DAY 1: ARRIVE VANCOUVER, CANADA (3 NIGHTS)

Arrive in Vancouver and stay in the city centre at one of our hand-picked hotels within easy walking distance of the major sights.

Downtown is just the start of Vancouver. Walk or hop public transit and within minutes you'll be hanging with the locals in one of the city's many diverse and distinctive 'hoods. Whether discovering the coffee shops of Commercial Dr or the hipster haunts of Main St, the indie bars and restaurants of Gastown or the heritage-house beachfronts and browsable stores of Kitsilano, you'll find this city perfect for easy-access urban exploration. Just be sure to chat to the locals wherever you go: they might seem shy or aloof at first, but Vancouverites love talking up their town.

Canada Place Vancouver

Located in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown harbour front, Canada Place is an iconic national landmark welcoming local residents, visitors and ships to the West Coast.

DAY 2: WHISTLER AND LITTLE SQUAMISH DAY TOUR

After pick-up at your hotel your see famous Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge, once the world's longest suspension bridge, and marvel at the gorgeous harbour views as the sun climbs over the mountains. Continuing north, we begin our drive along the Trans-Canada Highway, one of the world's longest highways, to admire the forested islands and snowcapped peaks of Sea to Sky Country.

Whistler village

Named for the furry marmots that populate the area and whistle like deflating balloons, Whistler is one of the world's most popular ski resorts. Nestled in the formidable shadow of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the village has a frosted Christmas-card look in winter. But summer visitors now outnumber their ski-season equivalents, with many lured by the area's scenic beauty. It's surprisingly easy to get lost walking around the labyrinthine little village but you're unlikely to find yourself too far from your destination once you turn around the next corner.

During this relaxed day you'll visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre for an authentic First Nations experience. Next, you can spend a few hours looking around the picturesque town with world-class restaurants and shopping as well as exciting activities such as skiing, biking, hiking and ziplining. On your way back to Vancouver stop at Shannon Falls, the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia.

DAY 3: VANCOUVER FREE DAY

Vancouver proper began in the heart of what is now a trendy neighborhood called Gastown, named after a historical figure known as “Gassy Jack”. Once Canada’s third largest city, “Gastown” in 1867, was the site of various lumber mills, Gastown is now home to chic loft apartments, European eateries, cocktail lounges and flashy boutiques. There are a few galleries of note along Water Street, and plenty of places to buy Canadiana.

Vancouver dining scene is the best!

Don't tell Toronto or Montreal but Vancouver is the real culinary capital of Canada. Loosen your belt and dive right into North America's best Asian dining scene, from chatty Chinese restaurants to authentic Japanese neighborhood pubs, or taste a rich smorgasbord of fresh-caught seafood, including seasonal spot prawns and juicy wild salmon. The farm-to-table movement has also revitalized the notion of West Coast cuisine. Anyone for succulent Fraser Valley duck and a side dish of foraged morels? And we haven't even started on the nation-leading craft-beer scene, plus the city's emerging craft liquor producers.

DAY 4: WHITEHORSE (YUKON AURORA TOUR, 3 NIGHTS)

Discover one of nature’s most spectacular illuminations on this four-day Yukon Aurora-viewing tour. Visit the SS Klondike National Historic Site and learn of the Yukon River’s last paddle-wheeler vessel. Discover top attractions including the Old Log Church, Main Street, and the Log Cabin Skyscraper. Travel with your guide to the Northern Lights Center in the wilderness of Canada’s Yukon Territories. In the evenings, watch the skies with your guide in search of the aurora borealis. Day times are free for optional activities such as dog-sledding and snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice-fishing.

Yukon northern lights

This morning you'll be picked up from your hotel for the flight to Whitehorse in Yukon country. The tour driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel to check in. Whitehorse is small and easy to explore on foot or by vehicle so have a look around. Later this evening we set out to view the northern lights for the first time.

DAYS 5 & 6: WHITEHORSE, YUKON

In the late morning you will discover the sights of historic, trendy Whitehorse on a city tour with character. Visit the SS Klondike National Historic Site; among the last of the great paddlewheelers that plied the Yukon River system until the 1950’s, the Old Log Church; the oldest building in Whitehorse, the unique Log Cabin Skyscraper; a three story tower made completely out of logs. And when you’ve seen all these top sites, Main Street is perfect for strolling and shopping with its shops galleries and cafes.

