8-Day Vancouver Explorer & Rocky Mountaineer Tour: Deluxe Train Journey to the Rockies

【BC Ferries】

Board the BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, enjoy the beautiful scenery along Georgia Strait. On this 95 minutes journey, don’t miss the opportunity to take photos or simply enjoy a cup of coffee at the coffee shop on board. (Ferry time about 90 minutes one way)

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【Butchart Gardens】

Visit the world famous Butchart Gardens. The Butchart Gardens - tucked in a serene 130 acres country estate on the southeast corner of BC's Vancouver Island - is a garden earthly delights in every season. From summer’s sight and sounds to autumns cascade of color to sparkling holiday-magic at Christmas Time, thousands of visitors come here to enjoy different settings of flower shrubs and gardens. (Stop for about 75 minutes)

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【Victoria Downtown】

In Downtown Victoria, you'll discover a vibrant mix of old-world charm and contemporary energy. Here, you can meander through scenic streets lined with historic buildings, savor a variety of delicious local and international cuisines, and soak up the stunning waterfront views. It's a perfect spot to experience the heart and soul of Victoria, where every corner offers something unique and memorable. (Stop for about 150 minutes)

Travel from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops, in the heart of British Columbia's interior. On today's journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the BC Interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Breakfast & lunch included onboard. Your day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake into Kamloops between 6:00pm and 7:30pm PT. Spend the evening exploring the city of Kamloops or relaxing in your hotel room. All hotels in Kamloops are of moderate standard: your hotel will be assigned post-booking.

At the time of booking, you can choose the cabin class according to your preferences, with the following differences between the cabin classes:

Gold Leaf Class:

Luxurious double-decker cabin with a Full glass-dome windows with panoramic views, the dreamy glass dome on the upper level and a scenic dining area on the lower level.

Gourmet à la carte meals in the lower-level dining room

Attended by four Hosts, plus a full culinary team

Signature cocktails, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Large exclusive outdoor viewing platform

Luxurious hotel accommodations with premium room categories.

Unlimited beverages and complimentary snacks

Silver Leaf Class:

Custom-designed single-level dome. Oversized glass-dome windows for taking in the spectacular views

Regionally-inspired meals served in the comfort of your seat

Attended by up to three Hosts

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Outdoor viewing area

Comfortable accommodations with restaurants on the property or within walking distance

Unlimited beverages and complimentary snacks

Boarding at 6:25AM at Kamloops. From Kamloops, continue the journey to the west through Roger Pass the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Pass. Later today, arrive in Banff at around 20:00PM-21:30PM (Mountain Time)

Today you will visit the Banff National Park, Canada's first national park.

【Banff Sulphur Mt Gondola (Optional)】

Enjoy a 360º view of Banff. (stop for about 90 minutes)

【Johnston Canyon】

Known for its walking trail throughout the year. (stop for about 60 minutes)

【Bow Falls】

Location of the film "The River of no return" in 1960's. (stop for about 15 minutes)

【Surprise Corner】

Good view for the Castle in the Rockies. (stop for about 15 minutes)

【Hoodoos】

Hoodoos are composed sedimentary rock covered by harder rock that is harder to erode. Once softer sediment erodes rock needle, only tower like natural obstacles are left. (stop for about 15 minutes)

【Banff Town】

The biggest town of National towns, many shops and restaurants waiting for your discovery. (stop for about 90 minutes)

Continue your journey to Jasper National Park, the biggest National Park in Canada.

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【Icefield Parkway】

One of Canada's national treasures and most rewarding destinations. Stretching 232km (144mi) through the heart of Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, this world-class journey offers access to a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping valleys. (pass through)

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【Bow Lake】

It is the headwaters of the Bow River that runs south through the city Calgary and onto the Oldman River ultimately to Hudson Bay. (stop for about 20 minutes)

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【Columbia Icefield】

Snocoach and Skywalk (Optional): Visit the Canadian Rockies and tour over the Athabasca Glacier in a giant Ice Explorer. A once in a lifetime experience. Next, enjoy a breathtaking view of the glacier from The Glacier Skywalk. (stop for about 3.5 hours)

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【Athabasca Falls】

It is not one of the highest waterfalls, However, it is rather known for the shear amount and force of the water that flows through it from the Columbia Glacier. (stop about 30 minutes)

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【Jasper Town】

It is the heart of Jasper National Park. 2nd biggest town in the Canadian Rockies. (stop time – your own arrangement)

Today, continue your journey in the Jasper National Park.

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【Maligne Lake (Optional - Lake Cruise)】

It is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. You can take an optional cruise to enjoy the scenery of the lake. (stop for about 100 minutes)

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【Maligne Canyon】

It is carved into the Palliser Formation, a layer of limestone deposited in a shallow tropical sea by lime-secreting plankton about 365-million years ago. (stop for about 30 minutes)

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【Medicine Lake】

During the summer, glacier melt waters flood the lake, sometimes overflowing it. In fall and winter the lake disappears, becoming a mudflat with scattered pools of water connected by a stream. Medicine Lake is one of the largest known sinking rivers in the Western Hemisphere. It is also maybe the largest inaccessible cave system anywhere in the world! (pass through)

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【Peyto Lake】

It is a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, These suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise color. (stop for about 20 minutes) / (It will be replaced by Waterfowl Lake if it is closed)

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【The Crossing】

A starting point for tours on the Columbia Icefield. It is also the only place for basic services including public bathrooms, gas station and a restaurant. (stop for about 10 minutes)

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【Crowfoot Glacier】

Named after its shape when was discovered. A must-see stop with the climate change nowadays. The "Third Toe" was melted and barely visible. (stop for about 15 minutes)

Start your journey to Famous Canadian Rockies from Calgary and you will visit the Lake Louise and Yoho National Park.

【Lake Louise】

This beautiful lake is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. Famous photo-taking location. (stop for about 2 hours)

【Moraine Lake/Ten Peaks Valley】

Its waters are the most amazing color, a vivid shade of turquoise that changes in intensity through the summer as the glacier melt. Set in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and rock piles, creating a scene so stunning it almost seems unreal. (stop for about 60 minutes)

*Moraine Lake open from (early June to early Oct). If closed, it will be replaced by the Vermillion Lake

【YOHO National Park】

Named for a Cree expression of awe and wonder, Yoho lies on the Western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

【Spiral Tunnel】

It is one of the most bizarre feats of engineering to get the grade of a train line to be at or below 2.2%. The current two spiral tunnels where the railroad forms two spirals, crossing beneath itself twice, almost forming a figure eight, before continuing in the proper direction down the mountain were completed in 1909. (pass through)

【Emerald Lake】

Name comes from her green water color. (stop for about 20 minutes)

【Natural Bridge】

Sculpted by the erosive forces of rushing water over what had once been a waterfall, the Natural Bridge is a powerful reminder of how much influence water has in shaping the landscape. (stop for about 15 minutes)