Canadian Rockies Blog

What a great start we have had to 2011 with about a metre of snow received by the ski resorts across Western Canada over the past week! Now that we are into 2011, the busy summer season does not seem so far away. With the early-bird deals starting to “fizzle” out or become less attractive for the summer, especially with the Rocky Mountaineer train packages, now is a good time to get a good deal on a 2011 spring, summer or autumn/fall package. Rocky Mountain Holidays have brochure downloads in PDF (Portable Document Format) and as always, we have provided the links below for easy reference. These packages can be easily customised based on your preferences (as long as the changes fit in with the rail or cruise schedule). Be sure to take advantage of specials such as free nights and activities in Vancouver – value added rather than discounts are the way to go.

Self-drive holidays are becoming increasingly popular in the Canadian Rockies as it gives you the independence but you also have full support when you are out here and the peace of mind that you won’t struggle to find accommodation during the peak season months in the Canadian Rockies. When booking a self-drive package, check to see if you have Loss Damage Waiver insurance coverage with your credit card provider as this can save you about $30 per day. Also, check out what the one way drop-off fees are from Vancouver to Calgary for example. When you book independently they can be as much as several hundred dollars whereas through a tour operator, typically the rates are about $75-$100.

Other things to look out for if you are shopping around are hidden fees such as “credit card surcharges”. This is a common technique used by some companies to squeeze some extra cash out of you after you have already agreed to the booking. It is also good to ask the straight question – “what extra costs will I have to pay in additional to the package price?”. Any good tour operator will be able to list these for you immediately so you know where you stand with the total of your holiday cost.

Here are the holiday brochures for 2011 – available for download through RockyMountainHolidays.com.

• Rocky Mountaineer Train Holidays 2011
• Alberta Holidays (5 pages) 2011
• British Columbia Holidays (3 pages) 2011
• Coach Holidays in Canada (4 pages) 2011
• Train Holidays in Canada (7 pages) 2011
• Holidays in Eastern Canada (3 pages) 2011
• Holidays in Canada (23 pages) 2011

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2011.

Posted in 2011, accommodation, advice, alberta, august, autumn, banff, banff national park, blackcomb, british columbia, brochure downloads, calgary, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, coach holidays, deal, discount, discounted-package, download-brochure, early-bird-discount, early-booking, eastern canada, fairmont-package, fall, Fernie, free-vancouver-tour, heavy snowfall, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, hotel, information, itinerary, jasper, July, kicking horse, kicking_horse, kimberley, lake louise, links, may, new year, north america, october, package, packages, panorama, powder, preparation, prices, rail, rates, reference, resorts of the canadian rockies, resource, rocky-mountain, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, round-trip, Sale, self-drive, snow, snowfall, special, spring, storm, summer, summer vacations, summer-holiday, things-to-do, things-to-remember, tips, tourism, tours, train, travel, update, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, victoria, western-canada, whistler, whistler blackcomb, whistler-mountaineer | No Comments »

We are excited to tell you about heli-hiking packages in Western Canada for summer 2011. You may think it is too early to be planning next year’s summer holiday in the Canadian Rockies and Western Canada, but there are limited departures for these popular three and six-day trips and so they usually book up quickly. You will have the opportunity to hike in the Purcell Mountain Range and the Bugaboos.

These heli-hiking tours are customised and so are suitable for families through to extremists! It’s not all about hiking either, with two luxury backcountry lodges in the Columbia Mountains of BC, there are many fun activities to take part in. For those of you who are into keeping your heart rate down, there is painting, photography and yoga available for you and your group. If you are looking for an adrenalin rush, there is via ferrata, ziplining, traversing a snow-covered glacier (whilst being roped to your fellow travellers) and rappelling a sheer rock-face to keep you entertained. There are of course plenty of spectacular hikes to do from both lodges (Bugaboo Lodge and Bobbie Burns Lodge).

