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Anderson Vacations · Independent self-drive & rail

8 Day Canadian Rockies by road and rail on the Rocky Mountaineer

8-day self-drive and Rocky Mountaineer rail trip through the Rockies

Illustration of 8 Day Canadian Rockies by road and rail on the Rocky Mountaineer

Anderson Vacations runs this 8-day, 7-night independent self-drive and rail trip through the Canadian Rockies, combining a rental car with the Rocky Mountaineer. After picking up the car in Calgary, the first five days are self-driven, taking in the Banff Gondola and a Lake Minnewanka cruise, the Icefields Parkway with its Ice-Explorer ride and Glacier Skywalk, and Jasper's Maligne Valley with a boat cruise to Spirit Island and a Jasper SkyTram pass. On day 6, the tour boards the Rocky Mountaineer in Silver Leaf service (or Goldleaf as an upgrade) for a two-day rail journey from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops, through the Canadian Rockies and the Coast and Cascade Mountains. Five of the six overnight stops are a single night, with two nights only in Jasper. This suits independent travelers who want the flexibility of driving themselves through the Rockies before finishing with a named scenic train rather than a fully escorted coach tour.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at CA$5,817 every time.

CA$5,8174 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • The first five days are a self-drive itinerary, with a car rental included; the Rocky Mountaineer only covers the final two days, from Jasper to Vancouver.
  • Five of the six overnight stops, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Kamloops, and Vancouver, are a single night each; only Jasper gets two nights.
  • Hotels are described only as '7 nights of comfortable hotel accommodation' with no specific properties named, and meals are not listed as included beyond what is on the Rocky Mountaineer.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Calgary

    Arrive in Calgary

    Pick up a car rental and make your own way to overnight accommodation, exploring Calgary's Public Library, the Bow Valley River pathways and downtown Stephen Avenue.

  2. Day 2overnight: Banff

    Calgary to Banff

    Drive through Calgary past the Calgary Tower and Stampede Park, through Canmore to Banff, with passes to the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and tickets to a Lake Minnewanka cruise.

  3. Day 3overnight: Lake Louise

    Banff to Lake Louise

    A self-drive sightseeing tour of Banff and area, then continue to Lake Louise, surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped peaks, with time to explore at leisure.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Lake Louise to Jasper

    Drive the Icefields Parkway, stopping at Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefield for an included Ice-Explorer ride and Glacier Skywalk, arriving in Jasper for a two-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Jasper

    Jasper

    An interpretive tour up the Maligne Valley including Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake with a boat cruise to Spirit Island, an included Jasper SkyTram pass, and optional evening visit to the Jasper Planetarium.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer train from Jasper to Kamloops

    Board the Rocky Mountaineer in Silver Leaf Service for the two-day journey from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops, through the Canadian Rockies, ranch lands, rocky lakeshores and historic rail tunnels.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer from Kamloops to Vancouver

    The second day of the rail journey continues from the BC Interior through the Coast and Cascade Mountains to the coastal farmlands of Vancouver.

  8. Day 8rail

    Departure from Vancouver

    Depart Vancouver after your rail and drive adventure through the Canadian Rockies.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Drive through Calgary past the Calgary Tower and Stampede Park to Banff, with passes to the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and a Lake Minnewanka cruise.
  • Day 4Drive the Icefields Parkway, stopping at Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefield for an included Ice-Explorer ride and Glacier Skywalk.
  • Day 5An interpretive tour up the Maligne Valley includes a boat cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, with an included Jasper SkyTram pass.
  • Day 6Board the Rocky Mountaineer in Silver Leaf Service for the two-day journey from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops, through the Canadian Rockies and historic rail tunnels.
  • Day 7The second day of the Rocky Mountaineer continues from the BC Interior through the Coast and Cascade Mountains to Vancouver.

Included

  • 7 nights of comfortable hotel accommodation
  • 6 days intermediate size car rental
  • Rocky Mountaineer train in Silver Leaf class from Jasper to Vancouver
  • Attractions and sightseeing as per the itinerary

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

How much does it cost?
From CA$5,817 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,198 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?
Yes, but only for the last two days: the Rocky Mountaineer in Silver Leaf service from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops. A Goldleaf Package upgrade is available.
Is it escorted or independent?
Independent; Anderson Vacations lists this as an 'Independent self-drive & rail' package, and includes a 6-day intermediate car rental.
Which train is used?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in Silver Leaf Service (or Goldleaf as an upgrade), from Jasper to Vancouver via Kamloops.
What is not included?
Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, gratuities, travel insurance, taxes, and airfare.

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