Independent holidays to Canada and Alaska

Connections, the specialist independent travel division of Titan Travel, has unveiled its programme of holidays to Canada and Alaska for 2009. The new brochure features a wide range of holiday options, from flexible multi-centres and self-drive itineraries to an enticing array of cruises through Alaska’s icy waters.

Following huge demand from customers, the brochure includes a wider-than-ever selection of wildlife-themed holidays allowing even more opportunities for holidaymakers to encounter such exciting creatures as beluga whales, grizzlies and, of course, those great icons of the frozen north – polar bears.

The 2009 Canada & Alaska brochure features seven brand new flexible multi-centre itineraries that allow customers to combine a variety of the region’s signature sights and experiences into one fantastic holiday.

These unescorted tours follow structured, themed itineraries and incorporate all travel arrangements including flights, accommodation, transfers and various excursions. Flexible multi-centres also include the exclusive VIP Home Departure Service, which picks clients up from – and returns them to – their own front door. All itineraries offer complete flexibility, allowing customers to create their perfect holiday by substituting suggested hotels and day-trips or adding optional extras such as extended stays or additional activities.

The selection of new itineraries includes the 10-day Scenic Highways & the Rockies tour, which blends the bright lights of Vancouver with a well-paced coach tour through the spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountains. Particular highlights include visits to the natural splendours of Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefield, plus a breathtaking cable-car ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff. The holiday costs from £1,845 per person.

Also new is the Tracks Across Canada itinerary, a 15-day, coast-to-coast odyssey from Vancouver to Toronto. This holiday costs from £2,245 per person and includes flights, transfers, accommodation and two unforgettable rail journeys, including a trip through the Rockies aboard the famous Rocky Mountaineer.

Wildlife lovers may prefer the 11-day Rockies & Bears adventure, which combines a journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer with a stay at the world-famous Knight Inlet Lodge, where sightings of grizzly bears are practically guaranteed. This experience costs from £2,695 per person and again includes flights, accommodation, private transfers and rail travel. Those inspired by the promise of a winter wonderland of ice and snow could choose the Snowflakes in the Rockies itinerary, a 10-day journey from Edmonton to Vancouver (including an unforgettable train ride though snow-filled mountain scenery) that costs from £1,575 per person.

Confirmed gourmands, meanwhile, might opt for the 9-day Flavours of Western Canada tour, which costs from £2,095 per person and includes visits to various vineyards, cookery displays from top chefs, plus wine and food-tasting opportunities on a tour of British Columbia’s most exciting gourmet regions. This price includes flights, accommodation, transfers and a rail journey from Banff to Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer.

Another development for 2009 is the inclusion of more small-ship cruises in Alaska. Passengers on small-ship cruises can enjoy greater and more personal access to the accompanying guides and experts, allowing them to develop an even greater insight into the sights and experiences encountered on each itinerary.

Small-ship cruises are operated by Cruise West (Alaska’s leading small-ship cruise operator) and are able to explore pristine reaches of Alaska’s waterways that are quite unmanageable for larger vessels. Examples of small-ship cruise itineraries include the 4-day Alaska’s Glacier Bay Discovery (costing from £795 per person) and the 4-day Glaciers of Prince William Sound (from £615 per person). These prices do not include flights. Of course, those preferring the environment of a larger ship still have plenty of choice, with a wide variety of departures available with NCL.

The Rocky Rover & Alaska Cruise, for example, starts with a journey through the Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer before boarding the Norwegian Sun to continue the adventure on the high seas. This 19-day holiday costs from £2,365 per person and includes flights, transfers and accommodation (on full-board basis whilst at sea).

The brochure also contains a selection of self-drive itineraries through some of Canada’s most iconic landscapes. As with the multi-centre holidays, these are fully flexible options that can be tailored to each customer’s particular tastes. The self-drive holidays lead in at £575 per person with the 10-day Open Roads and the Natural West tour from Vancouver to Edmonton, via Lac le Jeune, Revelstoke, Banff and Jasper.

Other attractive options include the 11-day Contrasts of Eastern Canada itinerary, which costs from £855 per person and combine the cities of Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal with a visit to Quebec’s wilderness resort, Sacacomie Lodge; and the 8-day Resorts and Lakes of Ontario, which covers Toronto, Huntsville and the Algonquin Provincial Park and costs from £765 per person.

Another area of the brochure that has seen considerable expansion is the Wildlife, Retreats & Experiences section, which contains an inspirational selection of packages that have been specially designed to add a flavour of Canada’s great outdoors to any holiday itinerary. Get close up with the Grizzly Bears of Knight Inlet (3 days from £445) or experience the thrill of our Polar Bear Connection (6 days £2,475).

Meanwhile, a 4-day stay in a cosy cabin on the banks of the Yukon River provides a perfect opportunity for encountering the Spectacular Northern Lights (from £325 per person), while honeymooners might prefer the romantic setting and splendid isolation of Trout Point Lodge in Nova Scotia, available as a 4-day Atlantic Canada Escape (from £535 per person).

Those craving something a little more active might be tempted by the Health, Horses and the Great Outdoors package (from £425 per person), which incorporates a 4-day stay at the Hills Health Guest Ranch & Spa in British Columbia, where hiking, horseback riding and a fully equipped spa are all available.

Commenting on the launch of the new brochure, Alastair Brent, Connections’ marketing executive, said, “The 2009 Canada & Alaska brochure allows our discerning and adventurous customers to discover the very best of the region at their individually preferred pace and style. What’s more, we offer a range of great added-value benefits on our multi-centre and cruise holidays, such as free nights, free meals and free cabin upgrades (subject to availability). Our self-drive tours also include free car upgrades and day-trips, which ensures our holidays always offer the very best value for money in the market”.

For details or to book, log on to the Connections website at cnww.co.uk.