We just posted some photos from the Santa Claus Parade of Lights in Banff, Canada, taken Saturday December 5, 2009.
To view them, click HERE
Rocky Mountaineer Wins World Travel Award
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER WINS A PRESTIGIOUS WORLD TRAVEL AWARD FOR THE FOURTH TIME
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (November 9, 2009) – Rocky Mountaineer, Canada’s internationally renowned rail experience, has been honoured with a World Travel Award in the category of “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for the fourth year. The World Travel Awards are highly regarded in the global travel network and have been described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the tourism industry. Every year, hundreds of thousands of travel professionals from across the globe cast their votes to determine the winners. Rocky Mountaineer representatives attended this year’s 16th annual World Travel Awards gala event in London, England on November 8, 2009 along with over a thousand international travel and tourism officials.
“Our organization is delighted to be the recipient of this distinguished award for the fourth time,” says Randy Powell, President & Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountaineer. “For 20 years, we have provided the most spectacular travel experiences in the world and it is truly an honour to be recognized amongst so many internationally renowned and iconic trains.”
Fellow nominees for the “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” award included: The Blue Train (South Africa), Rovos Rail (South Africa), The Royal Scotsman (Scotland), Venice-Simplon Orient Express (Europe), Eastern & Oriental Express (South East Asia), The Ghan (Australia), Hiram-Bingham Express (Peru), The Golden Chariot Train (India) and The Indian Maharaja (India).
The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 16th anniversary, the awards are considered the very highest achievement that a travel provider could ever hope to receive. Votes are cast globally by fellow industry professionals in 919 different categories with 3600 nominees. This year’s winners were determined by thousands of travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries.
Rocky Mountaineer offers unique Canadian vacation packages and four spectacular rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta. Best known for the internationally-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train, a two-day, all daylight rail journey through Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies, the company also offers a three-hour experience between North Vancouver and Whistler, BC. Since its inception in 1990, Rocky Mountaineer has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and welcomed its one millionth guest in 2008. In 2009, Rocky Mountaineer was named one of the “World’s Greatest Trips” by National Geographic and ranked as the number one train experience in the world by The Society of American Travel Writers.
Snow in Canmore Oct 27 2009
Last night we received a nice amount of snow in Canmore (Canadian Rockies) as our picture indicates. For this time of year, this kind of snowfall is normal and with the cooling temperatures as the Canmore average temperatures indicate, most of it will likely stay!
Instant Winter in Canmore: Just Add Snow
Below is a photo taken on October 5 2009 in Canmore with Mount Lawrence Grassi and Ha-Ling Peak in the background and Quarry Lake in the foreground:
These pictures below were taken this morning on October 9 2009 in Canmore, Alberta Canada:
Calgary Flames RED tickets
We now have LIMITED confirmed RED TICKETS for the following Calgary Flames games:
| Wednesday December 9, 2009 | 7:30 pm | Atlanta Thrashers |
| Wednesday December 23, 2009 | 7:30 pm | St Louis Blues |
| Wednesday December 30, 2009 | 7:30 pm | Los Angeles Kings |
| Monday January 25, 2010 | 7:30 pm | St Louis Blues |
| Thursday February 11, 2010 | 7:30 pm | Dallas Stars |
| Saturday February 13, 2010 | 8:00 pm | Anaheim Ducks |
| Wednesday March 3, 2010 | 8:00 pm | Minnesota Wild |
| Friday March 19, 2010 | 7:00 pm | San Jose Sharks |
| Tuesday March 23, 2010 | 7:00 pm | Anaheim Ducks |
| Wednesday March 31, 2010 | 7:30 pm | Phoenix Coyotes |
| Tuesday April 6, 2010 | 7:30 pm | San Jose Sharks |
| Thursday April 8, 2010 | 7:30 pm | Minnesota Wild |
The rate is $250 each including return transportation from Banff and Canmore. Rate includes 5% tax.
To book, visit rocky-peak Holiday’s Banff Ice Hockey page.
Banff – Calgary Flames Ice Hockey Tours
Calgary Flames NHL Hockey Tickets with transportation from Banff and Canmore are now available for sale. The rates are as follows:
– Blue Tickets: $170 each including return transportation
– Green Tickets: $140 including return transportation
– Black Tickets: $110 including return transportation
The above rates are subject to 5% GST (tax).
