Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Lake Louise Explorer: Eastbound

Two-day Rocky Mountaineer rail journey from Vancouver to Lake Louise and Banff

Lake Louise Explorer: Eastbound, a rail journey with Canada Rail (canadarail.ca)

Canada Rail runs this 7-day, 6-night rail and coach trip through the Canadian Rockies, starting in Vancouver and ending in Calgary. The trip opens with two nights in Vancouver, including a city tour of Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island, and Stanley Park, then two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, traveling first through the Fraser Valley and canyons such as Hell's Gate to Kamloops, then on through Glacier, Yoho, and Banff National Parks to Lake Louise. Two nights follow at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, with a free day for canoeing or hiking before a guided motorcoach tour crosses the Continental Divide to Banff, stopping at Takakkaw Falls, Kicking Horse Pass, and Emerald Lake. The trip ends with a scenic transfer from Banff to Calgary. With guided touring, free time, and the Rocky Mountaineer rail journey included in the base price, this trip suits travelers who want Rocky Mountain scenery without a fully escorted schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The CAD $4,742 base price excludes Canada's 5% sales tax and gratuities for hotel and transfer staff, and it does not include transportation from the Vancouver airport.
  • The evidence names only the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; other hotels are described only by category (Popular, Superior, or Deluxe) rather than by name.
  • Departures run from April through October in 2026 and 2027; the evidence lists no winter departures for this package.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver Arrival

    Arrive in Vancouver, Canada's third-largest city, home to Stanley Park, Granville Island and Gastown.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver

    A tour of Vancouver's landmarks in Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island, and Stanley Park.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Kamloops

    Board the Rocky Mountaineer through the Fraser Valley alongside the Fraser River, through river canyons including Hell's Gate, reaching the interior plateau.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise

    Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Lake Louise

    Travel through Glacier, Yoho and Banff National Parks to Lake Louise, the "Jewel of the Rockies", arriving in the late afternoon.

  5. Day 5overnight: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise

    Lake Louise

    A free day at leisure: canoeing, hiking a scenic mountain trail, or relaxing.

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Lake Louise to Banff: Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls Tour

    A guided motorcoach tour crossing the Continental Divide through Yoho National Park, with Takakkaw Falls, Kicking Horse Pass, Emerald Lake and the Natural Rock Bridge.

  7. Day 7

    Banff to Calgary Scenic Transfer

    A scenic transfer from Banff to the Calgary airport or downtown.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Rocky Mountaineer travels through the Fraser Valley alongside the Fraser River and through river canyons including Hell's Gate.
  • Day 4The Rocky Mountaineer crosses Glacier, Yoho and Banff National Parks to reach Lake Louise, described by the operator as the "Jewel of the Rockies".
  • Day 5A free day at Lake Louise for canoeing, hiking a scenic mountain trail, or relaxing.
  • Day 6A guided motorcoach tour crosses the Continental Divide through Yoho National Park, stopping at Takakkaw Falls, Kicking Horse Pass, Emerald Lake and the Natural Rock Bridge.

Included

  • 2-day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
  • 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches onboard the train
  • 6 nights hotel accommodation
  • Vancouver City Tour
  • Yoho National Park Tour and Transfer to Banff (Scenic transfer from late-October to early-May)
  • Transfer from Banff to Calgary Airport or downtown
  • Rail station transfers and luggage handling in Kamloops
  • Gratuities/tip for onboard train staff

Not included

  • Transportation from Vancouver airport (available, please ask for details)
  • Meals, other than onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
  • Gratuities/tip for hotel and transfer staff
  • Canadian 5% sales tax

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price of this trip?
Yes. Canada Rail includes two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, from Vancouver to Kamloops to Lake Louise, with 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches served onboard.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
The package includes a guided Vancouver city tour and a guided Yoho National Park tour, plus a free day at Lake Louise; the evidence does not describe a single tour director accompanying the whole trip.
Which train is used on this trip?
The Rocky Mountaineer, traveling from Vancouver to Kamloops to Lake Louise in SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service.
What hotels are included?
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for 2 nights. Other nights use hotels from Canada Rail's Popular, Superior, or Deluxe categories depending on the tier booked.
When does this trip run?
Canada Rail lists 142 departures, running from April through October in both 2026 and 2027.
What is not included?
Meals other than onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, gratuities for hotel and transfer staff, Canada's 5% sales tax, and transportation from the Vancouver airport.

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