train_holidays


DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
1	Guests leave Chicago bound for Glacier National Park, Montana aboard the famous Empire Builder train in coach accommodations. Guests living on the West Coast depart Portland, OR or Seattle, WA this afternoon for Glacier Park aboard the eastbound Empire Builder. For either departure point, it is an overnight trip to Glacier Park.
2	Arrive in Whitefish, Montana aboard the Empire Builder with a complimentary transfer to the luxurious Grouse Mountain Lodge for an overnight stay in this Gateway to Glacier National Park.
3	A day of spectacular sightseeing in Glacier National Park including the fabled 'Going to the Sun' Highway over the Continental Divide by red open-air 'jammer bus', a stunning journey. Later today, we enter Canada and overnight at picturesque Waterton Lake, one of the most photographed sites in North America. (CB)
4	We depart Waterton this morning with a stop in fascinating Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, while en route to Banff. Later today, we arrive in Banff and begin our three night stay in the heart of Banff village at the superb Brewster Mountain Lodge. (CB,L)
5	A full day to enjoy Banff beginning with a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain followed by a visit to the Banff Hot Springs which the town is famous for. Later tonight,our welcome dinner with the rest of the evening at leisure at the Brewster Mountain Lodge in Banff. (CB,D)
6	A day of stunning beauty as we travel to Lake Louise with time to visit fabled Chateau Lake Louise. We also visit Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and have the afternoon and evening at leisure. (CB)
7	Today we travel one of the most magnificent drives in the world, the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, up the spine of the Rockies stopping along the way for glaciers, waterfalls, and animals along the way including famed Athabasca Glacier. An afternoon arrival in Jasper where we will enjoy a two-night stay at the supremely comfortable Lobstick Lodge in the heart of Jasper Village. (CB)
8	A final full day in the Canadian Rockies to enjoy this magical setting including Maligne Lake cruise and Maligne Canyon with all afternoon at leisure to enjoy this lovely mountain village, a favorite vacation spot for Queen Elizabeth II. Tonight, a Farewell Dinner hosted by Train Holidays. (CB,D)
9	All Aboard, as we board the Rocky Mountaineer train for a daylight passage through the Canadian Rockies over the Canadian National Railway, a day of great beauty that you will want to have your camera ready for! We travel only by day, so you will not miss a single thing. This afternoon, we arrive in Kamloops, British Columbia for an overnight stay in hotel accommodations. Naturally, transfers are provided to & from the train and the hotel. (CB, L)
10	Another beautiful day that will take us from Kamloops to Vancouver, all in daylight, along the Thompson River and past Hells Gate and its thundering water, through the Coast Mountains and spectacular Frasier River Canyon, all in one spellbinding day! An afternoon arrival in Vancouver and transfer to the perfectly located Hotel Le Soleil in the very heart of downtown Vancouver for an overnight stay. (CB, L)
11	Guests depart for home or may extend their stay in the Pacific Northwest. (CB)

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

Day 01

EL PASO Our guests arrive in El Paso today and transfer to the Grande dame of El Paso hotels, the historic Camino Real Hotel El Paso, a hotel so glorious it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A casual 'whenever you like' welcome dinner is included tonight in the superb Azulejos Restaurant at the hotel. D

El Paso to Chihuahua We have a welcome breakfast this morning and are soon on the short scenic ride south to Chihuahua where we will enjoy lunch before visiting the beautiful Cathedral, the state capital building with its remarkable mural and the home of Pancho Villa before arriving at our hotel for an overnight stay. B L D

Chihuahua to Creel An early morning train ride to Creel, a former lumber town and the former major railroad hub in the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains. Creel is now the stopping off point for the Copper Canyon and once the center of the region inhabited by the Tarahumara Indians. All afternoon to explore this fascinating town, visit the Tarahumara museum, or take a bus ride to visit a cave dwelling and a local boarding school. B L D