These tickets are already booking up so send us a Banff Hockey Tour request or Canmore Hockey Tour request and we will confirm availability and get back to you right away!
Here is the Calgary Flames NHL Home schedule (played in the Saddledome):
| Date | Opponent | Game Time |
| Thu Oct 1, 2009 | VANCOUVER | 8.00 PM |
| Tue Oct 6, 2009 | MONTREAL | 7:00 PM |
| Fri Oct 9, 2009 | DALLAS | 7:00 PM |
| Fri Oct 16, 2009 | VANCOUVER | 7:00 PM |
| Tue Oct 20, 2009 | COLUMBUS | 7.30 PM |
| Sat Oct 24, 2009 | EDMONTON | 8.00 PM |
| Wed Oct 28, 2009 | COLORADO | 7.30 PM |
| Sat Oct 31, 2009 | DETROIT | 8.00 PM |
| Sat Nov 7, 2009 | NY RANGERS | 8.00 PM |
| Tue Nov 17, 2009 | COLORADO | 7.30 PM |
| Thu Nov 19, 2009 | CHICAGO | 7.30 PM |
| Wed Nov 25, 2009 | PHOENIX | 7.30 PM |
| Wed Dec 9, 2009 | ATLANTA | 7.30 PM |
| Fri Dec 11, 2009 | MINNESOTA | 7:00 PM |
| Thu Dec 17, 2009 | LOS ANGELES | 7.30 PM |
| Sat Dec 19, 2009 | NASHVILLE | 2.00 PM |
| Wed Dec 23, 2009 | ST LOUIS | 7.30 PM |
| Sun Dec 27, 2009 | VANCOUVER | 6.00 PM |
| Wed Dec 30, 2009 | LOS ANGELES | 7.30 PM |
| Thu Dec 31, 2009 | EDMONTON | 7:00 PM | Sat Jan 2, 2010 | TORONTO | 5.00 PM |
| Fri Jan 8, 2010 | COLUMBUS | 7:00 PM |
| Mon Jan 11, 2010 | COLORADO | 8.00 PM |
| Wed Jan 13, 2010 | PITTSBURGH | 7.30 PM |
| Fri Jan 15, 2010 | NASHVILLE | 7:00 PM |
| Thu Jan 21, 2010 | CHICAGO | 7.30 PM |
| Mon Jan 25, 2010 | ST LOUIS | 7.30 PM |
| Sat Jan 30, 2010 | EDMONTON | 8.00 PM |
| Mon Feb 1, 2010 | PHILADELPHIA | 7.30 PM |
| Wed Feb 3, 2010 | CAROLINA | 7:00 PM |
| Thu Feb 11, 2010 | DALLAS | 7.30 PM |
| Sat Feb 13, 2010 | ANAHEIM | 8.00 PM |
| Wed Mar 3, 2010 | MINNESOTA | 8.00 PM |
| Fri Mar 5, 2010 | NEW JERSEY | 7:00 PM |
| Thu Mar 11, 2010 | OTTAWA | 7.30 PM |
| Mon Mar 15, 2010 | DETROIT | 7.30 PM |
| Fri Mar 19, 2010 | SAN JOSE | 7:00 PM |
| Tue Mar 23, 2010 | ANAHEIM | 7:00 PM |
| Wed Mar 31, 2010 | PHOENIX | 7.30 PM |
| Tue Apr 6, 2010 | SAN JOSE | 7.30 PM |
| Thu Apr 8, 2010 | MINNESOTA | 7.30 PM |
Rocky Mountaineer Holiday Early Booking Deal
Book your Rocky Mountaineer Holiday of 5 nights or more no later than November 14 2009, and receive a free Explore Vancouver city stop with North Shore tour including Capilano Suspension bridge and a Grouse Mountain Sky Ride.
Contact us direct for this Rocky Mountaineer Holiday offer for full details. This early-booking deal is subject to change and availability.
