2022 & 2023 Guided Tours - Cosmos® Affordable Tours

Western Canada with Inside Passage (8980)

14 days from Calgary to Vancouver

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

Have a fantastic adventure on this affordable vacation in Canada. You’ll begin in Calgary taking a city tour before traveling to the majestic Canadian Rockies and beautiful Banff National Park where you’ll spend two nights. Explore the park by hiking or horseback riding, shop in the townsite or take a once-in-a-lifetime optional helicopter tour over the magnificent Canadian Rockies! Stop at gorgeous Lake Louise, its turquoise waters perfectly mirroring the surrounding mountains and glaciers, then continue to the Columbia Icefield to experience a ride on the Ice Explorer that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Journey through breathtaking wilderness before arriving in Jasper National Park for two nights. There you can join the optional excursion to see Maligne Lake and the much-photographed Spirit Island. Then have time to explore this amazing park with its abundant wildlife. As you travel to Prince George, visit Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson is the highest of Canada’s Rockies at nearly 13,000 feet. Next board VIA Rail’s Skeena train for a memorable all-daylight journey through the rugged Coast Mountains. Retrace the steps of the ancient First Nations trading routes and follow the paths of the earliest fur traders before arriving in Prince Rupert for a two-night stay. Here, visit the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village, a national Historic Site and take a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Then it’s time for an unforgettable voyage! You’ll cruise on the Inside Passage seeing some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Along the way, be sure to watch for whales, sea lions, porpoise, eagles, and other wildlife. Overnight in Port Hardy and then make your way south to charming Victoria where sightseeing includes Bastion Square, the Inner Harbour, and Thunderbird Park with its interesting collection of totems poles. You’ll have free time to shop, have high tea at the Empress Hotel or perhaps take an optional excursion to Butchart Gardens with its stunning 55-acres of floral displays. Then set sail across the picturesque Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands for an arrival in Vancouver. Here you’ll see city highlights like Stanley Park, Chinatown, and more. This amazing value tour is jam-packed with beauty and adventures that are not to be missed!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available), as well as a ferry crossing from/to Vancouver Island. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Your adventure includes an Inside Passage Cruise and a rail journey on VIA Rail’s Skeena train from Smithers to Prince Rupert in Economy class.


Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Save up to $300 per couple on select 2025 Cosmos Tours Worldwide*
Save up to $400 per couple on select 2025 Cosmos Tours Worldwide*
Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Western Canada with Inside Passage map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

This Cosmos travel package does not include meals. Most of our hotels offer anything from coffee to a full breakfast, so you can start the day the way you like best. At most lunch stops, your Tour Director will have information on local restaurants. Dinnertime is your chance to sample local cuisine. Sometimes your Tour Director will offer an optional dinner outing.


Notes:

Early departures may not be able to visit Columbia Icefield, which opens in early May, or take the Maligne Lake & Spirit Island optional excursion, which opens in mid to late May. Visiting and participating in other activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.



Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.

 Itinerary

Day 1 CALGARY

Welcome to Calgary! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

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Day 2 CALGARY–BANFF NATIONAL PARK

This morning, take a city tour of Calgary, home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. Highlights include downtown, Fort Calgary, Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. Then travel west into the majestic Canadian Rockies and beautiful Banff National Park where you’ll spend the next two nights. Have an orientation tour upon arrival.

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Day 3 BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy your day exploring Banff, one of Canada’s favorite year-round resorts, with summer activities including hiking, boating, horseback riding, and fishing. Your Tour Director will have lots of suggestions. Lift your sights higher on an exhilarating optional helicopter ride with spectacular views over the Canadian Rockies.

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Day 4 BANFF NATIONAL PARK–COLUMBIA ICEFIELD–LAKE LOUISE–JASPER NATIONAL PARK

As we journey north, view precipitous gorges, snowcapped mountain ranges, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens. Stop at Lake Louise, its turquoise waters perfectly mirroring the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Continue to the Columbia Icefield to experience a ride on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Winding our way up the western fringe of Alberta, our journey takes us through some of the Canadian Rockies’ most breathtaking wilderness. Later, drift through natural wonders on an optional float trip down the Athabasca River. In Jasper, an orientation tour showcases the area’s unspoiled beauty.

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Day 5 JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Make your day magical with an optional narrated cruise on Maligne Lake and see much-photographed Spirit Island*. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer, from guided hikes and quaint shops to meandering wildlife.

*This optional excursion begins operating in late May/early June.

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Day 6 JASPER NATIONAL PARK–MOUNT ROBSON–PRINCE GEORGE

Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest of Canada’s Rockies at almost 13,000 feet. Continue to Prince George, the province’s “northern capital” for an overnight stay.

