Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach, ferry and float-plane transportation, first-class overnight accommodations onboard the VIA Rail’s The Canadian, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling, and the services of the Tauck Director, local guides, and drivers are included. A representative of Tauck will greet you at Vancouver International Airport and provide transportation to The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks before your departure date. The tour ends at Calgary International Airport at 10:00 AM on the last day of the tour. If you choose to book additional nights at The Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, you will ride to the airport with the group before returning to the hotel. Tauck will provide you with transportation from the hotel to Calgary International Airport regardless of the day or time of your departure. If you choose to spend additional nights at The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, you must arrange and pay for your own transportation to your departing airport.

Hotel and Train Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and train accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended for comfort.

Onboard The Canadian, doubles are accommodated in a bedroom with a window and two armchairs, which are replaced by upper and lower beds for sleeping. Amenities include a small closet, mirror, sink/vanity and private toilet. Singles are accommodated in smaller single bedrooms with a window seat that converts into a bed folding out from the wall. Triples are accommodated in one double bedroom and one single bedroom. Amenities include sink/vanity, mirror and toilet; single bedroom toilet is not accessible when bed is lowered. There are rest rooms, and a public shower, in each sleeping car; each sleeping car accommodates 20 guests and has one shower stall.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – Grand Canadian Rockies is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staffs and local guides are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tauck Director Gratuities - The customary gratuities for the Tauck Director and driver are not included.

 

Airline Security Measures – 

If you are traveling from the U.S., beginning in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program will require that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith; not John Thomas Smith, not Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your photo ID.

If you make your air travel arrangements through Tauck, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA web site, www.tsa.gov, by clicking here.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of publication.

On the eastbound tour, The Canadian is scheduled to depart Vancouver at 8:30 PM on day 4 and arrive in Jasper at 4:00 PM on day 5; lunch and breakfast are included. These schedules are current as of 10/15/09 and are subject to local rail and traffic conditions. Itineraries are designed to minimize missed sightseeing should delays occur.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, BC, Canada on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when the group transfer from The Fairmont Banff Springs arrives at Calgary International Airport on the morning of the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least two hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Air Conditioning – The Fairmont Waterfront, Hotel Grand Pacific, The Canadian and the motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort. The Fairmont Banff Springs has an air-cooling system, which is less robust than an air-conditioning system. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and The Fairmont Château Lake Louise do not provide air-conditioning.

ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering in unpredictable mountain temperatures. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll. During the evenings some dining rooms require smart casual attire for dinner (no jeans) and some fine dining rooms recommend jackets for the gentlemen, but they are not required.

For dining in finer restaurants and for the welcome reception and farewell dinner you may want to dress up a bit – a jacket for men and a casually-elegant outfit for ladies – but by all means be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are also available for a fee at all the Fairmont Hotels on this itinerary, but not onboard The Canadian.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to the Canadian Rockies:

Elevation - The maximum land elevation on this tour is approximately 7,200 feet (2,195 meters) on the Athabasca Glacier. The maximum overnight elevation is 5,680 feet (1,731 meters) at The Fairmont Château Lake Louise.

Health – You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Several modes of transportation are used on this tour – motor coach, ferry, float plane and train. In general, this itinerary is recommended for those who have little if any difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or balancing onboard a moving train. Walking is also affected by weather conditions which do vary greatly and can involve snow, ice, and mud.

Regarding Wheelchairs
If you require a wheelchair while traveling, you must meet the specifications of each of the tour’s suppliers including the motor coach, ferry, float plane and train. You may bring a collapsible, lightweight wheelchair on tour that weighs less than 100 lbs (45.4 kg), but you must be able to maneuver on and off the coach with limited assistance. We strongly recommend that if you require a wheelchair for travel or have moderate to severe difficulty walking that you bring a companion to assist you. Before you book this tour, you will need to provide us with the exact specifications of the wheelchair, including: size, model, and all components that accompany it to determine its motor coach storage capabilities.

The Canadian may provide a special wheelchair while you are onboard as the corridors on the train are too narrow for a regular wheelchair. The public washrooms on the trains will accommodate a wheelchair; however the bedrooms and roomette washrooms will not. If you require the wheelchair in your bedroom, the regular chair provided in the room would have to be removed. The special onboard wheelchair does not allow for access to the Observation Dome which is only accessible by climbing some steps.

