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Cox & Kings · Tailor-Made Journey

Grizzly Bears & Canadian Rockies by Rail

13-day Canadian Rockies rail tour with grizzly bear viewing at Knight Inlet

Illustration of Grizzly Bears & Canadian Rockies by Rail

Cox & Kings operates this 13-day, 12-night tailor-made journey from Vancouver to Banff, built around wildlife viewing and one classic Canadian rail route. The first days are spent in and around Vancouver, including an included city tour of Stanley Park, Gastown, and Granville Island, before a floatplane carries travelers to Knight Inlet Lodge for two days of guided grizzly bear viewing along the fjord's shoreline meadows and salmon rivers. Back in Vancouver, the trip boards VIA Rail's Canadian train for an overnight run to Jasper in Sleeper Touring service, waking to snow-dusted Rocky Mountain summits. From there, coach touring links Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff, taking in Maligne Lake, the Icefields Parkway's Ice Explorer and Glacier Skywalk, and Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Rated Leisurely for activity level, this suits travelers who want wildlife encounters and scenic rail and road touring combined, staying mostly at Fairmont properties along the way.

What to know before you look closer

  • Despite the name, only one leg of this 13-day trip, the overnight VIA Rail journey from Vancouver to Jasper, is by train; the rest of the trip uses flights, a floatplane, and coach transfers.
  • Accommodation standard varies by stop: most nights are at Fairmont hotels, including two rated 5 stars, but the one night in Campbell River is at a Comfort Inn & Suites.
  • Pricing varies by season, from £7,895 per person in May and September to £8,165 for a June to August departure.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver)

    Arrive Vancouver

    Arrive in Vancouver and travel to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover the city at your own pace.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver)

    Vancouver

    Today, join an included Vancouver City Highlights and Capilano Suspension Bridge tour that reveals both the cosmopolitan polish and natural drama of Vancouver. Cross leafy Stanley Park, wander the historic quarters of Gastown and Chinatown and browse the artisan markets of Granville Island.

  3. Day 3overnight: Campbell River (Comfort Inn & Suites)

    Arrive Campbell River

    The day begins at leisure in Vancouver. By late afternoon, board your flight northward to Campbell River, gateway to the rugged coast of Vancouver Island.

  4. Day 4overnight: Knight Inlet Lodge

    Arrive Knight Inlet Lodge

    Rise early for a floatplane journey into the untamed beauty of Knight Inlet, a deep coastal fjord renowned as prime grizzly bear territory. After landing, a short safety briefing precedes your guided exploration (included), as you venture into wild landscapes where bears graze the shoreline meadows or converge on salmon-rich rivers.

  5. Day 5overnight: Knight Inlet Lodge

    Knight Inlet Lodge

    Another day of adventure in Knight Inlet begins with a short included boat ride into the pristine Kwalate Valley, where an interpretive rainforest walk reveals a lush and wild world. Alternatively, opt for another lodge-led adventure.

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

    Arrive Vancouver

    Begin the day with a final visit to the bear-viewing platforms, a last chance to capture the grizzlies in their wild element before your floatplane returns to Campbell River. On arrival, transfer (included) to the local airport for your return flight to Vancouver.

  7. Day 7railovernight: VIA Rail, The Canadian

    Vancouver to Jasper VIA Rail

    This afternoon, step aboard your VIA Rail 'Canadian' train, bound for the Rockies along one of the world's great rail routes. The journey sweeps through the fertile expanse of the Fraser Valley, before narrowing into the Fraser Canyon.

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

    Arrive Jasper

    Awake to an onboard breakfast (included) and a panorama of snow-dusted summits as your train glides into Jasper, gateway to one of the Rockies' most spectacular national parks. After transferring to your hotel, the remainder of the day is unstructured.

  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

    The morning invites unhurried time beside the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. By midday, a scenic coach drive through the Bow Valley carries you toward the lively mountain town of Banff.

  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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4A floatplane journey into Knight Inlet, a deep coastal fjord known as grizzly bear territory, followed by a guided exploration of shoreline meadows and salmon-rich rivers where bears graze.
  • Day 7Boarding VIA Rail's Canadian train in Vancouver for an overnight journey in Sleeper Touring service, sweeping through the Fraser Valley before narrowing into the Fraser Canyon.
  • Day 9A Maligne Lake boat cruise past glacial peaks toward Spirit Island, following a morning tour of the Maligne Valley and Medicine Lake.
  • Day 10Riding an Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle onto ancient ice along the Icefields Parkway and crossing the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk.
  • Day 12A small-group tour into Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, taking in Marble Canyon, Emerald Lake, and Takakkaw Falls.

Included

  • Scheduled international flights
  • Superior accommodation
  • Vancouver City Highlights Tour
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge & Lookout Admission from Vancouver
  • Return flight from Vancouver | Campbell River | Knight Inlet Lodge
  • Return transfer Campbell River Airport to Hotel and seaplane terminal
  • Wildlife Viewing activities at Knight Inlet Lodge
  • All meals and snacks while at Knight Inlet Lodge
  • Complimentary house wine with dinner at Knight Inlet Lodge
  • Rail travel on VIA Rail in Sleeper Touring service
  • 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 coach transfer between Lake Louise and Banff hotels
  • Yoho & Kootenay National Park Tour from Banff
  • Scheduled coach transfer between Banff hotel and Calgary
  • National Park fees

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, one overnight journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian train in Sleeper Touring service, from Vancouver to Jasper.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is a tailor-made journey. Some days, such as arrival in Vancouver and the first afternoon in Jasper, are unstructured, while excursions like the Vancouver City Highlights tour, Knight Inlet wildlife viewing, and the Rockies national park tours are guided and included.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail's 'The Canadian,' in Sleeper Touring service, for the Vancouver to Jasper leg.
What hotels are included?
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Comfort Inn & Suites in Campbell River, Knight Inlet Lodge, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (rated 5 stars), and Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (rated 5 stars).
When does it run?
The trip is priced for May, June to August, and September departures.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates the trip's activity level as Leisurely, with short walks such as the Kwalate Valley rainforest walk and a walk through Marble Canyon.

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