Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies, private daytime tours, and luxurious nights at the best Fairmont Hotels. Start your travels with a night in Vancouver before you begin the train portion of your journey. Head up into the Rockies with Jasper as your destination. You have an entire day free to explore this mountain town on your own. Then a private tour takes you to Maligne Lake and provides stunning views of the rushing waterfalls of Maligne Canyon.
Next, embark on an adventure like no other in Athabasca Falls with an Ice Explorer Glacier Tour. A trip to Banff National Park and the emerald Lake Louise follows. You then have another day to explore all that Banff offers, and can view its amazing landscape with 360-degree views on your Gondola ride. Rejoin your train for a trip back through the Rockies as you return to Vancouver.
What’s included
Arrive in Vancouver at your leisure. Your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you by private car to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. After checking in relax in your deluxe accommodations before exploring the area on your own. Overnight Vancouver.
Spend the morning and afternoon taking in all this coastal city has to offer. Perhaps explore historic Gastown, the art galleries and market on Granville Island, or take in a short sightseeing cruise along the harbor. Later today, a private transfer takes you to Vancouver's vintage rail station, where you'll board VIA Rail's Canadian and settle into your private cabin. Overnight train.
Awake to the beauty of the Canadian Rockies before your afternoon arrival in the alpine town of Jasper. You have the day to explore the area and perhaps visit Jasper National Park. At night, enjoy the deluxe accommodations at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Overnight Jasper.
This introduction to Jasper begins with a short tour of the town before heading across the Athabasca River to Maligne Lake. A stop at Maligne Canyon offers staggering views of the river thundering through a series of magnificent waterfalls in a gorge 10,000 years in the making. Farther up the valley, stop to solve the mystery of "disappearing" Medicine Lake. Next, carry on to the pinnacle of the tour, breathtaking Maligne Lake! Overnight Jasper.
Depart Jasper for a short trek to Athabasca Falls, then south to the Stutfield Glacier on Mount Kitchener and Tangle Falls in the Sunwapta Valley. Upon your arrival at the Columbia Icefield Center, your Ice Explorer Glacier Tour awaits - board an Ice Explorer for an interpretive adventure onto the Athabasca Glacier. Time is provided for lunch before continuing to Banff National Park. Enjoy scenic stops at glacier-fed Peyto Lake and the Crowfoot Glacier. Wrap up your day with a stop at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, with time for a stroll and some pictures before traveling east to Banff. Overnight Banff.
On this morning's private tour learn about the people, geology, and wildlife while exploring the spectacular sights of the renowned mountain town of Banff. You will view Bow Falls, Hoodoos, Surprise Corner, and drive up Tunnel Mountain Road. A highlight of this excursion is a ride on the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a 360-degree view of six mountain ranges that surround the town. After a brief stop at Lake Minnewanka, you'll be returned to the Fairmont Banff Springs. Overnight Banff.
Travel up and through the majestic Rockies as you ride the rails from Banff to Kamloops. The Rocky Mountaineer is considered one of the world's greatest rail journeys. Traveling in GoldLeaf Service, you will be immersed in awe-inspiring beauty as you travel the historic paths of 19th-century explorers. Highlights of today's all-daylight rail journey include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, the Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass, and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. Overnight Kamloops.
Your journey west toward the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver begins early this morning when you transfer to the rail station for your second day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Pay close attention as the scenery changes from the desert-like setting of Kamloops and Canada's Interior to the lush green river canyons and forest of the Fraser River Valley. A highlight of today's route is the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will be met by a driver and transferred to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for your final night. Bid farewell to the Rockies as you head west back toward cosmopolitan Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.
Your luxury Canadian Rockies rail vacation will conclude with a private transfer from your hotel to the Vancouver airport.
Taxes are not included on rail portions and are subject to change.
Cabins purchased on VIA rail for a single traveler are Cabins for 1. For upgrade options, ask your rail specialist for details.
All prices are per person and assume full occupancy of the room.
Please always refer to the website for up-to-date prices and availability.
The world-renowned Rocky Mountaineer train offers a unique and memorable trip through one of the most diverse countries in the world. On board, you'll see spectacular vistas that you can't experience through any other mode of travel, all viewed through a stunning panoramic glass dome so you won't miss a thing.
