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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Beautiful Banff Rail & Drive

Rocky Mountains by rental car and Rocky Mountaineer train from Calgary to Vancouver

Illustration of Beautiful Banff Rail & Drive

Vacations By Rail's Beautiful Banff Rail & Drive combines 3 days of self-paced mountain driving with 2 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer scenic train. Over 6 days and 5 nights, you depart Calgary in a rental car, driving west through ranching lands and Kananaskis Country into the Canadian Rockies. You stay in Lake Louise and Banff, with a full free day in Banff to ride the Banff Gondola, visit nearby lakes, or explore Yoho National Park and the Icefields Parkway at your own pace. On Day 4, you board the Rocky Mountaineer and travel in daylight through mountain passes, canyons and forests to Kamloops, then continue along the Thompson River and through Hell's Gate to arrive in Vancouver on Day 5. The package includes 5 nights in resort-area hotels, rail travel with choice of service class, the 3-day car rental, and 4 meals. This trip suits independent travellers and first-time rail passengers who want both the freedom to explore the landscape by car and the comfort of a luxury train journey.

What to know before you look closer

  • A Banff National Park pass is not included in the tour price; reviewers recommend obtaining one in advance
  • Flights, airport transfers, and car rental drop fees are not included in the from-price
  • Hotel tier affects which specific property you stay in: Moose Hotel & Suites or Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, and Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Lake Louise

    Calgary to Lake Louise

    Arrive in Calgary, pick up a rental car, and drive west through ranching lands, Kananaskis Country, prairies and mountains through Banff to Lake Louise.

  2. Day 2overnight: Banff

    Lake Louise to Banff

    Drive toward Banff, optionally via the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto Athabasca Glacier or the Glacier Skywalk, or via Yoho National Park's Spiral Tunnels and Emerald Lake.

  3. Day 3overnight: Banff

    Banff

    A free day to explore Banff at your own pace: the townsite, the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, Lake Minnewanka, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, or an optional helicopter ride from Canmore. Return the rental car at the end of the day.

  4. Day 4overnight: Kamloops

    Banff to Kamloops

    Transfer to the station to board the Rocky Mountaineer, passing the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and Rogers Pass, with meals prepared by the onboard chef, disembarking in Kamloops for the evening.

  5. Day 5overnight: Vancouver

    Kamloops to Vancouver

    Continue aboard the Rocky Mountaineer along the Thompson River, through Fraser's Canyon and Hell's Gate, with views of the Cascade and Coast Mountains and the Fraser River Valley, arriving in Vancouver.

  6. Day 6

    Tour Conclusion

    The expedition concludes; extend with another night in Vancouver or transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield and ride an Ice Explorer onto Athabasca Glacier, or detour through Yoho National Park to see the Spiral Tunnels and Emerald Lake
  • Day 3Day 3: free day in Banff; ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, visit Moraine Lake or Peyto Lake, or take an optional helicopter ride from Canmore
  • Day 4Day 4: board the Rocky Mountaineer in Banff; the train passes the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and Rogers Pass with onboard chef-prepared meals en route to Kamloops
  • Day 5Day 5: continue aboard the Rocky Mountaineer along the Thompson River through Fraser's Canyon and Hell's Gate, with views of Cascade and Coast Mountains and the Fraser River Valley, arriving in Vancouver

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 5 nights (varies by level of service)
  • 2 days of scenic rail travel onboard Rocky Mountaineer
  • Choice of SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf Service on Rocky Mountaineer
  • 3-day full-size car rental with GPS and unlimited mileage
  • 4 meals
  • Select transfers

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included
  • Car Rental Drop Fees

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 2 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver (Days 4 and 5) with your choice of SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf service, plus onboard meals.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
It is independent. Vacations By Rail provides a well-planned itinerary, but you travel on your own and drive yourself via rental car for Days 1-3.
What is the rental car for?
A 3-day full-size car rental with GPS and unlimited mileage is included for Days 1-3, allowing you to drive from Calgary through Lake Louise and Banff at your own pace. You return it at the end of Day 3 before boarding the train.
Which hotels are included?
Hotels vary by tier: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Lake Louise), either Moose Hotel & Suites or Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff), and either Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver).
How much walking or physical activity is required?
Day 3 is a free day in Banff; you choose activities. The Banff Gondola, Ice Explorer, and helicopter ride are optional extras. Most other days involve transfers and modest walking between accommodations and attractions.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, car rental drop fees, travel insurance, the Banff National Park pass, and optional activities such as the Ice Explorer, Glacier Skywalk, or helicopter ride are not included.

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