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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

First Passage to the West Classic Lake Louise

Six-day Rocky Mountaineer journey from Vancouver through Canadian Rockies to Lake Louise

Illustration of First Passage to the West Classic Lake Louise

Rocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West Classic offers a balanced approach to train travel in the Canadian Rockies. This 6-day, 5-night package starts in Vancouver, where you have two free days to explore the coastal city on your own before boarding the train on day 3. The two-day rail journey takes you eastward through the Fraser Canyon, past Hell's Gate and the Thompson River, then into the Canadian Rockies via Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Canyon, ending in Lake Louise. You spend one night in Kamloops between the two train days, then have a full day free at Lake Louise to canoe the lake, explore the surroundings, or simply rest. The train offers either SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service with included meals onboard. This itinerary suits first-time rail travellers who want a mixture of guided train travel and independent time, as well as couples and photographers drawn to the mountain and canyon scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Days 1, 2, and 5 are entirely free with no included activities or guides; you arrange your own exploration in Vancouver and Lake Louise
  • The Kamloops hotel is a moderate 3-star property, a step down from the other two cities

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic coastal city on your own - Stanley Park, a small ferry to Granville Island, or much more.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver (free day)

    Free time to relax or book your own activities at leisure - historic Gastown, Yaletown dining, or the Stanley Park Seawall.

  3. Day 3overnight: 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.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lake Louise

    Kamloops to Lake Louise

    Continue eastward to the Canadian Rockies. Highlights include Craigellachie, Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Spiral Tunnels. The rail journey ends this evening in Lake Louise.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    Lake Louise (free day)

    Free time to relax or book activities at leisure - learn about local wildlife, paddle the lake by canoe, or simply relax amongst the scenery.

  6. Day 6

    Depart Lake Louise

    Journey ends upon checkout from your Lake Louise hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Rocky Mountaineer departs Vancouver early morning and passes through Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, traveling alongside the Thompson River
  • Day 4The train climbs through the Canadian Rockies, passing Craigellachie (where the final spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven), Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, and the Spiral Tunnels before arriving at Lake Louise

Included

  • 5 hotel nights: Vancouver, Kamloops, Lake Louise
  • 2 days onboard Rocky Mountaineer, SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard the train
  • Luggage handling and rail station transfers in Kamloops

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 2 days aboard Rocky Mountaineer in either SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, plus 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches onboard
Which trains are included?
Rocky Mountaineer on the First Passage to the West route from Vancouver to Lake Louise via Kamloops
What accommodation is included?
Five nights total: two in Vancouver, one in Kamloops (moderate 3-star), and two in Lake Louise
Is this escorted or independent?
It is independent. Days 1, 2, and 5 are free; you explore Vancouver and Lake Louise on your own. The two train days are on Rocky Mountaineer
What highlights does the route include?
Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, the Thompson River, Craigellachie, Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, and the Spiral Tunnels

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