As you board the Rocky Mountaineer you are treated to a 5-star welcome with the highest attention to detail. There are two excellent levels of service, Silverleaf and Goldleaf. We travel in SilverLeaf Service as standard, which a single level dome carriage providing magnificent panoramic views. Meals are expertly prepared by award-winning chefs and served at your comfortable seat, with gourmet breakfast and lunch options served alongside complimentary local wine or beer.
Upgrades to the Goldleaf service are available, which offers two-storey carriages, unparalleled comfort and 360° views from fully glass-domed carriages. On both services the food is outstanding, but on the Goldleaf Service you can head downstairs to the restaurant for your gourmet meals. The train only operates in daylight hours so you don't miss a second of the incredible Canadian countryside.
Journey from the vibrant city of Vancouver to Banff, set within the stunning surroundings of the Canadian Rockies, aboard Rocky Mountaineer on its First Passage to the West route. The original course for the train, this route features incredible views of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, crosses the Continental Divide, winds through spiral tunnels, and passes by beautiful mountain peaks in its pursuit of Banff. The journey takes place by daylight only, allowing travelers to capture all the route's majesty.
On The Canadian, we experience an epic journey through Canada, highlighting constantly changing landscapes and dramatic scenery. The train ventures between coastal Vancouver, the stunning Rocky Mountains and the modern city of Toronto on a 2,775-mile route, providing travellers with up to four nights of classic overnight rail travel.
The Canadian is a truly iconic train and transports us across the country in the comfort of restored carriages. Enjoy freshly prepared meals while onboard and beautiful, ever-changing views from the panoramic windows of the Sightseer's Lounge. Sleeper Plus travellers have access to the Park Car, including the Bullet Lounge, in the evenings, whereas Prestige Class guests have all-day access to the Park Car, including reserved seats in the dome area. We travel in semi-private curtained berths in Sleeper Plus Class on The Canadian; however, upgrades to private Sleeper Plus cabins with private restrooms and shared shower facilities and luxurious private cabins in Prestige Class, complete with en suite bathrooms, are available on request.
For more information: click here
The Canadian is a truly iconic train and transports us in restored carriages across the country in comfort. Enjoy freshly prepared meals while on board and spend relaxed daytime hours lounging in the armchairs of the Bullet Lounge, where panoramic windows immerse us in beautiful, everchanging landscapes. We travel in comfortable curtained berths on The Canadian. Upgrading to Prestige Class is available on request.
A hugely impressive, castle-style hotel whose turrets and crenulations peek through a canopy of pine forests in Banff National Park, the 4-Star Fairmont Springs Hotel lies within the heart of UNESCO-listed Banff National Park, making its natural splendor easy to explore. There are seven restaurants onsite, as well as two bars, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, and a golf course. The sophisticated guest rooms are air-conditioned and include Wi-Fi (charges apply), a flat-screen television, woodland views, and tea & coffee making facilities.
Nestled on the shores of Beauvert Lake in Jasper National Park, this 4-Star hotel dates back to 1922 and has been wooing visitors with its scenic charm ever since. A high-end lode style establishment, amenities include an Italian bistro and sumptuous spa as well as an outdoor pool, a golf course and a 24-hour gym. Each of the quaint rooms feature cable television, ceiling fans and views across the lake or hotel gardens. Some also come with a patio area or balcony. Free Wi-Fi is included throughout.
A stone's throw from the Vancouver Art Gallery, the 4-Star Fairmont Hotel was built in 1939 in the Downtown area of the city and boasts a sophisticated restaurant and a bar serving food and drinks from around the world. There's a spa to relax in, as well as a fitness center and an indoor pool. Elegantly and traditionally furnished, the guest rooms are air-conditioned and include a flat-screen TV, minibar, bathrobes, and tea & coffee-making facilities.
We offer a selection of upgrades and 'add-ons' designed to help you make the most of your holiday - and make it even easier!
Many of our guests choose to spend additional nights before or after their trip. Great Rail Journeys would be happy to make hotel arrangements for you.