Creel to Divisadero All morning to relax, sleep-in, or visit the sights you did not see yesterday. Late morning train ride to Divisadero where our rooms are overlooking this amazing canyon system, four times larger and 280' deeper than the Grand Canyon. Afternoon to take a walk and get a better understanding of the Tarahumara Indians who have been successful in preserving their centuries-old culture and tradition. Or simply relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Our hotel for the next two nights is one of the most glorious in Mexico, the Hotel La Posada Barrancas Mirador, resembling a castle with views that are, simply, without equal. B L D

Divisadero What a fabulous treat. A full day to appreciate the beauty of the Copper Canyon from your balcony at about 7,000'. A morning ride to a different view point, the Urique Canyon, with a demonstration by the Tarahumara Indians, returning to the hotel in time for a delicious lunch. An afternoon to nap, sit on your balcony to read or enjoy the view, learn how the Tarahumara ladies make their beautiful baskets, play cards in the lobby area, or take a walk. B L D

Divisadero to El Fuerte After breakfast we will have a demonstration by the local Indians, followed by a short walk to the nearby view point. The rest of the morning is yours to buy one more basket or to sit on your balcony and ponder the world. After lunch we board the Chihuahua-Pacifico Train to enjoy our excursion through the spectacularly rugged scenery of this outstanding natural area. The rail line was begun in the late 19th century, envisioned as the shortest trade route between Kansas City and the Pacific coast. It took nearly 100 years to complete this engineering feat through 86 tunnels and over 37 bridges. We arrive in the colonial town of El Fuerte for dinner and the evening at the Hotel Posada del Hidalgo. B L D

El Fuerte to Mazatlan After our breakfast we will talk a short walking tour of town before heading for the Pacific Ocean for our relaxing two night stay. Mazatlan is known as 'The Pearl of the Pacific' and is rich with history, the famed Cathedral, open-air market, the Machado Plaza and colonial architecture. And, to have two full nights at our beachfront resort is quite wonderful, a chance to relax, sleep in, dawdle over breakfast and enjoy new founds friends, is quite a luxury. B L

Mazatlan All day to enjoy our beachfront resort and a favorite treat is a ride on one of the famous 'Pulmanias', an open-air carriage along Centenario Drive and the coastal avenue. Sunsets over the Pacific are a special joy and ours tonight is highlighted by an outdoor cocktail party as the setting sun turns into a fiery ball. B R

ms Oosterdam Guests may sleep in this morning and we depart the hotel at 11am for the nearby pier and the second wonder of our holiday, the superb ms Oosterdam of Holland America Line. When designing this program, we could not think of a nicer, more comfortable way to travel back to the U.S. than by ship and we made a special arrangement to board here in Mazatlan, thus avoiding long bus trips back to the U.S. border, questionable 'puddle jumper' airplanes of dubious quality and instead, we sail north on one of the higher-rated ships in the World. Tonight, a special pre-dinner cocktail party in the swank 'Crows Nest' Bar overlooking the bow. B L D

Puerto Vallarta There may be more wonderful towns on the Mexican Riviera but we doubt it. 'PV' as it is called is the quintessential Mexican Resort town with cobbelstoned streets, beautiful bay and colorful 'Gringo Gulch'. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had great fun here in 'Night of the Iguana' and you will too. The ms Oosterdam is here all day, until 10pm allowing a huge amount of time to enjoy this charming town. B L D

ms Oosterdam All day at sea to enjoy ocean travel at its best aboard the ship. Perhaps lunch on deck, a movie, a visit to the world-class spa, Afternoon tea in the elegant Explorers Lounge followed by a cabaret show or visit to the Casino. In keeping with a deluxe holiday, we have included dinner one evening during the voyage in the chic Pinnacle Grill with our compliments; one of the finer dining experiences on any ship at sea and tonight might be the ideal night to take advantage of this gastronomic treat since one can never have too many chocolate souffles. B L D

ms Oosterdam A final day at sea as we sail north along the coast of Baja California. Tonight is our farewell cocktail party and dinner and the perfect, relaxing end to our holiday, with ease and comfort. B L D

San Diego We dock in San Diego after breakfast and guests travel home by air or train today or may extend their stay in this wonderful city at our special hotel rates.