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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Grand Circle of the Canadian Rockies

Vancouver to Jasper rail loop through the Canadian Rockies

Illustration of Grand Circle of the Canadian Rockies

Railbookers operates this 9-day, 8-night independent rail vacation through the Canadian Rockies, starting and ending in Vancouver. After a first day exploring Vancouver, the tour boards the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf class for two days of daytime rail travel, passing the Cascade Mountains and the Fraser Canyon and River on the way to Kamloops, then continuing through snow-capped peaks to Banff. From Banff, tour transfers carry travelers to Lake Louise, through Banff and Yoho National Parks, then on to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier. The return leg is an overnight journey on VIA Rail's The Canadian, passing Moose Lake and Mt. Robson before a final morning through the Fraser Canyon and Hell's Gate back into Vancouver. With hotel options across several tiers and cities, this trip suits travelers who want an independent Rockies rail circuit with some choice in where they stay.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence lists 20 accommodation options across price tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel per night; sample hotels range from the Hampton Inn & Suites to the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, so the hotel you get depends on the tier you choose.
  • Only 5 meals are included, 2 breakfasts and 3 lunches; most meals, including the dinner served onboard VIA Rail aside, are on your own.
  • The transfers from Banff to Lake Louise and from Lake Louise to Jasper are described as tour transfers rather than rail travel, so 2 of the 9 days are spent on the road, not the train.
  • The evidence pack does not list current departure dates or months; confirm scheduling directly with Railbookers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Welcome to Vancouver! Spend the day exploring this nature lover's paradise.

  2. Day 2overnight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Kamloops

    Board the famous Rocky Mountaineer, traveling through British Columbia with views of the Cascade Mountains and along the Fraser Canyon and River.

    Meals: B, L

  3. Day 3overnight: Banff

    Rocky Mountaineer from Kamloops to Banff

    Travel through the heart of the Canadian Rockies and wind through snow-capped peaks.

    Meals: B, L

  4. Day 4overnight: Banff

    Banff, AB

    Explore Banff and journey to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lake Louise

    Banff to Lake Louise

    Scenic tour through Banff and Yoho National Parks full of emerald lakes and waterfalls, ending in Lake Louise.

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    Lake Louise to Jasper

    Travel along the Icefields Parkway, visiting the Columbia Icefield and boarding the Ice Explorer to Athabasca Glacier.

    Meals: L

  7. Day 7railovernight: VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Board VIA Rail's Canadian, passing Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains, with dinner and a dome car.

    Meals: D

  8. Day 8railovernight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Breakfast in the dining car, lunch as the train winds through the Fraser Canyon and past Hell's Gate, arriving in Vancouver.

    Meals: B, L

  9. Day 9

    Your Journey Ends in Vancouver

    Check out of your hotel this morning and continue with your travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Rocky Mountaineer travels from Vancouver to Kamloops in SilverLeaf class, passing the Cascade Mountains and the Fraser Canyon and River.
  • Day 3The Rocky Mountaineer continues from Kamloops to Banff through the heart of the Canadian Rockies and past snow-capped peaks.
  • Day 6The Icefields Parkway stops at the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
  • Day 7An overnight journey on VIA Rail's The Canadian passes Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains, with dinner and a dome car.
  • Day 8The train continues through the Fraser Canyon and past Hell's Gate on the way back into Vancouver.

Included

  • Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff in SilverLeaf class
  • One-way VIA Rail® from Jasper to Vancouver on the Canadian®
  • 7 nights' hotel accommodations; 1 night onboard VIA Rail
  • Tour transfer from Banff to Lake Louise
  • Tour transfer from Lake Louise to Jasper
  • 5 meals (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price of this trip?
Yes. Railbookers includes the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff in SilverLeaf class and a one-way VIA Rail journey from Jasper to Vancouver on The Canadian.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is sold as an independent rail vacation, with tour transfers included between Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper.
Which trains does the trip use?
The Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf class between Vancouver, Kamloops, and Banff, and VIA Rail's The Canadian for the overnight return from Jasper to Vancouver.
What hotels does the trip use?
The evidence lists 20 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than one fixed hotel per night; sample options include the Fairmont Pacific Rim and Hampton Inn & Suites in Vancouver and the Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa in Banff.
How much does this trip cost?
Railbookers prices this trip from $4,189.

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