Experience North America’s festive cheer in 2012

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Well wake up and smell the mistletoe because Insight Vacations has released a one-off White Christmas in Canada tour bringing the true festive season to life through snow-dusted landscapes, frozen lakes and fairytale lights.

Cock an ear for the jangling sounds of the sleigh bells as Santa’s ride would not be out of place in this Winter Wonderland. Travelling against the breath-taking backdrop of Vancouver, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Kelowna and Victoria this amazing journey offers magical experiences at every turn.

Your adventure begins in Vancouver where Christmas comes alive via the extravagant festive lights of Stanley Park. See this and more on a fascinating tour of the city including the cobblestone streets of Gastown, Canada’s largest Chinatown and the world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Next it will be time to board VIA Rail’s The Snow Train for an overnight eastward journey. Wake up in the morning to a Rocky Mountain greeting with uninterrupted views of the majestic peaks rising through the crowds.

After your spectacular train journey comes to a close, disembark in Jasper, and soak up the fresh mountain area and lakeside surrounds. Here you will find yourself in a real life Christmas Card with a three-hour canyon hike through snow-covered evergreens.

Your adventure continues with two nights in Lake Louise, where you will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. These two days will be spent feasting, with a Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Eve brunch and a feast for the eyes from your lakeview room at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You can also use your time here to take part in some of the festive activities surrounding the hotel including ice skating, skiing or sledding.

Finish your time in Lake Louise with a horse drawn sleigh ride along the lake’s edge. Then it’s time to head to the alpine hamlet of Banff.  Here you will enjoy spectacular scenery, a journey to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a bird’s eye view of six mountain ranges and dinner in a Canadian castle.

Next travellers will cross back over the Continental Divide to journey through three magnificent National Parks; Yoho, Glacier and Revelstoke before reaching Kelowna on the shores of Lake Okanagan.

Perfectly timed to take advantage of Canada’s most picturesque season, other highlights on this tour include a night in Victoria, the country’s most ‘British’ of cities with horse-drawn carriages, tea rooms and double-decker buses all adding to the effect. The tour finishes with a bang as you return to Vancouver to ring in the New Year at a champagne celebration and then take in one of the world’s most popular New Year’s Day concerts, A Salute to Vienna.

Insight Vacations’ 14-day A White Christmas in Canada tour, departing 20 December, 2012, is priced $6795 per person, twin share, land only (single supplement $2017).

Travellers who book and pay a deposit by 1 February, 2012 will receive $200 per person discount!

Price includes deluxe hotel accommodation such as Lake View rooms in the Chateau Lake Louise, sightseeing and highlights as per itinerary, quality dining experiences, transport by luxury coach with business class legroom and airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 14.