Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West Discovery
Overview
The Highlights
- Outstanding scenery of the Rockies of Canada enjoyed all by daylight from the train
- Enjoying some of the best equipment on the rails: the dome cars of the Rocky Mountaineer (Gold Leaf)
- Overnight stays in beautiful Lake Louise and Banff, as well as the cosmopolitan cities of Calgary and Vancouver
- Delicious meals included on board the Rocky Mountaineer (Gold Leaf)
- Half-day tour from Lake Louise to Banff (or vice versa) into Yoho National Park
- Spiral Tunnels, Lake Louise and more
The Tour
This is a fabulous introduction to the Canadian Rockies, including a two-day trip on the fabulous Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff (or vice versa). Enjoy gourmet meals on board while spotting Canadian wildlife from your seat. A host of knowledgeable and friendly attendants will keep you engaged with stories and facts about what you see outside your windows. They’ll also make sure that you never go thirsty with around-the-clock beverage service.
Experience the sharp climb over Roger’s Pass and the engineering feat of the Spiral Tunnels. Visit the stunning glacial-fed aquamarine lakes of Lake Louise and the majesty of the natural bridge over Kicking Horse River.
Explore the Banff Gondola, the bustling town center, or the locally-fed hot springs.
Overnight in fabulous hotels like the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, and the Fairmont Vancouver (subject to availability). Add an additional night in either Calgary or Vancouver to extend your vacation.
Our Gift to You: Book with IRT and enjoy a free, one-way private sedan airport transfer (U.S. dollar value +$140) when you book any Rocky Mountaineer trip on our website. Get free private sedan transfers both ways when you book the Grand Rail Circle tour.)
Countries Visited
- Canada
Itinerary
Day 1: Calgary Arrival
Arrive in Calgary and spend the rest of the day sightseeing in “The Heart of the New West” independently. Visit the Calgary Tower and take a beautiful walk on the city’s dedicated walking/running path. Overnight in Calgary.
Day 2: Calgary-Lake Louise
Depart Calgary this morning for a full-day tour concluding in Lake Louise. Journey to Banff where you will enjoy a spectacular boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka. Continue on to a sightseeing tour including Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. Banff Gondola included. Your tour ends on arrival in Lake Louise late this afternoon. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Day 3: Lake Louise
Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. With its unique history and picturesque scenery, Lake Louise will not disappoint. Learn about the local wildlife, paddle the lake by canoe, or simply relax amongst the beauty. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Day 4: Lake Louise-Banff
This morning you are free to explore beautiful Lake Louise on your own. After lunch, a half-day tour takes you into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the attractions are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge that spans the Kicking Horse River. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Banff. Overnight in Banff. Please note: While departure from The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise will be approximately 2:30 pm, scheduled checkout time is normally 12:00 p.m. Your luggage will be stored upon checkout, and you are free to enjoy the amenities of the hotel before the tour departs.
Day 5: Banff
Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Banff has activities for all, from taking the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, relaxing in the Banff hot springs, exploring the bustling town, to outdoor wildlife adventures. Overnight in Banff.
Day 6: Banff-Kamloops aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer from the mountain resort town of Banff to Kamloops, in the heart of the British Columbia Interior. Your journey takes you through ever-changing scenery as you travel between the iconic glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranch lands of the Interior. Today’s highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass, and Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. Overnight in Kamloops. (B, L)
Day 7: Kamloops-Vancouver aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
Your journey continues west towards the Pacific Ocean and the coastal city of Vancouver. On today’s journey, you will again see dramatic changes in scenery, from the desert-like environment of the B.C. Interior, through winding river canyons and pristine forests, to the Cascade and Coast Mountains and the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley. Highlights include the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River and the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. Your rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening. Overnight in Vancouver. (B, L)
Day 8: Vancouver Departure
Your vacation ends with check-out from your Vancouver hotel.
Day 1: Vancouver Arrival
Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic coastal city on your own. That could be discovering Stanley Park, taking a small ferry to Granville Island, or much more. Overnight in Vancouver.
Special IRT perk: Complimentary airport transfer included when booking this tour.
Day 2: Vancouver-Kamloops on board the Rocky Mountaineer
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops. On today’s journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley through winding river canyons and pristine forests in the Coast and Cascade mountains, to the desert-like environment of the 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. Your day ends on arrival in Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops. (B, L)
Day 3: Kamloops-Banff on board the Rocky Mountaineer
Your journey continues on the Rocky Mountaineer eastward to Alberta, offering you a spectacular array of scenery as you travel between the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies, over mountain passes and through remarkable tunnels, along rocky lakeshores and across the ranch lands of the interior. Today’s highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven; Rogers Pass; Kicking Horse Canyon; the Spiral Tunnels; and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Overnight in Banff. (B, L)
Day 4: Banff
Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. Banff has activities for all, from taking the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, relaxing in the Banff hot springs, exploring the bustling town, to outdoor wildlife adventures. Overnight in Banff.
Day 5: Banff-Lake Louise
A morning half-day tour takes you into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. Among the attractions are the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River. The tour ends in Lake Louise, where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy this awe-inspiring location. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Day 6: Lake Louise
Enjoy the day with free time to relax or book your own activities at your leisure. With its unique history and picturesque scenery, Lake Louise will not disappoint. Learn about the local wildlife, paddle the lake by canoe, or simply relax amongst the beauty. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Day 7: Lake Louise-Calgary
Today you will enjoy a full-day tour concluding in Calgary. Begin the morning with a sightseeing tour of Banff. Among the points of interest are Bow Falls, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos. Banff Gondola included. Banff Gondola included. Overnight in Calgary.
Day 8: Calgary Departure
Your vacation ends with check-out from your Calgary hotel.
Dates & Prices
Sorry, booking for this Journey is temporarily unavailable.
Our Process
This is a suggested itinerary for a wonderful private journey. It will be fully customized for you. Please contact us at (800) 478-4881, or +1 (502) 897-1725, or email us at tourdesk@irtsociety.com, to schedule a brief conversation with one of our specialists to discuss our process.
Reviews From Our Travelers
Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer lavished me with cozy nights at historic four-star hotels, gourmet meals and, most important, two days’ worth of panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies from the comfort of my double-decked Gold Leaf dome car.
Eleanor is a delight to work with and is extremely professional and knowledgeable. Every suggestion she has made has proved to be the correct one. I can’t wait to see what she will plan for us in the future!
The itinerary that IRT provided was perfectly detailed, so we never had any confusion or misunderstanding that sometimes goes with international travel. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this agency for planning international travel.
More
Prices are per person in US Dollars and do not include Canadian Goods & Services tax (5%).
Latest News: View Track 25, our blog, for the latest review of this and other tours on our World’s Top 25 Trains™.
Legend for Meals: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner
Check out this video to get a sense of what life is like on board Rocky Mountaineer.
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