As you depart Chicago's Union Station aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder the scenery glides by on your way to Whitefish, Montana. For the next two days you will enjoy the incredible scenery and wildlife of Glacier National Park.

Travel the Going-To-The-Sun Highway while passing majestic lakes and brilliant flowers. After your stay at Glacier travelers will move on to the mountains of Canada. Motor coach will shutlle travelers to Banff, Alberta in comfort and style. Tour participants will then have the opportunity to experience sites like Jasper, the Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake where a cruise will be enjoyed by all.

When the tour concludes, you will once again travel by motor coach to Shelby, Montana where you will board Amtrak's Empire Builder, one of the America's Great Rail Journeys, which will take you back to Chicago.

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Glacier National Park • Canadian Rockies • Icefields Parkway • Banff • Jasper • Maligne Lake

• Over 3000 miles on the Empire Builder, Amtrak’s premier train, from Chicago to Whitefish, Montana and back from Shelby, Montana to Chicago.
• The day-long visit to Montana’s Glacier National Park where you’ll thrill to the magnificent mountain vistas along the famous Going-to-the-Sun Highway.
• Three days in the Canadian Rockies including the Sulphur Mountain gondola ride, the Snocoach ride out on the Athabasca Glacier, the Icefields Parkway and the spectacularly scenic Maligne Lake Cruise.
• Travel west through the Yellowhead Pass. Drive by Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies.

• Round-trip transportation by rail departing from and returning to Chicago.
• Private Roomette bedroom sleeping accommodations on the trains for two nights ($495 additional per person for an upgraded Bedroom.) Reclining coach seat with leg rest for RailSmart Class.
• First-class hotel accommodations for seven nights.
• 15 Meals
• Extensive sightseeing including admissions to the Glacier National Park, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, the Glacier Snocoach and Maligne Lake Cruise.
• Baggage handling, taxes & tips.
• Services of a professional tour director.

Day 1: Depart Chicago
All tour members will meet the Tour Director in Chicago’s Union Station’s Metropolitan Lounge. Early this afternoon you will board Amtrak’s Empire Builder for the 1620-mile journey across five states to Whitefish, Montana. Relax in your comfortable private Roomette bedroom or upgraded to SuperLiner Bedroom sleeping accommodations.

Save $300 by traveling RailSmart Class (reclining coach seat with leg rest) for one night in each direction. Train meals are included for RailSmart Class.

Go to the glass-walled Sightseer Lounge car for spectacular viewing. All tastefully prepared, full-course dining car meals are included with this journey. You’ll arrive in Minneapolis/St. Paul at 10:31p.m. D

Day 2: En Route/East Glacier
During the day travelers will roll across the remote flatlands of North Dakota and eastern Montana. First-class sleeping car passengers will enjoy a wine and cheese party in the dining car this afternoon. This evening you’ll arrive in Whitefish, Montana. The two nights at Glacier National Park will be spent at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge. B, L & D

Day 3: Glacier National Park
Depart this morning on an all-day tour of one of America’s most beautiful attractions. Your group will travel over the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Highway. Acclaimed as one of the outstanding scenic roadways of the world, the 50- mile-long drive affords magnificent views of the mountain scenery. Dense forests, picturesque lakes, brilliant flowers and abundant wildlife enhance the awesome views. You’ll stop for a leisurely “on your own” lunch at Lake McDonald Lodge and return to the hostelry in Whitefish by late afternoon. CB

Day 4: En Route/Banff
Board the motor coach this morning and begin a full day of stimulating travel northwest to Banff. The scenery will be breathtaking as you cross into British Columbia and begin to encounter the awesome Canadian Rockies. You’ll stop in Cranbrook, B.C. for an “onyour- own” lunch. You’ll also visit Cranbrook’s interesting Railway Museum and Gallery. Tour the perfectly restored 1929 Trans- Canada Limited. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in the beautiful mountain village of Banff. Lodging for the next two nights will be the attractive, conveniently located High Country Inn. CB

Day 5: Banff
This morning you’ll embark on a Discover Banff Tour. The highlight of the tour will be the gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a spectacular view.

You’re free this afternoon to rest, shop along Banff Avenue or visit the Natural History or Parks Canada Museums. CB

Day 6: Jasper
Today travelers will experience the Icefields Parkway, North America’s most scenic highway. You’ll visit the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls. A ride out onto the Athabasca Glacier in a specialized Snocoach will be a highlight of the tour. Frequent photo stops will be made.

Another high point will be the visit to Lake Louise and its famous Chateau. The setting is one of the most picturesque in the Rockies. A box lunch will be served en route. You will arrive in Jasper by late afternoon. Lodging for the next two nights will be the conveniently located Whistlers Inn. CB & L

Day 7: Maligne Lake Cruise
This morning you’ll travel to nearby Maligne Lake and embark on a scenic cruise. This afternoon you’ll board the motor coach and travel west through the Yellowhead Pass about 50 miles to enjoy more of the spectacular Canadian Rockies scenery. You’ll also drive by Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972 feet.

Return to Jasper for a second night at the Whistlers Inn.

Day 8: Icefields Parkway/Lethbridge
This is one of the extraordinary tours where you experience North America’s most scenic highway in BOTH directions. There will be no major scenic stops along the way today. There will be an “on-your-own” lunch stop scheduled.

Dinner in the Calgary area is included.

You’ll arrive at the Heidelberg Inn in Lethbridge at mid evening. D

Day 9: En Route
Breakfast this morning is included. You’ll continue a hundred miles south to Shelby, Montana. At 11:43 a.m. we’ll board Amtrak’s Empire Builder for Chicago where you’ll experience the same kind of accommodations and amenities you experienced on the westbound trip. B, L & D

Day 10: En Route
The Empire Builder is scheduled to arrive in Chicago’s Union Station by late afternoon. B & L