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Day 7 PRINCE GEORGE–SMITHERS–VIA RAIL THE SKEENA–PRINCE RUPERT

Today board VIA Rail’s Skeena train for the trip of a lifetime. Sit back and enjoy an all-daylight journey that winds its way through the majestic Coast Mountains, follows the mighty Skeena River—often referred to as the “River of Mists.” Retrace the steps of the ancient First Nations trading routes and follow the paths of the earliest fur traders. Soaring bald eagles, inquisitive black bears, browsing moose, and other wildlife may be spotted. Disembark in Prince Rupert for a two-night stay.

NOTE:
Train travel is subject to unforeseen delays.

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Day 8 PRINCE RUPERT

Enjoy an orientation tour of Prince Rupert. Then visit the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village, a National Historic Site, for a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Learn of the canning process and what life was like in the village in the last century during peak production. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

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Day 9 PRINCE RUPERT–INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE–PORT HARDY

Early this morning, embark on one of the world’s most beautiful ocean voyages! The scenery is spectacular, with towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, endless islands, and virgin rainforests. Marine life abounds, often with sightings of sea lions and porpoises—you may even spot a killer whale! Late-evening arrival into Port Hardy.

NOTE:
Cruising time through the Inside Passage is approximately 16 hours. Please come prepared with all medications, eyeglasses, and any other items you will need.

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Day 10 PORT HARDY-CHEMAINUS–VICTORIA

An early departure from Port Hardy follows the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island, through the port of Campbell River, the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Continue south with a stop in Chemainus, a unique village with more than 30 murals depicting pioneer settlement of the area. Late afternoon arrival into Victoria.

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Day 11 VICTORIA

Morning sightseeing includes the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles. The rest of the day is yours to explore this charming city. Perhaps have high tea at the Empress Hotel, visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, or stop to smell the roses and countless other gorgeous blooms on an optional excursion to Butchart Gardens with its 55-acres of magnificent floral displays. This evening, consider taking a relaxing stroll along the lovely Waterfront Promenade.


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Day 12 VICTORIA-FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER AREA

Today we set sail across the Strait of Georgia through the spectacular Gulf Islands, an area known for its Mediterranean-like climate. Late afternoon arrival in Vancouver.

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Day 13 VANCOUVER AREA

This morning, an included city tour highlights Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbour, beaches, and more. The rest of the day is at leisure, and your Tour Director will have suggestions for your further exploration of the city. Maybe take a water taxi to lively Granville Island with its outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafés, or visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock, antique shops, art galleries, and street vendors.

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Day 14 VANCOUVER AREA

Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Vancouver further.

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 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JENNIFER ROBERTS

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Hi, I am Jennifer Roberts. I was born and raised near Vancouver, BC, and I am a traveler, adventurer, and lifelong learner. While backpacking around the world, I fell in love with wild places, new experiences, and fresh perspectives. I have spent years guiding guests through Canada, South America, and Antarctica. I have been a Tour Director with the Globus family since 2013, and I have traveled independently to over 75 countries on 7 continents. I am thrilled to share my love of the natural world with guests from all over the globe and looking forward to helping make your travel dreams come true!”

Tour Director - JENNIFER ROBERTS

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Banff National Park
Jasper National Park
Victoria

Banff National Park

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter Tours

Discover unparalleled views of the Canadian Rockies and the Banff National Park region by helicopter. There are several options to choose from, but all deliver spectacular opportunities for a once in a lifetime experience in the Rockies.

Price Range: $$$$

Jasper National Park

Athabasca River Float Trip

Athabasca River Float Trip

Enjoy some of Jasper National Park's very best scenery from water level on this exciting rafting float trip along the Athabasca River!

Price Range: $$

Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island

Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island

Immerse yourself in the very essence of the Canadian Rockies on this exceptional cruise across the glacial waters of Maligne Lake to legendary Spirit Island!

Price Range: $$

Ultimate Jasper Nature Walk

Ultimate Jasper Nature Walk

Experience the majestic scenery of Jasper National Park on foot. This guided nature walk will feature a spectacular array of rolling hills, jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams and stunning glacial lakes. Your licensed interpreter will lead this leisurely walk as you explore the abundant flora and fauna along these routes that often offer incredible opportunities to spot wildlife. Marvel at snow-capped peaks during the months of May and early June, in mid-summer the forest and alpine meadows are ablaze in glorious wildflower shades of red, blue, yellow and white. By late August and through the month of September, the mountain landscapes glow with the red, orange, and gold of the Larch and Aspen trees.

Price Range: $$

Victoria

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Marine Wildlife & Whale-Watching Expedition

Discover the wildlife wonders of Vancouver Island during this inspiring cruise in search for the area's abundant marine animals and pods of orca whales!

Price Range: $$$$

In Full Bloom: Butchart Gardens

In Full Bloom: Butchart Gardens

Step into a world of color, fragrance, and natural beauty at the iconic Butchart Gardens, a 121-year-old 55-acre dispay garden. Whether you're a passionate gardener, a photography enthusiast, or just in search of a peaceful escape, these enchanting gardens offer something for everyone.

Price Range: $



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.