaking, caving, world-class scuba diving, fishing, wildlife charters and camping. Black bear and bald eagles sightings and a host of other fauna and birdlife add the final touches.

This port city on the Canadian Kaien Island on the coast of British Columbia is brimming with things to see, places to go to and a variety of must-do activities. First up, enjoy a stroll through the historic downtown shopping district and pop into the art galleries and craft shops before indulging in delicious West Coast fusion fare at one of the local restaurants. Take a ‘flightseeing’ tour of remote coastal villages on the island, as well as the Cambria Icefields and the grizzly and black bear sanctuary in Khutzeymateen Valley. Explore the Museum of Northern British Columbia and pop into the Carving Shed while to see local artisans at work. The Kwinitsa Railway Museum will take visitors from the port’s ‘tent town’ days to its formation as a proper little city in the 1920s. After a day of sightseeing, kayaking or boating, enjoy a feast of boiled crab on the beach.

With the enchanting snow-capped Hudson Bay Mountain as its backdrop, the small northern British Columbian town of Smithers is as welcoming as its vistas. Situated in the Bulkley Valley, the surrounding rolling hills, farmlands, creeks, lakes, and forests lend themselves to fishing, boating, camping, hiking, biking, skiing and wildlife spotting (mainly bear and moose). In town, you’ll find plenty of things to do too, including dining on cosmopolitan and local fare at the array of restaurants, a skateboard park and ice arena, and two golf courses. Pop into the Smithers Visitors Centre for more information. In winter, there’s plenty of cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding fun to be had.

Whether you’re after a bit of culture or history or keen on immersing yourself in the wilderness, there is a little something for everyone in Prince George. Make a date with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, visit Two Rivers Gallery to see a variety of Canadian artwork on display, or take the family to The Exploration Place and enjoy the exhibits that focus on history, science and nature. The kids will also enjoy the Railway and Forest Museum, Noah’s Ark and The Observatory for stargazing. (Pop into one of the two visitors’ centres for details). There’s also freshwater fishing, cross-country skiing, plenty of hiking trails and excellent golf facilities.

Jasper, set at the heart of Canada’s Jasper National Park in the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies, retains its timeless appeal as a peaceful, unpretentious, and friendly former railway town. The landscapes here are majestic; numerous mirror lakes, dense and varied forests, breathtaking snowy slopes. A year-round gateway to the park’s pristine setting, Jasper is the perfect place to enjoy skiing, nature photography, a paddle through crystal clear waters, hiking (over 1200 km of trails await), spotting wildlife (including grizzly bears, moose, and elk), or simply enjoying the serenity of the area. Top itinerary items include lake tours; a soak in the warm, idyllic Miette Hot Springs; and a meander along the adrenaline-inducing Glacier Skywalk, where visitors are separated from a 280-metre drop by a glass floor - among others.

Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, the resort town of Banff is the largest in the Banff National Park and is known for its breathtaking scenery, artsy and cosmopolitan atmosphere, and opportunities for skiing and outdoor activities. Three sublime ski areas are easily accessible from here, and the area famously boasts ‘Canada’s Best Snow’ making skiing, snowboarding, and all other snowsports a dream. The awe-inspiring Lake Louise and forested hillsides make for wonderful exploration in summer, with a massive network of excellent trails well suited to hiking, biking, and horse riding. Delve into the area’s unique heritage by visiting sites such as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, or visit purely for views and culinary pursuits by bar and restaurant hopping.

Embraced by the banks of the Yukon River and surrounded by the peaks of the Grey and Golden Horn mountains, this buzzing city in Northern Canada offers a wonderful variety of attractions and activities. Tour the S.S. Klondike sternwheeler for a touch of Gold Rush history, head off to Miles Canyon and walk the suspension bridge, and take your pick of more than 700km of trails that will connect you to rivers, lakes, valleys, and mountains. Visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve where the combination of lowland, wetlands and steep rock cliffs make for great wildlife viewing. The city also boasts a vibrant visual arts community and its very own snow-sculpting team.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of Canada's highest mountains, Haines Junction is a small village in Yukon, Canada, known for its exquisite natural scenery and exceptional outdoor adventure sports opportunities. The village serves as a convenient gateway to the Kluane National Park and Reserve and the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia, which form part of the largest internationally protected area in the world. Visitors will find a range of tourism services, including cabins, hotels, lodges, B&Bs, campsites, and several excellent restaurants. Appealing to adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, popular activities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, river rafting, and horse riding in the bright summer months. During the snowy winters, glacier flightseeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing can be enjoyed.