Fairmont Discounted Package
Take advantage of last minute specials at the Fairmont hotels in the Canadian Rockies. See our suggested last-minute luxury holiday package below:
Suggested itinerary (can be customised):
TUE SEP 22
Arrive 09:50am. Pick-up car rental and GyPSy guide and drive to Banff (~1.5 hours)
Explore Banff townsite using your GYPSY guide. Banff gondola included. After the Banff gondola, soak in the Banff Hot Springs (located beside the Banff Gondola).
Overnight Banff.
WED SEP 23
Banff to Lake Louise. Drive along the old highway stopping at Johnston Canyon. Hike up to the upper falls at Johnston Canyon. From Johnston Canyon, continue onto Lake Louise gondola. Enjoy a buffet lunch and take the gondola or chair lift up to the interpretive centre. In the afternoon, drive to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. If you have time, hike up to the tea house and up further to the big beehive for great views of the lake. Trail head is at the Chateau Lake Louise. Canoes can be rented on the Lake for about $30 per hour.
Overnight Banff.
THU SEP 24
Enjoy a 3-hour horseback ride along the Bow River. The afternoon is free for you to explore the many trails around Banff.
Overnight Banff.
FRI SEP 25
Explore Yoho National Park. Take the trans-Canada highway to Yoho National Park. Stops include spiral tunnels, Takakakaw falls and Emerald Lake. Lunch at Emerald Lake. Take a leisurely drive back stopping at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake if you didn’t have time on Wednesday.
Overnight Banff.
SAT SEP 26
Drive to Jasper along spectacular Icefields Parkway. Your GYPSY guide will point out all the sights. Take the snowcoach onto the Athabasca Glacier (included). Continue onto Jasper.
Overnight Jasper.
SUN SEP 27
Take the Jasper Tramway up Whistler Mountain. Soak in the Miette hot springs.
Overnight Jasper.
MON SEP 28
Explore Jasper area on your own using your GYPSY guide. Many trails to explore.
Overnight Jasper.
TUE SEP 29
Jasper to Lake Louise. Take your time as the scenery is just as spectacular coming back.
Overnight Lake Louise.
WED SEP 30
Morning – Canoe on Lake Louise or head to Banff. Take time to relax. Drive to Calgary YYC (approx. 1.5 hours from Banff, 2 hours from Lake Louise) – flight departs at 18:00.
Package for 2 adults includes:
– 3+1 FREE nights Banff Springs Hotel:
FAIRMONT QUEEN – CLASSIC ACCOMMODATION LOCATED THROUGHOUT RESORT WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS, APPROX 250 SQ FT
– 2+1 FREE nights Jasper Park Lodge:
FAIRMONT QUEEN – LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY, PATIO, CABIN VIEW, APPROX 275 SQ FT
– 1 night Chateau Lake Louise:
FAIRMONT QUEEN HILLSIDE VIEW, COZY ACCOMMODATION – 165 SQ FT
– 9-day car rental with UNLIMITED Kms (Toyota Matrix or similar)
– 9-day GyPSy guide rental
– Banff Gondola
– Lake Louise – buffet lunch and sightseeing gondola
– 3-hour horseback ride (THU SEP 24 – 9am)
– Snowcoach onto Athabasca glacier
– Jasper Tramway
Total Discounted Package Price for 2 adults: CDN$2,788 ($1,394 per person). This rate includes all taxes and is what you would pay.
To book, contact rocky-peak Holidays direct. Rates and availability are subject to change.
Banff Douglas Fir Resort Early-Bird Deal
Save 30% when you book the Banff Douglas Fir Resort now for Summer 2010 through rocky-peak Holidays.
Details:
– Valid on NEW bookings made before May 01, 2010:
– Reservations staying from June 01, 2010 to September 30, 2010 (not valid on specialty suites)
– Excludes: Saturday nights (regular discounted package rate applies on Saturday nights)
– Must be for 2 or more nights (both nights must be between Sunday and Friday)
– Black outs: July 2, 3, 4, 30, 31, August 01, September 3, 4, 5, 24, 25 2010
To book and include as part of a summer vacation package, contact rocky-peak Holidays direct.
Banff Lake Louise Video
Looking for reasons to visit Banff and Lake Louise? Look no further! This promotional video sums up what Banff and Lake Louise are all about! Come enjoy Banff National Park with us – you won’t be disappointed!