Independent arrival at the Vancouver International Airport. After clearing customs and picking up your luggage you will make your own way to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for check-in. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, like the city that surrounds it, is rich in history, resplendent in natural beauty, vibrant and cosmopolitan. Within its walls you will find the luxurious Spa at Hotel Vancouver, a state-of-the-art health club and designer shops.

Today you will board your motorcoach and transfer to Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. The day begins with a 90-minute cruise on B.C. Ferries across the Strait of Georgia and through the picturesque Gulf Islands. Upon arrival in Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, you will travel into Victoria to your downtown hotel.

Today you will board your chartered motorcoach and transfer to Vancouver. En route enjoy a stop at the world-renowned Butchart Gardens where you will have free time to explore the 50-acre display of magnificent colour and floral arrangements. Continuing onto the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, board your B.C. Ferry for a 90 minute cruise through the Gulf Islands and across the Strait of Georgia Gulf Islands to the mainland.

Enjoy a champagne & orange juice toast upon departure, followed by breakfast. Your lunch will be accompanied by 'a taste of BC' wine. Our dedicated culinary staff takes pride in preparing gourmet cuisine, a la carte style, served in elegance in the lower-level dining lounge of your GoldLeaf Dome coach.

Your two-day, all-daylight tour begins by traveling through the placid Fraser Valley and into the Coastal Mountains. Next, as you wind through the Fraser Canyon, you will pass Hell's Gate where millions of gallons of water per minute rush through the narrowest point of the canyon. By the time you reach Kamloops, in the interior of British Columbia, you will have crossed into Canada's semi-arid desert.

Relax at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort with breathtaking views in a gorgeous setting from sunrise to sundown. This striking European-style village is located in the Thompson Okanagan region in British Columbia. The resort offers an inviting atmosphere from the hotel lobby. Delta Sun Peaks Resort - Virtual Tour

Today’s journey to Banff will take you over numerous rivers, awe inspiring and high trestle bridges and through spectacular mountain ranges, the famous Spiral Tunnels and Glacier, Yoho and Banff National Parks.

In the afternoon the sightseeing highlights include Craigellachie, Lake Louise and the Spiral Tunnels. Described as 'a perfect maze', the railway through the Upper and Lower Spiral Tunnels was doubled back upon itself twice, tunnelled under mountains and crossed over a river twice, in order to lessen the grade.

Arrive in Banff and transfer via chartered motorcoach to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for check-in! Few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality, and scenery of The Fairmont Banff Springs. Its unique blend of opulence and seclusion has been a symbol of Rocky Mountain magnificence for more than a century.

Registration to the Canadian Rockies by Rail. (Word)
Registration to the Canadian Rockies by Rail. (PDF)

We recommend that each attendee secure travel insurance in case of a family emergency. To receive a quote on travel insurance to the Canadian Rockies by Rail, visit Travel Guard International.

Culminate your western Canada experience with an optional grand finale at the grand Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

Calgary's small town warmth coupled with the vibrant urban ambience makes it a metropolis of wonderful contrasts. Set in the heart of the city, The Fairmont Palliser is an historical landmark offering distinctive accommodations in an elegant surrounding.

Calgary is a spectacular city to visit anytime of the year. Stroll, rollerblade, cross-country ski along riverside pathways, or visit one of the many area attractions.

Discounted rates for Encore Symposiums attendees Oct 13-14: $159 CAN $$ per night/double/single occupancy. To access the current exchange rates, visit: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html

Fairmont Room: $159/nt. CAN$$
Fairmont Suite: $219 CAN$$
Fairmont Gold: $249 CAN$$

** Optional extended stay in Calgary is available at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Oct. 13-14 at the discounted rates of $159/nt. CAN$$ (Fairmont Room), $219 CAN$$ (Fairmont Suite), $249 CAN$$ (Fairmont Gold). For reservations call Fairmont Global Reservations at 800-441-1414 or Click Here (Promotional code is GRENC1)