Regarding Oxygen
If you require portable oxygen while traveling, you will be responsible for any maintenance and operation that the tank requires while on tour, and for locating health facilities on the tour route that can perform tank maintenance. If you choose to bring a tank on tour, you will need to provide us the exact specifications of the tank, including size, model, and all components that accompany it prior to booking the tour to determine motor coach storage capabilities. You may inquire about having them filled at a hospital in Vancouver, Banff or Jasper (there is no hospital in Lake Louise), but tank maintenance facilities are limited in the Canadian Rockies.

Vancouver General Hospital: 855 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C, Canada V5Z 1M9. Phone: (604) 875-4111

Seaton General Hospital: Box 310, 518 Robson Street, Jasper, Alberta T0E 1E0.
Phone: (780) 852-3344. Fax: (780) 852-3413

Banff Mineral Springs Hospital: 305 Lynx Street, Banff, Alberta, Canada TIL1H7.
Phone: (403) 760-7214

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches or onboard The Canadian.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Canada. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.  The CDC operates a 24-hour travelers' information number at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact a Canadian embassy or consulate to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions -

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable for the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – Currently, all U.S. citizens, including children, and citizens of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda traveling by air, land or sea between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document to enter or depart the U.S. Click here for more information on the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Patrol website.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not require a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation. If you are a frequent traveler to Canada from the U.S., you may benefit from the NEXUS program which is joint initiative between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency that allows pre-screened and approved travelers faster processing at designated highway lanes in high-volume border crossing locations, at a NEXUS kiosk at Vancouver International Airport, and at certain marine reporting locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle regions. For further information, you may log on to the Nexus Internet site by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Canada and of the U.S. to determine what travel documentation will be required.

Anyone with a criminal record (including some misdemeanors such as Driving While Impaired (DWI) charges) may be excluded or removed from Canada, and should contact a Canadian embassy or consulate well in advance of any planned travel to ensure proper travel documentation.

We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

 

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Canada.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD), which is divided into 100 cents. One-dollar coins are also known as ‘loonies’ (due to the picture of a loon, a type of bird, on the coin), and two-dollar coins as ‘toonies’. Banks and exchange bureaus will change money and travelers’ checks, as will some hotels, but the rate will not be as good. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are plentiful. U.S. dollars are largely accepted, though due to fraud, larger notes might not be and change is usually given in Canadian dollars.

To obtain the up-to-date currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – You should familiarize yourself with Canada’s specific required customs declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.
Canada levies a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on most consumer goods and services. Canada has canceled its Visitor Rebate Program and you can no longer request a refund of the GST if you bring the items purchased out of the country. You may still ship purchases directly from a Canadian business to your non-resident address without being taxed.

The individual states within the U.S. levy sales taxes on consumer goods and services. There is no federal tax similar to the Value Added Tax (VAT) or GST used by other countries that permits non-residents to obtain refunds of the sales taxes levied by each state.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Canada is 120 V, 60 Hz, AC. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters. These items can be purchased in a store that specializes in travel products.

Internet access is available as indicated below:

Fairmont Waterfront – High-speed access in rooms for a fee

Hotel Grand Pacific – Complimentary high-speed access in rooms
Via Rail Train – No access aboard the train

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Dial-up access in rooms for a fee

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – High-speed internet and dial-up in the rooms for a fee; wireless access also available in public areas, such as the hotel lobby and lounges

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – High-speed access in rooms for a fee

 

For guests who choose to join the Fairmont President’s Club, all internet services are complimentary. 

Time Zones – Vancouver is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); Calgary is 7 hours behind. From early March through early November, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 7 and 6 hours behind, respectively. To determine current time major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website www.timeanddate.com

Weather – The summer weather in the Canadian Rockies can change instantly and is often unpredictable as in any mountainous region. From June through early September, normal temperatures range from 50 to 80˚F (10 to 27˚C). However, the Canadian Rockies could experience some unusually warm weather (80 to 90˚F) (26 to 32˚C) during the summer months. Therefore, we suggest including some light warm weather clothing in your travel wardrobe. Conditions are often very local and can change radically from one valley to the next, or change during the course of the day. Due to its geographic location, Western Canada generally has long hours of daylight and in mid-summer the sun will rise as early as 5:00 a.m. and set as late as 10:00 p.m. In the early spring and fall, daylight hours average about 14 hours, from 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Rainfall is greatest by the ocean in Vancouver and lighter in the interior portions of the Canadian Rockies.

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

 

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase the Tauck Protection Plan, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$525 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-8 days before departure
$925 per person

7-1 days before departure
$1,500 per person