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Canadian Train Vacations (Fresh Tracks Canada) · Independent tailor-made rail vacation

Canadian Rockies Summer Discovery

Independent Canadian Rockies vacation with optional Rocky Mountaineer rail upgrade

Illustration of Canadian Rockies Summer Discovery

Canadian Train Vacations, part of Fresh Tracks Canada, operates this 8-day independent tailor-made vacation through the Canadian Rockies, starting and ending in Calgary. After arriving on Day 1, travelers take a motorcoach transfer to Jasper on Day 2, spending three nights there with a daily choice of guided activities such as a Maligne Lake cruise, an alpine hike, or river rafting on the Athabasca. Day 5 is a full-day guided small-group tour along the Icefields Parkway to Banff, where three more nights allow a choice of hikes, a gondola ride, or a Moraine Lake sunrise tour before departing from Calgary on Day 8. Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail journeys are available as a paid upgrade rather than included in the base itinerary, which otherwise runs by motorcoach and local touring. Accommodation ranges from 3-star Comfort Level hotels to 5-star Fairmont properties at the Deluxe Level. The trip suits independent travelers who want the logistics arranged but the daily activities left to their own choice.

What to know before you look closer

  • Rocky Mountaineer (GoldLeaf) and VIA Rail (Prestige) train travel are listed only as upgrade options; the base itinerary's Calgary to Jasper leg on Day 2 is a motorcoach transfer, not a train.
  • Hotels vary by the tier booked: Comfort Level uses 3-star hotels, Superior Level upscale 4-star boutique properties, and Deluxe Level 5-star properties such as Fairmont hotels; the evidence does not assign specific hotels to specific tiers.
  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Calgary

    Arrive in Calgary

    Welcome to Calgary, where the prairies end and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains begin. Private Transfer from Calgary Airport.

  2. Day 2overnight: Jasper

    Calgary to Jasper

    Sit back, relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you make your way to Jasper on a direct motorcoach transfer, with your first glimpse of the stunning mountain vistas.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Jasper

    Explore Jasper

    Jasper is a great base to explore Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Canadian Rockies. Choose from Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise, Guided Alpine Hike and Meal, Jasper Train and Sightseeing Tour, or Jasper Motorcycle Sidecar Tour.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Explore Jasper National Park

    Explore the awe-inspiring scenery outside of Jasper on your choice of tour: Athabasca River Scenic Rafting, Sunrise Sightseeing and Wildlife Tour, or Jasper Skytram Experience with Shuttle.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Travel the Icefields Parkway

    Start your full-day guided tour as you travel the Icefields Parkway with a small group through Jasper and Banff national parks. Choose Icefields Parkway Sightseeing Tour or Six Glaciers Helicopter and Icefields Tour.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Discover Banff National Park

    Explore the beauty of Banff. Choose from Banff Sightseeing Tour and Gondola Ride, Guided Hike from Banff, Guided Hike at Sunshine Meadows, or Cowboy Cookout Lunch by Horse-Drawn Wagon.

  7. Day 7overnight: Banff

    Explore Banff

    A day of exploration. Choose from Moraine Lake Sunrise Tour with Breakfast, Banff E-Bike Tour, Grizzly Bears, Lakes and Waterfalls Tour, or Dinner in Banff.

  8. Day 8

    Depart from Calgary

    Depart Calgary today with fond memories of your Canadian Rocky Mountain vacation. Transfer to Calgary Airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Motorcoach transfer from Calgary to Jasper, with the first views of the Rocky Mountains along the way.
  • Day 3Choice of activities in Jasper National Park, including a Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise, a Guided Alpine Hike and Meal, or the Jasper Train and Sightseeing Tour.
  • Day 5Full-day guided small-group tour along the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff national parks, with an option to add a Six Glaciers Helicopter and Icefields Tour.
  • Day 7Choice of a Moraine Lake Sunrise Tour with Breakfast or a Grizzly Bears, Lakes and Waterfalls Tour in Banff.

Included

  • Hotel accommodation
  • Choice of unique guided activities
  • Transportation to and from airports, timed with your flights
  • Feature dining experience at one of our favorite local restaurants
  • Electronic travel documentation package
  • Personalized Fresh Tracks Canada customer service support

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Not in the base package. The itinerary's only confirmed intercity transport is a motorcoach transfer from Calgary to Jasper on Day 2. Rocky Mountaineer (GoldLeaf class) or VIA Rail (Prestige class) travel is available as a separate paid upgrade.
Is this vacation escorted or independent?
It is a self-guided independent vacation with coordination and support from Fresh Tracks Canada's local Canadian Insiders. Day 5's Icefields Parkway tour is a full-day guided small-group tour.
What hotels are used?
Named hotels include the Moose Hotel and Suites and Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper. The specific hotel used depends on the Comfort, Superior, or Deluxe tier booked.
What is included in the price?
Hotel accommodation, a choice of guided activities each day, airport transportation timed with your flights, one feature dining experience at a local restaurant, an electronic travel documentation package, and personalized customer service support from Fresh Tracks Canada.
How much walking or activity is involved?
Itinerary days offer a choice of activity levels, including guided hikes, Athabasca River rafting, and high-altitude touring such as the Icefields Parkway and Jasper Skytram, alongside easier sightseeing options on the same days.

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