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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

Discovery Circle Journey Banff

Vancouver to Banff circle on Rocky Mountaineer through Canadian Rockies

Illustration of Discovery Circle Journey Banff

Rocky Mountaineer's Discovery Circle Journey Banff is a 9-day, 8-night circle tour that combines four days aboard Rocky Mountaineer's Journey through the Clouds and First Passage to the West routes with guided sightseeing in the Canadian Rockies. You begin and end in Vancouver, with overnight stays in Kamloops, Jasper and Banff. On Day 2, the train departs Vancouver early morning through Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon; Day 3 brings the climb over Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park with views of Mount Robson. A half-day guided tour of Jasper includes Patricia Lake and the Jasper SkyTram, while a full-day Icefields Parkway excursion features an Ice Explorer glacier tour and the Glacier Skywalk high above the Columbia Icefield. Day 6 in Banff is free to relax or pursue activities like the Banff Gondola. The return journey by Rocky Mountaineer on Day 7 crosses the Continental Divide, passes through the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon, and returns to Kamloops. This trip suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking unhurried mountain exploration, and photographers drawn to Rocky Mountain scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price shown is an estimated starting figure; the final per-guest price depends on the service tier (SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf) and the specific travel date selected
  • Day 1 and Day 9 are arrival and departure only; actual sightseeing activity begins on Day 2
  • Kamloops and Vancouver are each visited twice; one hotel night in Kamloops is in a moderate 3-star property

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic coastal city on your own - historic Gastown, lively Yaletown, or the Stanley Park Seawall.

  2. Day 2overnight: Kamloops

    Vancouver to Kamloops

    Depart early morning aboard Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Kamloops. Highlights include Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the Thompson River.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Jasper

    Kamloops to Jasper

    Continue north and east, following the North Thompson River. Highlights include Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls and the climb over the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park. The rail journey ends this evening in Jasper.

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Jasper

    Free morning to explore Jasper on your own; in the afternoon, a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park, with highlights including Patricia Lake, the Jasper SkyTram, and Pyramid Lake.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Jasper to Banff

    Travel via the Icefields Parkway, taking in Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield (Ice Explorer glacier tour), Glacier Skywalk and Athabasca Falls, with lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Arrive in Banff in the late afternoon.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Banff (free day)

    Free time to relax or book activities at leisure - the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, the Banff hot springs, or outdoor wildlife adventures.

  7. Day 7overnight: Kamloops

    Banff to Kamloops

    Depart early morning aboard Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Kamloops. Highlights include the Continental Divide, the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Vancouver

    Kamloops to Vancouver

    Continue west towards the Pacific Ocean. Highlights include the Thompson River and Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. The rail journey ends on arrival in Vancouver this evening.

  9. Day 9

    Depart Vancouver

    Journey ends upon checkout from your Vancouver hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Rocky Mountaineer departs Vancouver early morning, passing through Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and following the Thompson River toward Kamloops
  • Day 3The train climbs over Yellowhead Pass and descends into Jasper National Park, with views of Mount Robson and Pyramid Falls
  • Day 5An Ice Explorer vehicle descends onto the Columbia Icefield, followed by access to the Glacier Skywalk high above Jasper National Park
  • Day 7Rocky Mountaineer departs Banff at first light and traverses the Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon and Rogers Pass on the return to Kamloops

Included

  • 8 hotel nights: Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff (Kamloops and Vancouver each visited twice)
  • 4 days onboard Rocky Mountaineer, SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • Guided half-day Jasper National Park sightseeing tour (Patricia Lake, Jasper SkyTram, Pyramid Lake)
  • Guided full-day Icefields Parkway sightseeing tour from Jasper to Banff, with Ice Explorer glacier tour and Glacier Skywalk admission and lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre included
  • Onboard breakfasts and lunches on rail days
  • Luggage handling and rail station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper and Banff

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Rocky Mountaineer is included for four days: Vancouver to Kamloops to Jasper (Journey through the Clouds), and Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver (First Passage to the West). Travel from Jasper to Banff on Day 5 is by coach along the Icefields Parkway.
Is this an escorted or independent trip?
It is partly escorted. Rocky Mountain Mountaineer departs are on scheduled trains with onboard service included. A half-day Jasper National Park sightseeing tour and a full-day Icefields Parkway tour are guided. Days 1, 4 morning, 6 and 9 offer free time to explore independently.
What is included?
Eight hotel nights in Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper and Banff; four days of Rocky Mountaineer rail travel with onboard breakfast and lunch; guided half-day Jasper National Park sightseeing tour and full-day Icefields Parkway sightseeing tour with Ice Explorer glacier tour and Glacier Skywalk admission; lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre; and luggage handling and rail station transfers.
When does this trip run?
Rocky Mountaineer publishes no specific departure calendar in this information. Contact Rocky Mountaineer directly to confirm available dates.
Which service class is included?
Pricing tiers range from SilverLeaf Standard starting at GBP 4,505 (USD 6,016) through GoldLeaf Premier at GBP 8,097. All include four days onboard Rocky Mountaineer in either SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service as you select.
How much walking is involved?
The guided tours include moderate walking at lake viewpoints, the Jasper SkyTram (cable car to mountain top), and the Glacier Skywalk. Free days allow you to pursue activities at your own pace. No high-altitude hiking is included.

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