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Great Rail Journeys · Independent rail holiday

Canadian Rockies by Rail

8-day independent Canadian Rockies trip with one VIA Rail night

Illustration of Canadian Rockies by Rail

Great Rail Journeys runs this 8-day independent trip through the Canadian Rockies, from Vancouver to Calgary. After a free morning in Vancouver, you board VIA Rail's Canadian in the afternoon for one night on board, with Sleeper Plus access to the Skyline and Park Cars and a choice of semi-private berths or private cabins. You wake to Rockies scenery and disembark in Jasper, then travel by coach along the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, stopping at the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier. Two nights in Banff include a guided 90-minute tour by vintage-inspired drop-top vehicle past Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain, plus free time to explore. The trip ends with a transfer to Calgary for the flight home. It suits travellers who want one classic overnight train journey through the Rockies combined with free time in mountain towns, rather than a fully escorted schedule.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £3,615 every time.

£3,6154 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. 3 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

  • Hotels are offered as tiered options in each town, from the 3-star Banff Ptarmigan Inn to the 5-star Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, so the exact hotel depends on the tier you choose.
  • The Banff vintage vehicle tour is not open-top before late May, and its itinerary varies by season.
  • The trip includes overnight flights both ways, London to Vancouver at the start and Calgary to London at the end, in addition to the one night on the train.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arrival in Vancouver

    An overnight flight from London to Vancouver, then transfer to the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aboard VIA Rail's Canadian

    Vancouver and VIA Rail

    A free morning exploring Vancouver, with an optional Flyover Canada admission, before making your own way to Pacific Central Station to board VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus accommodation, with a three-course dinner served onboard.

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Jasper

    The Rocky Mountains

    Breakfast served onboard as you wake to views of the Canadian Rockies, with access to the Skyline Car and Park Car, arriving in Jasper. An optional Jasper Skytram excursion to Whistlers Mountain is available.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Lake Louise

    Jasper to Lake Louise

    Travel by coach along the Icefields Parkway, stopping at the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, before continuing to Lake Louise.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Lake Louise to Banff

    A scenic transfer to Banff, with time to explore the town's shops and restaurants. Optional visit to the Banff hot springs or an evening wildlife safari.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Discovering Banff

    A guided 90-minute tour of Banff in a vintage-inspired drop-top vehicle, passing Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain and Mount Norquay Viewpoint. Optional Banff Upper Hot Springs or evening wildlife safari in the afternoon.

  7. Day 7

    Calgary to the UK

    Transfer to Calgary airport for the overnight flight back to the UK.

  8. Day 8

    Arrival in UK

    Arrive back in the UK, bringing the adventure to an end.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Breakfast is served onboard as you wake to views of the Canadian Rockies, with panoramic views from the observation dome of the Skyline Car.
  • Day 4A stop at the Columbia Icefield lets you ride an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier on the way to Lake Louise.
  • Day 6A guided 90-minute tour of Banff in a vintage-inspired drop-top vehicle passes Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain, and the Mount Norquay Viewpoint.

Included

  • Hotel accommodation for 5 nights
  • Rail travel on VIA Rail's Canadian in first-class accommodations (1 night on train)
  • Choice of train accommodations ranging from semi-private berths to private cabins
  • Flights from London to Vancouver and Calgary to London
  • Airport transfers in Canada on arrival and departure and selected resort transfers
  • 3 meals

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £3,615 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,883 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?
Yes, one night aboard VIA Rail's Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper is included, in first-class Sleeper Plus accommodation with a choice of semi-private berths or private cabins.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It's an independent trip; you have free time to explore Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff at your own pace, with one guided tour of Banff.
Which train is used?
VIA Rail's Canadian, from Vancouver to Jasper, in Sleeper Plus class.
What hotels are used?
Hotel options vary by star rating and town, from the 3-star Banff Ptarmigan Inn to the 5-star Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, plus properties in Vancouver, Jasper and Lake Louise.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance.

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