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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation, Luxury

Luxury Canadian Rockies Explorer

Nine-day luxury rail journey through Canadian Rockies from Vancouver via Jasper and Banff

Illustration of Luxury Canadian Rockies Explorer

Vacations By Rail's Luxury Canadian Rockies Explorer is a 9-day independent rail vacation through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The journey begins in Vancouver, moves northeastward by sleeper train to Jasper, and returns southwestward by daytime train through Banff to Kamloops and back to Vancouver. Each destination features private guided tours, from a boat cruise on Maligne Lake to an Ice Explorer Glacier Tour at Columbia Icefields and a gondola ascent of Sulphur Mountain in Banff. Accommodation is in Fairmont luxury hotels, with meals included aboard both trains. This itinerary suits repeat rail travellers who value premium service, luxury seekers seeking five-star properties, couples planning extended stays in each location, and photographers drawn to mountain scenery, glaciers, and alpine lakes. The trip balances rail travel with guided exploration, allowing you to linger in each destination rather than chase a rigid schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The final hotel in Kamloops (day 7) is listed without a name; confirm the accommodation standard with Vacations By Rail.
  • Flights to and from Vancouver are not included; add air fare to the base price when budgeting.
  • Cancellation and travel insurance must be purchased separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Vancouver

    Arrive Vancouver

    Private car transfer from the airport to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, with the rest of the day free to explore.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train

    VIA Rail from Vancouver to Jasper

    A morning and afternoon free in Vancouver, then a private transfer to the vintage rail station to board VIA Rail's Canadian and settle into a private cabin for the overnight journey.

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Jasper

    Jasper at Leisure

    Afternoon arrival in Jasper with the rest of the day free to explore Jasper National Park, staying at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4overnight: Jasper

    Maligne Valley with Boat Cruise

    A private tour to Maligne Lake via Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, culminating in a boat cruise on Maligne Lake.

  5. Day 5overnight: Banff

    Journey Through the Rockies tour from Jasper to Banff

    A private tour via Athabasca Falls, Stutfield Glacier and Tangle Falls to the Columbia Icefield for an Ice Explorer Glacier Tour onto Athabasca Glacier, then on to Banff via Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

    Meals: Lunch

  6. Day 6overnight: Banff

    Banff Highlights with Gondola Tour

    A private tour of Banff including Bow Falls, Hoodoos, Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain Road, with a ride on the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain and a stop at Lake Minnewanka, returning to the Fairmont Banff Springs.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Kamloops

    Rocky Mountaineer Banff to Kamloops

    A daylight rail journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service, passing the Continental Divide, Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Canyon, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  8. Day 8overnight: Vancouver

    Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver

    A second day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer traveling through the Fraser River Valley, including the rushing waters of Hell's Gate, arriving in Vancouver for a final night at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  9. Day 9

    Vancouver

    A private transfer from the hotel to Vancouver airport concludes the vacation.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Overnight journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in a private Sleeper Plus cabin from Vancouver to Jasper.
  • Day 4Private boat cruise on Maligne Lake reached via Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake.
  • Day 5Ice Explorer Glacier Tour onto Athabasca Glacier at Columbia Icefields, followed by private coach tour past Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, and Chateau Lake Louise.
  • Day 6Banff Gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain with views of the Bow Valley and Lake Minnewanka.
  • Day 7Daylight journey aboard Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service from Banff to Kamloops, crossing the Continental Divide and passing through Spiral Tunnels and Kicking Horse Canyon.

Included

  • Deluxe hotel accommodations for 6 nights at Fairmont properties
  • Rail travel on VIA Rail's Canadian in Sleeper Plus from Vancouver to Jasper (1 night on train)
  • Two days onboard Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service from Banff to Vancouver
  • Private Airport & Select Rail Station Transfers
  • Meals on board trains, 8 meals including 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Driver gratuities for private touring and transfers

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes one night aboard VIA Rail's Canadian in a private Sleeper Plus cabin and two days aboard Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service.
What trains do I ride?
VIA Rail's Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper (overnight, Day 2), and Rocky Mountaineer (First Passage to the West) from Banff to Kamloops to Vancouver (Days 7-8).
Is this escorted or independent?
Independent rail vacation with private guided tours at each stop. You travel on your own between destinations following a planned itinerary.
Where do I stay?
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (2 nights), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (2 nights), and Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (2 nights). One night in Kamloops (hotel name not specified).
What meals are included?
Eight meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 1 dinner served aboard the trains and included hotels.
How much walking is involved?
Private tours include walks at Maligne Lake, Columbia Icefields, Banff, and Lake Louise. A gondola ride ascends Sulphur Mountain; no strenuous hiking is mentioned.

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