Dog sledding in Whitehorse

Each day is free for optional sightseeing and touring. In the winter season there are optional Yukon activities such as the region’s most popular sport, dog sledding. After a detailed safety briefing and hooking up the dogs, you’ll soon be on your way along the shores of a frozen alpine lake, surrounded by snowy mountains. You'll be amazed at the power and endurance of the loveable Alaskan huskies, with their steamy breath curling above their ears and the hiss of the sled whisking over the trail. Later in the evening we set out once more to look for the northern lights.

DAY 7: VANCOUVER (1 NIGHT)

Today we say goodbye to the tough yet tender Yukon wonderland with a return flight to Vancouver. The rest of the day is free, perfect for returning to a favourite restaurant or taking a relaxing stroll along the waterfront. There will be more time for activities when you return from your Canadian Rockies tour. Rest up because we leave early in the morning.

DAY 8: VANCOUVER - REVELSTOKE (CANADIAN ROCKIES DELUXE TOUR)

This small intimate tour provides a unique and truly Canadian experience with overnight stays at the beautiful Sutton Place in Revelstoke, the newly renovated Canalta Hotel on Banff Avenue and the Mike Wiegele Cabins in Blue River. You will enjoy two nights in Banff with more time to participate in exciting activities, and receive additional inclusions such as four breakfasts, a wine tour and tasting, dinner at Mike Wiegele Cabins, and an outdoor campfire and marshmallow roast in a beautiful lakeside wilderness setting.

Revelstoke in the Canadian Rockies

This morning we'll depart downtown Vancouver early and travel through the Fraser Valley and Okanagan Valley with a stop at a winery. Visit Craigellachie and the Last Spike then check into the beautiful Sutton Place hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort and enjoy the resort amenities with free time to explore historic downtown Revelstoke and have dinner.

DAY 9: REVELSTOKE - BANFF (2 NIGHTS)

Start the day with a scenic chair lift ride to have breakfast at Revelstoke Mountain Resort with a spectacular view. Later we'll depart Revelstoke and travel through Roger’s Pass.

Lake Banff National Park

You'll have some leisure time at Emerald Lake with the option to rent a canoe (seasonal) and explore beautiful Lake Louise & Moraine Lake. This afernoon we arrive in Banff and check into the hotel. There's free time for shopping, sightseeing and dinner on Banff Avenue and the option to join your guide for a party at the country and western bar!

DAY 10: BANFF

After breakfast at the hotel you'll enjoy a tour of Banff townsite including Bow Falls, HooDoos and Banff Springs Hotel as well as a wildlife tour around the scenic Lake Minnewanka. later there's free time for shopping and sightseeing in Banff Avenue.

Horse riding near Banff

You'll have the option to participate in an exciting outdoor activity such as horseback riding, whitewater rafting, canoeing, hiking, caving, hot springs, etc! Evening at leisure in Banff.

DAY 11: ICEFIELDS PARKWAY & JASPER TO BLUE RIVER (1 NIGHT)

Start the day off with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain Gondola where you will take in magnificent views of the Rockies while enjoying your breakfast buffet. We'll then travel the Icefields Parkway and enjoy sightseeing along the way with a stop at the Columbia Icefields and the option to join the world-renowned Glacier Adventure.

Stay at Mike Wiegele Resort

Later we'll stop in the town of Jasper and view Mt. Robson before checking into the beautiful log cabins at Mike Wiegele Resort. There's an option to go for an evening canoe (included) or a refreshing swim in the lake. End the day with a campfire and marshmallow roast next to the lake (weather and fire ban dependant).

DAY 12: BLUE RIVER - VANCOUVER (3 NIGHTS)

We'll have breakfast at the hotel this morning then visit spectacular Spahats Falls in Clearwater, returning to Vancouver at approximately 7:30pm.

DAY 13: VANCOUVER - VICTORIA & BUTCHART GARDENS

View the spectacular British Columbia coastline by land and ship. The colourful and impeccably maintained Butchart Gardens is your first stop en route to the city of Victoria for leisure time. Board a BC Ferries vessel for a 90-minute sail through the serene beauty of the Gulf Islands to Victoria. Marine wildlife sightings from the outdoor ship decks are common – especially eagles, sea lions and even whales.

