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Rocky Mountaineer · Rail vacation package

First Passage to the West Grand Adventure

Ten-day Rocky Mountaineer journey through Canadian Rockies from Vancouver to Jasper

Illustration of First Passage to the West Grand Adventure

Rocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West Grand Adventure is a 10-day, 9-night package that combines scenic rail travel through the Canadian Rockies with guided coach touring and ample free time. The journey begins in Vancouver, where you have two days to explore the coastal city independently, then boards Rocky Mountaineer for two consecutive days of rail travel eastward through Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels, and Kicking Horse Canyon, arriving in Banff. From Banff, the itinerary blends free time in the mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper with three guided coach tours: a half-day exploration of Yoho National Park including Emerald Lake, a full-day journey along the Icefields Parkway with a glacier tour and Glacier Skywalk admission, and a half-day tour of Jasper National Park. The package suits repeat rail travellers seeking the Rocky Mountaineer experience, independent explorers who want structured sightseeing mixed with their own schedule, and those who prefer guided comfort on the scenic highlights without round-the-clock group travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only two of the ten days involve train travel; the majority of the journey uses guided motorcoach tours and free time rather than rail.
  • The package spans two separate rail journeys: Vancouver to Kamloops on day 3, and Kamloops to Banff on day 4. Beyond Banff, travel is by guided coach.
  • The Kamloops hotel is described as a moderate 3-star property; other hotel standards are not specified in the operator's details.

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: Banff

    Kamloops to Banff

    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 Banff.

  5. Day 5overnight: 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.

  6. Day 6overnight: Lake Louise

    Banff to Lake Louise

    A guided half-day motorcoach transfer into Yoho National Park, taking in the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River, ending in Lake Louise.

  7. Day 7overnight: 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.

  8. Day 8overnight: Jasper

    Lake Louise to Jasper

    A guided full-day sightseeing tour 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 Jasper in the late afternoon.

  9. Day 9overnight: 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.

  10. Day 10

    Depart Jasper

    Journey ends upon checkout from your Jasper hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Depart Vancouver aboard Rocky Mountaineer, passing Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon and following the Thompson River eastward to Kamloops.
  • Day 4Day 4: Continue on Rocky Mountaineer through the Canadian Rockies, crossing the Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon before arriving in Banff.
  • Day 8Day 8: Guided full-day Icefields Parkway sightseeing tour includes the Ice Explorer glacier tour on the Columbia Icefield, Glacier Skywalk, and Athabasca Falls, with lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre.

Included

  • 9 hotel nights: Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper
  • 2 days onboard Rocky Mountaineer, SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • Guided half-day motorcoach tour into Yoho National Park (Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake, natural rock bridge)
  • Guided full-day Icefields Parkway sightseeing tour from Banff to Jasper, with Ice Explorer glacier tour and Glacier Skywalk admission and lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre included
  • Guided half-day Jasper National Park sightseeing tour (Patricia Lake, Jasper SkyTram, Pyramid Lake)
  • Onboard breakfasts and lunches on rail days
  • Luggage handling and rail station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops and Banff

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes two days onboard Rocky Mountaineer in either SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, with onboard breakfasts and lunches on rail days.
Is this an escorted or independent trip?
It is a mix. Rocky Mountaineer operates the rail days. The package includes three guided coach tours (Yoho National Park, Icefields Parkway, and Jasper National Park), but five days are entirely free time for independent exploration.
Which trains does Rocky Mountaineer use?
The journey uses Rocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West route, travelling from Vancouver through Kamloops to Banff in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service.
What hotels are included?
The package includes nine hotel nights: two in Vancouver, one in Kamloops (a 3-star hotel), two in Banff, two in Lake Louise, and two in Jasper. Specific hotel names are not detailed.
What is not included in the price?
Dinners are not included. Activities booked during free days in Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise and the Jasper morning are at your own cost and arrangement.
How much walking is involved?
Free days allow you to choose your own level of activity. Guided tours include coach transport with some walking; the Icefields Parkway tour features a glacier tour and the Glacier Skywalk, and the Jasper tour includes the SkyTram.

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