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Cox & Kings · Tailor-Made Journey

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge & Canadian Rockies by Rail

Vancouver to Banff: floatplane, wilderness lodge, Rocky Mountaineer in 13 days

Illustration of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge & Canadian Rockies by Rail

Cox & Kings' 13-day Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge and Canadian Rockies by Rail combines coastal wilderness with mountain rail travel. The journey begins and ends in Vancouver and concludes in Banff, weaving floatplane transfers, a three-night stay at a luxury lodge on Vancouver Island's wild west coast, and two full days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in Gold Leaf Service. Early days blend floatplane flights and optional horseback riding or kayaking among old-growth forests and glacier-carved inlets. From Day 7 onward, the train carries you through the Fraser Canyon, along the Thompson River, and past Mount Robson before progressing to Jasper, where guided excursions explore Maligne Lake and ancient icefields. The itinerary blends structured group activities with free time in Vancouver and Clayoquot, staying in five-star Fairmont properties and a remote wilderness lodge. All scheduled flights, luxury accommodation, rail travel, most meals, and national park tours are included.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price (GBP 14,115) applies to May and September; June to August rates rise to GBP 16,495. Confirm the departure month before booking.
  • Accommodation in Kamloops is listed as a generic 'Your Kamloops Stay' with no hotel name or star rating specified; contact Cox & Kings for the exact property.
  • This is a tailor-made journey, not a group departure; availability and pricing may vary with customization and season.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver (L'Hermitage Hotel)

    Arrive Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and transfer to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover the city at your own pace. You may wish to wander the cobbled streets of historic Gastown, browsing its independent shops and galleries, before dining with harbour views in Coal Harbour or the stylish waterfront district of Yaletown.

  2. Day 2overnight: Clayoquot (Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge)

    Arrive Clayoquot

    Take to the skies on a floatplane bound across the Strait of Georgia, the horizon enveloped by the misty silhouettes of Vancouver Island. Touching down on sheltered waters, trade air for earth as a horse-drawn wagon carries you through tidal meadows to your luxurious lodge. A glass of champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres greet your arrival at the Cookhouse before a private introduction leads you to your tented retreat.

  3. Day 3overnight: Clayoquot (Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge)

    Clayoquot

    For two full days, the area is yours to discover. Opportunities include venturing towards Vancouver Island's west coast, its old-growth forests and jagged shorelines. Trace ancient First Nations trails on foot or horseback, glide through rivers and inlets by canoe or kayak, or search for bears, whales and other wildlife from the safety of a guided Zodiac boat.

  4. Day 4overnight: Clayoquot (Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge)

    Clayoquot

    For your second full day in Clayoquot, continue on with the optional activities and opportunities from day 1.

  5. Day 5overnight: Vancouver (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver)

    Arrive Vancouver

    A final chance to savour your surroundings whether through a gentle yoga session, a reflective meditation, or an invigorating trail run along the Bedwell River. Once meals are complete, your luggage is collected and you are escorted to the floatplane dock, where the skies beckon for a scenic flight back to Vancouver.

  6. Day 6overnight: Vancouver (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver)

    Vancouver

    Today you are free to explore dynamic Vancouver as you please. You might amble the cedar-lined paths of Stanley Park, cross the swaying expanse of Capilano Suspension Bridge, or meander through the artisan stalls of Granville Island Market.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Kamloops

    Arrive Kamloops

    Board the included Rocky Mountaineer train this morning – complete with Gold Leaf Service upgrade – and glide out of Vancouver into the fertile farmlands of the Fraser River Valley. The scenery soon shifts to the lofty summits of the Coast Mountains, giving way to the sheer-walled Fraser Canyon where the river thunders through Hell's Gate.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Jasper (Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge)

    Arrive Jasper

    Rejoin the Rocky Mountaineer and watch the interior of British Columbia unfurl as the train follows the Thompson River. The journey reveals the silken cascades of Pyramid Falls and the broad expanse of the Albreda Icefields, before passing by Mount Robson, the loftiest peak of the Canadian Rockies.

