Canada on the Rocky Mountaineer

Welcome to Calgary. After touching down at the airport you’ll pick up the rental car we’ve arranged for you so you can explore at your own pace. The world-famous Calgary Stampeded and the 1988 Winter Olympics put this Alberta city on the map, helping it to become one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations. After checking into your hotel, you might want to get a bird’s-eye view over it all from the nearly 4,030-foot-tall Calgary Tower. It also hosts the SKY 360 restaurant offering revolving views.

Travel to Banff this morning, via either the Trans-Canada Highway or scenic 1A. We recommend the latter as it brings some of the most picturesque views while winding through canyons and mountains in the Rockies. After arriving in Banff, located inside Banff National Park, you’ll check into your accommodation where you’ll spend the next two nights. It looks like a Swiss village and boasts a thriving cultural scene with museums, art galleries and a wide range of dining and shopping venues. Learn more about it and see local, regional, and international works of art at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

One of the best ways to enjoy the park and its stunning lakes to is ride the Banff Gondola which heads to the summit of Sulphur Mountain near Banff village, providing epic views of the Bow Valley. At the peak you can dine in one of the eateries and then soak in the naturally warm waters at Banff Upper Hot Springs, Canada’s highest hot springs. The First Nations people considered them sacred and used them for relaxation and their healing properties. Afterward, hit one of the many trails for a hike or head back to the village to explore the Canadian Ski Museum West.

Travel the scenic Bow Valley Parkway to Moraine Lake in the heart of the national park. Stop at Johnston Canyon for an easy trek, 3.2 miles up and back, which showcases beautiful Johnston Falls from several viewpoints. If you have more energy, hike another hour beyond the upper falls to see the Ink Pots with serene pools and emerald mineral springs bubbling to the surface. Continue to Moraine Lake, you’ll be dazzled by its ethereal turquoise hue. Watch for wildlife that’s drawn to its shoreline, including deer and the occasional bear before settling in at your hotel for the night.

Continue on what’s been called one of the world’s most scenic drives, the Icefields Parkway, which traces the Continental Divide linking Banff to Jasper, you’ll be surrounded by dramatic mountain views in every direction. It passes many gem-like lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and rushing rivers, bringing opportunities to spot wildlife like moose, caribou, and bear. Peyto Lake is a must-visit with its mirror like teal waters. You can also stop to marvel at Athabasca Glacier, the largest of the Columbia Icefield’s six “toes,” and even tour the icy surface via the Ice Explorer. Overnight in Jasper so you can enjoy a full day in the park.

Enjoy a leisurely morning or rise early and make the most of your time in Jasper National Park. If you hike the Maligne Canyon Trails you’ll enjoy stunning views that include waterfalls and unique rock formations along with interpretive displays revealing information on the area’s geology. You can also embark on one of Canada’s top boat excursion along the brilliant blue glacial waters of Maligne Lake which brings views of glaciers and soaring mountain peaks. This evening you’ll take a wildlife tour to learn more about the animals that inhabit the park while watching for elk, bear, coyote and beaver.

It’s time to begin your scenic rail journey by boarding the Rocky Mountaineer. You’ll travel from Jasper National Park along the Yellowhead route, with stunning scenery at every turn. It passes the most prominent mountain in the Rockies, Mount Robson, which towers over the landscape at nearly 13,000 feet, along with countless waterfalls. The trail follows a route that early fur traders used along the Thompson River before reaching Kamloops, your destination for the night, which lies where the North and South Thompson rivers meet. It offers many lively pubs and enticing restaurants for food and drink this evening.

After hopping back onboard, you’ll make the journey to the beautiful city of Vancouver, following the Thompson River, into the Ashcroft and Rainbow Canyon where you’ll notice shades green, pink and grey. The train continues through Fraser Canyon where you can marvel at Hells Gate, where towering rock walls of the Fraser River spill toward each other, sending rushing waters through a narrow passage. As you get closer to British Columbia’s largest city, you’ll travel through the picturesque Fraser Valley before concluding in Vancouver. Arriving in the late afternoon, you’ll have time to wander around, checking out the shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes.

This morning you’ll meet your private guide for a personalized tour of downtown and some of Vancouver’s liveliest neighbourhoods like Yaletown, Chinatown and historic Gastown. Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood, the spot that birthed the city when local hero “Gassy Jack” Deighton enlisted local millworkers to help build his saloon in a single day. In the afternoon, walk to Stanley Park just north of the West End. It covers a thousand acres and includes a 5.5-mile-long seawall that hugs the waterfront, with landmarks like the “Girl in a Wetsuit,” a modern-day mermaid sculpture. We recommend ending the day at the Lookout Tower, with sunset cocktails.

Enjoy a full day of exploring Vancouver at your leisure, with many options to choose from, perhaps visiting the dolphins, penguins, beluga whales, sea lions and other creatures at Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. Or check out the Granville Island Public Market, one of the continent’s best open-air markets in North America, with everything from fishmongers, butchers, bakers and chefs to gardeners and importers. The Vancouver Art Gallery hosts a collection of more than 10,000 pieces, including works by well-known British Columbian artist Emily Carr. Robson Street is the city’s premier shopping street with unique shops along with the flagship stores of international brands.

Your 10-nights Canadian tour comes to an end this morning. After checking out of your Vancouver hotel, you’ll catch your flight home from Vancouver International Airport or head out for further travels. If you’d like to see more of beautiful British Columbia, our travel experts will be happy to create a bespoke addition to your itinerary.