All aboard for the very best way to see Northern British Columbia, aboard West Coast Rail Tours Northern Wilderness tour. Since 1987, the WCRA has operated at least one of these
unique trips annually, a unique and worry free way to see some of the most spectacular country our great province has to offer - and all via the comfort of escorted tour aboard
chartered motor coach and BC Rail Budd car. The wildlife, the fall colours, the unique and remote parts of our land - all await your visit.
This year, a special version of this tour (four days north by coach, five days south by rail) departs Vancouver on September 11 for nine days of fun and exploration. Here is an itinerary
for you to consider, if you want the best variety of sights to see at an affordable price....
Monday, September 11 - We depart from the BC Rail station in North Vancouver aboard our chartered coach at 0730. Crossing the Second Narrows we head east on Highway 1 to
Hope for a brief rest stop. Following the Fraser Canyon, there is great train watching as we follow the transcontinental mainlines of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific through
the spectacular canyon. Lunch is at Ashcroft alongside the Fraser River, then we continue north along the Cariboo Highway to our overnight stop at Williams Lake. Lunch and
Dinner are included.
Tuesday, September 12 - We depart Williams Lake at 0815 and continue travel through the Cariboo region to Quesnel and then head east into Barkerville, where we tour the
beautifully preserved historic town and provincial heritage attraction. Lunch will be here in the historic ambiance, then we head on to Prince George for the night. Breakfast, Lunch
& Dinner included.
Wednesday, September 13 - A morning tour of Prince George is to be enjoyed, with visits to the University of Northern BC and the Fraser Fort George Regional Museum. After
lunch, we depart via beautiful Pine Pass and on to our overnight stop in Dawson Creek, the Mile Zero town - afternoon and evening on your own. Breakfast and Lunch included.
Thursday, September 14 - We make a visit to the old Northern Alberta Railway station in Dawson Creek (now a great community museum) and pause for photos at "Mile 0"
of the Alaska Highway before heading north on this famous route. A scenic stop is made at the crossing of the Peace River and then its on to the unique Bucking Horse River Lodge
for lunch. We end the day at Fort Nelson, BC, our most northerly point on the trip. An evening of entertainment and information is presented in the local theatre. Breakfast, lunch &
dinner incl.
Friday, September 15 - A tour of Fort Nelson is planned (including an old trappers' cabin) before we board our private train to start south. Stops for photos will be made at the
unique rail / road bridge south of Fort Nelson and a remote back country location. Traveling the rail route through this area is about as isolated a section of the world as you can get -
with no major roads into the area for over 100 miles. We arrive at Fort St. John around 1630 for our overnight stop. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Saturday, September 16 - Time for a lazy morning, for some shopping, swimming in the pool, or just strolling around. We depart around 1030 for the first interesting branchline tour
of the BC Rail system - into Mackenzie, BC. We arrive in the early afternoon and have time to enjoy the town, shopping mall adjoining the hotel and dinner on your own. Lunch
included.
Sunday, September 17 - An early start today, as we will explore some of the most unique and spectacular rail in the province. After returning to the mainline from Mackenzie, we head
south to Wakely and then turn east towards Tumbler Ridge. With the impending closure of the coal mines in this area, the future of this line is very much in doubt, even more so the
electric locomotives, which are planned to be retired from service as early as this year. The ride through the mountains is beautiful, also the two longest rail tunnels in the province
are traveled in each direction. We get a run around one of the coal mine loop tracks. Back on the mainline, we next head west to Fort St. James, the unique small community on
beautiful Stewart Lake and home of the historic Hudson's Bay Fort. Special entertainment is presented by the community in the evening. This is a day of real highlights, Breakfast,
lunch & dinner included.
Monday, September 18 - The morning starts with a tour of one of Canada's most impressive historic sites. Founded in 1806 by explorer Simon Fraser, the historic village of
Fort St. James is one of the oldest in northern BC. At 0930, our group is treated to a private tour of the National Historic Site, and then travels by bus to meet the train again in Prince
George (if the train ride back out is your choice rather than the Fort tour, that's an option too). We lunch on board the train as we continue on to Williams Lake by rail for our
overnight stop. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Tuesday, September 19 - On our way home, we depart Williams Lake at 0930 and travel south by rail through the scenic Cariboo and then down the big hill along the rim of the
Fraser
Canyon into Lillooet. Scenic photo stops are made along the way. At Lillooet we connect to the Cariboo Prospector, and return
to Vancouver as part of the regular service, ending our nine day odyssey of the north. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
As you can see , this is a great way to experience Northern British Columbia in the midst of its spectacular fall colour season,
and with lots of interesting variety. Its great value too, priced at only $2,295 per person (double occupancy) - includes
transportation, transfers, eight nights hotels and meals as indicated as well as all taxes! Call Sylvia now at 524-1011 or
800-722-1233 to book for this trip of a lifetime.