The video below should get you excited.  If you want more information including rates, just click on the link below for this and other Rocky Mountain Holiday packages:

=>Heli-Hiking in Canada (External Link)

Tags: bc, bobbie burns lodge, british columbia, bugaboo lodge, bugaboos, columbia mountains, glacier, mountain lodge, painting, photography, purcell, via ferrata, yoga, ziplining
Posted in 2011, accommodation, august, availability, available, backcountry, Canada, canadian rockies, heli-hike, heli-hiking, heli-yoga, helicopter, hike, hiking, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, information, mountain, package, packages, preparation, prices, rates, rocky-mountain-holidays, summer, summer vacations, summer-holiday, things-to-do, tourism, tours, travel, vacation, video, western-canada | No Comments »

EPIC KOKANEE CRANKWORX EVENTS ROLL OFF MOUNTAIN AND INTO THE NIGHT

Deraylor Music Festival And Saint Deep Summer Photo Challenge Back For Second Year

WHISTLER, BC July 29 , 2010 – The world saw Whistler go off this February, and that spirit and vibe will be back in full force with Whistler’s other big event, Kokanee Crankworx.  With a sporting event roster matched by none, Kokanee Crankworx throws down huge in the special events department to keep the energy and excitement flowing day and night.

BLOCK PARTY – Skier’s Plaza August 7, 8:30pm

First up to kick start the biggest mountain biking festival on the planet is the Block Party.  This community event is free for all participants and will take place in Skier’s Plaza and the Boneyard.  The tenth anniversary of bike movie mavens Freeride Entertainment will be celebrated with a showing of their first film, New World Disorder 1. This movie epic played a huge part in bringing the sport of freeride mountain biking to where it is today. Huge outdoor screens, prizes, interviews from the original crew and a few surprises will make the Block Party an incredible all-ages launch for Kokanee Crankworx. The party will continue for those of age at the GLC with Metallica cover band Damage Inc. The $5 cover includes a live feed of the Block Party inside, great views of the action outside, an epic after party with Damage Inc and, of course, ice cold Kokanee will be flowing all night long.

PECHA KUCHA NIGHT – Maxx Fish, August 9, 7:30pm

Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat,” Pecha Kucha will open minds with an eccentric mix of Whistler locals presenting stories and photos. Each presentation will move through 20 images shown for 20 seconds each. Current presenters include Tyler Schramm, Schramm Vodka; Rick Harry, Aboriginal Artist; Keith Reynolds, Playground Builders; Robin O’Neill, Photographer; Peter Alder, Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners; Leslie Anthony, Writer, Paula Shackleton, Bookbuffet; and Carla Gutierrez, Fitness Model.  Tickets are $7 at the door or at Hot Buns Bakery.

SAINT DEEP SUMMER PHOTO CHALLENGE – Fairmont Chateau Whistler, August 11, 7pm

The Saint Deep Summer Photo Challenge is back for 2010 with an unbelievable list of confirmed photographers. Paul Morrison, Sven Martin, Nicolas Teichrob, Jordan Manley and two wildcard photographers, Steve Lloyd and Adrian Marcoux will work against the clock to create a slideshow from images shot over three days in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and on Whistler’s cross-country trails. Each show will be presented to a live audience of over 1,000 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Tickets are $17 and on sale now at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations.

DERAYLOR MUSIC FESTIVAL – Whistler’s Best Nightclubs, August 11-13

The Deraylor Music Festival takes place August 11, 12 and 13 with the Deraylor wristband granting access to more than 40 artists in six venues over three days for only $40. Venues include the Garibaldi Lift Company, Garfinkel’s, Maxx Fish, Merlin’s, Moe Joe’s and Tommy Africa’s.  The current Deraylor line-up includes strong talent such as DJ Nu-Mark (from Jurassic Five), Mike Relm, BCDC, Fort Knox Five, DJ Jelo, Marcus Visionary, Said the Whale, Hannah Georgas, Mishka and illScarlett and many more. The first 100 tickets sold online will also receive access to the exclusive Kokanee Silent Disco party at the GLC on Saturday, August 14. Admission to all shows is through a $40 Festival wristband only, and are subject to age (19+) and capacity restrictions.  Visit www.deraylor.com for all ticket and event information.

