Anderson Vacations · Independent self-drive & rail

10 Day Remote Lodges of the Canadian Rockies Rail and Drive Experience

Self-drive Canadian Rockies road trip ending with a Rocky Mountaineer rail journey

10 Day Remote Lodges of the Canadian Rockies Rail and Drive Experience, a rail journey with Anderson Vacations

Anderson Vacations operates this 10-day, 9-night independent self-drive and rail trip through the Canadian Rockies, starting and mostly touring by rental car before finishing by train. After exploring Calgary and driving south to Waterton Lakes National Park, the route follows the cowboy trail to Kananaskis and continues through Banff and the Icefields Parkway, with two-night stays at Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park and Pyramid Lake Resort in Jasper. Along the way, travelers visit the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre, ride the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier, and take the Jasper SkyTram up Whistler Mountain. The final two days switch from car to rail, aboard the Rocky Mountaineer or Via Rail from Jasper to Kamloops and on to Vancouver, passing Mount Robson and the Fraser Canyon. The operator rates the tour a low level of physical demand, which suits travelers who want to drive themselves through the Rockies at their own pace and finish with a scenic rail journey rather than more driving.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most meals are not included; only items specifically listed in the itinerary and included list are covered.
  • This is primarily a self-drive trip with a 7-day car rental; the rail journey only covers the final two days, from Jasper to Kamloops and Kamloops to Vancouver.
  • The evidence names hotels for only two stops, Emerald Lake Lodge and Pyramid Lake Resort; accommodation for Calgary, Waterton, Kananaskis, and Kamloops is not specified.
  • The evidence pack does not list current departure dates; confirm scheduling directly with Anderson Vacations.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Calgary

    Arrive in Calgary

    Welcome to Calgary, the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta. Explore the award-winning architectural masterpiece of Calgary's Public Library, walk along the scenic Bow Valley River pathways or experience the buzz of downtown Stephen Avenue with its stores and restaurants. The included Calgary Foodie Walking Tour will give you an excellent introduction to the city's diverse dining scene.

  2. Day 2overnight: Waterton

    Calgary - Waterton

    A drive south takes you to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site preserving over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo Indigenous culture, with a Blackfoot Nations guide. Continue south to the Waterton Lakes National Park.

  3. Day 3overnight: Waterton

    Waterton Sightseeing

    An easy day to soak in the surroundings of Waterton Lakes National Park, including a leisurely boat cruise on Waterton Lake and time at leisure for hikes, horseback riding, canoeing or Red Rock Canyon.

  4. Day 4overnight: Kananaskis

    Waterton - Kananaskis

    Take the famous cowboy trail north towards Kananaskis, stopping at the Bar U Ranch to experience ranching life from the late 1800s, then continue through the artisan towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley before settling into Kananaskis country for the night.

  5. Day 5overnight: Emerald Lake Lodge

    Kananaskis - Banff - Emerald Lake Lodge

    A short drive through stunning landscapes to the town of Banff, flanked by Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay and Cascade Mountain. Drive along the Bow Valley Parkway and stop at Johnston Canyon before continuing into British Columbia for a 2-night stay at Emerald Lake Lodge.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Emerald Lake Lodge

    Emerald Lake Lodge

    A day at Emerald Lake Lodge, the only property on secluded Emerald Lake and originally built in 1902 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, with the option of short trips into Yoho National Park, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Banff.

  7. Day 7overnight: Jasper

    Lake Louise - Jasper

    Travel the Icefields Parkway, stopping at Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefields for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, and see Athabasca Falls before arriving in Jasper for a 2-night stay at Pyramid Lake Resort.

  8. Day 8overnight: Jasper

    Jasper Sightseeing

    Ride the Jasper SkyTram up Whistler Mountain, walk Maligne Canyon, and take a scenic drive to Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kamloops

    Jasper to Kamloops on the Rocky Mountaineer

    Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper to Kamloops, passing Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, the Yellowhead Pass and the North Thompson River.

  10. Day 10rail

    Kamloops to Vancouver on Luxury Rail

    The rail journey continues west towards Vancouver, through the Thompson River canyons and Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, arriving in Vancouver this evening.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 6A day at Emerald Lake Lodge, built in 1902 by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the shore of secluded Emerald Lake, with optional trips to Yoho National Park and Lake Louise.
  • Day 7The Icefields Parkway stops at Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefields for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
  • Day 8Jasper sightseeing includes the SkyTram up Whistler Mountain, a walk through Maligne Canyon, and a scenic drive to Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies.
  • Day 9The Rocky Mountaineer travels from Jasper to Kamloops past Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, and the Yellowhead Pass.
  • Day 10The final rail leg to Vancouver passes through the Thompson River canyons and Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon.

Included

  • 9 nights of accommodation
  • 7 day intermediate car rental
  • Rail journey from Jasper to Vancouver (Via Rail or Rocky Mountaineer available)
  • Attractions and sightseeing as above

Not included

  • Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
  • Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
  • Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
  • Taxes as applicable
  • Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
  • Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price of this trip?
Yes, the rail journey from Jasper to Vancouver, on Via Rail or the Rocky Mountaineer, is included. The rest of the trip, from Calgary to Jasper, is by rental car.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent self-drive and rail trip. Travelers drive a rental car themselves between stops and then board the train for the final two days.
Which trains are used on this trip?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in Silver Leaf or GoldLeaf experience, or Via Rail, traveling from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops.
What hotels does the trip use?
Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park (2 nights) and Pyramid Lake Resort in Jasper (2 nights) are named in the evidence; hotels for the other stops are not specified.
How much walking is involved?
The operator describes this as a tour with a low level of physical demand, though some activities or sightseeing may require walking short distances.
What is not included?
Meals not specifically listed as included, gratuities for local guides and tour managers, travel insurance, taxes, and airfare unless specified in the itinerary.

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