Detailed Itinerary

(Please note, like most of our Canada rail packages & tours, this railway vacation can be customized to your needs - just ask one of our local experts when you call.)


Day 1 – Your Canadian Rockies Train Journey Begins On VIA Rail
Arrive anytime during the day in Vancouver where you will be met by your personal driver at Vancouver airport for your transfer to downtown Vancouver. You will be leaving tonight on an overnight VIA Rail train bound for Jasper - so drop your luggage off at the VIA Rail station and explore the city before boarding VIA’s famous train ‘The Canadian’ in the evening for your overnight journey. (You will have more time to enjoy Vancouver when you return from the Rockies - but just if you would like us to add a night before your Canadian Rockies train journey.)

Day 2 – VIA’s Canadian Rockies Train & Arrival In Jasper
After a night of gentle rocking to the sound of your train winding up through the mountains, awake to catch your first glimpse of the Canadian Rockies from a train. Watch for wildlife such as elk, moose and bears. You’ll have the late afternoon to explore the town of Jasper on your own and you’ll overnight here (see hotel options under ‘Accommodations’ and ‘Dates & Prices’).

Day 3 – In The Canadian Rockies - The Icefields Parkway To Lake Louise
Today you travel by luxury bus south along the spine of the Canadian Rockies on what is surely one of the most beautiful roads in the world - the Icefields Parkway. Stop to walk on the Athabasca Glacier and learn about its geology - before arriving in the late afternoon at stunningly beautiful Lake Louise, for your overnight stay.

Day 4 – Exploring The Canadian Rockies – Lake Louise to Banff
After enjoying the magnificence of Lake Louise in the morning, it is only about 45 minutes to Banff - a lively mountain town with great restaurants and a low-key cowboy atmosphere. Enjoy strolling Banff Avenue or try one of the numerous outdoor adventures offered in this adventure playground. Overnight in Banff.

Day 5 - Enjoying The Canadian Rockies - Exploring Around Banff
Discover Banff on a guided tour of the area, including a gondola ride to Sulphur Mountain. Overnight in Banff.

Day 6 - On the Rocky Mountaineer train – Banff to Kamloops
This is the first day of your 2-day Canadian Rockies train journey back to Vancouver on a more southerly route. There’s a gentle pull as the train leaves Banff and the smell of breakfast wafts from the galley. The passing scenery is breathtaking; step out onto the outdoor viewing platform and feel the cool wind against your cheeks (Goldleaf service only). Overnight in the small mountain town of Kamloops.

Day 7 – On the Rocky Mountaineer train – Kamloops to Vancouver
The exhilaration of your Canada train trip continues as you now travel through the interior of British Columbia passing many different landscapes. Pass by Hell’s Gate and see the crashing waters of the Fraser Canyon below you. In the late afternoon arrive in Vancouver, and enjoy the rest of the day exploring this cosmopolitan west coast city surrounded by ocean and mountains. Overnight in Vancouver.

Day 8 - Your Canadian Train Vacation Ends - Depart from Vancouver
Much too soon you leave the fresh air and colorful sights of Vancouver as your Canadian train vacation package comes to an end. Yet you leave with many fond memories to revisit and treasure for a lifetime!