Journey Through the Clouds Rail Journey with Rocky Mountaineer 

An unforgettable Rockies adventure

A two-day rail journey bookended with stays in Calgary, Jasper, Banff, and Vancouver

Your adventure begins in Calgary, driving to Banff and then across the Icefields Parkway before hitting Jasper. Then, the train takes the strain as you take a two-day journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver, sitting back and watching the scenery from a glass-roofed train carriage.

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Rail
Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver

Combining time outdoors in scenic spots with a relaxing rail journey

Recommended itinerary

Calgary

Gateway to the Rockies

Your journey begins in Calgary. The skyscraper-spiked downtown area is an excellent place to plant roots for a day or two – you’ll find most of Calgary’s top attractions here. When night falls, the city sparkles, so whisk yourself to the top of the soaring Calgary Tower for a birds-eye view and dinner in a revolving restaurant.

Where to stay in Calgary

Choose your hotel

Decide whether you’d prefer the grand surroundings of the Fairmont Palliser or the contemporary Le Germain Hotel Calgary. Then again, the Applause Hotel by Clique is a solid airport hotel that might be all you need if you plan to set off on your road trip after a quick overnight stop in Calgary.

Banff

Nature’s playground

Few places on the planet boast the astonishingly beautiful scenery you’ll lay eyes on in Banff National Park. This land has endless mountains, glaciers, valleys, lakes, and forests. But views are only the beginning of the appeal. There’s skiing, hiking, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking and other pursuits to try in this outdoor playground.

What to do in Banff

How you’ll spend your days

Take a trip to the Columbia Icefield, catch sight of the startlingly blue water of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, or take a full-day wildlife tour to Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, and the lakes to learn more about the animals around Banff. You’ll want to allow at least a few days to explore Banff properly.

Where to stay in Banff

The hotels to know about

The iconic Fairmont Banff Springs and The Rimrock Resort Hotel are extra-special places to stay, but you’ll also find lodge-style accommodations in quiet pockets and vibrant hotels in Banff town.

Jasper

A wonderful wilderness

Mother Nature’s masterpiece, Jasper National Park, spans 11,000 square kilometres. It’s raw and rugged, with valleys, lakes, rivers, and mountains prowled by grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and elk. You’ll happen upon miles and miles of hiking trails, snow-dusted mountains, and gleaming alpine lakes.

What to do in Jasper

Go big on adventure

Take a wildlife tour or hitch a lift on Canada’s longest and highest guided aerial tramway for an epic panorama. Stand above the massive walls of Maligne Canyon for incredible views of rushing waterfalls, discover the mystery of the disappearing water at Medicine Lake, and stroll the shores of Maligne Lake. And after nightfall, gaze skywards – Jasper is a designated Dark Sky Preserve.

Where to stay in Jasper

Chalet, motel, or resort?

Decide whether you want all the bells and whistles of the magnificent Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or the simpler style of Marmot Lodge or Chateau Jasper.

Rocky Mountaineer

Jasper to Kamloops

You’ll have breakfast and lunch onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train from Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to Kamloops in the heart of the British Columbia Interior. On this all-day journey, you’ll travel surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the Continental Divide and by the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. You’ll disembark in Kamloops for an overnight hotel stay.

Choose your service level

SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf?

While both service levels offer glass-domed coaches for beautiful views, upgrading to GoldLeaf means a separate dining room with gourmet a la carte meals by a full culinary team and a large outdoor viewing platform.

SilverLeaf Service on board the Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer

Kamloops to Vancouver

Your journey continues west towards Vancouver on a route that takes you through winding river canyons and forests, to the Coast and Cascade Mountains and the green fields of the Fraser Valley. Breakfast and lunch are served onboard, and your rail journey ends when you pull into Vancouver in the evening.

Vancouver

A cultural treasure trove

The city on the water is widely celebrated for its exceptional quality of life and thriving arts, theatre, and music scenes. It’s a modern city with plenty of green space to explore, including Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America.

Stanley Park

Where to stay in Vancouver

Fancy or frills-free?

You’ll find hotel options for all tastes, from luxury hotels like the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and the Wedgewood Hotel to more affordable options.

What to do in Vancouver

Explore the city and beyond

Explore the city's neighbourhoods, visit the famous Granville Island Public Market, or take a stroll along the Seawall. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and skiing in the nearby mountains. And if you're a foodie, Vancouver has a vibrant culinary scene that offers a diverse range of cuisines.

Granville Island

Add a cruise

Set sail after your Canadian adventure

The majority of Alaska cruises set off from Vancouver so this itinerary can easily be added to a voyage northward. We work with a selection of handpicked cruise lines that operate round-trip and one-way trips along the majestic coastlines of British Columbia and the USA’s ‘last frontier’, including Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. For more information, contact one of our Personal Travel Experts. The above itinerary may need to be altered to link rail and cruise departure dates.