Located southeast of Fairbanks, the small Alaskan community of Tok serves as the trading centre for the Athabascan native villages, which are scattered in the surrounding area. Tok comes alive in winter with fantastic opportunities for cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and mushing, but visitors can also enjoy gold panning, bird watching, hiking, golfing, and horse riding the rest of the year. The annual 'Tok Race of Champions', a sled dog race, is held in March; while the local gift shops offer an array of traditional native arts and crafts. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on a local flight tour for a bird’s eye view of the scenic landscape. It should also be noted that this is a great place to see the mystical Northern Lights.

Set on the northeastern tip of the spectacularly beautiful Prince William Sound, the town of Valdez is surrounded by some of the best coastal scenery in Alaska featuring majestic tidewater glaciers and some of the world’s highest mountains. This outdoor paradise provides an array of exciting outdoor adventure activities for visitors to enjoy including: whitewater rafting through the impressive Keystone Canyon, chartering a boat for an exciting fishing trip, kayaking among majestic icebergs and spotting friendly seals. Other popular activities include: glacier hiking, heli-skiing, mountain biking and ice climbing.

Sandwiched between Mount Marathon and the glistening waters of Resurrection bay, this scenic city is surrounded by lush rain forests and is easily accessible from Anchorage. The neighbouring wilderness makes Seward an ideal base for kayaking, hiking, fishing, whale-watching, and glacier-viewing excursions. The city also serves as the gateway to the impressive Kenai Fjords National Park which offers magnificent landscapes and a remarkable variety of marine life. Take a day cruise along the coast south of Seward to watch glaciers calve into the sea, and spot seals, sea lions, and whales frolic in the waters. More adventurous travellers can rent a kayak and spend their afternoons paddling among sea otters, and their nights soaking in the clear night skies. This small, sparsely populated, 21.5-square-mile city is the perfect place to call home for a few days while you explore all of the breathtaking natural wonders of the wider area.

As the largest city in the state of Alaska, Anchorage offers a compelling combination of metropolitan luxuries and unrivalled natural beauty. Boasting an excellent nightlife scene, as well as numerous top notch art galleries, museums, and restaurants, the city keeps its visitors busy. However, because it covers a vast area, much of the city remains uninhabited and mountainous, making it perfect for nature lovers, too. The greater Anchorage area is home to an astonishing range of wildlife including moose, brown and black bears, Dall sheep, and many migratory bird species. With the glistening waters of the exquisite Cook Inlet and the towering peaks of the Chugach Mountains right on the city's doorstep, outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in a range of activities including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and even sea kayaking among some majestic tidewater glaciers in nearby Blackstone Bay.

Set in beautiful Alaska just outside Denali National Park and Preserve, the town of Healy is set amidst exceptionally scenic landscapes. Explore the world-famous park, and try your hand at a variety of adventure activities. In winter, enjoy snowmobiling, mushing, and skiing; and in summer, hiking and ATV tours offer magnificent views of Denali and the Savage and Teklanika rivers. Visitors can also look forward to spectacular flightseeing opportunities, sampling wonderful traditional dishes at the collection of local restaurants, and discovering the historic Stampede Trail. This wilderness route leads to the Fairbanks City bus where Chris McCandless lived and died, immortalized in Jon Krakauer’s 1997 bestseller, 'Into The Wild'.

In the summer with the sun shining nearly 24 hours a day, Fairbanks is simply bursting with energy. Strike it rich panning for gold, float the Chena River, mingle with reindeer and musk oxen, cool off in an ice museum, take a refreshing hike, or be inspired by brilliant art galleries, museums, and historic sites. From late August to April you have a great chance to see the shimmering light of the aurora borealis and the town unveils a host of activities and events during the winter. Once a gold rush boomtown, Fairbanks is now Alaska’s second largest metropolis known as the “Golden Heart City”. The Alaska Highway, trans-Alaska oil pipeline, military bases, mining and the University of Alaska are all integral to Fairbanks’ past and future. Fairbanks is one of the last frontiers - inviting, invigorating and awe-inspiring.

A small town in Yukon, Dawson ‘City’ has a scenic setting on the Yukon River and a backdrop of forested mountains. It is also a ‘First Nation’ – an original settlement of Canada’s native Indian people – with a rich cultural heritage. Visitors can delve into the history and modern lifestyle of the indigenous Hän People at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, or enjoy the creative offerings of the town’s various arts institutions. Alternatively, go gambling at Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino, Canada’s first legal gambling establishment. Summer outdoor pursuits include fishing or boating on the Klondike River and hiking up the ‘Midnight Dome’ to enjoy panoramic views over the Yukon River, Klondike valleys and the Ogilvie Mountain Range on the far horizon. In winter, visitors can take their pick of snowshoeing or dogsledding and participate in the annual Thaw DiGras axe-throwing competition.

As previously described

As previously described