Butchart Gardens near Vancouver

Arrive at Schwartz Bay Ferry Terminal on Vancouver Island and continue to the enchanting botanical paradise of Butchart Gardens. The gardens provide an array of colours for much of the year. During the summer, special lighting subtly illuminates them, often accompanied by musical entertainment on the Concert Lawn. Also, take time to enjoy the massive Sunken Garden, complete with its dancing fountain.

DAY 14: VANCOUVER - AQUARIUM ENTRY

Today is just a day to relax and we have a very relaxing and enjoyable way to finish your holiday. We've included a visit to Canada's largest aquarium where you can spend a few hours face-to-face with playful otters, lovable walruses and adorable sea lions. This is a world-class facility that's home to more than 50,000 aquatic animals. Skip the lines to begin your journey at Penguin Point, where charmingly clumsy birds waddle around and delight you with their playfulness. Explore the Amazon region, where parrots, monkeys, snakes and sloths call home and there's a lot more.

The sea otters are super-cute. Rescued when they were just babies, they didn’t know how to eat by themselves or groom themselves yet. Dedicated staff had to bottle-feed and groom them until they learned how to do it themselves. Now they’re thriving in their aquarium habitat.

DAY 15: RETURN TO AUSTRALIA

It’s time to say farewell to Canada with all of it's stunning scenery and friendly people. Since you're already overseas having a marvellous time, why not extend your holiday for a few extra nights? Choose from two exceptional-value trip extensions.

Optional travel extensions:

4-day, 3-night Las Vegas extension from $2,278pp: You pay only $1,599 after GCash credits.

Las Vegas extension

Includes:

• Flight from Vancouver, return to Vancouver
• Round-trip private airport transfers
• 3 nights, hotel accommodation centrally located on “The Strip”
• Day tour to Grand Canyon with Hoover Dam stop
• Tickets for two to the Cirque du Soleil show
• Lonely Planet guide for Las Vegas

One of the secrets to extracting the most fun out of Las Vegas is where you stay and unless you have been there, you might not realise how big a difference it makes. On this trip you'll stay in exactly the right hotel within easy distance of everything you'll want to see. On Day 2 you'll visit the magnificent Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Traverse the South Rim as you gaze down into the largest and deepest part of the Canyon, hike through spectacular natural landscapes, and enjoy snacks during stops on the fabled Route 66.

Day 3 is flexible and on that night you'll take in a must-see Las Gavas show by Cirque du Soleil. Mystere™ by Cirque du Soleil combines powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery. Deemed a theatrical "flower in the desert," Mystere thrills generations of audiences with its exhilarating blend of whimsy, drama and the unimaginable brought to life on stage. Honored eight times as "Best Production Show" by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the show has an international cast of over 65 performers featuring dancers, singers, musicians and champion-caliber acrobats.

4 day, 3-night Hawaii stop-over from $2,983pp: You pay only $1,999 after GCash credits.

Waikiki Beach extension

Includes:

• Flight from Vancouver, return to Australia
• Round-trip airport transfers
• 3 nights, ocean view accommodation*
• Circle tour around the coast of Oahu
• Authentic luau in a traditional & scenic Hawaiian setting
• Lonely Planet guide for Oahu and Waikiki Beach

Return to Australia via Honolulu and spend three nights relaxing and soaking up the unique atmosphere of Waikiki Beach. You'll stay at a hotel located close to the beach in a partial ocean view room. Your arrival day is for just relaxing at your resort. On Day 2 you'll circle the island of Oahu on a guided bus tour, riding along rugged coastline and sandy white beaches from bustling Waikiki to the crashing surf of the North Shore. Stop at the windswept Pali lookout, visit sacred sites at Kualoa Ranch and indulge in the tropical delights available at the famous Dole Plantation.

The next day (Day 3) is a flexible day. Then on that night you'll enjoy a true slice of island culture and tradition at a traditional Luau, awarded the “Kahili Award” for most authentic Hawaiian luau. Explore replicas of six different Polynesian villages, participate in cultural activities, feast on traditional dishes, Dinner with Kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, fish & more. Also enjoy a spectacular evening' entertainment including "Ha: Breath of Life" show and an incredible fire-walking & fire-spinning performance.

* Will be either full or partial ocean view accommodation.