Vancouver & Victoria Christmas: 7 Days Escorted Tour Experience a Victorian Christmas that offers a unique holiday with our Canadian neighbors. Spend two nights in Vancouver, one of Canada's most beautiful cities, and then continue to Victoria for a traditional Victorian Christmas. Stroll through a collection of decorated trees at the Fairmont Empress Festival of Trees, take in the lights and local activities of the season and visit several homes decorated for the holidays. Learn the history of the Pacific Northwest with a local guide to discover Christmas traditions and colorful stories, take a carriage ride, sip traditional "high tea" at the Empress, and savor a wonderful Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Inclusions Highlights Features Itinerary Dates Inclusions 2 nights at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver 4 night at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners Highlights City tour of Vancouver Enjoy a gondola ride and lunch at Grouse Mountain Take a city tour in Victoria with a local guide to learn about its Christmas traditions Afternoon tea at The Empress Hotel in Victoria Attend the Festival of Trees Explore the BC Museum Visit Victorian homes decorated for the holidays Explore twinkling Butchart Gardens.

Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday, Dec 20
Begin Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia, with its cosmopolitan seaport cities, is a sparkling holiday destination, where you enjoy a two-night stay in this beautiful and vibrant city. Many movies are filmed in Vancouver; you may recognize some of the sites. A get-acquainted reception and dinner at the hotel begins your tour. HOTEL VANCOUVER.

Day 2 Sunday, Dec 21
Vancouver sightseeing
Surrounded by the blue waters of the Strait of Georgia and backed by the peaks of the Coast Range, Vancouver is one of Canada’s most spectacular cities. Today, city sightseeing includes Chinatown, the second largest Chinese community in North America, and Gastown, the original heart of Vancouver named for “Gassy Jack” Deighton who opened a saloon here in 1867. See the famous totem poles in Stanley Park. Lunch today is at Grouse Mountain after you ride the Gondola to the top for breathtaking views of the city below. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. HOTEL VANCOUVER.

Day 3 Monday, Dec 22
Arrive Victoria
Take the ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island, where sightseeing, includes Beacon Hill, City Center and Marine Drive. When you arrive at your hotel, the costumed staff will greet you dressed in Victorian attire to get you into the holiday spirit to experience an old fashioned Victorian Christmas. HOTEL GRAND PACIFIC .

Day 4 Tuesday, Dec 23
Walking Tour of Victoria/Tea at The Fairmont Empress
This morning is free to relax. Early this afternoon depart the hotel for a walking tour of Victoria with a local guide and discover the Christmas traditions and colorful stories surrounding Victoria’s past during the days of Fort Victoria and the gold-rush era. Christmas lights and festive shop windows add even more to visual appeal to this history-steeped area, and provide you with some insight as to how the diverse groups who came to the island celebrated Christmas. Continue to the grand halls of The Fairmont Empress to view the spectacular Festival of Trees. This magical parade of 50 beautifully decorated trees benefits BC’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. You can vote for your favorite tree, and your donation goes to support the children at the hospital. Afterwards, relax and indulge in one of Victoria’s grandest traditions—afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress—including a special secret tea blended just for the hotel, freshly-baked raisin scones served with traditional clotted cream and strawberry preserves. HOTEL GRAND PACIFIC.

Day 5 Wednesday, Dec 24
Visit Victorian houses/BC Museum/Christmas Eve
This morning, walk to the Royal BC Museum for a guided tour. Built in 1852, this property has been well maintained over the years and now is an historic site. Next, visit Craigdarroch Castle, as it is lavishly and festively decorated in true Victorian-era style with colorful Christmas trees in all the rooms. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a festive Christmas Eve dinner at the hotel. HOTEL GRAND PACIFIC.

Day 6 Thursday, Dec 25
Christmas Day/Butchart Gardens/Carolers
Merry Christmas! This morning is free to relax or for church services. Early bird muffins and coffee are served in Victoria Janes, followed by Christmas Day lunch in the Vista 18 rooftop restaurant, which has spectacular views of the city. Later this afternoon, depart for a visit to Butchart Gardens. The Gardens dress up for Christmas in glorious style and are transformed by a remarkable display of thousands of twinkling lights and seasonal decorations. Miles of fresh evergreen swags and wreaths, holly and ivy and winterberries adorn the walkways and the lampposts. Traditional holiday music adds to the magic with lively performances by the Brass Band and Christmas Carolers. Depart the gardens and return to Victoria with a Christmas lights tour en route. A farewell Christmas dinner tops off your holiday revelry. HOTEL GRAND PACIFIC.

Day 7 Friday, Dec 26
Conclude Victoria
After breakfast, it is time to say good-bye to your holiday friends and return home.

Travel Dates & Rates

* Guaranteed to operate
** Ask agent about our waiting list

• Booking Code: MXV

• Land only rate is per person based on double occupancy. Airfare is not included. Please inquire about our competitive rates at the time of booking. Single supplement is from $519. Pre/post nights are available upon request. Reservation deposit is $350 per person. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
• Travel insurance is highly recommended.

Prices subject to change without notice until time of deposit. All dollar values not denoted as US or CA are in US Dollars.