Tags: BLOCK PARTY, Chateau Whistler, crankworx, DERAYLOR MUSIC FESTIVAL, PECHA KUCHA NIGHT, SAINT DEEP SUMMER PHOTO CHALLENGE
Posted in 2010, august, blackcomb, Canada, hotel, information, itinerary, kokanee, Mountain Bike, mountain_bike, preparation, prices, rates, resource, schedule, summer, summer-2010, western-canada, whistler, whistler blackcomb | No Comments »

Book a Rocky Mountaineer rail tour package of 3 nights or more on GoldLeaf Service or 5 nights or more on RedLeaf Service between June 7 and August 31, 2010 and receive a FREE additional night at a Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver. Some conditions apply.

Book by August 31, 2010 to take advantage of this special offer!

Download the packages below or visit Rocky Mountain Holidays.

• Classic Rail Circle | 7 nights / 8 days
• Classic Rail Circle with Cruise | 14 nights / 15 days
• Canadian Rockies Getaway | 8 nights / 9 days
• Canadian Rockies Getaway with Cruise | 17 nights / 18 days
• Grand Rail Circle | 10 nights / 11 days
• Grand Rail Circle with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Golden Circle via Whistler | 10 nights / 11 days
• Canadian Rockies Circle | 12 nights / 13 days

One-Way Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Banff | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Banff with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Jasper | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Jasper with Cruise | 12 nights / 13 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Calgary | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Calgary with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Whistler to Jasper | 3 nights / 4 days
• Canadian Rockies and Whistler | 4 nights / 5 days
• Canadian Rockies and Whistler with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Canadian Rockies Excursion | 4 nights / 5 days
• Canadian Rockies Excursion with Cruise | 12 nights / 13 days
• Canadian Rockies Highlights | 5 nights / 6 days
• Canadian Rockies Highlights with Cruise | 13 nights / 14 days
• Canadian Rockies and Vancouver | 6 nights / 7 days
• Canadian Rockies and Vancouver with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Canadian Rockies Adventures | 7 nights / 8 days
• Canadian Rockies Adventures with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Western Explorer | 7 nights / 8 days
• Western Explorer with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Northern Explorer | 8 nights / 9 days
• Northern Explorer with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Canadian Rockies at Leisure | 9 nights / 10 days
• Canadian Rockies at Leisure with Cruise | 18 nights / 19 days
• Northern Rockies at Leisure | 10 nights / 11 days
• Northern Rockies at Leisure with Cruise | 17 nights / 18 days

Trans-Canada Rail Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Trans-Canada Rail Adventure | 11 nights / 12 days or 12 nights / 13 days
• Trans-Canada Rail Adventure with Cruise | 19 nights / 20 days
• Canada’s Coast to Coast by Rail | 15 nights / 16 days or 16 nights / 17 days
• Coast to Coast by Rail with Cruise | 23 nights / 24 days

Rail and Self-Drive Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Banff the Beautiful | 5 nights / 6 days
• Banff the Beautiful with Cruise | 13 nights / 14 days
• First Passage to the West Discovery Drive | 7 nights / 8 days
• First Passage to the West with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Journey through the Clouds Discovery Drive | 7 nights / 8 days
• Journey through the Clouds Discovery Drive with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive | 8 nights / 9 days
• Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days

City Stop Add-Ons (To be added to any of our packages or purchased separately):

• Explore Vancouver | 1 night / 2 days
• Explore Victoria from Vancouver | 2 nights / 3 days
• Explore Whistler from Vancouver | 2 nights / 3 days
• Whales and Bears of Tofino | 3 nights / 4 days

Tags: fairmont
Posted in 2010, accommodation, august, Canada, canadian rockies, deal, discount, discounted-package, fairmont-package, free, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, information, itinerary, July, last minute, luxury, package, packages, prices, promotion, rail, rates, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, Sale, schedule, special, summer, summer vacations, summer-2010, summer-holiday, tourism, tours, train, travel, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, western-canada, YVR | No Comments »

Posted in 2010, august, blackcomb, fire, update, whats-open, whistler | No Comments »