  9. Day 9overnight: Jasper (Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge)

    Jasper

    Travel deep into Jasper National Park on the included Morning Maligne Valley with Medicine Lake tour. Continue to the dazzling expanse of Maligne Lake for a scenic boat cruise, gliding past glacial peaks and toward Spirit Island.

  10. Day 10overnight: Lake Louise (Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

    Arrive Lake Louise

    Today's included excursion is along the legendary Icefields Parkway, offering the rare chance to step onto ancient ice aboard an Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle and to gaze out across plunging valleys from the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk. A picnic lunch is also included.

  11. Day 11overnight: Banff (Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel)

    Arrive Banff

    Spend a tranquil morning beside the emerald waters of Lake Louise. By mid-day, a coach transfer carries you through the picture-postcard Bow Valley, arriving in the lively mountain town of Banff by mid-afternoon.

  12. Day 12overnight: Banff (Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel)

    Banff

    Venture beyond the well-trodden paths on today's included Rockies Hidden Gems Yoho & Kootenay National Parks small-group tour. Begin with a walk through Marble Canyon, continue to Emerald Lake, and the day crescendos at Takakkaw Falls.

  13. Day 13

    Fly home

    Bid farewell to the Rockies today as a scheduled transfer carries you across rolling foothills toward Calgary. Get dropped off downtown or continue onward to the airport to prepare for your overnight flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Float by floatplane above the Strait of Georgia, then arrive at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge by horse-drawn wagon through tidal meadows, greeted with champagne.
  • Day 7Board the Rocky Mountaineer in Gold Leaf Service and travel from Vancouver through the Fraser River Valley and Hell's Gate canyon.
  • Day 8Watch Mount Robson, the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies, appear as the train follows the Thompson River past Pyramid Falls and the Albreda Icefields.
  • Day 10Ride an Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle onto ancient glacial ice along the Icefields Parkway, and cross the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk with views of plunging valleys.
  • Day 12Explore Yoho and Kootenay National Parks on a small-group tour, walking through Marble Canyon and viewing Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls.

Included

  • Scheduled international flights
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Private transfer from Vancouver Clayoquot Flight Terminal to Hotel
  • Return floatplane transfer Vancouver to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
  • Wildlife Viewing activities at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
  • All meals and snacks while at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
  • Complimentary house wine with dinner at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
  • Private SUV transfer from Hotel to Rocky Mountaineer Train Station
  • Rail travel on the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service
  • Return transfers between rail depot and hotel in Kamloops
  • Transfer between rail depot and hotel in Jasper
  • Morning Maligne Valley & Medicine Lake Tour from Jasper
  • Full day tour between Jasper & Lake Louise with a picnic lunch
  • Scheduled transfer between Lake Louise and Banff
  • Yoho & Kootenay National Park Tour from Banff
  • Scheduled coach transfer between Banff and Calgary
  • National Park fees

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Rocky Mountaineer rail travel in Gold Leaf Service from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops is included, as are scheduled international flights and all transfers.
Which trains are part of this itinerary?
The Rocky Mountaineer, in Gold Leaf Service. The train departs Vancouver on Day 7, reaches Kamloops overnight, and continues to Jasper on Day 8.
Is the journey escorted or independent?
Mostly independent with included group activities. Days 1, 5, and 6 are free to explore at your own pace. Days 9, 10, and 12 include structured group excursions (Maligne Valley tour, Icefields Parkway full-day tour, national parks small-group tour).
What activities are included?
At Clayoquot: wildlife viewing by Zodiac boat, hiking ancient First Nations trails, horseback riding, canoeing, and optional yoga or meditation. In the Rockies: Maligne Lake scenic boat cruise, Ice Explorer glacier walk with Glacier Skywalk, and guided tours of Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.
What accommodation is provided?
Luxury five-star Fairmont hotels in Vancouver, Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff; Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island; and L'Hermitage Hotel in Vancouver. Total 12 nights across seven locations.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The activity level is listed as Leisurely. Walking ranges from gentle city strolls and optional trails at Clayoquot to full-day national park explorations with moderate hiking, plus an Ice Explorer ride onto a glacier. No strenuous climbing or high-altitude exertion is mandatory.

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